I don't think he has the technical chops to be at a title-contender (not that Yanited are currently but that will be their aim sooner or later).
It's noticeable that when Buendia, Luiz and Ramsey receive the ball to feet, they are very comfortable on the half-turn and can smoothly move forward.
With Meatball, he's always thinking about how to use his body (arse) to shield any challenges, meaning he receives the ball less fluidly and turns more awkwardly with it. I love him but for me that is one of the few but noticeable things lacking in his profile. At times in the past he has been breathing through his arse on the hour-mark. That might be lack of conditioning, his natural body limitations or the fact that he plays with intensity off the ball as well as on - partly cos of his top attitude but also partly to compensate for his technical limitations.
