Really? If anything I feel he's been trying to overdo the long passes. What I am not seeing from either him or Shelvey is enough movement off the ball.
Playing the ball forward isn’t the same as playing the ball long. Often Shelvey is going long. I’m saying it’s about time we have a CM who plays the ball positively. It’s taking it on the turn and playing it forward - could he short. But in the direction of attack.
Longstaff was doing that constantly at the end of last season before getting hurt. He’d turn and play an intelligent ball up.
For our third goal, that controlled first touch was unreal and to then immediately lash it at goal was even better. Said it in the match thread, that’s the type of skill and awareness that raises players to the next level.
He didn't even name the right subs either - glaringly missing a defensive midfielder in Hayden who should have come on for Bentaleb to calm things down and sit in front of the back 4. Lazaro was tiring and Ritchie should have come on for him to keep the width and help out defensively.