Completely agree. There are times where he gets stuck right in and can be an integral component of us going forward. Then there's times he's like a fucking traffic cone, not reading the game and pointing for others to do the spadework because he's ten or fifteen metres out of the game. Then there's the times he is just a component in non-productive passing across the backline side to side until the opposition smell blood and he gets pounced upon. What is missing is a component which makes him keep hold of the ball whilst moving forward with it at his feet. Doyle does it and Fleck used to try until he ran up against opposition players who would force him to turn his back. I hear all about these 'stats' which many use as a battering ram and as 'proof' of his worth but it all amounts to nowt when he coughs up possession in key areas and suddenly we are transiting from promising attack to desperate defence.
Regardless of improved performances recently, I am still not won back over. There's no doubt that five seasons ago he was pretty damn decent and the first half season in the PL up to lockdown. But for me he is still a liability, one for which doesn't allow him to be first on the team sheet and undroppable.
pommpey