A Stoke viewpoint of KJ

[ned_werby]

4) This was Kenwyne Jones’ big chance to pay back Steve Bruce for disparaging his work rate and selling him during the summer. Were it not for Cattermole’s arm and then his boot, again on the goal line, moments later, he would have had his revenge. Yet his overall performance, if anything, proved Bruce right. Yes, he suffered from a lack of service and yes, he had his hands full with the excellent John Mensah, but Jones made it easy for him, ambling around, not getting into dangerous positions in open play, winning little in the air and again exuding an air of disinterest. That’s three consecutive league games in which he’s been ineffective, and that isn’t really acceptable for an £8m striker.

To what extent is this down to the role we’ve been using him in though? Utilising him as the line-leading striker means that there is nowhere for anything he does win in the air to go, and effectively causes our attacking play to grind to a halt when we use the direct approach. The Jones/Walters partnership that Pulis favoured earlier in the season hasn’t really worked, and neither, if we’re honest, has Jones and Tuncay, at least with Jones as the out and out striker. The Turk was our best player last weekend at Everton, and one of the few to emerge from the Sunderland game with any credit. Yet the unpalatable truth is that even with Tuncay playing in his favoured position behind the striker, we’re not really creating anything.

I understand why TP has been reluctant to use Kenwyne in the withdrawn role. That position demands a tireless work ethic and a player willing to drop into midfield and muck in defensively as well as getting into dangerous positions, and Jones hasn’t shown a huge willingness to do that consistently thus far, in a Stoke shirt at least. Yet Stoke have looked most dangerous this season when Jones has played behind Ricardo Fuller. With Fuller on the pitch. Jones has won more in the air, the team have won more set pieces in the danger zone, and we’ve generally looked like a force. So it proved again (briefly) on Saturday, when the Jamaican’s introduction coincided with our best spell of the game and sparked Jones into suddenly looking more effective.

We HAVE to give this partnership a chance from the off, irrespective of any misgivings the manager might have. After four straight defeats, there is precious little to lose in doing so.

plus ca change........

[Andy.SAFC]

It's taken them until November to work this out?

[Pell]

i still hope he does well for them
glad he had a quiet day against us and glad he tortured the mags

[thecozmo]

you dont get much for £8m

[stephen cartwright]

clowns. dont they know he is great defensively and just needs service and he will score 20 plus this season for stoke

the new drogba

[Joe-B]

If KJ could be arsed in every game and performed like he did at times for us when he was breathtakingly brilliant he wouldn't be at Sunderland right now, nor would he be at Stoke.

I actually think that when he's at the top of his game he is a world beater, but he's not our problem any more as we have Gyan who seems to have a fantastic work ethic from what I have seen and nothing needs to be said about Darren Bent.

[The Phantom]

very surpised he didnt torture us, though tbf he would have had at least 1 goal if not for cattermole

[Spargel]

Quite simple really - Jones is not a natural footballer. He doesn't link with other players and doesn't have much awareness. He can be dangerous on one of his good days because of his natural athleticism and strength but lacks the skill, touch and powerful shot to be a top quality player.

[Archie Blagger]

For Kenwyne to work well, he needs a striker who is prepared to run beyond him into channels. To be honest I heard Tuncay's name mentioned prior to kickoff and that was about it.

All in all though, didnt have a great game and Bruce was vindicated in his decision to get rid and replace him with Asamoah.

Originally Posted by stephen cartwright

clowns. dont they know he is great defensively and just needs service and he will score 20 plus this season for stoke

the new drogba

Thats probably one thing he doesn't get credit for to be honest. Other than that you are wrong ... he's the new Andy Carroll man!

[marco1172000]

Interesting that they too are saying that "he didn't get the right service", just like some of his biggest fans on here, they think it's the rest of the teams fault that he has no impact on a game, and he is not being used properly.

Thought he was poor on saturday..... which is a relief, as i thought if he was gonna be fired up for any game ever it would have been against us. Which again proves how dis-interested he is generally!!!!!!!!!!