Vurnon Anita (now playing for RKC Waalwijk)

[Mole_Toonfan]

Difference is pretty much height. Manu got Carrick, Swansea got Michu and Ki wich both are higher and poser a better threat then our midfield trio. They are all midgets, thats what worry me, players like Fellaini would have a field day against us. And don't even get started on set pieces.

 

Ah right thats fair enough.

[Ikon]

There will always be a physical battle, but i think that the signing of Sissoko will get us to see the very very best of Anita and his strengths as a player. Sissoko is not a deep sitting DM so Anita will get to do what he's best at, distribute the ball from deep, simple but very effective.

 

Sometimes when Tiotë has been playing we end up with two players going deep to receive the ball from our defense leaving us in a way too deep starting position to start our attacks from. When you have two of your CM's in the same line sitting very deep it makes it easy for the opposition to press and limit our time and space on the ball, as well as us losing an outlet/option to pass forward to which makes it difficult for us.

Not only that, as a result of this our wingers/wide forwards are forced to go too deep as well.

 

Cabaye/Marv in a advanced position with Sissoko making powerful runs box to box able to carry the ball and giving us a very good outlet centrally will give us some great balance. Exciting times..

[AyeDubbleYoo]

Will Sissoko provide enough physical presence to compensate for leaving Tiote out? I'm a bit worried about that aspect of our midfield in some situations.

[Gallowgate Toon]

He's solely competing against Tiote for me, if used correctly then they should both get plenty of starts with us. Anita should play games where we're looking to be the team on top, his pace can cover breaks if full backs push up, and he's a better player on the ball to help us break teams down. Tiote should be playing games where we're looking likely to have more of a battle or will be under the cosh. Simply put, if I was manager, I'd be looking to play Anita in most home games and Tiote in the majority of the away matches.

 

Sissoko is wasted as a defensive midfielder, he's pure box-to-box and should be playing higher up. For me, he'd be competing with Marveaux and again it depends on the team we'll be playing.

[AlanSkÃrare]

Has to start for me, will be great with Cabaye in the side.

 

Does not compete with Tioté for me, that would be Sissoko. Anita has completley different qualities from both of those.

[Yorkie]

Anita brings shitloads more to the team than Tiote does these days. I'd have him deep, starting off attacks, bringing the ball forward. If Sissoko can be the brawn (without limiting himself to an anchor man position), we can have those two behind Cabaye in a midfield trio. Sounds fit on paper, like.

[Gallowgate Toon]

Has to start for me, will be great with Cabaye in the side.

 

Does not compete with Tioté for me, that would be Sissoko. Anita has completley different qualities from both of those.

 

Tiote is a defensive midfielder, Sissoko is not, it would be a real waste of his talents to play him as one too. Anita can play all over the midfield, but he's shone as a defensive midfielder above all else.

[Guest palnese]

Anita, Cabaye, Tiote, Sissoko.

 

No malo competition for a two man midfield.

 

[Pilko]

A lot of the lineups people are making in light of our signings don't include Anita, he has to be one of the first names on the teamsheet for me. His energy, harrying and ability to distribute the ball are absolutely made for a midfield three role. I think he's been outstanding this season, despite everything.

[Gallowgate Toon]

I think it's more circumstantial than that, the only player that has a spot nailed down, in my opinion, is Cabaye. I think the rest are all interchangeable depending on the opposition, I quite like this squad malarkey

[AlanSkÃrare]

Has to start for me, will be great with Cabaye in the side.

 

Does not compete with Tioté for me, that would be Sissoko. Anita has completley different qualities from both of those.

 

Tiote is a defensive midfielder, Sissoko is not, it would be a real waste of his talents to play him as one too. Anita can play all over the midfield, but he's shone as a defensive midfielder above all else.

 

I do not particularly see Anita as a player who breaks up play and wins the battle. Sissoko has the physical presence to do that even if he isn't deployed in a ancorman role. Anita on the other hand is the most modern midfielder we have. His passing and movement is/will be vital for our game if we actually adapt a 4-3-3 permanentley. The way in which he links defence to midfield is such a vital part of building play, I reckon he will revel with Yanga-Mbiwa/Coloccini in behind him.

 

We could probably sacrifice Tioté who's more one-dimensional than any of the other CM's.

[Tooj]

As long as Pardew gets us pressing all over the pitch (which IMO has been Arsenal's problem recently) it won't make a difference if Sissoko is playing instead of Tiote.

[BeloEmre]

Anita, Cabaye, Tiote, Sissoko.

 

No malo competition for a two man midfield.

 

 

http://news.images.itv.com/image/file/13476/article_6315cc4de37c4dca_1333382445_9j-4aaqsk.jpeg

[johnnypd]

I think it's more circumstantial than that, the only player that has a spot nailed down, in my opinion, is Cabaye. I think the rest are all interchangeable depending on the opposition, I quite like this squad malarkey

 

Anita is like a tailor - he threads everything together. Him, Cabaye and Sissoko in the middle looks to be a well balanced midfield to me - as currently we don't have a real box-to-box who can drive us forward on the ball like Sissoko can and that makes the gap between midfield and attack quite glaring, especially when bringing it out from defence. Often the onus to do that falls on Tiote and he just ends up making mistakes.

 

They can all tackle and put a shift in too so you don't necessarily need a dedicated Tiote type destroyer in there for most games.

[Gallowgate Toon]

Has to start for me, will be great with Cabaye in the side.

 

Does not compete with Tioté for me, that would be Sissoko. Anita has completley different qualities from both of those.

 

Tiote is a defensive midfielder, Sissoko is not, it would be a real waste of his talents to play him as one too. Anita can play all over the midfield, but he's shone as a defensive midfielder above all else.

 

I do not particularly see Anita as a player who breaks up play and wins the battle. Sissoko has the physical presence to do that even if he isn't deployed in a ancorman role. Anita on the other hand is the most modern midfielder we have. His passing and movement is/will be vital for our game if we actually adapt a 4-3-3 permanentley. The way in which he links defence to midfield is such a vital part of building play, I reckon he will revel with Yanga-Mbiwa/Coloccini in behind him.

 

We could probably sacrifice Tioté who's more one-dimensional than any of the other CM's.

 

While I think it's a common misconception that defensive midfielders need to be particularly physical, look at Makelele for example, Anita's primary roles would be to harry, cover, help us keep possession and use his good passing range to help break teams down, hence why I suggested certain games. He was excellent as a defensive midfielder for Ajax, it was the form of his life, I see no reason why he couldn't replicate that here.

[Gallowgate Toon]

I think it's more circumstantial than that, the only player that has a spot nailed down, in my opinion, is Cabaye. I think the rest are all interchangeable depending on the opposition, I quite like this squad malarkey

 

Anita is like a tailor - he threads everything together. Him, Cabaye and Sissoko in the middle looks to be a well balanced midfield to me - as currently we don't have a real box-to-box who can drive us forward on the ball like Sissoko can and that makes the gap between midfield and attack quite glaring, especially when bringing it out from defence. Often the onus to do that falls on Tiote and he just ends up making mistakes.

 

They can all tackle and put a shift in too so you don't necessarily need a dedicated Tiote type destroyer in there for most games.

 

That is a good midfield, I agree with that, but when breaking a team down for instance, I'm not sure there's enough attacking ability there. That's where Marveaux enters the debate for me, he's the only true playmaker we have (bar HBA), as Cabaye's creative abilities come from a little deeper. Marveaux has lovely feet, he can create an extra bit of space for himself in close situations and is a sublime subtle passer, he will be massive in certain matches.

[Mole_Toonfan]

I think it's more circumstantial than that, the only player that has a spot nailed down, in my opinion, is Cabaye. I think the rest are all interchangeable depending on the opposition, I quite like this squad malarkey

 

Anita is like a tailor - he threads everything together. Him, Cabaye and Sissoko in the middle looks to be a well balanced midfield to me - as currently we don't have a real box-to-box who can drive us forward on the ball like Sissoko can and that makes the gap between midfield and attack quite glaring, especially when bringing it out from defence. Often the onus to do that falls on Tiote and he just ends up making mistakes.

 

They can all tackle and put a shift in too so you don't necessarily need a dedicated Tiote type destroyer in there for most games.

 

hardly anyone uses dedicate destroyers anymore anyway, we need to move with the times.

[johnnypd]

I think it's more circumstantial than that, the only player that has a spot nailed down, in my opinion, is Cabaye. I think the rest are all interchangeable depending on the opposition, I quite like this squad malarkey

 

Anita is like a tailor - he threads everything together. Him, Cabaye and Sissoko in the middle looks to be a well balanced midfield to me - as currently we don't have a real box-to-box who can drive us forward on the ball like Sissoko can and that makes the gap between midfield and attack quite glaring, especially when bringing it out from defence. Often the onus to do that falls on Tiote and he just ends up making mistakes.

 

They can all tackle and put a shift in too so you don't necessarily need a dedicated Tiote type destroyer in there for most games.

 

That is a good midfield, I agree with that, but when breaking a team down for instance, I'm not sure there's enough attacking ability there. That's where Marveaux enters the debate for me, he's the only true playmaker we have (bar HBA), as Cabaye's creative abilities come from a little deeper. Marveaux has lovely feet, he can create an extra bit of space for himself in close situations and is a sublime subtle passer, he will be massive in certain matches.

 

Yeah, definitely - if we're at home and trying to break a resolute side down then Marveaux gives us that extra bit of quality. Will be good to have a range of options for once.

[Mole_Toonfan]

I think it's more circumstantial than that, the only player that has a spot nailed down, in my opinion, is Cabaye. I think the rest are all interchangeable depending on the opposition, I quite like this squad malarkey

 

Anita is like a tailor - he threads everything together. Him, Cabaye and Sissoko in the middle looks to be a well balanced midfield to me - as currently we don't have a real box-to-box who can drive us forward on the ball like Sissoko can and that makes the gap between midfield and attack quite glaring, especially when bringing it out from defence. Often the onus to do that falls on Tiote and he just ends up making mistakes.

 

They can all tackle and put a shift in too so you don't necessarily need a dedicated Tiote type destroyer in there for most games.

 

That is a good midfield, I agree with that, but when breaking a team down for instance, I'm not sure there's enough attacking ability there. That's where Marveaux enters the debate for me, he's the only true playmaker we have (bar HBA), as Cabaye's creative abilities come from a little deeper. Marveaux has lovely feet, he can create an extra bit of space for himself in close situations and is a sublime subtle passer, he will be massive in certain matches.

 

Lovely having options isn't it? 

 

Hopefully Pardew uses the options afforded to him in a smart manner.

[Guest Dontooner]

Anita will definitely be in my starting 11 , If all fit that is, he could even play on the right if we needed to close the game. I highly doubt we will have all 4 midfielders fit all the time , so the balance and competition is great.

 

Anita is one of the few players we have that actually pass and move well with the ball.

[Spudil]

It really annoys me to see Anita, after all those years of careful technical and tactical development at the Ajax academy and in the first team,  sent out by Alan Pardew with the sole purpose to run around like f*** 

 

 

[Segun Oluwaniyi]

It really annoys me to see Anita, after all those years of careful technical and tactical development at the Ajax academy and in the first team,  sent out by Alan Pardew with the sole purpose to run around like f*** 

 

 

I actually think his ability to "run around like f***" will be his greatest asset to the team. He isn't a transcendent passer and isn't physically strong enough to dominate like other DMs, yet when you combine decent all around skills with his effort and pace it comes to a good footballer.

[Tiresias]

Don't understand his relegation to the bench behind Perch at all. (well apart from Pardew liking tackling i suppose). Hope he's not too upset

[Fenham Mag]

Gives him a break to reassess himself and adapt more to the Premier League.

[Yorkie]

Aye man he's got to be back in there ahead of Perch; can't understand it. If Pardew wants a more regimented defensive-midfielder alongside Cabaye, he can play that role. He doesn't have to be as box-to-box now Sissoko is in there. DM isn't his best role, but I bet he can do it better than Perch; much better footballer.