Hutton & Jenas set to sign.

[villadelph]

We haven't seen Jenas play regular football in years. I don't think we can judge his first-team impact on a campaign until he sees the pitch. We'll be fine.

[barrysleftfoot]

  Agree Monty, he is not a creative midfielder, although he has got a better pass on him than Petrov.He is a holding midfielder with more mobility than Petrov.The craft in midfield has to come from Bannan or Ireland.

[Monty]

BLF, I don't even think he's that. I don't think he can read the game well enough, certainly not as well as Petrov, I don't think he can pass the ball better and I don't think he can particularly tackle. He sort of runs around and really looks like a footballer, but I've never known what he can actually do. I hope he proves me wrong, but he just strikes me as being a nearly good enough at a lot, but isn't quite at anything.

[villadelph]

BLF, I don't even think he's that. I don't think he can read the game well enough, certainly not as well as Petrov, I don't think he can pass the ball better and I don't think he can particularly tackle. He sort of runs around and really looks like a footballer, but I've never known what he can actually do. I hope he proves me wrong, but he just strikes me as being a nearly good enough at a lot, but isn't quite at anything.

I think in our current system he will be pressured by McLeish to get forward. He'll work hard box to box, but I think his true impact will be in the final third. He may not be young anymore, but he still has a young style of play if you can understand what I mean? I can see a positive offensive improvement with Jenas in the squad. He could significantly better our 4-5-1.

[Monty]

The thing is, if you have one midfielder of a three getting forward, you need a deep lying playmaker of the Xabi Alonso mould (though not necessarily as good) to dictate the tempo, because you've sacrificed having that player further forward. We don't have that kind of player, so we still won't create enough chances for his forward runs to be really relevant.

[VancouverLion]

Both will turn out to be great signings, I think JJ will surprise a few on here, he has everything we have been lacking in the middle of the park, great energy, good on the ball and puts his foot in! Him & Delph will compliment each other I'm sure.
I'd take Jenas over Petrov any day of the week!

[ozzjim]

This is the Sidwell esque Jenas that Mourinho wanted to take to Inter as he saw him as one of the more technically gifted English midfielders

[olaftab]

ozzjim you shouldn't read press releases from agents!

[olaftab]

My main problem with Jenas is that he'd go into a midfield which would still lack technicality, guile and an ability to do the unexpected. It's a middling, Sidwell-esque signing, and I'm far from convinced that he's better than Makoun, or will help us get the best out of our other better players.

OK but other than that we have lot of ......ermmm...   well not a lot.
Obviously Bannan and Ireland are the answer.

[KRS]

For everyone saying that Jenas isnt any good...do you remember Darren Bent at Spurs? Since leaving the club he improved vastly and is now worshipped down at VP. A similar transformation could happen to JJ. Give him a chance.

[ozzjim]

ozzjim you shouldn't read press releases from agents!

Was Jenas himself, and Mourinho mentioned his admiration for him too.

[alan_clarke]

For everyone saying that Jenas isnt any good...do you remember Darren Bent at Spurs? Since leaving the club he improved vastly and is now worshipped down at VP. A similar transformation could happen to JJ. Give him a chance.

Bent scored goals at Spurs the same as he has everywhere else - a mystery to me why they shipped him out. Probably because he was making 'Arry's golden boy Defoe look average!

[Dave]

For everyone saying that Jenas isnt any good...do you remember Darren Bent at Spurs? Since leaving the club he improved vastly and is now worshipped down at VP. A similar transformation could happen to JJ. Give him a chance.

I remember Darren Bent being very good before Spurs, very good at Spurs and very good after leaving Spurs.

I remember Jenas being average before Spurs and average at Spurs. I'm crossing my fingers that something changes, but I'm not banking on it.

[luke25]

This is the Sidwell esque Jenas that Mourinho wanted to take to Inter as he saw him as one of the more technically gifted English midfielders

I totally forgot about that, there again Mourinho did sign Sidwell too.

[hawkeye]

from wiki
Despite an impressive first season with Newcastle United, in which he won the 2002–03 PFA Young Player of the Year award,[5] Jenas failed to repeat his initial form with the club and his two subsequent seasons were disappointing considering his early promise. Known for his strong "box-to-box" play and ability to score from midfield, Jenas' last two years with Newcastle were marked by a series of inexplicably bland displays, but goals and energy started to dry up, leading to Jenas starting fewer games. Despite temporarily regaining his form and gaining the vice-captaincy under new manager Graeme Souness early in the 2004–05 season, Jenas' form dipped again with only two goals in 48 appearances. He scored a total of 12 goals in 152 appearances for Newcastle United.