Unnecessary.
And in doing so you ignore a significant part of what a player can bring to a team, and a principal reason why succesive managers have had the player as an ever present in their teams. We have often in recent years lamented the lack of leadership in the team. One can't do this on the one hand and then dismiss the value of a player who shows (mostly) leadership commitment and professionalism.I haven’t discussed Xhaka as a person, there’s no need to. I’m not talking about any personal or leadership failings. I’m talking about his ability as a footballer pure and simple.
Your opinion only. Not a fact. And not supported by the evidence. Xhaka is the most important player in his international team and an ever-present in ours. I have acknowledged that he lacks pace (the reason for many of the rash challenges that he has made at times). But it simply doesn't make any sense that he lacks a footballing brain or can't anticipate what is going to happen on the pitch. I gave you a clear example (Ian Wright's MOTD analysis) that debunks what you are saying.It’s not because Xhaka is lazy that he gives away the ball it’s because he lacks the ability to retain possession under pressure, it’s not that he was played for too long in the DM role that makes him a liability it’s because he lacks awareness of what’s going on around him when he doesn’t have the ball….he doesn’t have a footballing brain. Which means he cannot read, anticipate where he’s meant to be especially if we lose the ball he can’t anticipate and then as a result is more likely to make rash challenges…it’s not a personal defect, it’s a footballing defect.
I disagree - and Xhaka's performances this season (and if we are fair and honest) much of last season support my stance. IMO Xhaka is nowhere near as inept as those with confirmation bias suggest.As a footballer you either have it or you don’t, Walcott was a good athlete and a decent striker of the ball but he couldn’t even look up on the ball because he didn’t know what his own feet were doing.
I’m not saying this to be insulting, you’re either made that way or you’re not. And to exist in this league without being exposed….Xhaka isn’t built