Imo, Neil had some iffy games. But even when I thought he wasnt at his best, his off the ball work was always good.
Being a good holding midfielder is two things imo. Someone who can slow or stop opposition from getting at the back line, and dictate tempo and territory. The latter is the more important in the modern game and he does it really well most of the time. Yes he gets caught on occassion, but so does every single player in our team. Because of his position it is amplified, but I would be staggered if coaches arent saying keep doing it. In terms of out of possession I think his positioning is really intelligent. He stops the killer pass because he is blocking angles. That isnt by accident. We all remember big tackles, but it is just as important to slow attacks down by being in a great starting position.
He has to step up, but there isnt a player in the squad who doesnt need to improve their level. I include Le Fee in that. I have a lot of confidence that a lot of players will really relish the premier league. It is why I think 4 or 5 major acquisitiona is the way to go, and stick with a relatively tight group.
