Would like De Jong here. Obviously he wouldn't be my primary target but I think that a midfield of De Jong - Carrick and Mata (later on De Jong/Carrick and Strootman behind Mata) would be a very stable and balanced midfield. I think that he's easily a better midfielder than Cleverley and Fellaini, and also being familiar with Van Gaal helps.
Nigel De Jong
- Thread starter simon_xazza
- Start date
- Status
Won't have any issue with this as long he's not our only midfield signing. Our midfield is very light weight and gets bullied by City's midfield too often. De Jong would put a stop to that.
He's a very good player and would be a good signing for youse I reckon.
Ugh. The thought of a Strootman DeJong midfield bores the pants off me.
It would provide the neccesary balance to our very advanced 4 attacking players though. Strootman is a terrific player, I think that I would chose only Vidal before him as a box to box midfielder.
I think it's overkill personally but each to their own.
Would happily take him for the prices being quoted. He's technically good and breaks play up extremely well. He has a nasty side but we have been lacking that bite since Keaneo left. He seems to be weirdly underrated on here and it seems fashionable to call him rubbish etc.
Actually, I take it back. The permanent anxiety caused by waiting for De Jong to get himself sent off would be enough to keep me interested.
"Good" technique. I know that "good" is a subjective term but still find that hard to read. His technique is very average for players at the top level. That's not such a huge issue mind because players like him generally only make 5 yard sideway passes anyway.
The bigger problem is his tackling technique though, which is also average. He concedes so many fouls.
No, I think he has good technique. He doesn't rush his passing and he isn't going to unlock a defence with an inch perfect pass but that's not his job. He generally picks the right pass even if it is just a 5 yard pass and I have always thought he looked comfortable on the ball.
I don't think he is 'world class' or any of that rubbish but for the price being quoted (£7m) I would happily take him. He obviously wouldn't be my first choice and I would obviously want us to sign at least one other midfielder but I think for that price, he wouldn't be a bad option at all.
With De Jong and Fellaini do we even need to outplay other teams? They'll be beaten into submission by a flurry of elbows and knee high lunges. Not quite "total football" all the same.
I'd definitely take him. Along with another more technical midfielder of course.
Anyone with half a brain can see his not Xavi in terms of passing, but neither is he expected to be, or in the team to do that.
Most good sides have a destroyer in midfield who does the ugly things. At times last year (and in the recent past) we've lacked steel - teams waltzed through the middle or were happy keeping the ball for extended periods. A player like that helps to solve the problem, the creative players are less keen to get the ball, the opposition flow us disrupted and it can provide a base for the considerable attacking talent we have going forward.
Let's be honest - he's not a pretty player and we need more, but so what? The sum being talked about gets you hardly anything these days and we need quality options in midfield which fit the managers plans, amongst other things.
No team 'needs' a destroyer in midfield to be successful. It's nonsense and has been proven over and over again.
No but you do need a defensive midfielder. What even is a destroyer?
You need a covering/deep-sitting/defensive midfielder usually, yes. You don't need a bloke who's best asset is crunching into tackles. Not at the top level of the game.
Brilliant pass to launch Robben in the last minute, brilliant tackle in the first half too
Also, people are assuming we'd sign him to be a squad player, perhaps forgetting that's exactly the reason he left City.
He played 137 games between January 09 & August 2012 for City & was a key player in their side when they won the league. He wasn't a squad player at all. He left because they couldn't agree a new deal.
The last time he was sent off was in 2006.
If we signed him he'd be by far our best midfielder and he'd be an automatic first choice.
I'd prefer we signed someone better but if we end up signing him I wouldn't mind much.
Shshhhh. We have to pretend that he can't pass or tackle as it's the done thing around here. We also have to underestimate his contribution to City whilst he was there.
This. He breaks up play a million miles better than anything we have in there currently. Our strength, if we can find the correct balance of the players we have, is with the attackers in the final third. De Jong and preferably if we can also sign a top class midfield partner for him, can provide a real platform for those attackers.
Which is the only red card he's had in his career.
£7m? Go on then, let's have a punt
Please no. He will want a huge wage and he's much worse than Keane was.
That's incredible.
we could give Stoke and West Ham and the like a hell of a hiding with De Jong and Fellaini in the middle!
I seem to remember him being rotated quite heavily during his last season at City. Was that over some kind of pay dispute? Wasn't aware if so.
Even incrediblererer! Genuinely can't believe that.
If we signed players on the basis of whether they are 'better than Keane' we'd have a squad of about 3 players.
He's a thuggish cnut, I hope he'd be a last ditch desperation only buy.
The only way I would take him would be on the proviso that Fellaini was on the way out.
I'd take De Jong though, especially at £6m. It's win-win.
Imo City's midfield would be much better of they had kept De Jong and not signed Garcia or Rodwell.
The only way I would take him would be on the proviso that Fellaini was on the way out.
I'd take De Jong though, especially at £6m. It's win-win.
Imo City's midfield would be much better of they had kept De Jong and not signed Garcia or Rodwell.
Garcia and Rodwell are mere squad fill in fairness.
Remember the lift when City only made filler signings! Wonderful.
I agree.
Whilst Roy Keane was evidently a much, much better player - one trait he had was the fear factor. Nobody came to OT expecting an easy ride in midfield.
We've lacked that in recent years. I have no problem with a rough house player in midfield. It's probably not trendy but the right player can be effective.
I recall the Olympiakos game last year when Rooney was having to track back because Cleverley and Carrick were just backing away. It was awful.
Lets be honest - we need more, but he'd be a useful asset.
De Jong was particularly impressive against Chile. He has what we are lacking, that aggression. If we signed him and Herrera Id be satisfied. They may not be quite the A List, Galactico signings some have been hoping for but they would improve our midfield hugely.
De Jong would improve us tenfolds. He adds aggression and leadership into our midfield. Herrera, De Jong + 1 more would be terrific and go long ways to sorting our midfield woes.
He's a good plan B but I'd rather we went for someone younger. Luiz Gustavo would be perfect.
With Herera and de Jong we would not need another. We really should try Pearsom, Periera and Rothwell in some games. We also still have Carrick
- Status