Elliot Anderson has now got his Manchester City debut out of the way. Anderson played the first 60 minutes of Manchester City’s 3-0 defeat to Arsenal in the FA Community Shield. Anderson, like many of his teammates, didn’t exactly set the world on fire. However, the England international showed enough good signs to indicate that he will be a very good player for Enzo Maresca’s side once he has adapted to life at his new club. In terms of where Anderson will play for Manchester City, it was expected that he’d be a number eight in midfield. However, a new report indicates that City see Anderson as Rodri’s long-term replacement of sorts.
A new report indicates what role Elliot Anderson is likely to play in the Manchester City midfield.
Paul Hirst has reported for The Times that Manchester City are edging closer to signing Lille midfielder Ayyoub Bouaddi. Furthermore, Hirst reports that City are hopeful of concluding an £85 million deal for Bouaddi in the next few days. All of this isn’t a massive revelation as Bouaddi has been a City target for some time now. The interesting bit of information is where Manchester City see Ayyoub Bouaddi and Elliot Anderson. It is reported by Hirst that Bouaddi isn’t seen as a Rodri replacement. The Moroccan international does prefer to play as a holding midfielder. Instead, will be aiming to give Bouaddi time to adapt to his new club and Elliot Anderson is earmarked to play as a number six.
With how the Premier League has evolved, Elliot Anderson has the potential to be the ideal number six for Enzo Maresca’s side.
The sooner Manchester City sign Ayyoub Bouaddi, the better. Enzo Maresca’s squad does need quality reinforcements in midfield. Rodri’s imminent departure will create a sizable void in the City squad. Replacing Rodri is a burden that cannot be placed on one player. It will be a team effort to make the new Manchester City midfield tick. Elliot Anderson as a number six may be a key component of that.
Elliot Anderson has the potential to be a quality number six. His strength in winning duels and covering the pitch looks ideally suited for this role. Anderson is elite at covering ground and Enzo Maresca’s side needs this. In Enzo Maresca’s Chelsea side, Moisés Caicedo typically played as the number six in a double pivot in midfield. Anderson has similar physical and defensive traits to Caicedo. In possession, Elliot Anderson is a more dangerous player than the Chelsea midfielder. By playing Anderson as a six, Maresca will have an athletic midfielder at the base of his midfield. Going forward, Anderson can also be a weapon, which is where the idea of Elliot Anderson as a defensive midfielder could be crucial to Manchester City this season.
How Enzo Maresca uses Elliot Anderson this season will be interesting to see unfold. It would seem that Anderson could be used to form the foundation of the Manchester City midfield. Playing as a number six would give City a completely different look in midfield to what has been seen over the past decade. It could also give City the ideal base for their midfield given how the Premier League has evolved.