He’s not a dirty player, if that’s what you mean? He’s not big enough to be a bully either. He is like an angry little wicketkeeper sledging and nibbling away at the batsman - or in this case his marker, scrapping for everything and running his socks off. I cannot praise his work rate enough.
He is a classic wind up merchant, getting into the head of his defender, little barbs, an “accidental” step on the toes at a corner. He knows his game, he’s never going to be a Messi - he is a player of “small gains” making a larger whole.
It does seem a little damning with faint praise to talk about “running around a lot” as a key attribute, but his runs make space for others and he is actually a very intelligent player.
I must take issue with a few comments earlier in the thread saying he is good back-to-goal. That is absolutely not his game, and we have really struggled in games when he was isolated. When he plays poorly, the ball seems to just bounce off him. But he keeps on working and playing on the shoulder all the same and is guaranteed to earn a chance from that alone.
I should also add that I’m sad to see Neal go and bear him no ill will. He’d be third choice as it stands with us if he’d stayed, but I’d certainly rather have him in the squad than not.
