KaKa

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.

Yeah, I'd hope we could find another player rather than bring back Gini for a relegation survival scrap. Don't think he'd be up for it at all, having recently been with the likes of Liverpool and PSG.

That company he reached out to sounds like a really brilliant service for pros that want to work on and improve on their games further, alongside what their clubs do. Major kudos to the guy for seeking that out. 

11 minutes ago, mighty__mag said:

The Ben Mee, and Tarkowski link I feel could be a masterstroke, one they already know each other, but the biggest one of all, it's a shrewd move, if we pulled it off it leaves Burnley missing their two first choice Centre Backs.

 

If that left them scrambling around in January to replace them, it could prove hard, it could potentially relegate them.

 

Genius, although they're not my ideal defenders, I welcome the idea of it unsettling Burnley. 

I'm almost certain we'll be signing neither.

Eddie loves a left footed centre back on the left side, which is why he kept giving Clark a chance.

Botman is left footed and so could well be something in that one as we must be looking at bringing in another left footed centre back.

1 minute ago, Wilson said:

 

There are definite signs of progress... But fair enough if you choose to ignore them like. 

 

Honestly I'm not too positive about them games either, need a win from both... But I don't see it. 

I was actually at the game today.

Arsenal's pressing was very very good and we just couldn't get out effectively to counter often enough when we won the ball back, especially in the first half.

I loved the fact they were trying to play out though. I think that mindset is ultimately going to fare us well and pay off far more effectively in the next two fixtures.