Jonjo Shelvey (now playing for Burnley)

[Guest]

Still wish he would look for simple passes more often.

 

this is what he's most improved on imo, he used to take the ball and fuck about looking for a hollywood pass...now when he takes the ball generally his head is up and he's looking for a forward pass short or long

 

I might be wrong, but I can't remember seeing him looking for a return pass. Doesn't ever seem to be involved in quick one-two pass movements, and I think this is a big failing of our side in general for a long time.

 

The whole concept of pass and move has been foreign to us for over a decade.  The only time I can remember any real one-two passing was when Ben Arfa played and he'd pass the ball to himself.

[triggs]

Janmaat was good for a 1-2

[Paully]

https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/jonjo-shelvey-interview-gareth-southgate-england-newcastle-rafael-benitez-premier-league-efl-a8602741.html

 

 

[AsprillasShinPad]

Still wish he would look for simple passes more often.

 

this is what he's most improved on imo, he used to take the ball and f*** about looking for a hollywood pass...now when he takes the ball generally his head is up and he's looking for a forward pass short or long

 

I might be wrong, but I can't remember seeing him looking for a return pass. Doesn't ever seem to be involved in quick one-two pass movements, and I think this is a big failing of our side in general for a long time.

 

The whole concept of pass and move has been foreign to us for over a decade.  The only time I can remember any real one-two passing was when Ben Arfa played and he'd pass the ball to himself.

 

He looks completely alien in our team at the minute, like an adult playing in a kids team. Today none of the other midfielders offered him anything, so he was reduced to speculative stuff yet again. Would love to see him behind a AM who actually moves into space.

[La Parka]

Will be gone in the summer

[Guest chopey]

Will be gone in the summer

 

Will be gone in January if the right offer comes in, the number on the back of his Sports Direct United shirt is the starting price in millions.

[TRon]

Still wish he would look for simple passes more often.

 

this is what he's most improved on imo, he used to take the ball and f*** about looking for a hollywood pass...now when he takes the ball generally his head is up and he's looking for a forward pass short or long

 

I might be wrong, but I can't remember seeing him looking for a return pass. Doesn't ever seem to be involved in quick one-two pass movements, and I think this is a big failing of our side in general for a long time.

 

The whole concept of pass and move has been foreign to us for over a decade.  The only time I can remember any real one-two passing was when Ben Arfa played and he'd pass the ball to himself.

 

He looks completely alien in our team at the minute, like an adult playing in a kids team. Today none of the other midfielders offered him anything, so he was reduced to speculative stuff yet again. Would love to see him behind a AM who actually moves into space.

 

If he was that good you would think he would score the odd goal now and then, if only from set pieces. Gazza played with equally shite players at Newcastle but he still did his stuff. Yes he's better than most of the rest of the team, but not enough to have any actual impact.

[thenige]

We actually looked better when he went off today. Where he normally holds onto the ball for a while, picks it up and deep and looks for ambitious passes, where Ki really helped was short simple and penetrative passing to keep us ticking over.

[geordie john]

He's a shadow of his old self - is Rafa asking him to play too deep? Maybe, but his performances have been piss poor.

[AyeDubbleYoo]

He's playing too deep, lacking confidence to keep the ball and playing too many low-percentage balls. Don't know whether it's the gameplan or just his form, but he's probably the player I'm most disappointed in at the moment.

[xLiaaamx]

I think he would have been better second half if not injured. He's playing so deep because we're using two centre backs who can't pass the ball well. Last season Lejeune was doing what he's had to go do this season.

 

I really don't think it can be underestimated how much Schar made a difference to our options in possession.

[The College Dropout]

In a struggling team a player like Shelvey will always come a bit to deep to get the ball. After the great Wham debut he did this a lot in his first season and did it a fair bit during our great run too.

[LV]

The England snub has affected him a bit imo. Think he’s sulking.

[joeyt]

I don't think he's sulking at all, he just had a poor 50 mins on Saturday. He was one of the only players to come out with any credit vs Brighton

[Guest ElCid]

No question the lad has got a lot of talent but his overall record is just not good enough for a supposed player with his ability and his goal scoring record for a creative midfielder is pretty anysmal.

[joeyt]

He should score more goals but in his defence he plays pretty much like a quarter back for us

[Guest ElCid]

He should score more goals but in his defence he plays pretty much like a quarter back for us

 

You're right - personally I think he should be moved forward - but still saying that hs overall attempts when he gets in position are usually shocking for someone with his ability.

[Guest chopey]

I think if we had a left wing back with the pace of Yedlin we could change our formation to accommodate Shelvey and Ki

[Stifler]

A player like Shelvey is only ever going to be as good as the players around him. His best and possibly only attribute is his passing, if players ahead of him arn’t making the runs then he’s wasted.

I actuallly think the way Ki was playing when he replaced Shelvey on Saturday would have been ideal for Shelvey to feed balls into.

[Altamullan]

Are we perhaps a bit less predicable and a little quicker/less ponderous without JJ?

[mrmojorisin75]

Are we perhaps a bit less predicable and a little quicker/less ponderous without JJ?

 

yes, certainly at home

[Infinitely Content]

Shelvey is obviously one of our best and most important players. I want to see him with Ki or Schar in the team as well before passing judgement; as I think too many times Shelvey is the only option to play the ball forward and it does make us sometimes predictable or frustrated due to lack of options.

 

When we look at yesterday, the good things Ki done, Shelvey can do the same (although Ki's set pieces seem to be better). That arrowed pass to Kenedy is a Shelvey pass, amongst a few others he played. We didn't actually play too differently - we just looked like we had more options and were less predictable. Rondon being available & fit was a huge factor, Ritchie was well up for it against his former team & Kenedy was on form again meaning there was much better movement up top than we've seen so far this season (and the ball was actually sticking due to Rondon's incredible hold up play). Put Shelvey in there yesterday and I would have still backed us to get the same result on the day.

[mrmojorisin75]

genuinely think the speed at which Ki looked to move things on made a big difference yesterday vs. shelvey at times

[TRon]

Shelvey's a truly gifted player, but I like Ki's energy in midfield. Shorter passing range with more movement forward contributes to a more dynamic midfield IMO. No doubt Shelvey will still play his part this season though.

[tmonkey]

Need to see more of Ki over a longer term. Couple of half decent performances isn't really enough to suggest the player who (imo) has been comfortably our best footballer since the Championship should lose his place in the team. Still think at PL level Shelvey looks a league above everyone else in our squad when it comes to controlling the ball, not panicking, distributing it, and actually doing something positive with a touch of class (or at least taking the responsibility on for trying to, as opposed to playing it safe).