Jonjo Shelvey (now playing for Çaykur Rizespor, on loan from Nottingham Forest)

[Infinitely Content]

Shelvey suffers without Merino and Perez because he doesn't have options along the ground. Those passes he was trying at the weekend are just a waste of time against PL defences.

 

Two of his passes today were world class, he just needs to be patient and wait for those opportunities. And we need to give him better options.

 

The second was absolutely incredible.

[xLiaaamx]

He's more than a hollywood ball like. He can play different passes depending on who's around him.

[AyeDubbleYoo]

He's more than a hollywood ball like. He can play different passes depending on who's around him.

 

Agreed, but he is also prone to being mentally off. Which could lead to bad decisions. That said, last game we didn't have any other gameplan so I don't really blame him.

[The College Dropout]

Might be better off the bench when there's more space for his balls and the opps are tired.

[HaydnNUFC]

Him and Merino together are our best midfield 2.

 

Yep, some lovely touches between them hell we were even good to watch for the last 15 mins or so

Aye, that period was all us and we were unlucky not to win in the end. When everyone is back fit, particularly Lascelles, we have a canny bottom half PL side that can play decent stuff at times. Mainly down to Rafa's ability as a manager that though.

[The College Dropout]

Him and Merino together are our best midfield 2.

 

Yep, some lovely touches between them hell we were even good to watch for the last 15 mins or so

Aye, that period was all us and we were unlucky not to win in the end. When everyone is back fit, particularly Lascelles, we have a canny bottom half PL side that can play decent stuff at times. Mainly down to Rafa's ability as a manager that though.

 

Think most of the sides down there can play decent stuff with a fully fit team in confidence. West Brom's goals were nice for example.

[Stottie]

I thought he was good against Man U, and don't get the recent criticism. He often runs out of steam though.

[Kanj]

Might be better off the bench when there's more space for his balls and the opps are tired.

 

Nah, think that’s too simply put. Needs a full match but has to be with Merino.

[The College Dropout]

Might be better off the bench when there's more space for his balls and the opps are tired.

 

Nah, think that’s too simply put. Needs a full match but has to be with Merino.

 

I think we should try and start with our most talented team and that includes Shelvey. But I have a suspicion he could be more impactful when the game is stretched and he's that bit faster than the other players.

[mrmojorisin75]

Might be better off the bench when there's more space for his balls and the opps are tired.

 

Nah, think that’s too simply put. Needs a full match but has to be with Merino.

 

I think we should try and start with our most talented team and that includes Shelvey. But I have a suspicion he could be more impactful when the game is stretched and he's that bit faster than the other players.

I think you're right.

[STM]

I just don't rate him highly. He positioning is poor, his discipline is poor, his athleticism is poor and he's not a leader.

 

His short range passing is ok, as is his set pieces but nothing spectacular. Of course his long range passing is very good but we have no pace or movement in our side to exploit it.

 

Him getting suspended also resulted in better performances from us.

 

I said this after the Watford game but make no mistake, he's the one player in our squad, alongside Merino, who can do something outstanding.

 

There has to be a solution where we can get Hayden, Merino and Shelvey all on the pitch. Merino is our best player, Hayden provides the energy and Shelvey the sparkle.

[huss9]

needs to be playing much further forward like he was last night when he came on. penetrative passes that put the opposition on the back foot rather than long hollywood balls from in our own half.

[Guest neesy111]

Agreed, last night showed he's much more effective when playing much further forward.

[Guest chopey]

That pass man

[afar]

I watched the full game, late last night when I got home from work. TBH, even as a Shelvey fan, I thought he could have little argument with being dropped. However when he came on, in that short cameo he was excellent, must have played 4 or 5 excellent passes, not all of the 40 yard hollywood type either. I've been arguing forever that we need to go with Merino Hayden and Shelvey in the middle dropping whoever plays at number 10. Chelsea would be a perfect game to try that.

[Bimpy474]

Right Rafa stop fucking about and get this lad in the team, and don't give me none of that bollocks he can't play in a two. He did all last season and was excellent alongside Merino against liverpool in a two earlier this season.

 

He's our creative player, our only one. Stop leaving him on the bench please ffs.

[afar]

Again I will say it, this is yet another example of Rafa refusing to play Shelvey, Merino and Hayden together, I have no idea why he refuses to do that, we can't play 442 and our options at number 10 are atrocious.

[Gallowgate Toon]

He played as a 10 for Swansea on occasion. I'd sooner have him there and go back to one up top. Desperation

[steve_69]

I’d play Shelvey every game from the start, but we scored 2 tonight and probably created another 4-5 decent chances. Our issue tonight wasn’t a lack of creativity, it was a lack of defensive competence and that’s not something Shelvey wouldn’t helped with.

[xLiaaamx]

It was a lack of people wanting to take the ball in midfield. He would undoubtedly help with that. He'd have been more benefit to us in a solidity manner than Hayden was tonight.

[Dave]

I’d play Shelvey every game from the start, but we scored 2 tonight and probably created another 4-5 decent chances. Our issue tonight wasn’t a lack of creativity, it was a lack of defensive competence and that’s not something Shelvey wouldn’t helped with.

 

Tend to agree, though it wasn't just the defenders themselves that were incompetent. The midfield was all over the place, maybe Shelvey just being in the middle and available to take the ball was what we needed.

[Infinitely Content]

I’d play Shelvey every game from the start, but we scored 2 tonight and probably created another 4-5 decent chances. Our issue tonight wasn’t a lack of creativity, it was a lack of defensive competence and that’s not something Shelvey wouldn’t helped with.

 

Tend to agree, though it wasn't just the defenders themselves that were incompetent. The midfield was all over the place, maybe Shelvey just being in the middle and available to take the ball was what we needed.

 

That said, and given that we won't be playing with 3 in midfield, would you rather Shelvey be paired with Hayden or Merino? It's though to say imo, if Shelvey is there to take the ball, then maybe Hayden is the better workhorse? Merino gets through a lot of work himself mind. He's somewhere between Hayden and Shelvey in terms of playing style.

 

Which partnership brings us the best balance?

[Dave]

We should find a way to play all three IMO. Shelvey in a free role.

[xLiaaamx]

If its two, I'd want Shelvey and Merino. Against Liverpool it made us look comfortable enough on the ball to belong.

[Infinitely Content]

We should find a way to play all three IMO. Shelvey in a free role.

 

Yeah, probably not going to happen. We haven't seen even an incline from the team selections which points towards that so far. I would like to see it too, fwiw - though I don't necessarily think it's the solution.