Having a preference for defenders that are at the very least semi-competent on the ball does not necessarily mean folk want ponderous possession for possession's sake football between the two centre halves.
Nobody is expecting the bloke to be Kevin De Bruyne but there is such a staggering lack of composure and technique playing the most basic of passes, or even simply controlling the ball sometimes. The way sides press these days, he'll keep getting caught out if he doesn't work on it.