He also gets stuck in,breaks up play far better than Gundogan,and offers a much needed physical/aerial presence.I think he’s very good on the ball And he’s hard to dissposses. Good against a press. Has a good passing range.
Exactly a 7/10 player like most of our signings for about 3 years. No wonder we look a shadow of the team we wereThat challenge for the goal was shocking, and play never seems to progress through him as he doesn't have the close control to take it in tight places or the guile/quality to feed it through. Painful watching him have it in space and repeatedly turn around and play it backwards. He did win possession once or twice fairly well but I think this team will never play to its full potential until we get a proper player in that position.
For his standards it was a decent performance though I thought - 7 out of 10
Given the choice of a crocked and aged Fernandinho and Gundogan he might shade it. His first half display yesterday was poor in the extreme. Watch him amble behind his marker instead of try to make space for an out ball from defence. Count the passes he makes forward. I have never been convinced about him, particularly against energetic teams that are prepared to press him hard as Porto were yesterday. He wasn't exactly helped by some of his colleagues either. That first half midfield display was a display as I have seen from us in a good while.He also gets stuck in,breaks up play far better than Gundogan,and offers a much needed physical/aerial presence.
His lack of mobility can be an issue,but it's hardly noticeable when others in midfield are putting a shift in and pressing the opposition.
Currently our best CDM.
Peak Ya Ya Toure was one of the best players the PL has ever seen you can’t compare Rodri with him because he just isn’t anywhere near his ability in any part of his gameThere's definitely a player there but he's not going to be the Fernandinho/Nigel De Jong DM we're looking for. I actually see a lot of parallels with Toure. Tall, technically very good, great at recycling possession, got a wicked shot from range. I'd be tempted to retrain him as a box-to-box midfielder. Remember Toure was originally a DM/CB and then started to score more and more and more.
Kolo said he had to convince him to go to the gym because he'd be surprised at the physicality of the Premier League. With the right training, we could have Toure Mk. 2
He actually wasn't which is funny given we received 5 yellows for lesser fouls. Also, I think it was a clever foul as we clearly were outrun and as it didn't happen too often yesterday, was worth the risk too. In other words: it's better he fouled once he/we ended up in such situation.Got booked again for pulling back a player who ran past him. Happens all the time.
There's definitely a player there but he's not going to be the Fernandinho/Nigel De Jong DM we're looking for. I actually see a lot of parallels with Toure. Tall, technically very good, great at recycling possession, got a wicked shot from range. I'd be tempted to retrain him as a box-to-box midfielder. Remember Toure was originally a DM/CB and then started to score more and more and more.
Kolo said he had to convince him to go to the gym because he'd be surprised at the physicality of the Premier League. With the right training, we could have Toure Mk. 2