Everton’s Frenchman sets the standard
Some Manchester United supporters think they robbed us when we paid £20 million for Morgan Schneiderlin this January, but there isn’t an Everton supporter in the land who would echo that statement.
Let’s take a look at the true Schneiderlin, not the misrepresented version we saw under Van Gaal, and uncover why the Goodison faithful chant his name.
During his time at Southampton, Morgan Schneiderlin was part of a standout era at the club and was part of the foundation that would set the club up for its current success. He joined the team in 2008 and would finally achieve Premier League promotion in 2012, he was a big part of the team that would be raided by other top league clubs, namely Liverpool.
However Schneiderlin was not plucked away by the big hitters, it wasn’t until the 2013/14 season and onwards when he really started to turn heads, in fact that season he played so well that it wasn’t just the English clubs looking to steal Southampton’s players anymore, the buzz he created stretched to the continent.
In the same way Kante left everyone in awe last season for Leicester City, Schneiderlin’s work rate, strength, composure, passing range and outrageous interception and tackle statistics had the wallets open. He then went on to replicate this sublime form in the following season, making him arguably the best central midfield in the Premier League for two consecutive seasons, which would eventually earn him a move to Manchester United.
His spell at United was less than he had initially imagined, Van Gaal was heavily criticised for playing boring football void of flair, yet apparently there was no room for Schneiderlin since he would only play 4 times in the League that season. After his short time playing for Everton, I can say with certainty that he is not only a top draw player, but a true joy to watch.
I’ve seen him juggle the ball over pressing players’ heads as if it’s nothing before executing a cross field pass with laser precision, the composure we see from him on a weekly basis is quite frankly ridiculous, he can press for 90, in a rather quiet Everton side it’s nice to see him constantly communicating. Morgan Schneiderlin is much more than a destroyer but oh my word, his tackles. He makes his tackles simultaneously passes!
There’s no need to win the second ball when you have a man who clearly just sees something other players don’t, when Schneiderlin presses the opposition he doesn’t see a player dribbling who needs to be stopped, but an opportunity to begin the counter.
If the tackle doesn’t end up being a pass and it only results as him merely winning possession, then he can turn and split the field with exceptional passing –which he claims is his greatest quality- or make a safe defensive minded pass. For Everton Football Club he now has set the standard of quality for players in their prime age, we want more and after having this level of quality we will accept nothing less.
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He isn’t perfect and does sometimes choose the wrong pass, but I couldn’t be happier to have him wearing blue. If he does play against Leicester City this Sunday I expect he will be the deepest lying midfield with the responsibility to high press any central threats, in the hopes of stopping that ever consistent long-central through balls Leicester so often use. I couldn’t think of a better man for the job, how about you?
Up the Ev!