Jon Stakes

Arguably Ajax's best player en route to a Europa League final (save for maybe Ziyech) and now a key player of their Eredivisie title run? To top that off a very high level of performance since February. Baker, Miazga, Hector, Christensen, Pasalic have all done well, but their achievements with the club are not on the same level, while playing regularly and being a key player makes for a world of difference. And since February Traore has been just that.

Moses?

Also to be fair that is what tends to happen when a player has to function in a loan system. You don't always find form straight off the bat. For case in point Victor Moses - has always looked great in a Chelsea t-shirt, but struggled with consistency on loans. Now likely to make EPL team of the year.

Traore with his second and Ziyech with his third assist. Traore also almost scored from distance - the Lyon keeper parries at full stretch.

On a side note: Hakim Ziyech looks like the next best thing to a Kevin de Bruyne I've seen in Europe this season. Now on 19 assists for the season.

Bertrand Traore tearing it up today vs Lyon with a superb goal and a self-aware assist. Amusingly both with his head: Based on post African Cup of Nations performances I would say only Tammy Abraham is having a more successful loan.

Forgive the broken Google English but decide for yourself: "Extremely important in the attack game, in this form, the best player of the Eredivisie is a pity that we have to wait a long time." "Best football player of the selection, the rest can only dream of his technique and dribbles." "It's almost too easy for him. The ball treatment is just pure art." "When he still played at Vitesse, Traoré is a graceful breed soccer player. He is quite tall and harder, making him quite big and quick to run. Finishing remains a problem, but as long as he plays this way you have to compose him. Never put on the right wing again." "His ball treatment and dribbles are of absolute world class. That's why it's moderate to bad finishes so sharply. " "Traoré currently gives a kind of Afrikaans rhythm to Ajax's game. Delicious, that's steaming when he's coming to the ball. A kind of forcing wave that splashes opponent lines, defeats defenders as empty dirt containers at a tsunami. He has the vibe at the moment and you should not break that. " "I've been annoyed at Traore for a long time, but the last few games in the spit makes it very good. Too bad that the season is almost over, he seems to finally find his turn." "But from the first minute I'm already enjoying this male in an Ajax shirt. As everything looks slow, he's faster than 2 players at the same time. As if those opponents are freaked out by a fake time frame, they saw the slow-motion, just like me, but in reality, Traore is three steps further. Very early in the season, I suggested that Traore seems to be a footballer from a different time. Traore has time for his actions, as if he were in the 70s football. Very crazy, but something like that. In addition, he is also good at the combination. In between, he is caught on intelligent passes. " "In addition, I hope for Traore instead of Dolberg at the point against Schalke, but I expect Dolberg and Traore on the right."

Check out the forum. Those things are there on the last pages. Apparently he's been playing much better since the African Cup of Nations. And unless I am undone by Google Translate at least two forumers hoped Traore would start as a striker over Dolberg in the upcoming game. Other things are subjective, but Traore being a non-starter is false: He's played 2635 minutes in the Eredivisie and the Europa League. He's started 9 out of 10 Europa League games and 21 out of 23 games in the Eredivisie. Out of 33 games he could have started he has started 30 (he has missed an additional 9 games through injuries or African Cup of Nations).

Read it on the official Ajax forum (mind you with Google Translate on). A lot of praise like the best dribbler in the league and the best technician. Issues with finishing and making right decisions, but his technique stands out. http://ajax.netwerk.to/forums/index.php? BTW Nice collection of dribbles and skills. Some are really staggering:

I did look up the Ajax forum though and they are seeming to have really warmed to him, preferring him over Dolberg and calling him a 'phenom'.

Bertrand Traore is a bit lacksaidasical. Reminds me of Mikel in that regard. He's not explosive, just more low key. I think fans failed to notice his strengths, while focused on his laid back manner (which can even be seen in the way he scores goals or dribbles - he doesn't do it at pace). The Ajax coach must rate him, because he's a starter. And he must be doing something right because Whoscored have him as the 9th best player in the league and 10th best player in the Europa League. That said he's key pass rate is way beyond what Hakim Ziyech's is and he has yet to assist in the Eredivisie. That is surprising, because Traore's main attribute always seemed to be passing... All in all I think its a mixed bag - not as critical to his team as he was during his last loan to the Eredivisie. But you always need to take into account the context of a loan - you are always easier to drop if you don't perform and given how often Traore starts the coach obviously thinks he is performing.

People really need to let go of past prejudice. Kessie played U17 football in the MRI era. At best he can be 1-2 years older than his official DOB. Any claim he is much older than officially is scientifically impossible unless he's a freak of nature.

Don't know if anyone saw this game but he was absolutely mindblowingly brilliant minus a touch of bad luck that preventing a great goal (post), bad finishing of his teammates. He got two assists on both goals as well, albeit one of those assists is well... hardly worth the word 'assist'. His dribbling was brilliant as was his passing. Insert other media Best game I've seen from him for some time.

There is almost nothing literally between these two players. And if anything Gueye has the better stats. So yeah... it all adds up. Chances are that had Gueye chosen Leicester and Kante Villa, their teams would have the exact same positions and stats.

Not sure what happened but massive drop of form this season for Wolfsburg. Really poor by his standards. Obviously can do better, but based on this season he's a bit of a risk and not an upgrade on Alonso.

Gueye was widely held as the superior player for as long as Gueye was on the bigger team (Lille) and Kante was on the lesser team (Caen). So far the difference between the players mostly boils down to career choices.

My comments on Gueye originated from me suggesting Chelsea buy Gueye and being ridiculed for the suggestion. Then Chelsea went on and bought Kante. Now someone restarted the debate from a few months back and it wasn't me.

Can't ever remember Kante playing this badly. Neither for Leicester or for Chelsea.

Gueye entered the worst Aston Villa side in history. So not much he could do, but he was still doing his best impression of a one man army. Everton finished last season on 11th during a period that Liverpool, Chelsea, Man Utd were in transition. Everton are now 7th, just behind the big 6. Before that Gueye was the key behind Lille's Ligue 1 successes and Lille fell apart after he left (not only him, but he was the biggest loss since Hazard). A lot of people have Gueye as the signing of the season and most Everton fans have him as their player of the season. Even Xfactor confirmed it. As for Kante: He's done great, but Chelsea only went from OK to great after Conte changed the formation and suddenly the 'useless' / 'not Chelsea grade' Victor Moses is the first player on most people starting list. Kante is a valuable addition, but there are obviously much deeper problems at play behind last season dire run and this season's rejuvenation. Kante was a vital cog, but just one of many changes enacted by Conte. I'm pretty sure Gueye would have done just as well. Can we just leave it at both players are great? The facts pretty much point to that. Gueye and Kante are very similar players and comparable on so many levels.

Steve Walsh... you know the guy behind all the purchases for Leicester that helped them be champions? The guy that actually made Ngolo Kante a household name? The guy who is the sole reason Ngolo Kante is with Chelsea?

It's irrelevant. The one stat that stands out is Gueye 71 tackles with a 49% success rate to Mystery Man's 33 (who BTW is Jake Livemore). Honestly: Ask any Everton fan or just go read their forum. Its not just about stats.

Really? You want me to fact check for you? Steve Walsh, the guy that brought in Kante to Leicester and now Gueye to Everton, confirmed it many times. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-3787115/Idrissa-Gueye-cost-Everton-7m-Leicester-wanted-signed-N-Golo-Kante-Steve-Walsh-unearthed-diamond.html Sorry, but everyone rates Gueye after his Everton displays. You should at least accept he's comparable to Kante.

Not even close. Statwise he's amongst the best. He's had a few bad games, but overall he's been better than Lamine Kone.

No, he was Leicester's first choice. When Gueye joined Aston Villa, Leicester opted for Kante as their second choice. That's pretty much an established fact.

Few pointers: 1. Everyone at Everton thinks that. Ask your average fan. Easily their best player. Cost less and gives the same, if not more. 2. Gueye was deemed better than Kante in France. He had better stats and everything. 3. Gueye was first choice at Leicester City. Kante was second choice. 4. Gueye's stats last season were second in Europe. Second to Kante. That's playing for lowly Aston Villa. 5. This season however his stats are above Kante's in most areas: GUEYE vs KANTE Aerial won: 1,3 vs 0,7 Tackles: 4,9 vs 3,1 Interceptions: 2,3 vs 2,8 Fouls comm.: 1,6 vs 1,3 Fouled: 1,5 vs 0,5 Dribbles: 1,7 vs 1 Dispossed: 1,2 vs 0,6 Unsuccessful touches: 0,7 vs 1,3 Passing: 84,8% vs 89,2% AVG Duels won: 53% vs 43% Tackles won: 49% vs 40% Naturally stats aren't everyone, but Gueye is better than Kante in most stats, mildly worse in some areas. Gueye and Kante are very similar players. The difference between them is that one made a right career choice, the other didn't.