I reread my comments and see how it could have been ambiguous. Even though from your response, I sense you'd stil disagree with me anyway. But here it is with less ambiguity and specifics:
I don't think he is awful with the ball (that was a response to gddg's statement). I think that is mostly perception rather that facts of late.
He has been good since he became a starter. That was my opinion. I think most agree with this, but reckon it's not enough to change their preexisting opinion of him.
As a passer, I think he is actually very good. His passes rarely puts his teammates in trouble (a sign of his footballing IQ) and when he gets a pass that might potentially put him under trouble, He often maneuvers it (exquisitely I might add) to rectify the situation. Be that via a nutmeg pass, switching his body position to speed up where he can direct the ball to, or deftly flicking the ball from one foot to the other to create separation. He does these things so seamlessly. And that's part of why I think he is only 2nd to Kev IQ wise.
I think his ball skills are grossly underrated. He is competent in control, his passes are low strong and to feet, the hallmarks of good passing. Rearly would you find him giving a hospital ball pass. He uses his body adroitly to aid his control. Must be a Brazilian thing, coz Dihno does it too. And when leasing a fast break, he almost always makes the right pass.
His game is reserved, as he is meant to be the most withdrawn of the CMs when he plays, but thus should not be confused for hiding. He is often cautious, and will take a withdrawn position as we move forward, but this should not be confused for hiding. Come into his area ( which Nasri and Yaya sometimes do, and he'd join in in a triangle passing tree to breakdown presurre.
What Mangala does is purposeful hiding, what Nando does, is cautious footballing. Once the ball is ahead of him, he doesn't force it. When it's behind him he often shows for it.
Anyway those are some of the reasons why I've concluded what o have about him. And I'd say his the last CM to get the cut because he is younger than both Yaya and Dihno (who has quietly begun to show his age, and Delph who has mostly been a crock this season, and doesn't have much playing time to be judged on. And the little he has, he was mostly poor.