He’s just a good player. He always has been, look at his form when he arrived. He struggled for a period at the start of last season but even then, the criticism he would get for a poor game was way way more than other players would get for a poor game.
The lazy tag thing is a nonsense as well. If he was lazy, Neil wouldn’t have played him in basically all the games against the top opponents last season.
Like Barky, he won’t play any higher due to his first touch and technical deficiencies, but he has the capablilly to be a very effective player at this level. Has good physicality, a powerful shot, makes good runs in behind, gets into good areas in and around the box, has good pace and can run all day. Very handy on the counter too. Also very versatile.
Louder for the people at the back.
Some people just don't see what he brings to the table and he has scored some pretty good goals as well, Stoke Away, QPR Away, Sheff Wed Away all those goals were at important times in each game, Stoke and Sheff he calmy wrapped up the 3 points late on with good runs and finishes, thats very important sometimes.