I actually like Khedira, he is a good all-around player. His main quality is his head, hence his off the ball movements and so forth. His qualities lean towards opening up space for others so he is more of an offensive player type. With the ball, he is, as stated above, very average and a simple B2B midfielder. Defensively - once again - he is a decent player. Somewhat smart in positioning but too slow for teams with high tempo/counter-attacking. He isn't a great ball-winning midfielder. All that being said I still believe he is a good player, just that his role/player type doesn't fit what we need. He isn't and never will be a WC DMC. In a two-man midfield with Pjanic I would prefer a destroyer or someone that can cover more space or is more intelligent in defence (for positioning etcetera, kind of like Busquets). Khedira does not find those descriptions since he will look for offensive runs rather than chasing the ball. Nevertheless, this does not make him out to be that bad of a player as some make him out to be. He just isn't a type of player we need.
In the winter mercato thread I wished for a destroyer with leadership skills. That is the type of player I believe we need. A Deschamps, a Conte, or if you want a Vieira in his prime. Someone commanding presence and pushing the companions through storms. Khedira is not this one and I can't say I see anyone else in this team with this quality. Perhaps as @pitbull noted Matuidi can become this one. I certainly hope so but I am not convinced yet, time will tell.
In the winter mercato thread I wished for a destroyer with leadership skills. That is the type of player I believe we need. A Deschamps, a Conte, or if you want a Vieira in his prime. Someone commanding presence and pushing the companions through storms. Khedira is not this one and I can't say I see anyone else in this team with this quality. Perhaps as @pitbull noted Matuidi can become this one. I certainly hope so but I am not convinced yet, time will tell.
