KaKa

1 minute ago, Shays Given Tim Flowers said:

By the way we were managing the game fine until Shelvey decided to fanny around with it in our third. Seriously he’s got to go.

Suicide ball from Lascelles, who has no idea how to pick the right pass, or how to execute a pass correctly.

4 minutes ago, The Bonk said:

 

It didn't need to be that embarrassing. The only one I have any empathy for is Howe and the mess our new owners have to unfuck. 

It's wild that most of these players have been together multiple seasons, yet seemingly have no clue how to play cohesively. What's most disappointing is any optimism that had come from our takeover, is the realization at how garbage our squad, mentality and poorly mismanaged this club has been for most of my adulthood.  

 

Thing is if we are going to work on changing the way we play we are going to have to expect some days like this against better teams. Yes Leicester have been struggling, but once I saw Tielemans, Maddison and Barnes were in there I thought his could be a possibility.

I think the manager will learn a lot from games like this, and he'll just have to figure out how to set the team up to be better using the ball with the players we currently have. We could have come in today and just sat in Bruce style, but then we likely would have lost by what 2 instead of 4? But then what do you really learn from that?

Painful day, but lets see what changes are made in the team going forward now. If it means no more Willock in central midfield I will gladly take that,, because that is the huge issue  right now.

1 minute ago, ManDoon said:

Yeah at least Shelvey can occasionally tackle and has some vision. Willock is killing us in there. He can’t play there 

Yeah, Howe wants someone that can get up and down the pitch in that role, and Willock has the athleticism for it, but he doesn't have the know how or the physicality at all.

I think he should give Hendrick a shot at it personally, as he's more experienced playing that sort of role and has done it internationally. It still won't be perfect, but we just need someone that isn't completely clueless in that role.

Think Shelvey has done really well, considering he's been partnered by Willock in there, who is causing problems both defensively and going forward. He's been a nightmare.

The only other option would be trying a three man midfield, which he changed to at half time, but we never got to see it for long enough as they scored soon after the half, and then subs were made.

Just now, Shays Given Tim Flowers said:

Shelvey needs out of this team. 

Willock in midfield is the key area of concern. That one change with someone even half clued up on how to play that position would see the whole unit function infinitely better.

Terrible result, but it's so clear what needs changing. Think Howe will figure it out. 

Rough day, but better to come. Still certain of that. 

4 minutes ago, Smal said:

Howe hasn't got a clue how to use these players btw. The midfield pairing makes absolutely no sense and everyone knows it.

He'll learn some harsh lessons from today. Has to be very clear now he needs to figure out a midfield combo to get us through to January.

Shown a lot of faith in Willock, but he just can't be trusted with a role in a central pair as things are at the minute.

Just now, Yorkie said:

We've been absolutely battered by a team low on confidence and who are barely out of first gear. Total rubbish. 

People keep saying this, but at the end of the day this team started with Tielemans, Maddison, Ndidi and Barnes. Daka and Soumare are no mugs either.

Today will be a painful but key lesson for the manager to make changes to the first team. Willock has to be out of the team.

Our defenders cannot even pick a simple pass. Manquillo the latest suicide ball.

Lascelles is an embarrassment  using the ball. Such a stiff.

Joelinton is ten times the central midfielder Willock is. Dictating play so well from that deeper position. Need to drop him deeper going forward in a 4-3-3, until we can get someone in for January.

Today is going to be really important going forward.

We will not see that midfield pairing of Shelvey and Willock anymore after this game.

Think the idea to drop Joelinton in there as a third midfielder was a good idea, but never got a chance to get going due to that second goal, and the changes that were made after.

Once Howe moves on from that Willock and Shelvey pairing for good we'll really start seeing a big improvement. It's the key thing holding us back, and affecting the overall rhythm of the team.

Willock is taking the piss

2 minutes ago, Smal said:

Willock loses every 50-50.

He is so physically weak and is just soft . It's unbelievable.

Looks like Howe has switched to more of a central midfield three now.

Joelinton on the left, Willock on the right and Shelvey the deeper of the three. Could be a decent shout.

1 minute ago, DJ_NUFC said:

Great post, aside from the Hendrick part (only because I personally don’t like him). I think Hayden needs to be in there and we can push Willock and/or Shelvey more forward. I’d drop Willock. Hayden / Shelvey dream team once again in the middle

Think Shelvey's role deeper gives him more room to get on the ball in deeper positions and switch the play, and occasionally look for dangerous longer passes in behind. Defensively it also means he gets caught out of position less as he can mostly hold his position.

Think Hendrick could potentially look a lot better under Howe, just think he has more ability on the ball than Hayden, and is more physical than Willock, and so is probably the best alternative at the minute as he is somewhere in between the two of them.

2 minutes ago, The Bonk said:

Has Howe set us up to be a high press team with that shape? Is the problem that we can't play that way with the players we have?

We started the half on the press, were doing well, then simply lumbered around the pitch until a shit dive cost us. 

Glad they woke up a bit after we conceded, would love to see some urgency next half as these cunts haven't done anything remarkable with all the possession they've had.

We look so much more organised and solid, but we are struggling to link defence with attack because of how poor Willock is in central midfield. On the rare occasions we manage to work the ball forward it's usually down to Shelvey. No idea what Willock is doing.

1 minute ago, Smal said:

There is very little movement from our wide players and Joelinton to allow Shelvey to be effective to be fair.

Shelvey has been okay playing his role as a deeper holding midfielder. He desperately needs someone more dynamic and influential alongside him to link up with and create more space for him. Feels like he's the only one in midfield for us. Surprised he's not suffering a lot more for it.

We're genuinely playing with 10 men with Willock in the team at the minute.

Really wish Howe would pull him and give someone else a chance in alongside Shelvey.

Willock at the minute is weak in the tackle, weak on the ball, and the odd time he gets in a decent position he picks the wrong option.

It's really unfortunate because we really need someone in central midfield to tie everything together, as all the other parts of the team are functioning much better than before. But the key piece is a midfielder that gets up and down a bit more and takes more responsibility. I would honestly look at giving Hendrick a go in that role under Howe. I just can't believe how soft Willock is in there.

Willock just then had to roll that across on the ground and he lifts it high into the air. The guy is playing awful man.

The problem in this current team is Willock. He adds nothing defensively or going forward.

Shelvey for the most part is doing okay, and he'd be so much better if he had someone alongside him that added something. He's being hung out to dry by Willock in every way possible.

Willock has to be dropped he is terrible man. 

I'm sorry but that is not a pen.

5 minutes ago, HTT II said:

He’s been badly mismanaged at MUFC, he’s a CF not a winger or whatever, he’s got everything, but needs to move for the good of his career. He’d be dynamite here!

I tend to agree. Don't think he cares about being at a "big club" if it means he's stuck on the bench all the time.

Think he wants to play week in and week out. Would absolutely have him here too. He's a class act, and if he's a key player in a team he'd be ace.

1 hour ago, gjohnson said:

Moody Frenchman with delusions of being far more talented than he actually is, always looking for a move or a better contract.

 

Got N'Somnia written all over it.

 

Talent wise he'd be great for our squad....we could get him with a big fat salary, but it would be Owen levels of dis-interest in actually playing for us.

 

Hmmm ... not sure. I think he's been so moody because he just wants to play every week, and he has been messed about a lot over there. In the team, then out of the team, upfront, then out left, then out on the right. Think he just wants to be a key man in a team and play every week, so he can get some rhythm and improve on his game.

4 minutes ago, Mr Raspberry Jam said:

 

If he signs for us I imagine he would be up for it, he can turn us down if he wants like. I mean, not that we'll be signing him anyway.

Yeah, that's true. At least this time he'd know what he 's walking into.