Play different positions though? Personally I would play Mitro and De Jong up top and Thauvin on the wing. No point having those top two if we don;t have someone crossing balls in
Personally I'd say it would be Elliot at this moment in time. Picking us up points with some great saves and is, by the sounds of things, a big factor in the change in mentality in the dressing room. I'm sure De Jong will come good but I wouldn't say he has set the world alight with his last 3 performances although he hasn't done himself any harm (bar the miss on Saturday). Appreciate he's just back from a long term lay off and you can see the qualities he brings but I don't think we will see the best of him until after New Years at the earliest. I would consider him to play up top with Perez in behind him currently with Cisse out. We have Wij, Sissoko and Perez are all willing to get on beyond him and it could be a great focal point to build attacks from.
If thauvin is gonna cross like villa and play like he has so far, I'd keep him well away from the team. Long way from earning a spot. I like de Jong and mitro though up top.
But sadly there is no point playing both if no crosses! Plus coming on in the conditions of the pitch is hardly fair on the lad - he offered more in those few minutes then the rest of the team. He also offered some support to Dummett and put in a few challenges - that's more than Gini or Sissoko did!
Agreed he did chase back more. However no point blaming conditions, it's been no different whenever we've seen him. Happy to give him time but I can't see how he has earnt a start. Sissoko and Gini are capable of getting crosses in. I just can't see why we would want to change when we have picked up 7 points from 9. We've been ****e all season and have finally found some form
Personally I would be playing Gini central and drop Colback/Anita (and for me I would drop Colback purely because I think that Anita has a better understanding with Gini). Then we could literally have Thauvin/Gini/Sissoko all swapping positions throughout the game. De Jong and Mitro would also help us aerially when defending corners. Also with Mitro and De Jong up front there is zero pace so having Thauvin on would also help in that department as well as helping defensively for Dummett.
We're definitely a better team with him starting. He needs to be given the chance of an extended run in the side.
Most important? - He doesn't score goals, nor does he often look like scoring. - He doesn't assist or create many chances - He's often far too slow in build up play and looks unfit. - His hold up play isn't that good. - His only good attribute is probably is attitude, he's the closest thing to a captain we have, but that should only keep him in the team if he's also contributing to our victories, which he hasn't been. Our two wins vs Spurs and Liverpool were making it difficult for teams that were already tired, and bringing on super subs to finish them off. Nothing to do with De Jong really. Most important player at the moment is definitely Elliot. He's been crucial to our decent run.
I did say... Terrible decision to drop him. Really missed him and the conditions were made for someone with deft touch and a bit of intelligence.
Yeah it's a right bummer only playing a handful of games in 2 seasons where he has had a bad injury and collapsed lungs at his new club. He comes back from all of this to a new manager, a new coaching set up, new players, a new ethos, new tactics and into a team that is devoid of confidence, in fighting and a culture of losing and heads down. But he doesn't scores goals or looks like it (he did for his previous team), he doesn't assist or create chances (he did for his previous team), his hold up play isn't that good (it was for his previous team) I can keep going on!!
I never said he shouldn't be given more time, but to say he's an important player in our team is a step too far. He's not been bad, but he's not been good either. He's put in solid 5/10 performances. There are far more important players.
We need to analyze the games more in depth, rather than just assume that because De Jong started, he was the main reason behind our results. We missed sitters against Villa and Everton, and conceded 1 fantastic goal and 1 last minute goal. Would De Jong have scored? I don't know, but Mitro, Wijnaldum and Perez scored the goals vs Liverpool and Spurs, not De Jong.
