STM

Whatever value Howe holds in him. We shouldn't just let players go for free because they are no longer first team players or because certain people in the fan base think they are "shite". Just not how the real world works.

Well I'm just glad you aren't our DoF.

How much was it for?

I love Harvey Barnes but if someone offers us our money back (or close to), we'd be daft not to take the money. Just from the pragmatic/PSR stand point. Obviously we'd all like to see Murphy or Miggy gone first but we'd actually need offers.

Darren Fletcher is a better example. Darren Fletcher was fairly average at everything he did but was often included in Man United sides that were surrounded in star quality. You'd have Rooney, Ronaldo, Scholes, Carrick and then Darren Fletcher.

Yep. It also doesn't have to be a point of contention. It's OK that he's only good at the boring, nitty gritty, shite sides of the game but also that's he's very good at those bits... whilst also saying that there's loads in his game that aren't good enough for a consistently top side.

Gets it spot on IMO. Basically Longstaff is very good at following instructions, very disciplined tactically and does dozens of small but important things during games that may not be picked up on. When people say "what can he possible do that x player can't do?" perhaps it's this stuff?

Thiaw scored for Milan in Madrid.

I know, I just can't believe it. What on earth. Is Sam Fender doing ours on Sunday?

It's not surely?

That push not a pen like.

Think it's Scholes.

What was Gyorkes doing?

Horrific goalkeeping mind.

Good start for Amoron.

This is an excellent post. It highlights that basically Longstaff plays more conservative and it benefits the team. Which comes back to the balance arguement.

Sounds like a good arguement but Willock and Tonali don't get into any of them top teams either. Its pointless concocting little hypotheticals to prove why we all should hate Longstaff, especially since nobody is saying he's a great player and more that he doesn't deserve the sheer unjustified shite he gets during match's. We should upgrade Longstaff but we still haven't. If Tonali comes into the starting 11 and completely out- performs Longstaff, great, but it hasn't happened yet and I don't think he will because I'm not sure that's where Tonali should be playing.

That's a good story but nobody thinks he should play just because of an engine. He should play because he does the job that the team needs. I'm absolutely for Tonali playing ahead of Longstaff, provided that the team performs well with him there.

I agree with that. I suppose my point is that our balance always looks better with Longstaff (and I don't rate him as a great player with the ball). I think we've also seen the importance of Willock too. I don't think we could swap Tonali and Longstaff in Saturdays set up, unless we moved Bruno into Longstaffs position. For whatever reason, Tonali 8 and Bruno as a 6 hasn't worked.

Of course Bruno isn't the problem but it's extra proof that Longstaff isn't the problem either. Nobody suggests Bruno is shite, Longstaff gets called shite all of the time though.

Joelinton going left is massive but I feel there is a lot of mental gymnastics going with regards to refusing to admit that Longstaff, while not as talented, actually plays for the team and that the team benefits when he's in the side. However, I would 100% like to see Tonali in Brunos position and Bruno where Longstaff is. If that worked, we could go to another level.

You accept it would be mental for him not to start the next game though right? You also accept that we are clearly a better side when he's involved?

Really like ESR, he's the real deal. Such a wonderful technician.

Sorry, when I said plateau, I didn't necessarily mean I didn't think they would make a recover. I don't think they will win the league though.

He made a key pass for the goal mind.