Claudius Thing with Vieira is (a bit like Nelson), his ability is unquestionable. There's something around application, strength, availability.
Qwiss Vieiras ability is very questionable. He never showed himself to be really great at anything.
You're both right, you're just using the same words to mean different things. Nelson never had Arsenal quality either. Nwaneri and Skelly are superior to Vieira everywhere on the pitch.
Vieira belonged to a profile we shouldn't sign: he doesn't play in the spine of the XI and he's neither a generational talent around 18, nor an established star, nor an experienced, productive specialist.
Uncertain quality and relevance means if Vieira doesn't suddenly step up a big level, he doesn't start. And of course when he doesn't start, he stagnates and the situation worsens. Signing Vieira predictably sailed his career straight into the doldrums.
Even a signing such as Calafiori is a bit too close to this Bermuda Triangle zone of the transfer simplex. Yes, Ricky's about ten times as useful as Vieira considering he's actually got a position and he's also good enough to start in it, but he was still a boutique option.
