Sorry to disappoint, but its one of the things that drives me mad. He actually started the season in great form, looked back to his best, but that's long been forgotten, and no doubt he has recently been out of form/tired/injured/missing Silva, or all four. He got a deserved rest last week, where we missed his influence at keeping the ball, and returned to be excellent on Tuesday, so no it wasn't "a start".
Many people never got over 'cakegate', and he's been shit ever since according to them, despite the fact at the time he'd just lost his brother. He's not infallible, he's caused trouble here on occasions, and says stupid things, he's also not a captain for me, but he's one of the best 3 or 4 players I've ever watched for this club, and he still has a lot to give us. Many think he'll be gone when we get Pep, I'm not so sure, I think Pep is quite capable of getting another couple of good years out of him, by using him wisely.
If he leaves us next summer he'll go with my great thanks, though reading this thread I sometimes wonder if I'll be the only one.