I adore this guy
21
Season Average Rating
- Appearances
- 31
- Goals
- 8
- Assists
- 5
- Yellow cards
- 6
- Status
I have a serious mancrush on this fella.
I would breast feed him if I could. ticks every box and is the fan on the pitch
Not only 2 goals today also amazing passing stats with a 96% success rate and 43 final third passes
He's a tremendous footballer... pretty much the complete midfielder.
I admit, before we bought him (and even since, when he wasn't doing well) I've compared him to Gerrard (for his willingness to lead, his aggression going forward, his ability to compete against superior odds) and Scholes (for his availability for a pass, and his instinct that it's his job relieve pressure on another player).
But like all comparisons they don't mean much. His first time passes are a thing of beauty if his teammates are on the same wavelength. His ability to control and turn with a ball in a tight space reminds me of Ince, but that don't mean much if there's nowhere for the ball to go next.
So yes, he reminds me of a lot of truly exceptional players, but he's not them and that's OK, because we never really do replace like-for-like. All I can really say is that to me he always seemed like he was best suited to the role of a classic English box-to-box player, but with the control and touch of a Spanish player. I really hope he can become the best version of Ander Herrera possible with us, because then he'll be a special player and we'll get the benefit.
But then I am biased
But like all comparisons they don't mean much. His first time passes are a thing of beauty if his teammates are on the same wavelength. His ability to control and turn with a ball in a tight space reminds me of Ince, but that don't mean much if there's nowhere for the ball to go next.
So yes, he reminds me of a lot of truly exceptional players, but he's not them and that's OK, because we never really do replace like-for-like. All I can really say is that to me he always seemed like he was best suited to the role of a classic English box-to-box player, but with the control and touch of a Spanish player. I really hope he can become the best version of Ander Herrera possible with us, because then he'll be a special player and we'll get the benefit.
But then I am biased
Scholes, Riquelme, Gerrard, Zidane, he is just brilliant.
Edit: He changed his game, though. The time where he wasn't playing was clearly a period where he was adapting to a new game.
I don't agree except that he had to get used to the physical EPL. I remember his first few starts the opposition made a point to put him on the ground at the start of each game trying to make him hesitant. LVG, IMO, was slow to get him in the side during the WW15 (woeful winter of 2015). It's probably his biggest mistake as a manager this season.
Overall, though, I see the same player and think LVG only tweaked his game if at all.
This sums up my feelings for him.
This is the reason we paid 30 million for him. Start him.
Our best signing last summer for me.
Yeah ? It's maybe me then.
I think that him and Rakitic have changed their game, they are better at controlling the game, now. Up until last season they were very aggressive, always trying to find the killer ball, now they wait more for the right opportunity, but maybe I'm seeing what I want to see.
The big question is, when is Del Bosque going to open his eyes and play Herrera? He's been overlooked for way too long and would do brilliantly for Spain.
At the minute, he would definitely add more to that Spanish team than Iniesta, Suarez, Pedro, and even perhaps even Fabregas (considering Herrera's ability both going forwards and defending). A midfield of Isco, Koke, Herrera and Silva, with Busquets behind and Morata up front would do much better than what they had against France.
Obviously have Mata instead of Silva and you've got an insane team there.
At the minute, he would definitely add more to that Spanish team than Iniesta, Suarez, Pedro, and even perhaps even Fabregas (considering Herrera's ability both going forwards and defending). A midfield of Isco, Koke, Herrera and Silva, with Busquets behind and Morata up front would do much better than what they had against France.
Obviously have Mata instead of Silva and you've got an insane team there.
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That is pushing it for the moment. He's been benched for a while here and just broke his way in to the team, he's just started his 12th game of the season in the league. Same goes for Mata over Silva, Mata has been brilliant out wide for a few games now while Silva has been playing at that level for a couple of years. Also I don't see why they can't play Silva in the left and Mata on the right in that case.
Even if they'd ideally want width I am not sure Pedro/Navas is worth it over Mata and Silva.
LVG described him as a 60metre midfielder today. What's that mean?
Mata over Silva was mostly tongue-in-cheek, but at the minute Mata is in better form. Despite the quality of Spain's midfield over the years, I think it is crazy that Herrera does not have a single cap for the senior side. He was very good at Bilbao and if he can keep playing as he is, then he will definitely warrant a call up. What I was saying was, if I were to pick a Spanish team right now, Herrera would at least be on the bench, if not starting.
Herrera and Blind were undoubtedly our best signings last summer. 7 goals and 5 assists in 18 starts, rarely finishing any of those games would be amazing for an attacking midfielder let alone for a central midfielder.
You have to remember that it's not all about the flashy names when making signings, sometimes you just need to buy the right player for the team.
You have to remember that it's not all about the flashy names when making signings, sometimes you just need to buy the right player for the team.
Haha. It's probably box-to-box in Dutch. 60m is probably about the length from one box to another.
He is sex. Goals from midfield! At Manchester United! I'd forgotten what that felt like.
I wouldn't have been able to guess that one. 40m for both boxes in a 100m field. Can Van gaal speak normally ?
Is there a thread dedicated to Louis Van Gaal-isms? I've noticed in almost all interviews he does he just makes up a word that doesn't exist, but I usually understand
Really?
The part that is so impressive is that he is doing everything that we knew he could when we bought him and has added more goals to his game. His immaculate close control seems to give him the time to consistently pick out a placed shot when others would have to snatch at getting one off. Unless his touch and composure deserts him, he could be scoring 10+ goals a season consistently for us.
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His one touch pass with a little effect for Valencia was jizz worthy. The weight on it was spot on.
He has grown into his role more and more, been absolutely excellent the last 3 matches. I see him trying to dictate more and more and that is what we need from him, you can't really compare him to any player, he is very much his own and can do most things. Safe to say i'm a big fan already.
Fair enough in my eyes too. Only Fabregas has been really outstanding of the Spanish central midfielders this year with Isco as a close second and then Herrera in third place. Martinez and Alcantara are injured though which is important to keep in mind, especially Martinez who is the defensively great midfielder they currently lack.
However you try to line up with their players it ends up looking a bit FM like, and Herrera is definitely the defensively best option of Fabregas/Isco and him.
Box to box?
Except one poor half at the hawthornes he has been a huge upgrade for our midfield and should never have been dropped. Some posters decided to be stupidly pedantic and delve far too deeply into interpreting his stats when your eyes were showing how you how much better he made us. Future captain.
Fabregas has only been outstanding in terms of assists (they are important tbh as they produce goals) but in terms of general play he's been ok and even disappointing since January. Isco has been more consistent than him.
Koke is the starter,it will be very difficult for Herrera despite his good season.I would bench Fabregas who usually play shit in national team
Can somebody GIF that little flick up with his right foot and then volley over the top of the defense for Valencia to run onto? it's kid in the park type stuff beautiful
beautifulNever ever thought he'd be this much of a goal scorer. He wasn't really that prolific when he played further forward at Athletic. He's gone beyond my expectations.
The lad has a superb knack for hitting the ball along the floor with pace and control.
The lad has a superb knack for hitting the ball along the floor with pace and control.
Yeah Koke if he plays as a CM is up there as well. Personally I am a bit disappointed that they don't let him have a flank as they seriously lack anybody to do that job. Playing Isco as a winger, or Pedro/Navas seems so wrong when they could have been playing Koke/Silva.
Yup. That is the issue with their team. He can't play with Busquets at all either and generally looks crap for the NT and previously for Barcelona. Their midfield is really off balance until Martinez returns and who says he will return as good as before.
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