Toni Kroos

[Goater=Legend]

Xabi Alonso wasn't quick either and he managed to perform in this league, no reason why Kroos can't.

 

[Delphacito]

Mata and Silva are attacking mids not midfielders, especially deep lying midfielders. The premier league is so strong in the counter attacking game that you really need defensive minded players in that role. I'm not saying the physicality is a huge issue but to totally dismiss it false.

Speaking about counter attack, the Bundesliga has an even more lethal counter attacks than the Premier League. Pep himself said it. It's like nothing he has ever seen. Most of the time we will have possession of the ball anyway. I don't think this is an issue at all.

 

[ADegenerate]

Speaking about counter attack, the Bundesliga has an even more lethal counter attacks than the Premier League. Pep himself said it. It's like nothing he has ever seen. Most of the time we will have possession of the ball anyway. I don't think this is an issue at all.

Touché. I still want Pogba or Kante :p

 

[ono]

And what would Yaya in his pomp be on the market for today. Cannot compare yesteryear a prices with today's I'm afraid

It's crazy though isn't it, how much it has changed over a relatively short period of 5 or so years.

 

[Neville Kneville]

I don't know how many times I have to mention this to people:

1. You cannot compare Kroos and Yaya as they're a completely different player.
2. Silva is not as strong as Yaya, not as quick, not really a goal threat. Is Yaya better than Silva? Please.
3. Just cut it out with this so called 'physicality' of the Premier League. If Mata and Silva can fit in, so can Kroos. Kroos is one of the best in the world.
4. I also prefer Pogba to Kroos. But saying Kroos not being able to fit in PL is hilarious.

Yes you can, because the problem with Yaya, is where he plays.

If Silva & Mata are playing in the last line of defence, in front of the back 4, then you can compare them with Kroos, but they don't. If they did, they would probably win more ball.

That's where Kroos plays. Right in front of the back 4. We have had a problem with Yaya for years, in that although he's great on the ball, he's a liability in that key central area, when we lose possession. That area, will have Kroos in it, rather than Yaya, not Silva, or Mata, or Nasri or Aguero, Kroos. Hence the comparison.

So instead of great big goalscoring, physically strong Yaya occasionally bouncing someone off the ball in that area, we will have an invisible man, jogging out of the way or standing still as people run past him. And the benefit we get from this is purely one of passing. Not scoring, not tackling or heading, nice passing, from the back.

In order for that to work, the whole team selection has to be made in order to accomodate Kroos. Somebody, has to fill that area, when he goes missing.

 

[Neville Kneville]

I don't understand the worry for lack of pace and athleticism... There's been plenty of counter examples to those, Xabi Alonso and javi Martinez weren't any faster or more athletic and did just fine in pep's Bayern. I would imagine kroos would be the deepest midfielder controlling the game while gundogan dinho etc do the leg work.

Both those players are enormous tackling & heading machines.

The exact opposite of Kroos.

Some have asked the question as to whether Pep would play Stones in that position. That would be along the lines of Martinez. But nothing whatsoever like Kroos.

 

[ono]

I don't know how many times I have to mention this to people:

1. You cannot compare Kroos and Yaya as they're a completely different player.
2. Silva is not as strong as Yaya, not as quick, not really a goal threat. Is Yaya better than Silva? Please.
3. Just cut it out with this so called 'physicality' of the Premier League. If Mata and Silva can fit in, so can Kroos. Kroos is one of the best in the world.
4. I also prefer Pogba to Kroos. But saying Kroos not being able to fit in PL is hilarious.

If we are going prime vs prime, then yeah Yaya is or was better than David Silva. Better in almost every aspect, with the exception of moving off the ball and finding space.

Silva has much more longevity as none of his qualities rely on physical traits.

Having said that, despite the hysteria surrounding Yaya this season, there's been little difference between them in terms of performances all season.

 

[Ricster]

Yes you can, because the problem with Yaya, is where he plays.

If Silva & Mata are playing in the last line of defence, in front of the back 4, then you can compare them with Kroos, but they don't. If they did, they would probably win more ball.

That's where Kroos plays. Right in front of the back 4. We have had a problem with Yaya for years, in that although he's great on the ball, he's a liability in that key central area, when we lose possession. That area, will have Kroos in it, rather than Yaya, not Silva, or Mata, or Nasri or Aguero, Kroos. Hence the comparison.

So instead of great big goalscoring, physically strong Yaya occasionally bouncing someone off the ball in that area, we will have an invisible man, jogging out of the way or standing still as people run past him. And the benefit we get from this is purely one of passing. Not scoring, not tackling or heading, nice passing, from the back.

In order for that to work, the whole team selection has to be made in order to accomodate Kroos. Somebody, has to fill that area, when he goes missing.

I'd have Gareth Barry 2012 back and that is a very close comparison to Kroos. If you're saying he isn't good enough you may as well say Barry was shit too

 

[Neville Kneville]

I'd have Gareth Barry 2012 back and that is a very close comparison to Kroos. If you're saying he isn't good enough you may as well say Barry was shit too

Barry is the cleverest def mid I've ever seen & his whole game was about defending, Kroos is absolutely useless at it.

Barry is an ok but not fantastic passer from then on, Kroos is absolutely brilliant at it.

Might as well compare Roy Keane with Glen Hoddle.

 

[toffee balls]

That's where Kroos plays. Right in front of the back 4.

That is not where he played for the one season Pep had him at Bayern though.
He played as one of the 2 attacking midfielders , when everybody was fit that is.