How did Etienne Capoue compare with Morgan Schneiderlin yesterday?
A lot was made of how Morgan Schneiderlin would perform at White Hart Lane on Sunday.
The Southampton midfielder has been heavily linked with Tottenham Hotspur and we certainly haven’t heard the end of that particular transfer saga just yet.
When it came down to it, though, many Saints fans were disappointed with the Frenchman’s performance yesterday afternoon. Others disagreed…
Statistically, he didn’t do too badly, although Steven Davis outshone him in some key areas in Southampton’s midfield.
But, for Spurs, there may have been some food for thought, as midfielder Etienne Capoue very much matched the Frenchman – and was considered by many to have played significantly better than him.
| Team | Pos | Accurate Passes | Passing Accuracy (%) | Interceptions Won | Tackles Won | Successful Final-Third Passes | Touches | Apps | Mins | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Steven Davis | Southampton | MF | 56 | 88.89 | 0 | 2 | 11 | 91 | 1 | 90 |
| Morgan Schneiderlin | Southampton | MF | 48 | 90.57 | 3 | 1 | 7 | 68 | 1 | 90 |
| Etienne Capoue | Spurs | MF | 37 | 88.10 | 3 | 5 | 4 | 60 | 1 | 90 |
| Ryan Mason | Spurs | MF | 36 | 81.82 | 4 | 1 | 11 | 56 | 1 | 90 |
As Opta stats show, Capoue was certainly superior to his counterpart defensively.
Indeed, against the Saints, the 26-year-old won five tackles and three interceptions. He also made 37 accurate passes and four in the final third, completing 88% of those he attempted.
Passing-wise, however, Schneiderlin was the superior player, being both more accurate and completing more in total.
There can be no denying the quality of Capoue’s performance for Mauricio Pochettino’s side yesterday, although Schneiderlin certainly produced more of the same where his passing was concerned. The question is: do Spurs need both of them in their midfield?
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
