Tips for Tikay

[Ant040689]

Kante has the most tackles of any player in the PL over the last three years. He's played a season and a half, less two suspensions.

Is he a one off freak that is underrated considering just how much of an impact he has?

One of the best players in the world?

[TightEnd]

don't think he is under-rated. widely known he's an incredible player isn't it?

fantastic stamina, effortless tackles, plays a pass, covers for team-mates. what more do you want in a holding midfielder?

[hhyftrftdr]

don't think he is under-rated. widely known he's an incredible player isn't it?

fantastic stamina, effortless tackles, plays a pass, covers for team-mates. what more do you want in a holding midfielder?

I'd say he is under-rated, perhaps just par for the course with the position/s he plays, but I'm sure there are many none Leicester/Chelsea fans who are perhaps not fully aware of what a player he is, and I'm guilty of that too. He's unlikely to get on the highlight reels of MOTD every week but his value to that Chelsea team must be at least on a par with Costa and Hazard?

Don't get me wrong, I knew he was excellent, but it wasn't until I made a conscious choice to watch him closely for 90 minutes yesterday that you realise just what he does for a team.

[TightEnd]

Can't find anything concrete anywhere....maybe its not decided until later?

''The main studio pundits and co-commentators include Owen Hargreaves, Michael Owen, Steve McManaman, Rio Ferdinand, Paul Scholes, Steven Gerrard, Robbie Savage, Glenn Hoddle and Ian Wright''

It was Mcmanaman last night so would they use him 2 nights running? Certainly no City bias amongst that group equally no Hammers bias either apart from Rio. Gerrard and Ferdinand were in the studio last night.

I expect Owen. my point wasn't about pro/anti bias towards any one team more that an Owen tends to grant MOTMs on rather superficial grounds. i.e goalscorers/eye catchers rather than unsung game influencers.

on another matter, for me Mr Gerrard has made a disappointing start as a studio pundit. Personally I don't want to listen to a "fan in a studio", would prefer something more objective.

[TightEnd]

Does Kante at 14-1 have a shot in this? (Hazard and Costa obviously favourites. Chelsea player shoudl win it?)

http://www.oddschecker.com/football/english/premier-league/pfa-player-of-the-year?selectionName=paul-pogba?dcmp=twt1

[arbboy]

Does Kante at 14-1 have a shot in this? (Hazard and Costa obviously favourites. Chelsea player shoudl win it?)

http://www.oddschecker.com/football/english/premier-league/pfa-player-of-the-year?selectionName=paul-pogba?dcmp=twt1

He should have a shot at it but in reality he doesn't do he?  The double whammy of Leicester slumping and Chelsea booming this season should help his cause even more but players like him just don't win these things do they realistically? 

With regard to the Leicester relegation bet and having a brief look at the fixture list you still have four of the bottom 8 to play at home.  Could have done without the cup replay midweek (and the potential for extra time) before the huge road trip to Swansea the following weekend however.  Could be a lot of pressure on the home game with Hull at the start of March as it isn't unrealistic to think February might only yield a point in the league.  West Ham away also suffers from bad scheduling with 3 games in 7 days in March. 

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/teams/leicester-city/fixtures

[hhyftrftdr]

Does Kante at 14-1 have a shot in this? (Hazard and Costa obviously favourites. Chelsea player shoudl win it?)

http://www.oddschecker.com/football/english/premier-league/pfa-player-of-the-year?selectionName=paul-pogba?dcmp=twt1

In theory he should be in with a good chance.

The concern is that the last time a none goalscorer/playmaker won this was Gerrard in 2006 or Terry in 2005 (if you consider the former a playmaker). Seems inevitable Chelsea will win the league which in turn seems inevitable it will be either chief scorer Costa or chief playmaker Hazard scooping. Kante should be up there but probably won't be.

[arbboy]

Does Kante at 14-1 have a shot in this? (Hazard and Costa obviously favourites. Chelsea player shoudl win it?)

http://www.oddschecker.com/football/english/premier-league/pfa-player-of-the-year?selectionName=paul-pogba?dcmp=twt1

In theory he should be in with a good chance.

The concern is that the last time a none goalscorer/playmaker won this was Gerrard in 2006 or Terry in 2005 (if you consider the former a playmaker). Seems inevitable Chelsea will win the league which in turn seems inevitable it will be either chief scorer Costa or chief playmaker Hazard scooping. Kante should be up there but probably won't be.

Gerrard was a huge goalscorer in his prime though.  So was Terry relatively for his position.

[hhyftrftdr]

Does Kante at 14-1 have a shot in this? (Hazard and Costa obviously favourites. Chelsea player shoudl win it?)

http://www.oddschecker.com/football/english/premier-league/pfa-player-of-the-year?selectionName=paul-pogba?dcmp=twt1

In theory he should be in with a good chance.

The concern is that the last time a none goalscorer/playmaker won this was Gerrard in 2006 or Terry in 2005 (if you consider the former a playmaker). Seems inevitable Chelsea will win the league which in turn seems inevitable it will be either chief scorer Costa or chief playmaker Hazard scooping. Kante should be up there but probably won't be.

Gerrard was a huge goalscorer in his prime though.  So was Terry relatively for his position.

Terry won it in 2005...in 2004/05 he scored 3 goals from 36 league appearances, so yeah he chipped in but surely that should be expected from a big, young centre half who would've been up for every corner and free kick? Doesn't strike me as particularly outstanding.

Agreed Gerrard was a big contributor at that time to Liverpool, not a typical playmaker but certainly weighed in with goals and assists.

[arbboy]

Does Kante at 14-1 have a shot in this? (Hazard and Costa obviously favourites. Chelsea player shoudl win it?)

http://www.oddschecker.com/football/english/premier-league/pfa-player-of-the-year?selectionName=paul-pogba?dcmp=twt1

In theory he should be in with a good chance.

The concern is that the last time a none goalscorer/playmaker won this was Gerrard in 2006 or Terry in 2005 (if you consider the former a playmaker). Seems inevitable Chelsea will win the league which in turn seems inevitable it will be either chief scorer Costa or chief playmaker Hazard scooping. Kante should be up there but probably won't be.

Gerrard was a huge goalscorer in his prime though.  So was Terry relatively for his position.

Terry won it in 2005...in 2004/05 he scored 3 goals from 36 league appearances, so yeah he chipped in but surely that should be expected from a big, young centre half who would've been up for every corner and free kick? Doesn't strike me as particularly outstanding.

Agreed Gerrard was a big contributor at that time to Liverpool, not a typical playmaker but certainly weighed in with goals and assists.

Terry scored 40 goals in his EPL career (66 goals in 712 games for his career overall).  Rio for example 11 in similar EPL games.  1 in 10 strike rate (who didn't take pens) for a centre half across your career at the very highest level is pretty decent return i would suggest.

[Matt50]

I have no stats to back it up but the number of goalscorers that get MOTM in tv games is ridiculous - summed up by Luiz getting the award last night.

[nuros]

Can still get 21/2 for Payet to score first tonight

Snodgrass likely to be chucked straight in at the deep end? Excellent from set pieces and City have a habit of conceding silly free kicks in key areas around the box. The various ground and aerial duels, specifically with Carroll and Kompany/Stones/Kolarov/Otamendi (delete as applicable), will only exacerbate this.

Ref is Michael Oliver who, if nothing else, has been in charge of many high scoring games this season and not a single 0-0; 12 of his 25 games this season have had 4 or more goals.

We have a fully fit squad, less Gundogan, and don't play until Sunday (home vs Swansea) so I'm expecting goals, but more than likely at both ends.

Snodgrass is 4/1 anytime but I think a better poke might be to be MOTM at 12s with bald. Debut, at home in front of a big crowd, looking to impress, essentially replacing the panto villain Payet so he's already on side with supporters. Takes a mean free kick and as above I'm sure Carroll will win plenty of free kicks in dangerous areas offering chances of netting a debut goal and/or assist.

Rec £10 on Snodgrass MOTM

http://www.oddschecker.com/football/english/premier-league/west-ham-v-man-city/man-of-the-match

I think it's highly likely that Snodgrass doesn't start tonight. We won our last two prem games without Payet and scoring 3 in each, albeit vs Palace and Boro. I doubt he'll go straight into the first XI having only been here a week - the predicted lineups I've read from usually accurate sources have him starting on the bench too.

[hhyftrftdr]

Does Kante at 14-1 have a shot in this? (Hazard and Costa obviously favourites. Chelsea player shoudl win it?)

http://www.oddschecker.com/football/english/premier-league/pfa-player-of-the-year?selectionName=paul-pogba?dcmp=twt1

In theory he should be in with a good chance.

The concern is that the last time a none goalscorer/playmaker won this was Gerrard in 2006 or Terry in 2005 (if you consider the former a playmaker). Seems inevitable Chelsea will win the league which in turn seems inevitable it will be either chief scorer Costa or chief playmaker Hazard scooping. Kante should be up there but probably won't be.

Gerrard was a huge goalscorer in his prime though.  So was Terry relatively for his position.

Terry won it in 2005...in 2004/05 he scored 3 goals from 36 league appearances, so yeah he chipped in but surely that should be expected from a big, young centre half who would've been up for every corner and free kick? Doesn't strike me as particularly outstanding.

Agreed Gerrard was a big contributor at that time to Liverpool, not a typical playmaker but certainly weighed in with goals and assists.

Terry scored 40 goals in his EPL career.  Rio for example 11 in similar games.  1 in 10 strike rate (who didn't take pens) for a centre half across your career at the very highest level is pretty decent return i would suggest.

Yeah I agree, but we're looking at a specific season rather than his whole career. I'd say 3/36 games isn't particularly remarkable for a young, big centre half in an attacking, title challenging team. It's not bad of course but not particularly eye catching either.

His stats over the course of his career are good.

[McGlashan]

Does Kante at 14-1 have a shot in this? (Hazard and Costa obviously favourites. Chelsea player shoudl win it?)

http://www.oddschecker.com/football/english/premier-league/pfa-player-of-the-year?selectionName=paul-pogba?dcmp=twt1

I like betting the favourite a month or two out from the awards ceremony date when others are still trying to get a long shot home. In recent years the PFA market sorts itself out a lot better than the LMA market does. It sounds like players make their mind up as soon as they receive a voting slip rather than deliberate over the 4 week voting window. Attacking players get votes, Keane and Terry had the captain fantastic hard man thing going for them, Kante's 14-1 reflects him being more of a thinking mans player in a sport not known for it's intellect.

[Archer]

Does Kante at 14-1 have a shot in this? (Hazard and Costa obviously favourites. Chelsea player shoudl win it?)

http://www.oddschecker.com/football/english/premier-league/pfa-player-of-the-year?selectionName=paul-pogba?dcmp=twt1

In theory he should be in with a good chance.

The concern is that the last time a none goalscorer/playmaker won this was Gerrard in 2006 or Terry in 2005 (if you consider the former a playmaker). Seems inevitable Chelsea will win the league which in turn seems inevitable it will be either chief scorer Costa or chief playmaker Hazard scooping. Kante should be up there but probably won't be.

Gerrard was a huge goalscorer in his prime though.  So was Terry relatively for his position.

Terry won it in 2005...in 2004/05 he scored 3 goals from 36 league appearances, so yeah he chipped in but surely that should be expected from a big, young centre half who would've been up for every corner and free kick? Doesn't strike me as particularly outstanding.

Agreed Gerrard was a big contributor at that time to Liverpool, not a typical playmaker but certainly weighed in with goals and assists.

Terry scored 40 goals in his EPL career.  Rio for example 11 in similar games.  1 in 10 strike rate (who didn't take pens) for a centre half across your career at the very highest level is pretty decent return i would suggest.

Yeah I agree, but we're looking at a specific season rather than his whole career. I'd say 3/36 games isn't particularly remarkable for a young, big centre half in an attacking, title challenging team. It's not bad of course but not particularly eye catching either.

His stats over the course of his career are good.

As you say, he didn't win it for his goals in 2005. Perhaps it had something to with him being English and captain of a Chelsea side that won the PL with a record number of points and only let in 15 goals all season...