He was one paced and couldn't pass water. He just liked a tackle which is what endeared him to the crowd
Barry supplanted him completely in the title winning season and was twice the player. He was reduced to being Yaya's water carrier when we moved him further forward in games to try and drive us forward
We've got De Jongs equivalent in Fernandowith the flair players we`ve had and still got, you need someone to protect the back 4 we currently dont have a genuine defencive mid. kante would have done very nicely.
we also needed someone with water carrying skill because yaya has never liked doing the ugly stuff that needs to be done.
He was one paced and couldn't pass water. He just liked a tackle which is what endeared him to the crowd
Barry supplanted him completely in the title winning season and was twice the player. He was reduced to being Yaya's water carrier when we moved him further forward in games
Where has this myth come from that Kante protects the defence? That's Matic and was Drinkwater at Leicester, Kante chases all over the pitch trying to tackle people and break up play, like Fernandinho.with the flair players we`ve had and still got, you need someone to protect the back 4 we currently dont have a genuine defencive mid. kante would have done very nicely.
we also needed someone with water carrying skill because yaya has never liked doing the ugly stuff that needs to be done.
Barry was very underrated, the only thing he lacked was pace but he had more than enough experience and intelligence to make up for thatAgree with this, an intelligent player such as Barry can be far more effective than an effort/tackling specialist. Gundogan could have a similar role and impact if he gets back to full fitness.
Where has this myth come from that Kante protects the defence? That's Matic and was Drinkwater at Leicester, Kante chases all over the pitch trying to tackle people and break up play, like Fernandinho.
just an example but fernandino is not getting younger , gudun will always be an injury worry delph sell fernado loan garcia bring into the squad yaya let go bring in fabinho for rb and rdm kolasinic for lb and ldm and kessie for cdm, it is not hard finding players that will improve us but it is hard finding ones that will bed in wellI agree that this position is key. Thing is there are loads of decent full backs who would make an enormous difference to us, not sure if there's as many midfielders good enough to play as our pivot.
Doing a lot of defensive work and being the midfield who is protecting the defence aren't the same thing, he's not the one who actually protects the defence from people running at them or getting into those pockets between the lines. He's obviously helping the team a lot defensively, but he's not the player specifically in the team to protect the defence.Sorry but that's complete bollocks. He doesn't sit back and screen the defence, but that's not the same as not protecting the defence. He stops play, either through tackling or intercepting before it even gets to the point where Matic needs to get involved, and if things do get that far advanced, he also is very good at tracking the danger men and making sure it doesn't get to them.
As his teammates this year and last year have all said, he is the biggest influence on the defence of any team he plays in.