Villa v Chelsea (PL) Sun 16th Oct 2022 14:00 GMT

[Bob stark]

I think you've just got to accept he's always going to be a polarising figure amongst our fan base.

I've said before I'm not his biggest fan, but I agree he provided exactly what we needed when he came on yesterday. Tempo and control.

He has strengths and weaknesses, against some opponents the strengths shine, against others the weaknesses get exposed, just like any other player.


Ten or so years ago if we were trying to see out a game we'd have probably brought Mikel on (assuming he didn't start in this hypothetical game), and he'd probably perform a similar job to that which was asked of Jorginho yesterday. Tidy passing, a defensive screen for the back-line, safe possession. The thing is no one would be arguing over his merits, but because of the baggage attached to Jorginho (most of which is tied to Sarri's tenure if we're being honest), it feels like everyone either wants to over or under emphasise his importance.

It's tough changing your opinion on a player when it's been entrenched for a while, and I think the arguing fans do over Jorginho just makes people more stubborn and unwilling to look objectively at what he offers.

He's had good games and bad games, he's very useful sometimes and slows us down a bit too much at others - against some opposition he's a "must-start" and against others he isn't.
 

Hmm with Mikel you can almost throw him in any game to help us close out game. That is not the case with jorgi 

 

[ozboy]

 Mikel had power and a brilliant touch but was an almost equally polarising figure. I watched him live in away game at white hart lane and he started the game with a double spin  carrying the ball across the midfield, so much chutzpah. I doubt if he made 10 penetrating passes that I can ever recall though and personally I think Jorginho is more a deliberate tempo setter.