Siem De Jong...... how will he fit back in?

I really rate SDJ but I'd struggle to fit him in the team right now.
I think Pards will ease him back and give him his chance if/when injuries present themselves. As Pards seems to view him as a bit of a link man/AM I can see him playing behind Cisse. We would then have strong options in Perez, Aarons, Abeid, Obertan et al to bring on from the bench to change things a little bit.

I can see a team at the end of the year looking something like this:

Krul

Dummet
Colo
Saylor
Janmaat
Tiote
Colback
Sissoko
Cabella
De Jong
Cisse

For now though, I'd leave the team as it is. SBR used to be a big advocate of leaving a winning team alone... a view I endorse.

 

Tiote out, Abeid in.
Cabella out, SDJ in

 

I think he gives you a great option for home games to alter how you approach games where teams come looking for a point. You can take out Abeid or Colback, shift Sissoko back and bring in SDJ as a 2nd striker. That way you don't create a problem with a lack of bodies in midfield, but can look to have that guy arriving late and creating opportunities. He looks good in the air and attacking crosses so its just another string to the bow. Away from home it is slightly more complicated but I think he'd be maybe a better choice against the top team to play the striker role, holding up play better than young Ayoze.

It just gives you more options. We should never be thinking "what is our best 11". Football no longer operates this way. Pardew has struggled to adapt at times, and has not been helped by a lack of viable options. So tis little bit of depth takes away any excuses. You have to have an injury list under 10 to make that a reality though!

 

I think that we should be thinking about what is our best 11.
Okay, the squad is there to be used but the old adage of 'why change a winning team' is the way I view it. The squad compliments the strongest 11 for me and of course as you say helps out with injuries.
If you look at the most successful teams they tend to favour a settled starting 11 and build from there.
I think the days of Ranieri and his 'tinkerman' approach are well in the past.

 

It's an interesting one. When we've had fewer injuries and a more settled starting eleven, Pardew seems to have struggled to play - as he likes to call it - on the front foot. We don't seem comfortable trying to take the game to the opposition, we always seem to have far more success when two things happen - one, when our organisation and discipline to defend solidly is happening, and two when the opposition come at us and leave holes for our pacier players to flourish.

Is it any surprise that Aarons has done well, or Perez, or Sissoko, when we are now effectively playing 6 defensive players, plus the two wide men are expected to track back, then allowing Sissoko freedom not to play as a number 10, but as the connecting element on the counter? I don't think so. I think our identity as a team is as one of the strongest counter-attacking sides, which is about right considering we're about the 7th or 8th best team in the league. Not in the elite, but low enough so that every other club thinks they can win so we never really have a team setting up to defend against us.

We clock up more miles per game than most other clubs, and subsequently more injuries, because we have to work hard, track back and counter time and again. What needs to happen is that this formation needs to be maintained regardless of who is available. Bringing Siem De Jong in to midf/attack will lead to less pressing and would require us to be a bit more dynamic, playing off a number 10, which is when we usually struggle. For me SDJ is really the natural man to stick up top. He's clever, mobile enough, can spot a pass and hold the ball.

I might be wrong, but our strongest XI is more or less the one that's currently starting - Krul, Janmaat, Saylor, Colo, Dummett, Tiote, Colback, Obertan, Sissoko, Aarons, SDJ. So many options from the bench is an unusual position for us to be in, but happy days really.

 

You'll only need to fit him in for one game then he'll be injured again. Quality player but a complete crock.

 

The good thing is we can let De Jong have a proper rest and take our time. He has been injury prone in his last season with Ajax but doesn't actually have a horrendous record injury wise before that. So unless there is something permanently wrong, which there is no indication that is the case and certainly no way of any of us knowing, perhaps the extended break can bring him back to his top level.

I have my suspicions but then I did about Demba Ba too. Those proved completely unfounded.

The real issue with Siem is not injuries. Its not talent. Its him adapting to the pace and power of the premier league. He is not the strongest or quickest.

 

Don't twist your pretty head over this. Some other player will pick up a longterm injury. Probably Sissoko or Colback. They've been far too healthy lately.