Derry

[stanistheman]

Mbia's passing has not been good enough especially his attempted long ones, but his pass for Cisse against WBA was excellent and I could be wrong but that is probably one more assist than Derry has this season.

[zeberdee]

I dunno but my guess for the likely explanation is that while CM has been a weak link (hence the January chase for M'vila/Sossoko/Cole/Kranjcar) lasyt couple games Harry's been looking to get more from available CM by limiting its role (ie mainly destroy) which favours energizer bunny (Park) and effort/energy/aggression (Mbia) with flair from the flanks (Andros/Hoilett/Remy) and still threaten the opponents goal despite CM being mainly DM and even, incredibly enough, get a 442 with 2 CMs sort of coping to an extent (against Sunderland at least). So I don't think Derry has done anything wrong or been anything other than a good pro more that Park/Mbia probably score better than Derry in those areas - but I do expect he will play again this season.

[QPRSCLART]

Derry isn't mobile enough, ithinders our play. Great servant to the club but shouldnt be starting at prem level

Mbia is one of our best players, he looks clumsy due to his height and his passing can be dodgy but he's a proper footballer. His main fault is his recklessness. If he hadn't retaliated when Vermaelen fouled him earlier in the season I doubt we would have done so poorly against Reading soton & stoke

[supahoopsaaa]

Perhaps something happened with him in Dubai? Did he conduct himself in the correct manner for the whole trip?

Just seems to have vanished since Dubai.

Funny coincidence isn't it......

[SpankwiR]

Only played 1 game I think mate.

You interested in Liverpool away btw mate? If you are let us know I'll drop you a text.

You coming back the same day mate or you staying up there?

Im off to Centre Parcs on the Monday so cant stay but will be all over it if your coming back.

[MattyRangers]

You coming back the same day mate or you staying up there?

Im off to Centre Parcs on the Monday so cant stay but will be all over it if your coming back.

Staying up the Saturday before the game mate & home the Sunday. Drop us a line if ya fancy it and I'll keep you in the loop as nothing booked yet.

PS: Centre Parcs is for old people & vegans.

[SpankwiR]

Staying up the Saturday before the game mate & home the Sunday. Drop us a line if ya fancy it and I'll keep you in the loop as nothing booked yet.

PS: Centre Parcs is for old people & vegans.

Will do mate.

[Del]

For anyone suggesting Derrry is a better option, they need to bear in mind he only looked good when he played recently because he was brought in as a 3rd CM and his only remit was to patrol a relatively small areas in front of the CB's. Yes he was effective, but you can't possibly compare it to performances by Mbia or anyone else for that matter, playing in a central 2 where they have to cover much more ground.

If Derry played in a central 2 we would get slaughtered in the middle of the park.

[Stanley]

Mbia is one of our best players, he looks clumsy due to his height and his passing can be dodgy but he's a proper footballer. His main fault is his recklessness.

Yes his passing can be wayward

Just worry he is a red card waiting to happen.

These are all my concerns about him. It can't be stressed highly enough the importance of possession football and accurate passing at PL level. It's one of the most important attributes a player can have. Look no further than Swansea as an example. If he could improve that side of his game as well as his tackling & temperament we'd have a top player. Sunderland was probably his best ever game for us; lets hope that improvement continues.

[SammyKojoe]

Mbia's passing has not been good enough especially his attempted long ones, but his pass for Cisse against WBA was excellent and I could be wrong but that is probably one more assist than Derry has this season.

Glad someone else has a memory. Terrific pass and not many others in our side would have been able to produce that.

Yeah he can be a strange one at times and gives the ball away but he is everywhere. Closing down, tackling, challenging for headers and most importantly has put in some amazing blocks. You don't see those on MOTD or highlights but in a fair few games he has flung his body in front of a goal bound effort and blocked it.
Other thing i noticed is that when Sunderland scored he was the first one to get everyone going and not let heads drop. Said it time and time again, for all our midfielders Mbia is the one that starts every game and the rest rotate round him. He is not useless in Harry's eyes.

[DeepcutHoop]

Perhaps something happened with him in Dubai? Did he conduct himself in the correct manner for the whole trip?

Just seems to have vanished since Dubai.

It's interesting that Traore, Taarabt, Derry and Onuoha have all seemingly dopped down the pecking order since Dubai.

Taarabt seems to have got the largest share of the blame, and Traore by association, but Neds and Derry don't seem to have been mentioned in connection?

[Stanley]

It's interesting that Traore, Taarabt, Derry and Onuoha have all seemingly dopped down the pecking order since Dubai.

Taarabt seems to have got the largest share of the blame, and Traore by association, but Neds and Derry don't seem to have been mentioned in connection?

Traore played at Soton but was injured for the Sunderland game (is now fit again) and is competing with Fabio, so that I can understand.

Onuoha has lost his place to Bosingwa, justifiably IMO. He is also behind Hill at CB.

Derry for all the reasons stated in this thread.

Taarabt has been the only suspicious omission but he's been declared fit for tomorrow so it'll be interesting to see if he makes the squad.

[vblockranger]

Traore played at Soton but was injured for the Sunderland game (is now fit again) and is competing with Fabio, so that I can understand.

Onuoha has lost his place to Bosingwa, justifiably IMO. He is also behind Hill at CB.

Derry for all the reasons stated in this thread.

Taarabt has been the only suspicious omission but he's been declared fit for tomorrow so it'll be interesting to see if he makes the squad.

hope Harry isnt tempted to start him. Why fix something that isnt finally broke?. Stick him on then bench and bring him on if it aint happening.

[72bus]

i love derrys fight but time has caught up with him , m'bia is a younger and a better player

[DeepcutHoop]

hope Harry isnt tempted to start him. Why fix something that isnt finally broke?. Stick him on then bench and bring him on if it aint happening

I assume we'll see a similar line up to the last away game and Taarabt on the bench is a hell of an option to have.