Similarly to Colback, there is no sense trying to get Vurnon Anita - a prodigiously talented technical footballer - to play in Cheick Tiote's role. He has neither the power in tackling nor the restraint to play in that one-dimensional style (that is no criticism of Tiote, incidentally, he's just very much a one-role player). The fact that he was turned into a defensive midfielder at Ajax does not mean he can play the enforcer role in front of the defence: he just isn't that type of defensive midfielder. He is the key to playing possession football, and his vision is his strongest point, helping his team attack from a deeper role, rather than being the last line of defence. Limited to the Tiote role, Anita has to invite more pressure, and spends too much time running back to his own goal, and it is only then that he looks like he actually deserves the "he's too small" accusations. Unfortunately, it doesn't look like Pardew will ever understand this, and the Dutchman is likely to be out sooner rather than later. Perhaps he'll go to Italy and show us exactly what we missed in playing him in the wrong role entirely?
