I agree with a lot of the comments here but coming back to the Ki v JDG argument I think we may end up with Ki if and when JDG goes but for now I genuinely believe JDG gives us more - particularly now he's contributing defensively. I don't accept any of this from Drag: "Clearly you have not been following Ki closely enough at Sunderland, I suggest you watch him today, far more consistent than De Goose, and he can do anything that De Goos can do" Firstly, I have watched him at Sunderland and whilst I'm a fan of his he doesn't have a defensive side to his game at all. He was guilty of letting his player get away from him for an opposition goal in their last game - I haven't seen today's game as yet but they lost to a very poor Villa side and Ki played from the start. He doesn't stick a foot in and he doesn't track back. The same used to be said of De Guzman - justifiably - but he's improved this side to his game recently. Noticeably so. Secondly, your contention he can "do everything" that JDG does isn't borne out by the facts. He had less assists and scored zero goals for us in his time here. He reminds me of Allen. A nice passer of the ball who plays elegantly but doesn't actually contribute great deal when it comes to getting the ball in the onion bag. He doesn't break play up and doesn't track back. He can hit a ball but never did so effectively with us. I fully accept that Ki was played out of position here and his best role is as an AM but he won't get a look in here because we have better. At least not this season. Poyet plays him as a holding midfielder I believe. So whereas I do like him he definitely does not bring more to the table than JDG. Not at the moment anyway. For what it's worth I think it was a mistake to send Ki out as he gives us another option but he's not happy on the bench with the World Cup this year. His choice. Just an opinion.
Ki fell out with Laudrup and that was one of the reasons why he is at Sunderland,he is big time charlie by all accounts which is something Laudrup isnt too happy about , the board want him back but apparently the manager isnt interested . Ki sung has strong commercial marketability for us and i suspect he will be back but the board wont go against the manager on this one. Personally id get him back and stick him in the stand just to make life more difficult for Sunderland. Ive watched him plenty of times for the Mackems this season and to honest he is pretty much the same player as he was here,he just stands out better up there due to the fact they dont have many good ball players . JDG V Ki sung ? JDG every time fellas, if JDG was playing for Sunderland instead of Ki then they would be talking about him alot more than they are of Ki . I like Ki sung but last season he was perhaps not mentally focussed on his job in the right manner, my only worry is if sunderland pull clear and his influence becomes a major factor in them progressing, he is doing well but is no world beater, i think when he went there they were bottom,now after 4 months of him playing there they are still bottom !!
Norway he never fell out with laudrup at all. where did you hear that rubbish from.....Ki wanted to play regular football because of the world cup coming up and it was decided amicably that the best solution if laudrup could not guarantee him regular football was to see if they can get him out on loan, and thats what happened. there was no falling out, he was not acting like a big time charlie, It was a plain and simple deal sorted by the club to give ki the best opportunity of more football in the world cup year...
Just watched the Utd v Spurs game, and if we play against Utd as we did today against a much better team in City, I can't see why we can't get something from the league game
If we play like we did today then we certainly have a good chance valley. The thing is we throw in these odd good games and then the next half a dozen we look ****e and that has been our problem, we have no consistency and even though we lost today it was a much improved performance. Bony must start against all the big sides if he is fit, .We have just two wins at home all season and not a single back to back wins and that has to improve ten fold in the second half of the season if we have any chance of finishing mid table. A top half finish looks unlikely.
It suited us having a confident man city coming at us in a more open game leaving gaps for us to exploit rather than the cagier games of chess a lot of the lesser teams we've lost to have brought. One thing I noticed that would help and we used to do well is to play more one touch passing going forward at pace using the spaces rather than taking 2 or 3 touches before moving the ball side ways or up the field which gives them more time to get in defensive positions. But maybe a bit more confidence in themselves is required for that at the mo ? Hopefully the team will get some consistency scoring with better service to Bony from now on.
Thought we played well against Chelsea, very well v Villa and again today - maybe less changes forced by injury provides some continuity?
I think Continuity has been the problem all season, players not knowing who they will be partnering from one game to the next, and of course we have had a fair few intakes to get used to as well!....................
The fact that Ki and Laudrup fell out is no secret. Obviously you aren't as "in the know" as you like to think.
I noticed this too, there were times earlier on in the match where Bony was making movements and because Routs, Rangel and jonjo were taking one to many touches, by the time the ball went to him, it was to late. But again Bony showed today, if you give him adequate service, he will score, so hopefully we will start to see more of this in the coming months
motd showed how much luck they had with thier goals even though they have the class to get in those shooting positions in the first place . Just shows how luck and bad refs can scew how a season really goes ?
Just watched it myself, and I'm more impressed with the power Bony generates each time I see that second goal. Also evident we need a new centre half. Chico pisses around to much for me. It's like somebody is controlling him with a ps3 controller at times.
I don't know the truth and none of you do either. The fact that a number of posters say something is true doesn't make it so. The 'party line' that Ki wanted game time leading up to the World Cup may be bollocks. But it may be true. Doesn't really matter. He's not with us and as much as I like Ki we have better here - at least for the moment. The idea that we pull him back from Sunderland just to hurt them seems naive to me. His value will drop and I don't see a huge gain for us. He's improved them as a team but he's rarely a matchwinner. Of course if we end up closer to them in the League the loan should be reassessed. If Sunderland want him and we don't then now is the time to sell.
He's generating the power almost standing still. Would love to see him take a penalty, if we get another this season.
Some may know the truth. I ain't assuming that NJ and others do know the truth, however Dai's post assumes that he knows the truth and should respect their version of events rather than dismiss them as rubbish.
This. I don't know what's happened to Chico but he's definitely costing us. A new CB in jan please drive.
