A Rod is so underrated around here. He's a great passer of the ball, he might not player the killer pass or the spectacular assist but he's always available and finds his man more than anyone else in our midfield. Plus he makes tackles when he needs to.
This season he averaged 86% passing accuracy and made 54 passes per 90 minutes played. By comparison, Lia was 76% and 49 per 90; Roly was 81% and 43 per 90; and Riera was 84% and 49 per 90. A Rod also won 48 tackles this season; Lia 18; Roly 44; and Riera 63. Long pass accuracy for A Rod was 73%; Lia 43%; Roly 56%; and Riera 65%. Obviously they were all employed in slightly different roles, but still his numbers are the best of those 4 players in passing accuracy, passes per 90 minutes, and long pass accuracy, and 2nd best in tackles made.
And this is the first season A Rod has even played senior football!
What more do you want from a young CM?
Edit: Oh yeah, and he created 21 chances - Lia created 11; Roly 32; and Riera 13. So 2nd most tackles, 2nd most chances created.
All stats taken from the Nix website
I completely agree with you but unfortunately he, along with the rest of the team to be fair, fell off badly in the last month and a bit. Ernie obviously lost trust in him too. Him pulling out of a challenge in the game last night when we're 2-0 down, then trying to make up for it and committing a foul sums up his naivety for me.
Rest of the ratings are spot on for mine.