I like the kid, he looks good to me, we'll have to disagree here. Sometimes stats can't show you everything about a player, I'd have Colback over Larsson any day of the week, I really thought Rodwell would put an end to Larsson in a Sunderland shirt but that hasn't happened. From what I've seen of Colback, Newcastle have been on the tele about 6 times recently and I've rated him in every game. Reminds me more of a Nicky Butt type player than a Pirlo mind.
Seb is wiping the flaw with him stats wise. I'm a seb skeptic mate but hat's off to him, he's been fantastic. Sebs passing is very close to Colback's which is the only thing Colback has the edge on, both defensively and offensively Seb is delivering more than Colback apart from inteceptions. I've watched Colback come through the ranks like most Sunderland fans, I know exactly what he's about, I've seen him at Newcastle and been shown more of the same. There's a reason most weren't bother by him leaving, and that's beyond keeping the ball well he just doesn't bring much. Seb has stepped up. Colback is the same as always, pass me the ball and i'll give it to somebody else. He can't take responsibility. he's niether here nor there both offensively and defensively. He doesn't bring enough please log in to view this image Fair do's if you disagree falla, but I wouldn't swap them for the world at the moment. in fact, the fact that Newcastle fans think they taken our best midfielder is laughable and just shows how piss poor their midfield actually is without Kebab.
Those stats look exactly how I'd expect them to look when you're comparing a holding midfielder (Colback) with a centre mid (Larsson). Colback's deployment is pure possession and distribution, like if you look at his forward passing, dunno what site you're using but I'd stick my house on it that Colback is playing more forward passes than Larsson, because he plays in a deeper position, it's only natural. People would look at that stat and say he's more proactive on the pitch, whereas we both know that's not necessarily true of the way he plays the game. Larsson's role is probably playmaker in that current squad, he's bound to have more key passes naturally. He's looking for runs from wingers and attempting more diagonals possibly to the likes of Fletcher. Colback hasn't been playing that role for Newcastle, he's been sitting deeper and distributing it on the floor, just finding players in space. The Joe Allen role only he's not just passing sideways. A DM with a passing accuracy of nigh on 90% is not to be sniffed at, although I agree with the Cabaye part, he's not in his league (although Cabaye will have a lower pass completion % because he tried a lot of precision stuff that didn't come off). I usually agree with you Bri and I've not seen much of Larsson recently so I won't dig him out, but Colback's looking really good.
It's squawka.com mate, powered by opta and the must accurate out there. But the forward/backward statistics aren't fit for purpose on any stat site as it bares no scope for sideways passing. Sideways passes are either marked as forward or backwards, sometimes by the slightest of angles meaning those stats can't paint an accurate picture. Don't know who's better, It's not worth checking. What is worth checking is seeing where the passes actually go. The fair way is to compare their last match. please log in to view this image please log in to view this image For s**ts and giggles Catts in his holding role. please log in to view this image I know who I think has the better range of passing there fella, Colback just like at Sunderland feeds nowt forward into the final 3rd, he doesn't take responsibility. He's a crap holding midfielder imo, just because he keeps the ball well don't mean he's nailed the position in my view, he can keep the ball whatever role he's assisted too, it's his inability to do anything with the ball other than the safe pass which makes him a jack of all master of nowt. His passing accuracy would decrease rapidly if he tried to more with the ball. Just me opinion but i've seen a lot of both players probably only missing about 8 of Colback's matches(all this season) since he broke the sunderland first team.
Not really sure what it's saying to be honest mate, I'm colour blind so it's just a bunch of lines to me. We're gonna have to disagree and move on mate
I mean forward passing statistics don't acknowlage side ways passes so it's a useless stat that means nothing. Fair play marra, I've seen them play literally hundreds of times between them, so it would be tough to sway my view on this anyway marra. Catt's and Seb are more then delivering the goods this season and are retaining the ball well(the only area Jack brings anything) so we just don't miss Colback's tippy tappy ineffective game, our lads are actually doing something with the ball.
Forward passing and backwards passing are both part of the game, 40-45% of Barcelona's passes under Guardiola were probably backwards. The accuracy is what counts for me, which is why I loved Scholes so much, he was always in the 90's for his completion rate, even more fascinating when you consider how many long passes he had in his locker. Colback's ability to find his man is all I've been impressed with, maybe his work rate too, he's just an old fashioned grafter. I'm not saying I'd have him at United mind, but he's a good player. I think I notice this more, now because he's playing one role at Newcastle, you lot seemed to use him in several positions. Similar to what Fergie done with Jones and Jones lost his way.
Don't get me wrong, he's a decent player, very tidy. But doesn't bring enough for me, never has but always rated him as a squad player. Can install a calming effect an help see games out. Always preferred Colback as CM by miles. A good holding player is someone like Ki at Swansea. Jacks just decent imo.
