KaKa

Well that's one I hoped we'd consider late on. Urgh.

10 minutes ago, HTT II said:

Lots of hard work, never stopped running, but we need to either play him off the bench or find his true position.

He's never a central midfielder that is for absolute certain.

He loves making those forward runs and when in position to do so can put the ball in the net. Honestly, I wish at this point we'd try him in that wide right position.

I'd rather see Almiron at RCM and Willock RW at this point. Think both would benefit.

Watford apparently looking for a right wing back ... please send them Jacob Murphy.

3 minutes ago, Jack27 said:

Zakaria would have been a great signing

Yeah, I mentioned it the other day.

Juventus have struggled to move players and so were considering moving him on. 

My God what a signing that would have been. Also has his international team mate Schar here already.

Juve still haven't managed to move any midfielders on as they want to sign Paredes from PSG. Who knows man ... lets see what happens.

Just now, La Parka said:

He's utterly clueless defensively, has no idea about positioning, tracking runners and left that flank very exposed. He offers nowt going forward either and I agree with you all about him not knowing how to use his pace. He should watch prime Aaron Lennon. He wasn't about tricks and footwork. He just was faster and knew how to use it.

Exactly. He should be a very direct runner with the ball and get the ball from out under his feet. He has bags of pace.

He just has no idea what he's doing with it, which is quite frankly astonishing really.

Just now, Optimistic Nut said:

 

If you've got Joelinton doing that for Maxi and someone else doing it for Isak, that's a helluva lot of pressure on Bruno to provide everything from the centre?

It doesn't happen at the same time though. Usually the midfield rotates over to the relevant side the ball is on.

For example when Joe was helping Burn on the left to give Maxi a bit more license to be available to break, Bruno and Willock shifted over more to cover the middle.

1 minute ago, pubteam said:

Having him and wood on the same team is like playing with 9 men. 

That's why everyone was cramping up at the end. We were legit playing with 9 men at the end there.

3 minutes ago, Ikon said:

There’s so much obvious about him at first sight. His understanding and movement when it comes to football is something that can be missed, and I can’t praise it enough. Already when he came through and started playing senior football it was insane how advanced and mature he was when it came to movement and his understanding of the game. I can only imagine Bruno’s through balls with him up front. I’m sure they will have an amazing understanding as well as the ability to execute it beautifully. Match made in heaven. Not just when there is space like for his second last night, but also those short through balls Bruno plays into the penalty area. Isaks acceleration and movement combined with his ability to turn a player or three in a tight space. Horny.

The thing I really appreciated about his awareness yesterday, was how even when we were under pressure and looking for an outlet pass he'd always be in the right vicinity for the team to try and play him ball down the channel, and he'd chase and put pressure on the defenders even when the ball didn't make him favourite to get there. The guy is very switched on.

As soon as Wood came on all that disappeared. He'd just be stood in the middle of the pitch in the same spot like a statue. Just no idea of how to help the team in those moments.

Isak even looked more convincing battling for the longer kicks from Pope than Wood did. Made the defenders far more uncomfortable, as he was more physical and tenacious.

Yeah, was really happy for him yesterday, because he played great.

He really has been working with the ball too because he looks infinitely more comfortable with it and is passing it so much better.

Think he's dealt really well with losing his place and it's good to know he can be called upon to put in a performance.

4 hours ago, Wolfcastle said:

Don't think he'd a pro if it wasnt for his pace.

Though at least that's a virtue I suppose. Bringing him on against tired legs. Never seems to pan out that way though.

The sad thing is he doesn't even make the most of his pace the majority of the time.

Unless he is played in behind with the perfect ball to run onto he doesn't really showcase it to any good effect.

4 minutes ago, Conjo said:

 

Seems a waste to spend all his energy on doing Almiron-work operating as security for Trippier.

Usually when a wide forward that you want high up the pitch is in that wide right position, you'd have the RCM cover the full back and the wide forward drop into a slightly more central area to be ready and available to break forward with the ball.

Similar to what we did against Man City with Joelinton and ASM to devastating effect.

Just now, Ikon said:

 

You say he is a high level finisher. He can score great goals but he also misses quite a few easy ones which he has got criticism for during his career. Different times now and I’m sure he will do well with a fresh start. The young man is talented as hell. And as a Swede I’m super happy to have him onboard. A lot more focus will be on Newcastle now over here because of him. 
 

Just wanted to mention this so that people know. And not get too carried away. Especially when saying he is this and that based on very little. 

I have seen a decent amount of Isak, and I have not known him to be someone that misses easy chances at all, but maybe you have more knowledge on that.

Mainly though, I am looking at the technique that he strikes the ball with, and the calm way he does so. Never rushed or snatching at opportunities. Those are hallmarks of an ice cold finisher.

Well I'm glad I'm not going crazy.

From the Tranmere and Wolves games I've been lamenting this guy's contributions. For the most part he just doesn't do anything for us when we have the ball. And off the ball, though he does press well, when it comes time to make a challenge he usually whiffs and just runs past the player or shies away from contact.

He's never in position to play anyone in or get a shot off. He's just completely lost out there. Longstaff who was playing deeper managed to find that great position to play Isak in for a wonderful goal. However, if you look back at it, that position is exactly where Willock should be really. Instead he is way out on the left for some reason.

If we end up having to start this guy the majority of the season then we will suffer for it. If we don't get a midfielder in, once Bruno comes back and slots into that deeper position, we have to put Longstaff in the RCM slot. I have far more faith in him finding a pass or getting in position to shoot, and when he's in position to tackle, he will actually do so.

1 minute ago, 54 said:

That strike for his disallowed goal was pure quality btw. Beat two men, then powered it into a part of the net the keeper couldn't reach. 

 

Both strikes where inch perfect, and he had no doubt with where he wanted to put it. Not sure even Wilson bury's both of them.

Yup, he is a high level finisher. The way he took those two goals man.

And finally ... we have a player that uses their instep when striking the ball too, for those more controlled and placed finishes. He's going to score a filthy curler from outside the box at some point. Had a chance on one early on but was under a bit of pressure and so sent it high. It's coming though.

Too many of our other players look to put their laces through the ball all the time, particularly ASM.

I can't believe how good this guy is.

20 minutes ago, AyeDubbleYoo said:

Stupid that injuries have anything to do with the transfer strategy. Hope that’s not the case TBH. 

He's just going to use that as the excuse to push Wood and Murphy further down the pecking order.

How do we get rid of this guy by 11pm tomorrow man, seriously

1 minute ago, morpeth mag said:

Already joined my Fantasy team

Yup. I'm sold too.

8 minutes ago, Kanji said:

Klopp is a legit douche bag. No class. 

Howe was so good in his interview after too. So measured and calm, despite being bitterly disappointed.

We just need one of our midfielders to be a goal scoring threat,and be more dangerous in the final third.

Joelinton is perfect at what he does. He's perfectly fine.

Bruno is sensational. If we're not going to push him up and sign a DM, then we will need a more impactful forward thinking central midfielder. Otherwise that slot is a bit of a disaster at the minute. Both going forward and defensively to be honest. Willock cannot be a starter in this team.

1 minute ago, Shak said:

If he looks this good leading the line the next few weeks I'd be very hesitant to shift him out wide to bring Wilson in.

 

Really, really hope we sign a top class RW tomorrow.

That's what you think till you see him play from there. Did you see what he did from wide left for that second goal?

He won't be hugging the touchline. He will drift into areas to impact the game. He's a top player man. Even his little movement to slip into that right channel for his goal was so good. Chris Wood would have been somewhere on the other side outside the box.

Having said all that though let Wilson sweat a little bit though, sure. He can come off the bench for a bit so we don't have to put up with Chris Wood.

2 minutes ago, Zero said:

I hope he is not injured. 

Go to bed.

What a debut ... loved absolutely everything about him.

Shame some of the joy of it was ruined by that ridiculous end to the game.

Just now, Kanji said:

Why is Joe Willock popping that ball back in the air into play? Why isn’t he just running that out to play? Or using his other foot to hit it into the stands? 
 

 

Just doesn't have the mentality for those kind of moments. The sad thing is that silly flick takes it out of Pope's hands practically. He was just about to grab the ball. Urgh.

7 minutes ago, Kanji said:

I generally am trying to be positive about wood and Murphy but they were shocking man. Useless. 

Honestly, I try desperately to find some decent things from them to acknowledge, but they are impossibly bad.