But that's the thing that splits opinion on Wanyama thus far, IMO.
Jack Cork runs around like a madman. He's always hassling some guy or running across the pitch to try and make a slide tackle. It looks like he's doing something (and I mean, tbf he is doing something. He's a good player, just a different style). Wanyama job is more to sit there and after players get a taste of him, they stay far away.
So at the end of the game you tend not to remember Wanyama, you just know the opposition didn't score and never threatened. The reason for that could be that the other team was avoiding Wanyama. Or it could be they were simply crap, or it could be Dejan Lovren (or any of the back four). Everyone agrees our defense is very good when healthy. Not everyone agrees Wanyama is a major reason why. I do. But tbf, he's only been here a short time and we have a new manager with a unique defensive system, and we added Lovren as well. Plus Shaw, Clyne, and Cork are quality players as well so hard to pinpoint exactly what's making us tick. And if you downgrade his defensive contributions, you're left with a guy who doesn't run around much, isn't a great dribbler, and makes some awful passes.
I have no problems with Hooiveld or Fox. We've outgrown both of them, but they were important in our promotion push and so as far as I'm concerned they did what they were brought here to do.