“There are no.10s in the Premier League who don’t pass as well as Ederson,” lauded Gary Neville as another cruise missile exploded off the Brazilian’s left foot.
For all Man City’s exceptional passers of the ball, be it Fernandinho’s understated probing or David Silva’s surgical precision, it was Ederson who stood out during a one-sided Manchester derby.
The 25-year-old repeatedly put Man United under pressure by finding one of City’s speed merchants parked further up the pitch, safe in the knowledge they’d be located by Ederson’s unerring GPS.
But how much truth do Neville’s words hold? Are there really no.10s- the most iconic number in football- playing in the Best League In The World™ who can’t match the passing range of a goalkeeper?
It should be made clear that passing range refers to long and short passes, so tempo specialists and Hollywood passers are equally weighted.
The final result? Only eight current Premier League no.10s come out on top.
- Eden Hazard (Chelsea)
- Harry Kane (Spurs)
- Gylfi Sigurdsson (Everton)
- James Maddison (Leicester)
- Manuel Lanzini (West Ham)
- Tom Cairney (Fulham)
- Aaron Mooy (Huddersfield)
- Mesut Ozil (Arsenal)
As you can see, Liverpool’s Sadio Mane and Ederson’s team-mate Sergio Aguero don’t make that list.
Both are exceptional attacking talents but if your life depended on someone landing a football on a pound coin from 50-yards away, you’re going with Ederson.
Talking of money, £50 to anyone who can name the remaining Premier League no.10s wihtout cheating.
- Jordon Ibe (Bournemouth)
- Isaac Succes (Watford)
- Marcus Rashford (Man United)
- Helder Costa (Wolves)
- Florin Andone (Brighton)
- Mohamed Diame (Newcastle)
- Ashley Barnes (Burnley)
- Andros Townsend (Crystal Palace)
- Charlie Austin (Southampton)
- Kenneth Zohore (Cardiff)
Of course, passing from the position of goalkeeper and passing in the final third are two different beasts.
If you put Ederson into midfield for a Premier League fixture he’d sink without trace and make Glenn Whelan look like Paul Scholes and Zinedine Zidane’s love child.
And, this being the internet, you’re bound to have some complaints about the final decision.
Send them Jose Mourinho’s way.
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