GIALLOROSSI YORKSHIRE BLOG
If you're a sports fan in England, it's almost certain you will be confronted with heaps of messages of praise for Chelsea midfielder N'Golo Kante in the media. And the praise is warranted; he is certainly one of the Premier League's best central midfielders. However, I believe the Kante hype train has been going just a little too fast recently, with people beginning to discuss him as the best midfield player in the world.
I don't wish to personally criticise specific pundits, but those who have been saying such things about Kante don't appear to heavily watch much football from abroad. So how can they know who the best midfielder in the world is? Radja Nainggolan, Roma's number 4, has been in shining form this season. For the reasons just mentioned, I can't commit to saying he's the best midfielder in the world; that would be hypocritical. But I believe Nainggolan deserves more praise in the non-Italian sports press than he gets. Here are my three main reasons why I believe Radja is a better player than Kante. 1. Tactical Versatility Nainggolan has flourished in an advanced midfield position this season, which has allowed him to score 12 goals in all competitions to date. On the other hand, goals are not something frequently associated with Kante, who plays in a deeper position. This gives a clear reason behind Kante's lack of goalscoring, but it should be remembered that Nainggolan has also featured in deeper midfield positions in his time at Roma. Nainggolan has shown he is capable of performing in whichever position he plays in (doing so with tremendous work rate and energy), and can adapt to slight tactical tweaks efficiently, a mark of a true great. 2. Leadership This work rate of Nainggolan's has seen him become captain material, donning the armband from the start in eight Serie A matches this season. Whilst a lack of leadership does not make you a poorer player, being able to lead by example can give your team an edge and carry them forward in the biggest games. Nainggolan's thirst for success has seen him contribute to the team as a leader in such games this season, and his passion has really come through. 3. He's Done It On The International Stage Radja had a breakthrough Euro 2016 campaign for Belgium, scoring two goals, including an amazing long range strike against Wales. Kante meanwhile has been taking a little longer to cement his place in France's midfield. Players need to compete and perform in international matches to be regarded in the highest degree. Nainggolan has done that over the past couple of years, becoming a driving force in a strong Belgium team, and that can only help to establish his reputation as one of Europe's best midfield players. In summary, I believe Nainggolan can do everything that Kante is praised for - the hard graft, the covering of distance, the completion of crucial tackles - and also adds other aspects to his game. In this sense he may be seen as a more 'complete' midfield player. A team with both of the players in would be a frightening sight for any opposition, but let's hope the perpetual rumours linking Radja to Chelsea don't come into fruition, and that he continues to become an emblem of Roma.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
samuel bannister
Founder and editor of Giallorossi Yorkshire, who is also a columnist for Roma's official website about the women's team. Categories
All
Archives
October 2019
|