Thing is, his form changed in those seasons. It’s not easy to be so consistent over a season.
Last spring was the best stuff he played for us. His influence was high, helping us controlling possession, winning the ball back and also his goal involvement (which was basically on par with Szobo’s while playing deeper than him, which isn’t a compliment to Dom). But do I think he was a football genius in his position in that period? No.
I think fanbases are quick to call someone the world’s best (or one of, which we can argue he was among the best #8’s in that period) when one of their club’s players hit such form. We need to see more of his last spring’s level. All the rest apart from that wasn’t bad, but one top period like that isn’t enough.
For me, he wasn’t that great then and he’s not that bad now, if that makes sense. Even if it’s clear as day that this season it took him a while to get going. He gave a very honest interview a few months ago in which he said he’s fine and fit (referring to his summer issues that they’re behind him) and there are objectivelly no reasons for him not to be in good form.
I loved that transfer, by the way. Getting in quick to activate his clause (which enabled Brighton to also move on quickly to someone else), very good value for money, in a window where I can think of a number of our rival clubs who could’ve gone for him.
It’s very possible that I thought we would be getting a more influential central midfielder than we’ve seen in his time so far here. Even though I do rate him and I don’t think the club would entertain the idea of selling him as easy as some fans would.
For example, is he really the one Real Madrid would go for, as they look for that controlling midfielder (Xabi wanted Zubimendi last summer, the club didn’t approve) since the departures of Modric and especially Kroos? He could be better in La Liga, but it’s debatable. I don’t think it’s that easy to imagine a big fee coming for Mac from a place like Real this summer and we easily put that money into someone like Wharton or Anderson.
Different things have to fall into place for something like that to happen (and timing!), it’s not a FM game.
What is also interesting is that there seems to be a disagreement (I mean, it’s not rare anyway) among our fanbase about the type of central midfielder we need next (it might or might not be this summer). Some (I think most) talk about a more physical midfielder, others talk about more of a progressive passer from deep, probably also connected to Liverpool post-Trent.
