Jo- from a City perspective

Col MCFC · February 3, 2009

Hi everyone,

First of all I should just clarify I'm not here flaming or looking for trouble, I know City aren't everyone's favourite team at the moment but I'm here for the right reasons.

I thought you might (or might not!) want to hear about Jo from someone who's seen him in the flesh this season.

He's an excellent young forward, of that there's no doubt. While he only scored three goals for us, that has to be overlooked because he made numerous assists and held the ball extremely well whenever he played. He's relatively quick and good in the air, and of course being Brazilian he's got the inevitable great touch as well.

Unfortunately he and Hughes haven't seen eye to eye for one reason or another and the inept fool has chosen the likes of Ched Evans and Benjani despite it being obvious to everyone we had an excellent kid sitting on the bench dying to play.

His goalscoring record speaks for itself, 44 in 77 for CSKA and I know given the opportunity he'll do fantastically well in this country. David Moyes is the perfect man to get him fully up to speed- he's a manager who actually knows what he's doing and that I feel will benefit Jo.

I'm not sure if he's coming back to us when the loan finishes but I sincerely hope so- he's got a very bright future indeed.

Otherwise, all the best to you lot this season. I have to admit I kicked every seat in the COMS when Cahill scored that 93rd minute goal this season and went through a little spite period, but generally I like Everton- ironic perhaps coming from a City fan with the money available to us now but I love nothing more than a manager and a club who perform well on a shoestring budget. Mr. Moyes has worked wonders in the last number of years and who knows, you might even gatecrash the sky four this season, it's certainly not impossible.

All the best,

Col

linglong · February 3, 2009

Do you think Robinho's signing had an adverse effect on him??

Dylan · February 3, 2009

Cheers Col, nice assessment of the loan-boy.

Amazingly, I wouldn't wish riches like you got on any club but 1. As all it does is create 2 prices. The real price and the City price.

Enjoy your stay on GOT (y)

linglong · February 3, 2009

I agree with you Dylan,you have to wonder though now wether city really were prepared to pay that much for Kaka..or was it a publicity stunt by the board.

Dylan · February 3, 2009

Funny thing is I don't even need the [Poor language removed] to have those riches. Just look at every transfer FSW has made bar Torres. All 'special pricing'

Scottoffee · February 3, 2009

Hopefully Moyes has plans as to how to get the best out of him... That we were supposedly scouting him for a while before he joined City in the first place hopefully means that he sees in Jo a young player that he can slot nicely into our side.

I doubt he'll be coming permanently after the fee he cost just 6 months ago, but then again you guys do have something like 10 better than useful strikers on your books - and it's not as if your owners are going to be terribly worried about losing 15m or so, fingers crossed (providing he proves himself)

In the meantime, as well as we may have been doing lately, it's madness to think that we could manage with no proven strikers for the next few months and at the very least, Jo will hopefully take some of the scoring pressure off of Fellaini, Cahill and Arteta and not leave us increasingly dependant on set pieces... Like you said, his scoring record before joining you was impressive and they don't throw out Brazil caps to anyone either, change of scenery might be all he needs.

Cheers for the loan, City made some solid signings, so things should finally start to click for your lot - for me personally, its Spurs and Newcastle I want to see scrapping for relegation anyways!...

Col MCFC · February 3, 2009

linglong said:
Do you think Robinho's signing had an adverse effect on him??

It's possible although I would have thought it might have been positive for him because all of a sudden Robinho was the expensive buy at £32million, it meant that the £18million spent on Jo didn't draw as much attention- if he'd been the big signing it would have placed an even heavier weight on his shoulders.

Dylan, I understand that perfectly- you'd never think having so much money would be a burden but it is. Before we got taken over, we'd won 3 of our first 4 games and were looking really bright- I believe that was because there was no huge expectation. All of a sudden then we're handed Britain's most expensive footballer and told to become a 'global force'. It's all a bit much for us, a side who don't forget were making trips to Oxford United and Macclesfield not ten years ago.

I haven't enjoyed it much, the intensive media coverage is irritating and unfortunately breeds a lot of poor journalism. They're all jumping on the hate bandwagon and to be honest, being little old city going quietly about our business was a lot easier.

One thing about Jo, you'll see the best of him if he's played in that elusive 'hole' position behind a striker- he's the kind who drops deep to pick up the ball and takes it down the channels. He needs the freedom to move around the park. His size and appearance is deceiving because he's not really a targetman.

teppic · February 3, 2009

Col MCFC said:
I haven't enjoyed it much, the intensive media coverage is irritating and unfortunately breeds a lot of poor journalism. They're all jumping on the hate bandwagon and to be honest, being little old city going quietly about our business was a lot easier.

first off, this is a really honest post. i often wonder how i would like it if efc were taken over like city were and suddenly the 5 million we paid for lescott seems like pocket change.

of course it would be awesome if we started challenging for the league, which city will start to do in the next few years, but i wonder if i would miss the way everton are now. always the underdog, always outnumbered but never outgunned.

i wish we could have a touch more cash, perhaps in the villa way where it's obvious they are rich thesedays, but they never spend millions on anyone it seems.

still, this season has been pretty bad for city especially the embarrassment of the kaka saga. if the new owners grow up a bit...

bit of a surprise there were no mega signings by city none the less this window.

Bruce Wayne · February 3, 2009

Col MCFC said:
One thing about Jo, you'll see the best of him if he's played in that elusive 'hole' position behind a striker- he's the kind who drops deep to pick up the ball and takes it down the channels. He needs the freedom to move around the park. His size and appearance is deceiving because he's not really a targetman.

Hi Col, welcome to GOT.

That's an interesting point right there. Obviously we usually play with just one man up front, so you would think that Jo would be that man now he's signed up. Are you saying he's better in a front two than leading the line himself?

TyphooToffee · February 3, 2009

Col MCFC said:
One thing about Jo, you'll see the best of him if he's played in that elusive 'hole' position behind a striker- he's the kind who drops deep to pick up the ball and takes it down the channels. He needs the freedom to move around the park. His size and appearance is deceiving because he's not really a targetman.

I also welcome you and your comments, Col (especially as it looks like there'll be no mail delivered again today :yahoo

but I now start to wonder how - as Jo was bought in as a striker - he will play behind himself :unsure:

Seriously though, as TC doesn't fit well in a 442 if played in midfield, he and Jo could play up front I suppose.

Now to risk life and limb as I try to get to the sorting office to be told to risk it again by going home!

bobbyrob · February 3, 2009

Col MCFC said:
Hi everyone,

First of all I should just clarify I'm not here flaming or looking for trouble, I know City aren't everyone's favourite team at the moment but I'm here for the right reasons.

I thought you might (or might not!) want to hear about Jo from someone who's seen him in the flesh this season.

He's an excellent young forward, of that there's no doubt. While he only scored three goals for us, that has to be overlooked because he made numerous assists and held the ball extremely well whenever he played. He's relatively quick and good in the air, and of course being Brazilian he's got the inevitable great touch as well.

Unfortunately he and Hughes haven't seen eye to eye for one reason or another and the inept fool has chosen the likes of Ched Evans and Benjani despite it being obvious to everyone we had an excellent kid sitting on the bench dying to play.

His goalscoring record speaks for itself, 44 in 77 for CSKA and I know given the opportunity he'll do fantastically well in this country. David Moyes is the perfect man to get him fully up to speed- he's a manager who actually knows what he's doing and that I feel will benefit Jo.

I'm not sure if he's coming back to us when the loan finishes but I sincerely hope so- he's got a very bright future indeed.

Otherwise, all the best to you lot this season. I have to admit I kicked every seat in the COMS when Cahill scored that 93rd minute goal this season and went through a little spite period, but generally I like Everton- ironic perhaps coming from a City fan with the money available to us now but I love nothing more than a manager and a club who perform well on a shoestring budget. Mr. Moyes has worked wonders in the last number of years and who knows, you might even gatecrash the sky four this season, it's certainly not impossible.

All the best,

Col

A good read mate looks like you think a lot of him and lets hope Moyes can do a lot with him. (y)

Bluelass · February 3, 2009

welcome and nice to hear some comments that aren't punctuated by nasty snide comments about scousers!
One of my mates in work is a City ST holder and we have some very sensible discussions about footy and he seems to share your view that all this money has in fact put the team under more and more pressure as well as unsettling the existing senior players.

People like Jo Hart must be slightly put out by the arrival of Given. Hart has done well although I suppose a goalkeeper can never be good enough unless he stops every single attempt on goal!

Just a little bit concerned about your comment that Jo likes to play behind the striker.......ooops:huh:, maybe Moyes has something else up his sleeve then!

I'm looking forward to seeing him play in Royal Blue, I watched his interview on Everton TV and he seems like a sensible young man, not full of himself in the way he's been portrayed.

Good luck for the rest of the season. (y)

Cal · February 3, 2009

Welcome mate.

The Dude · February 3, 2009

Thanks for posting, I've always thought the whole jo situation was a bit of a weird one, paying so much and then seeing so little of him.

To be honest, I think there is likely to be a bit of an atmosphere around Man City's training ground at the moment. The fact that Mark Hughes was so quiet in the window just gone makes me think he'll be out of a job in the summer.

I am hoping that Jo will arrive at Everton, enjoy the "family" atmosphere that the team seems to have, and settle in for us. It seems to be the way Moyes works.

I just hope that, come the summer, City will let him go cheap, otherwise we'll have no choice but to let him go back to you guys.

Also, I'm not too worried about this "he plays in the hole best" comments. With Cahill and Fellaini getting forward, they will still be the first man, giving Jo someone to distribute to. That's my hope, anyway!