Siem de Jong (still alive)

[Ketsbaia]

The way forward is to keep playing him. I think McClaren's found his system, something more direct and counter-attacking.

[Gallowgate Toon]

Siems much more suited to starting games, rather than coming on as a sub. I was really impressed with his intelligence off the ball, he led some really good pressing and you can see that's something that's been properly coached into him. He was actually talking too, pointing to players where they should be and always communicating. As much as I like Perez, that's just something he can't provide that we really do need (there should still be a place in the starting XI, imo). On the ball, he was decent, tried to keep play moving quickly with good touches but sometimes ahead of his teammates. Some nice movement too.

[TRon]

He's an intelligent player, love how even when he heads the ball he looks to pick out a team mate rather than just bounce it up anywhere. Pleased for him, he looks like a trier.

[Taylor Swift]

He looks good when he gets on the ball but in a counter attacking team like ours, I don't feel he's effective enough. How do we play like his Ajax team did and control the ball and attack with ease? He needs touches much closer to the opposition box than he's getting right now. It'd help if one of the two central midfielders offered something in attack.

[nufcjb]

He should be there in the team as we could see players listening to his orders and organisation. He's the type of guy I would have in the team to pick up the scraps in and around the box, someone that we don't have other than him.

[HawK]

Sorry I thought it was FOTM to blame Carr for any new signing not hitting the ground running like Michu.

[Holloway]

Some effective touches but still looks a bit powder puff

 

[Doug]

Sadly he will now twist or pull something after the strains of being available for a couple of games

[Marmoset]

Needs to keep starting for his talking alone. His fitness will improve (providing no more injuries obviously).

[Big Geordie]

Thought it did well today - involved plenty.

[Guest Gomez]

I think he did really well. It seemed to work having more of a static focal point for the midfield, rather than Perez making runs off the striker. Gave us an extra body in midfield, and did alright getting forward considering he only has half a lung and one knee.

 

Together with the extra(live on Sky #supersunday) effort, the change in shape with him playing seemed the biggest change. Definitely a positive, as I hadn't been too impressed with him util now.

[Ashley17]

He should be there in the team as we could see players listening to his orders and organisation. He's the type of guy I would have in the team to pick up the scraps in and around the box, someone that we don't have other than him.

 

He is basically the Dutch Nolan on that description

[ujpest doza]

I thought he was excellent today.

 

Not just on the ball but more so for his organising and shouting, telling other players what to do etc.

 

[Marmoset]

The English Nolan would've been worth a spot the last few weeks.

[huss9]

need to try and get him and ayoze in the team somehow.

[BONTEMPI]

need to try and get him and ayoze in the team somehow.

 

Easy. Drop the ginger.

 

 

Ayoze    Sissoko    Anita    Winny

 

          De Jong    Cisse\Mitro

[Marmoset]

Today of all days showed there's more to football than lineups /formations. They all worked today and every single one has earned the right to start next week. If their application drops then bench them the next week. We need to start ingraining the importance of a high effort level pressing mentality more than anything.

 

 

[Deckard 13]

Much rather De Jong through the centre than Perez atm. Ayoze has looked far to light weight lately. Needs a wide berth on recent form as far as I'm concerned.

[Karjala]

What a player!

[TRon]

Much rather De Jong through the centre than Perez atm. Ayoze has looked far to light weight lately. Needs a wide berth on recent form as far as I'm concerned.

 

I don't think there's anything wrong with Perez personally, he lost his place so that De Jong could shore up our diddy men midfield. I thought he did a good job as sub as well tbh, he shored up the left side manfully from a defensive point of view.

[DJ_NUFC]

I thought he was slow and was pushed off the ball as much as, if not more, than Perez usually does. Ineffective going forward and not entirely sure where the effusive praise is coming from. We've seen more from Perez in that role all season.

[Gallowgate Toon]

I thought he was slow and was pushed off the ball as much as, if not more, than Perez usually does. Ineffective going forward and not entirely sure where the effusive praise is coming from. We've seen more from Perez in that role all season.

 

Most have praised his work off the ball, rather than what he did on it. Today was his first start in how long? He was better than Perez has been in his last couple of matches and may well get better with more time. Personally, I saw a pretty big benefit in having an experienced, intelligent head in a key area. He stayed in similar areas the whole game and that suited our structure more, IMO.

[Gallowgate Toon]

He got stuck in too, which is massive for a side like ours. Nicked the ball, stuck his head in etc. As much as I like Perez, he can be a bit of a bottler.

[Holloway]

Get the feeling that he is quality and will improve our creativity big time if he gets decent run. No more mishaps please,like a king size rizla getting whipped up on the autumn breeze and coming down and slicing his lug clean off the side of his head.

[Paulie Walnuts]

Let's not forget that before his injuries he looked very promising with a lot of goals preseason. Pardew wanted to build his team around him, but we can't hold that against him.