Vurnon Anita (now playing for RKC Waalwijk)

[themanupstairs]

funny as f*** that 5 year olds who change usernames think they know more about than people like me.

 

And Malcolm Macdonald thinks the same as I do. He knows nothing about football either.

 

What exactly are you expecting from a player like Anita? He obviously hasn't made it as a pro footballer at Ajax for his goalscoring prowess, dribbling ability, Overmars pace, or tank-like build. He made it as a pro footballer for his speed of thought, excellent technique, vision and an uncomplicated understanding of the pitch all around him.

 

The fact that he can more than hold his own in multiple positions on the pitch tells us that he's somewhat a utility player whose best position happens to be as the lynchpin in a 3 man midfield. His pressing and closing down snuffs out opposition movement before he has to "put the tackle in". How does that NOT benefit the team? How does him doing immense work off the ball leading to opposition rushing passes, and resulting in us winning the ball, NOT benefit the team? How does him being uncomplicated in posession, giving time to our attacking players and those around him to position themselves for an attack before releasing the ball to get us underway NOT benefit the team?

 

He's clearly still learning about the league and opposition, and needs an extended run in the side before he can add to his repertoire. At the moment though, he appears to be dovetailing very nicely with Sissoko (and Cabaye) if the last two or three games are to go by.

[Tiresias]

 

Some people only see what they want to see (well think this afflicts as all to some degree)

[Elliottman]

Jesus, every now and again this forum throws up an absolute pleb. Here, we have Septembers nomination.

[Guest firetotheworks]

I stand by my point about Tiote being the De Jong of that Man City team. Looked good while the team was getting better, but once we upgraded on everyone, his defensive style is no longer needed. Anita is the type of player that we need now that we have players capable of keeping possession, so long as Sissoko is there to make sure he doesn't get picked on.

[Guest firetotheworks]

He also runs like a rooster, like a miniature Michael Johnson. Which is a plus.

[Rich]

 

funny as fuck that 5 year olds who change usernames think they know more about than people like me.

 

And Malcolm Macdonald thinks the same as I do. He knows nothing about football either.

 

This sounds eerily familiar.

[Guest firetotheworks]

 

funny as f*** that 5 year olds who change usernames think they know more about than people like me.

 

And Malcolm Macdonald thinks the same as I do. He knows nothing about football either.

 

This sounds eerily familiar.

 

As a 6 and three quarters year old, I get really angry, then upset, then tired whenever he suggests that I'm 5.

[Rich]

Still, it was nice to have Leazes back on the board briefly. Poor bloke just can't get enough N-O.

[themanupstairs]

Still, it was nice to have Leazes back on the board briefly. Poor bloke just can't get enough N-O.

 

knew it was him

[Guest]

Was it actually him then?

[AyeDubbleYoo]

The fact that he can more than hold his own in multiple positions on the pitch tells us that he's somewhat a utility player whose best position happens to be as the lynchpin in a 3 man midfield. His pressing and closing down snuffs out opposition movement before he has to "put the tackle in". How does that NOT benefit the team? How does him doing immense work off the ball leading to opposition rushing passes, and resulting in us winning the ball, NOT benefit the team? How does him being uncomplicated in posession, giving time to our attacking players and those around him to position themselves for an attack before releasing the ball to get us underway NOT benefit the team?

 

He's clearly still learning about the league and opposition, and needs an extended run in the side before he can add to his repertoire. At the moment though, he appears to be dovetailing very nicely with Sissoko (and Cabaye) if the last two or three games are to go by.

 

 

He's the kind of player I absolutely love to have in my team, oozes class. And with the way Cabaye, Sissoko and HBA play, it's essential to have someone who is content to just get it, move it on and keep the ball.

[KaKa]

This maniac that keeps ranting is the kind of guy that rates the likes of Scott Parker and Steve Sidwell for flying around launching themselves into tackles like a bunch of Neanderthals, bet that stuff turns him on.

 

However what he won't acknowledge or recognise, is the fact that they are incapable of getting into positions to receive the ball in space, and make the simple forward pass to get play going. Instead they specialise in knocking the ball backwards and sideways.

 

I'll have the more reserved and intelligent play of Anita all day, everyday.

[The College Dropout]

I'm not a big Scott Parker fan but he's a decent DM at this level. Blood and thunder with some technical skill can take you a long way in the PL.

[KaKa]

Parker was better in his younger days when they just let him storm around the pitch and go from box to box, as an all action type.

 

As a pure DM, I think he's very average to poor, at initiating play from the back.

 

I'm also not a fan of DMs that go to ground so much. Prefer those that hold their position more, and either intercept the ball or force the opposition into making more difficult passes.

[The College Dropout]

Was very decent for Spurs. Anchored a team that finished 4th, 5th (Champions League QF beating Milan), 4th. Generally agree with you but I find it churlish that people think Anita is already a better player than what Parker was.

[Mole_Toonfan]

Parker was never a good DM really it doesn't suit his skill set.

 

In his day he was a decent box to box midfielder though.

[The College Dropout]

But that's where he played for a top 5 side for 3 seasons.

 

When we tried to make him our B2B Steven Gerrard - he failed miserably.

[Guest firetotheworks]

I've got a lot of time for Parker. He's still a solid CM for me and did a lot of good stuff when he was at Spurs. He does what he's supposed to do well. He might be limited, but he uses what he has to its full potential, imo. He grafted his arse off for us, in a poor team with a crap midfield and two crap managers. He was excellent in his first season. It might have been all blood and thunder, but it was still excellent.

[thomas]

:lol: just read the last 2 pages.

 

Going to be gutted if Anita is dropped for Tiote.

[KaKa]

Parker had his moments in that position for sure, but I just didn't like his style.

 

A lot of times it was quite laboured, and he slowed down play. He'd spin and spin and spin, or play it too safe too often with the backwards and sideways stuff. He wasn't consistently good at it.

 

At Spurs he had Modric alongside him I believe, who took a lot of the responsibility of initiating play, and really was quite outstanding at it.

 

Ultimately with this kind of player (Modric) also playing deep alongside him then it works quite well. At Fulham they have Sidwell with him, and that is going to be a disaster. While he was here, Emre couldn't stay fit enough to partner him regularly, and it all eventually started going down hill.

[Guest firetotheworks]

Parker had his moments in that position for sure, but I just didn't like his style.

 

A lot of times it was quite laboured, and he slowed down play. He'd spin and spin and spin, or play it too safe too often with the backwards and sideways stuff. He wasn't consistently good at it.

 

At Spurs he had Modric alongside him I believe, who took a lot of the responsibility of initiating play, and really was quite outstanding at it.

 

Ultimately with this kind of player (Modric) also playing deep alongside him then it works quite well. At Fulham they have Sidwell with him, and that is going to be a disaster. While he was here, Emre couldn't stay fit enough to partner him regularly, and it all eventually started going down hill.

 

I don't think that really takes enough into account. For one, when Emre was fit, we had a manager that thought it would be a good idea to have Emre sitting deep and Parker being the attacking threat.

 

As for the point about Modric, I agree, but it's all about the balance between players and how they compliment each other. Parker and Sidwell sounds terrible, but Parker and a player like Arteta or Modric or Alonso and it works. He's basically a wingman for a better midfielder, and he's decent at it, imo.

[KaKa]

Parker had his moments in that position for sure, but I just didn't like his style.

 

A lot of times it was quite laboured, and he slowed down play. He'd spin and spin and spin, or play it too safe too often with the backwards and sideways stuff. He wasn't consistently good at it.

 

At Spurs he had Modric alongside him I believe, who took a lot of the responsibility of initiating play, and really was quite outstanding at it.

 

Ultimately with this kind of player (Modric) also playing deep alongside him then it works quite well. At Fulham they have Sidwell with him, and that is going to be a disaster. While he was here, Emre couldn't stay fit enough to partner him regularly, and it all eventually started going down hill.

 

I don't think that really takes enough into account. For one, when Emre was fit, we had a manager that thought it would be a good idea to have Emre sitting deep and Parker being the attacking threat.

 

As for the point about Modric, I agree, but it's all about the balance between players and how they compliment each other. Parker and Sidwell sounds terrible, but Parker and a player like Arteta or Modric or Alonso and it works. He's basically a wingman for a better midfielder, and he's decent at it, imo.

 

Ah, yes! Forgot about that from Roeder

 

Eeerily similar, in some ways, to Pardew's Tiote experiment.

[The College Dropout]

Parker had his moments in that position for sure, but I just didn't like his style.

 

A lot of times it was quite laboured, and he slowed down play. He'd spin and spin and spin, or play it too safe too often with the backwards and sideways stuff. He wasn't consistently good at it.

 

At Spurs he had Modric alongside him I believe, who took a lot of the responsibility of initiating play, and really was quite outstanding at it.

 

Ultimately with this kind of player (Modric) also playing deep alongside him then it works quite well. At Fulham they have Sidwell with him, and that is going to be a disaster. While he was here, Emre couldn't stay fit enough to partner him regularly, and it all eventually started going down hill.

 

Forget the style, he was effective. Parker did all the donkey work even if it meant running instead of using positional knowledge.

 

one thing I liked about redknapp is that he keeps the game simple. Parker got the ball and passed it to one of the more creative and talented players. With Modric alongside he would just give him the ball.

 

He was a regular in a side that beat Inter, AC, went to the CL QF, finished 4th, 5th, 4th. To say he wasn't consistently good is ludicrous. Claude Makelele would struggle alongside Steve Sidwell.. what's your point? Parker's good at doing the legwork for more talented players, winning the ball and laying it off. Things went wrong for him here when he was the man we looked to, to dictate play. He's not that guy. People thought Modric would struggle as a real CM in this division and I honestly believe having a work-horse like Parker really helped him (at least at the beginning) adjust to life at CM in the PL.

 

Parker's reliance on stamina/running also means he's fallen off with age.

 

Would Spurs have finished 4th, 5th, 4th with the current Anita? I doubt it.

[KaKa]

True say bro. Some fair points.

 

Just love Vurnon in our current setup, and fail to see how that dumpling guy can't recognise what he brings to the team.

 

Don't want to come across as a Parker hater, because he's a top pro and gives his all. Was just trying to make the point that blood and thunder does not mean a better or more effective player necessarily.

[Ronaldo]

funny as fuck that 5 year olds who change usernames think they know more about than people like me.

 

Irony.