Rich Posted June 30, 2017 Share Posted June 30, 2017 Still think there are some big questions over his character (especially when things are going against us or he just has some basic defending/tracking to do), but I like him and I'm quite heartened by his continued professionalism in terms of improving his fitness. He must know that he'll be coming under threat this season, given that we won't be controlling games and setting the tempo as much. Are people expecting him to be an automatic starter? Any chance of him moving forward into the hole? I disagree, outside of that ridiculous suspension he got, I think Jonjo has shown nothing but great professionalism last season and obviously setting himself up for this season. He's a creative player, offensive player that was vital to our promotion campaign, we have to live with some aspects that are missing in his game from a defensive perspective, just like we did with HBA. That's why you put players around him that can do the things he can't, Hayden for me was a perfect foil last year. No idea if we will be controlling games or not, a lot of teams are set up for counter attack these days, it's not always how high you finish in that determines how much of the ball you have, hell last season on a number of occasions we lost the possession stats war quite comfortably. Jonjo should be a major player for us next season, hell the way recruitment is going it could very well be the same group in the middle as we had last season, we've been linked with no one who would be a direct replacement for Shelvey, we probably do need an understudy though because we were awful when he was out of the team last year. Think this is all fair enough and it's a really good point about the amount of possession teams have, although I do expect us to be one of those teams who set up to play a conservative, counter-attacking style. Maybe he then becomes essential for releasing quick attacks due to his range of passing, as we've seen plenty of times already. But maybe I'm wrong and we'll play similarly to how we did last year. He is still too quick to gripe and point the finger, for me, and his lack of willingness to track runners or even do the basics of blocking/covering around the box will be an issue if we come under more pressure against better teams, but it's not terminal. Was really just interested to see what other people's opinions on him are. As I said, I like him as a character and as a player, but he didn't even start last season as first choice so I think it's fair to think he could be under some pressure for his spot this season, especially as I do expect us to do some significant business in CM. I hope he's even fitter than he was last pre-season, of course, and that he can keep improving in the deep-lying role. The mention of him as a 10 was largely due to how Rafa deployed Gerrard in 08/09, though he did have the luxury of Xabi Alonso and Mascherano in behind... Also appreciate that Shelvey isn't as dynamic as Gerrard was then and hasn't shown much when used as a 10 in the past at other clubs. NB: Finally instigated a bit of conversation since returning. Noice. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Papavasiliou Posted June 30, 2017 Share Posted June 30, 2017 He is still too quick to gripe and point the finger, for me, and his lack of willingness to track runners or even do the basics of blocking/covering around the box will be an issue if we come under more pressure against better teams, but it's not terminal. Cabaye was exactly the same to be honest. As soon as his head went down you could see him either complaining at everyone or kicking people up in the air out of spite. Shelvey still makes vital defensive contirbutions when the going is good though. More than a few times last year he was steaming back ahead of everyone to shut down counter-attacks. He does a more than some give him credit for. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ronaldo Posted June 30, 2017 Share Posted June 30, 2017 I like Shelvey, but come on, he defensive work is utter shit. It always has been. Cabaye gave us a lot more in that regard. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Seymour Posted June 30, 2017 Share Posted June 30, 2017 Regardless of the partner next to him, Shelvey has to improve defensively Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
mrmojorisin75 Posted June 30, 2017 Share Posted June 30, 2017 I like Shelvey, but come on, he defensive work is utter shit. It always has been. Cabaye gave us a lot more in that regard. it's what is going to make things hard for us in midfield next year as well, trying to play him in rafa's system Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest neesy111 Posted June 30, 2017 Share Posted June 30, 2017 Regardless of the partner next to him, Shelvey has to improve defensively This is it basically. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
AyeDubbleYoo Posted June 30, 2017 Share Posted June 30, 2017 Regardless of the partner next to him, Shelvey has to improve defensively This is it basically. Is that possible though? He has almost no athleticism or pace. It's like asking Pirlo to break up attacks. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest neesy111 Posted June 30, 2017 Share Posted June 30, 2017 Regardless of the partner next to him, Shelvey has to improve defensively This is it basically. Is that possible though? He has almost no athleticism or pace. Well, he has a big flaw. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Seymour Posted June 30, 2017 Share Posted June 30, 2017 I like Shelvey, but come on, he defensive work is utter s***. It always has been. Cabaye gave us a lot more in that regard. it's what is going to make things hard for us in midfield next year as well, trying to play him in rafa's system I would like us to go 4-3-3 and play 2 solid hard working midfielders next to him, James McCarthy types. Shelvey McCarthy Lucas Hes a good player who we need to get the best off Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
AyeDubbleYoo Posted June 30, 2017 Share Posted June 30, 2017 Agree 4-3-3 is good for him, since we don't have a decent #10 at the moment anyway. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jackyboy Posted June 30, 2017 Share Posted June 30, 2017 Ginola didn't do much defending either Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
mrmojorisin75 Posted June 30, 2017 Share Posted June 30, 2017 i could go with the 4-3-3 if we have a top quality front 3 yeah otherwise it'll fail badly Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
triggs Posted June 30, 2017 Share Posted June 30, 2017 Ginola didn't do much defending either Was Ginola playing as a deep lying centre mid then? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ronaldo Posted June 30, 2017 Share Posted June 30, 2017 Yeah, that's a strange comparison to say the least. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Menace Posted June 30, 2017 Share Posted June 30, 2017 I don't rate Shelvey that highly tbh Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
themanupstairs Posted June 30, 2017 Share Posted June 30, 2017 Is there any reason why Shelvey hasn't been tried playing behind the striker? IIRC in his early days at Liverpool he was always the most advanced midfielder when made his appearances from the bench. Seem to remember him playing a lot further forward than he did for Swansea. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
SEMTEX Posted June 30, 2017 Share Posted June 30, 2017 think the suggestion would be that it'd limit his relentless cut-price stevie-g diagonal balls Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted June 30, 2017 Share Posted June 30, 2017 Shelvey is class. You know if he goes into a tackle it's because he wants to wreck someone who has been winding him up all game. There is no other time. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
mrmojorisin75 Posted June 30, 2017 Share Posted June 30, 2017 Is there any reason why Shelvey hasn't been tried playing behind the striker? IIRC in his early days at Liverpool he was always the most advanced midfielder when made his appearances from the bench. Seem to remember him playing a lot further forward than he did for Swansea. don't think he could play the #10 spot myself, but in a 4-3-3 in advance of 2 harder working CM's it could work Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Segun Oluwaniyi Posted June 30, 2017 Share Posted June 30, 2017 I don't rate Shelvey that highly tbh I am of this opinion. It worries me how much creative burden he will have to carry next season. Signing a capable attacking midfielder should be an imperative in this window. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tiresias Posted June 30, 2017 Share Posted June 30, 2017 I don't rate Shelvey that highly tbh I am of this opinion. It worries me how much creative burden he will have to carry next season. Signing a capable attacking midfielder should be an imperative in this window. This, while when he played well we played well in the championship he didn't play well for a substantial part of the season and we suffered a bit. He has plenty of time in premier league and has shown himself to hardly be top quality. Think he's done well but cannot carry the creative burden for the whole team. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Leazes_End_Mag Posted June 30, 2017 Share Posted June 30, 2017 I don't rate Shelvey that highly tbh Agree with this. Offered very little after he returned from his ban but got away with it because he's popular with fans. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Disco Posted June 30, 2017 Share Posted June 30, 2017 Needs hounding out asap. The vile cous cous nonce. Players that take risks dare not welcome. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
joeyt Posted June 30, 2017 Share Posted June 30, 2017 I don't rate Shelvey that highly tbh Agree with this. Offered very little after he returned from his ban but got away with it because he's popular with fans. He was still miles better than any other alternative we could have played instead of him Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Leazes_End_Mag Posted June 30, 2017 Share Posted June 30, 2017 I don't rate Shelvey that highly tbh Agree with this. Offered very little after he returned from his ban but got away with it because he's popular with fans. He was still miles better than any other alternative we could have played instead of him I do agree with that, purely based on the fact we had and have absolutely nobody to challenge him and it remains part of the problem that I think we have now. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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