MOTM vs Preston

[loz]

Take your pick

[BlueBeard]

JT for me, didn't put a foot wrong.

[BigIzz]

Terry for me as well

[The Machine]

John Terry. He had a very good game and played the part in the second goal as well.

[Alex]

normally slate him, but thought deco did well today. only slight flaw was he gave away a few fouls but i thought he played the ball around better today.

[Ruh Buh Juh]

JT, was superb all game, didn't let anything (really) get past him, won all of his headers, was the rock in the defence we've been so used to seeing the last 5 or 6 years.

Credit to Zhirkov and Deco, they came a close 2nd and 3rd respectively.

[BlueBeard]

normally slate him, but thought deco did well today. only slight flaw was he gave away a few fouls but i thought he played the ball around better today.

It pains me to admit it, but Deco played very well in the deeper midfield role, second half. I almost voted him MOM, but just couldn't bring myself to do it

[charierre]

For once the TV got it right, JT bossed the defence and was a constant threat from corners.

[chelseabootboy]

terry was a monster!!! alex did you not see deco give the ball away for fun in the first half man of the match my arse..

[BelgradeCFC]

Anelka.

[Hutch]

JT, was superb all game, didn't let anything (really) get past him, won all of his headers, was the rock in the defence we've been so used to seeing the last 5 or 6 years.

Credit to Zhirkov and Deco, they came a close 2nd and 3rd respectively.

agree with all of that. JT was here there and everywhere today, on the line to put the preston attacker off when they had their big chance, and at the other end making a great run to get the header in forcing a save from which sturridge scored our second goal. deco also had a very good game, and if JT hadn't been so influential today, he might well have got my vote.

[The Brit]

maybe deco should be the anchor man now that belletti appears to have joined essien on the sidelines...he has a bit more time and space back there to make his passes and looks a lot more comfortable...thought he orchestrated our play once he went back there

[mad_mac]

I thought Deco played well other than say the fist 20 minutes. Pretty much to the point he was forced into the deep play maker, and the I felt he was very good. sturridge and Anelka both played well, but seemed to be dropping back lots and keeping busy. I think Sturridge has given a good account of himself.

however, Terry was the Man of the match today.

Scott

[Virosh]

A bit surprised to see JT running away with it. I thought he was fairly stable overall, but I distinctly remember at least a couple of times he misjudged balls that could have easily lead to goals.

Anelka gets my vote. Constant threat, scored a good goal, should have scored more.

[mad_mac]

I think the fact that he missed a few chances stopped me from voting Anelka, but it was certianly between them.

OOI, Sky have given Nico a 9.2 and Terry an 8.3

[The Brit]

A bit surprised to see JT running away with it. I thought he was fairly stable overall, but I distinctly remember at least a couple of times he misjudged balls that could have easily lead to goals.

Anelka gets my vote. Constant threat, scored a good goal, should have scored more.

also in a game where the opposition provided little attacking threat, it seems strange to give man of the match to a defender who had little to do most of the time...he still had a good game, just think it should go to an attacking player especially when you have to break a defensive team down

[mad_mac]

Agreed, Brit. But I will add that they looked dangerous on the break (which they hit us on quite a few times due to some soppy passing early on) and I felt terry was consistant in defending and joined in the attacks too.

Anelka and Sturridge both looked lively, but some of the chances Nico missed, or held onto for too long, just made me tip the scales in Terry's favour.

Who did you vote for, out of interest?

[Chippy]

No massive games for anyone today for me.

I though JT was exactly what we would expect and dealt well with what he had to deal with, Anelka was good again.

I think for a chilly January day I have to give credit to Deco..just back from injury and ater a slow start and a forced change of role he played well, hope this is a sign of things to come.

Zhirkov looked good again as well and should have had an assist for a well taken dissalowed Malouda goal.

Hard to give this to JT as I wouldn't expect any less from him so I have to give my vote to Anelka.

[Nibs]

Really only two contenders today - JT & Anelka.

Voted JT as he was immense, but Nic ran him close.

Everyone else was pretty average - no real need to get out of second gear. Job Done.

[wicksy]

Most of us seem to agree for a change...

I thought JT was motm as he did nothing wrong at all, solid defensively, used the ball well and was a constant threat when he went forward.

But Deco was superb AFTER he replaced Belletti and Zhirkov impresses me every time I see him.

[Alex]

maybe deco should be the anchor man now that belletti appears to have joined essien on the sidelines...he has a bit more time and space back there to make his passes and looks a lot more comfortable...thought he orchestrated our play once he went back there

deco did give the bal away in the first twenty minutes, but as other poeple sid when he moved bck looked a lot etter

cant say i agree with him being given the anchor role though, although h did have a lot of time today to play his passes he wouldnt get that in the prem, the oppo would make sure he has no time, and when has no time the ball is given away.

but fair play to him he did play well OVERALL today

[Phillip]

Most of us seem to agree for a change...

I thought JT was motm as he did nothing wrong at all, solid defensively, used the ball well and was a constant threat when he went forward.

But Deco was superb AFTER he replaced Belletti and Zhirkov impresses me every time I see him.

I agree to an extent, but I am siding with Virosh (Which I seem to do a lot these days), as JT did make a few mistakes, and Nico was all over the place and turning the PNE's defenders around in circles.

[Nibs]

I think people are going a little OTT on Deco's performance.

Sure he was a lot better than he was before Belletti went off and better than he has been most of this season. He did play some very decent passes and looked a lot more comfortable playing deeper where he was given a lot more space and time on the ball. BUT there is no way I would want him playing there in the premiership or CL. He very rarely tackles without giving away a free kick and he would not get that same amount of time on the ball.I think it would be suicide playing him back there against decent opposition.

[Alex]

I think people are going a little OTT on Deco's performance.

Sure he was a lot better than he was before Belletti went off and better than he has been most of this season. He did play some very decent passes and looked a lot more comfortable playing deeper where he was given a lot more space and time on the ball. BUT there is no way I would want him playing there in the premiership or CL. He very rarely tackles without giving away a free kick and he would not get that same amount of time on the ball.I think it would be suicide playing him back there against decent opposition.

totally agree with you mate. but he was good today!

[wicksy]

I think people are going a little OTT on Deco's performance.

Sure he was a lot better than he was before Belletti went off and better than he has been most of this season. He did play some very decent passes and looked a lot more comfortable playing deeper where he was given a lot more space and time on the ball. BUT there is no way I would want him playing there in the premiership or CL. He very rarely tackles without giving away a free kick and he would not get that same amount of time on the ball.I think it would be suicide playing him back there against decent opposition.

I would agree with you there. He'd never be allowed the time and space in the prem, which he so needs.