Asier Illaramendi

[lucio 5,418]

Because Real Madrid have the ball more then their opposition unless they're facing Barcelona whereas Real Sociedad's whole game plan is to let the other team have the ball allowing their defensive midfielders to rack up tackles and try starting a counter-attack. Alonso's primary job is being a playmaker and the tackles in that team are mainly instigated by Khedira.

Now if we compare him to Khedira you'll notice the German does his job with far less fouls and also better pass accuracy.

sami khedira wins on average 2 tackles a game. illaremendi wins 3.8. far less fouls? khedira makes 1.2 compared to his 1.5 hardly astronomical and their supposed to rack up tackles as you said so there is no problem here. and khediras passing is 1% higher despite playing in a much better team who has more possession. and illaremendi averages quite allot more passes per game

[Leif 6,006]

sami khedira wins on average 2 tackles a game. illaremendi wins 3.8. far less fouls? khedira makes 1.2 compared to his 1.5 hardly astronomical and their supposed to rack up tackles as you said so there is no problem here. and khediras passing is 1% higher despite playing in a much better team who has more possession. and illaremendi averages quite allot more passes per game

Of course Khedira will average less tackles per game. If Real Madrid have 60% possession most games and Real Sociedad have around 40% that's a whole lot more time for Sociedad's players to try and tackle isn't it? Also how much Asier do you watch? If you watch a lot you'll agree that a lot of his tackles hit the ball right towards the opposition and lead to a scoring chance for whoever his team is facing, yes? This is because he slides in, often from behind or the side, with no intent other than to get the ball away from whoever's in possession. He doesn't think ahead. His football brain is naive and young. He doesn't think "I should tackle this player with this technique". It's just "Tackle him" like he's a cyborg.

Khedira on the other hand will tackle/intercept and then lay the ball off to Ozil or Alonso and be a constant recycling-possession option, and also offer a lot more in terms of going forward.

That is far less fouls. That racks up to 3+ fouls in 2 games for Asier whereas it'd take at least 3 games for Khedira to even reach that 3-foul mark. Again, of course he'll have more passes per game. You're not exactly a main playmaker when you've got Xabi Alonso and Ozil in your team. And again, if you watch him, you'll see that the majority of those passes are quick one-twos with defenders. The exact thing Mikel is berated for by half the forum.

To touch on passing; Khedira often uses smart simple passes to a playmaker as he knows he's not exactly Pirlo on the ball. Asier tries too much though and doesn't think enough. He won't even look where he's passing half the time meaning the ball either goes out for a throw-in or his teammate has to run out of position to the stray ball leaving a gaping hole behind him for the opposition to potentially exploit.

Having the technique to pass well is one thing. Having the brain to pass well is a whole other and more important thing.

[JDY 1,290]

I honestly don't know whether he's trolling or not. I disagree with just about everything said, throwing statistics in without any context and massively exaggerating what you consider flaws even though it's normal for the player in his mould.

We've clearly been watching a different player & different Real Sociedad, so let's just agree to disagree.

[Leif 6,006]

I disagree with just about everything said

Well it is a forum after all which is all about opinions. Just because you disagree doesn't mean you're correct.

throwing statistics in without any context

I backed literally every single stat up

and massively exaggerating what you consider flaws even though it's normal for the player in his mould.

Or perhaps you're massively suppressing?

[lucio 5,418]

the only flaws IMO are a possible lack of stamina and over reliance on his right foot. other than that he is a suitable defensive mid in a 4-3-3 provided the other 2 midfielders are of high quality.

[OneMoSalah 8,883]

Yeah not good enough for us but good enough for Madrid who are known admirers of his......

[Leif 6,006]

other than that he is a suitable defensive mid in a 4-3-3 provided the other 2 midfielders are of high quality.

Indeed. But to start with we play a 4-2-3-1. And if we switch back to a 4-3-3 we have Mikel still. If Mikel remains next season there's little doubt he'll be a starter, meaning Asier would be on the bench (neither Mikel nor Asier will take up a role just ahead of the other defensive midfielder surely). So then what happens with Romeu? We just pay for this guy (who we're not even linked with I just realised) and write Romeu off because he had an injury?

[Leif 6,006]

Yeah not good enough for us but good enough for Madrid who are known admirers of his......

Known admirers? How is this known? That 'information' originated in a non-Spanish paper who are still running a story that we look likely to be losing Mata:

http://www.express.co.uk/sport/football/409202/Friday-Transfer-News-Liverpool-to-sign-Luis-Alberto-as-Arsenal-go-big-for-Gonzalo-Higuain

Real Madrid have also had Woodgate, Faubert, Drenthe, Granero etc. but that doesn't mean they're magically good enough for us.

[OneMoSalah 8,883]

Known admirers? How is this known?

Linked with him. Alonso's father has also said he'd be a good fit at Real and hes similar to his son IIRC.

[Gilvorak 3,734]

Not good enough for us IMO. Better players out there.

Is he even better than Romeu?

[Leif 6,006]

Linked with him.

We've been 'linked' with Gomez, Dzeko, Falcao, Cavani, Rooney, Lewandowski, Aspas, Higuain and Jovetic just this year though and it's not really a link when it's just posted as a rumour to garner views for a newspaper who make the majority of their stories up.

In the exact same position as Asier Real Madrid have also been 'linked' with Benat, Vidal, Pogba, Kondogbia, Toure etc. and just signed Modric not long ago.

[OneMoSalah 8,883]

We've been 'linked' with Gomez, Dzeko, Falcao, Cavani, Rooney, Lewandowski, Aspas, Higuain and Jovetic just this year though and it's not really a link when it's just posted as a rumour to garner views for a newspaper who make the majority of their stories up.

In the exact same position as Asier Real Madrid have also been 'linked' with Benat, Vidal, Pogba, Kondogbia, Toure etc. and just signed Modric not long ago.

Well anyway. Lets just say that Illaramendi is a quality player and if he moves on this summer big clubs will want him. (Madrid, Arsenal, Chelsea, etc.)

[JDY 1,290]

Well it is a forum after all which is all about opinions. Just because you disagree doesn't mean you're correct.

I backed literally every single stat up

Or perhaps you're massively suppressing?

- I didn't say I was correct, I just disagreed with you, like you disagreed with me.

- Yes, backed up without context. Comparing him to players who are playing in different roles this season (the only fair comparison based on his season with Sociedad was Khedira). He was not playing as a DLP for Sociedad, but showed potential that he could have the right attributes to be a good one (which he demonstrated with Spain with his style akin to Busquets/Carrick). Some of the stats were also wrong.

- Maybe I am, but I'm only calling it as I see it, just like you are. Like I said, clearly we have been watching a different player, because our opinions couldn't be more different.

[OneMoSalah 8,883]

Anyway Leif, your post you put up there......

Having the technique to pass well is one thing. Having the brain to pass well is a whole other and more important thing.

Well that is odd because I'd say he was the glue in that Spanish U21's team, he was always making himself available and playing passes at the right time, dribbling at the right time, timing when to pass and when not to pass well etc. I'm pretty sure thats using his brain isn't it?

He doesn't think ahead. His football brain is naive and young. He doesn't think "I should tackle this player with this technique". It's just "Tackle him" like he's a cyborg.

What the fuck?

No offence but that is a ridiculous statement on its own. When you tackle someone you don't think about the technique, you think about trying to get the ball.... not where is the ball going to go or will they get the ball back... you just try and get the ball... sure some players tackle someone and the ball goes to their team mate but I have serious doubts they do the tackle knowing their team mate will get the ball. Name me one player who intentionally tackles someone so their team mate gets the ball from the tackle?

[Gilvorak 3,734]

Wasn't Romeu the fulcrum of the Spanish side before his injury?

Illara is obviously a good player but you simply can't ignore the system he's playing, the players supporting him and the quality of the opposition he's facing.

Lets see how he performs in the upcoming CL before crowning him the next Busquets/Redondo or whatever.