There are not many players better than Bony with the head and he took his goal superbly but he needs to work better on the floor as he wasted a number of chances that could well hinder his start in the next game. Apart from the goal bony was ominous in the game and it was the right decision to sub him....
I agree Dai - he looked a very disappointing player for most of that - he will need to up his game from here. However - his performance can't have done us any harm as any suitors will not have been impressed - apart from the header.
Only saw the highlights but nice to see Bony starting and not subbed for Drogba. Classic Wilf goal there I must say, initial reffing apart, it's proving to be more entertaining than I imagined, especially for first round matches.
Not sure how much I'd agree with the poor showing from Bony - tbf he had no service and Toure & Kalou were taking up the 'Bony spaces'. Many occasions in the first half where he created space but was ignored. Only one decent chance missed and three of four speculative half chances. Pretty good I thought.
^^^ Agree with this. The guy had one clear chance and a half chance first half because the service to him was non existent. I recorded the game and just watched it all. Drogba lifted the team no doubt but didn't have a hand in either goal. Bony wasn't ineffective at all and if you look had a hand in the build up to the second goal, laying the ball out wide. As for the "right decision to sub him" Daiswan, why do you always comment as if players are subbed because they're playing badly? I've noticed you do this a lot. He was obviously subbed because it was late in the game and the Ivorians were still playing 3 up front plus Drogba whilst being a goal up. Thank **** you're not a manager. Btw I'm sure you meant something else when you said he was "ominous" in the game. If you meant "anonymous" you're still wrong.
Guys there is more to international football than waiting for the ball to come to you. I love bony just as much as anyone else but the pundits were right. Apart from the superb header bony was not in the game and that is not good for him if he want to be a regular first choice. They had to take him off in the end as his work rate was not up to standard enough to warrant keeping him on...He really needs to up his game if he gets another chance which he may not get now because of that performance.....It may be good for us though...
I hope all the pundits slag him off constantly. I hope he has a totally **** WC. Maybe then nobody will come calling in the summer.
"They had to take him off in the end as his work rate was not up to standard enough to warrant keeping him on" Tripe. Look at the timing of his substitution. 80th minute. Who's "workrate" is going to be high at that time in the game in 30 degree heat? The Ivorians were ahead and not really pressing hard for a third. Nothing to do with rose tinted glasses at all. I was the first to say that Bony should have done better first half though he only had one clear and another half chance. The rest of the half the service to him was non existent. Second half Bony came more into the game and helped with the second goal after scoring the first. What more do you want? You don't seem to understand that players get subbed for numerous reasons, particularly late game. Doesn't mean they're playing badly. Bony, like the whole team, did well second half against an organised Japan side that could play a bit, but it was noticeable that they all got a lift when Drogba came on even though he didn't play a part in either goal. As always you seem to have an unfortunate tendency to knock our players/team/manager/pantomime villain of the month. We should be proud that one of our players has scored in a game at the World Cup Finals.
Come on it was not a good performance by bony on the night. I dont know what game you were watching but you are going against everyone else who watched the game. He can do a lot better than that but will he get another chance...I would rather say it as it is than try and justify a poor performance and trying to kid yourself....
Bony didn't have one of his better games but still scored one and was involved in the build up for the other. His hold up play wasn't as tight as usual but he was noticeably suffering from a lack of service - as though his team mates didn't trust him. They should be made to sit down and watch a video of what he did for us last season in the world's toughest league. That would change their minds.
Bony needs to get in better positions. this crap players don't trust him is the funniest excuse i have heard for a long time It is bony himself that needs to work on his game and not the rest of the team.. It will be pointed out to him no doubt and hopefully he will make changes...
