Andymc1 Posted January 16, 2016 Share Posted January 16, 2016 With the arrival of Saivet, Shelvey and it seems Townsend as well, one or two midfield players will get pushed down the pecking order, even if they don't leave. There is a decision to be made with Sissoko, because although he can open things up for us (particularly on the break), a lot of moves break down when he gets the ball. Our midfield are not fluent in possession, and although Sissoko isn't the only culprit when it comes to losing the ball, he's the chief one. It makes it difficult for players to move forward with confidence if they're worried we might lose the ball and then they'll be out of position. We're at our most dangerous on the break, but that's of limited use when we struggle to score the first goal because we can't break teams down. The balance in the midfield needs to be tipped towards a unit with more skill on the ball. I'd want to keep Sissoko because of his obvious strengths, but not necessarily as an automatic first team choice. I'd like to see how a new look midfield functions without him. And Townsend has that kind of explosive pace and energy which is missing from our attack at the moment. We've got flat-out pace which is apparent when we're in a position to catch teams on the break, but in other situations we look a bit flat and predictable. Townsend is worth the gamble, because he could make all the difference. Unbelievable. Fucking hell. There's no words for this. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Parky Posted January 16, 2016 Share Posted January 16, 2016 Find this Townsend hate staggering. He's still quite young and learning the game. He's played a few times for Eng and is a better dribbler than anyone we have. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
STM Posted January 16, 2016 Share Posted January 16, 2016 Totally agree Parky. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Optimistic Nut Posted January 16, 2016 Share Posted January 16, 2016 Same. While people are saying if he hadn't won the England caps he'd be at Fulham for about £3m now, I reckon if he'd been in the group of clubs below playing regularly, he'd have been touted for a move to a better club. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mole_Toonfan Posted January 16, 2016 Share Posted January 16, 2016 Find this Townsend hate staggering. He's still quite young and learning the game. He's played a few times for Eng and is a better dribbler than anyone we have. Because he's not that good, it's funny how people forget how bad someone is when he doesn't play. Also he's not a better dribbler than anyone we have. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Foluwashola Posted January 16, 2016 Share Posted January 16, 2016 Not massively sold on him but think he's a better player than Thauvin. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
James Posted January 16, 2016 Share Posted January 16, 2016 Find this Townsend hate staggering. He's still quite young and learning the game. He's played a few times for Eng and is a better dribbler than anyone we have. Because he's not that good, it's funny how people forget how bad someone is when he doesn't play. Also he's not a better dribbler than anyone we have. Who are these amazing dribblers we currently have? It isn't Sissoko because his running with the ball is simply about pace and power. It isn't Janmaat as he beats his man off the ball. And it isn't Perez because his play is all about using his first touch to get away from his man. So who else is there? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Optimistic Nut Posted January 16, 2016 Share Posted January 16, 2016 Either way whatever people think of him and Shelvey, it'll be nice to have that feeling again to have a bit of excitement that when our winger is on the ball, there's the prospect he can skin two or three defenders, or when our central midfielder is within 30 yards of their keeper that he'll ping a shot at goal. Been too long since we've been close. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gallowgate Toon Posted January 16, 2016 Share Posted January 16, 2016 Wijnaldum's dribbling is top notch, tbf. Unreal close control and acceleration. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
James Posted January 16, 2016 Share Posted January 16, 2016 The last true winger of any ability was Routledge. It is shocking that we never replaced him. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest firetotheworks Posted January 16, 2016 Share Posted January 16, 2016 The last true winger of any ability was Routledge. It is shocking that we never replaced him. We replaced him with Ben Arfa. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ally Posted January 16, 2016 Share Posted January 16, 2016 The last true winger of any ability was Routledge. It is shocking that we never replaced him. We replaced him with Ben Arfa. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
James Posted January 16, 2016 Share Posted January 16, 2016 The last true winger of any ability was Routledge. It is shocking that we never replaced him. We replaced him with Ben Arfa. Who is not a true winger. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest firetotheworks Posted January 16, 2016 Share Posted January 16, 2016 True wingers don't really have a place in the modern game anymore imo. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest reefatoon Posted January 16, 2016 Share Posted January 16, 2016 Yeah the hate is unreal like. People were giving fans stick for booing Thauvin last week, and this poor c*** is getting even more stick and he hasn't even signed yet. Folks can't say give Thauvin a chance he has hardly played, then follow it up with writing Townsend off before he has even signed. If he signs, let's just see how it goes. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
HawK Posted January 16, 2016 Share Posted January 16, 2016 We need the next Keith Gillespie. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
STM Posted January 16, 2016 Share Posted January 16, 2016 What a drunken Irishman with a gambling habit who gets chinned of Shearer? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
STM Posted January 16, 2016 Share Posted January 16, 2016 Oh, you mean a winger with a decent cross. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
HawK Posted January 16, 2016 Share Posted January 16, 2016 I don't really care what they do off the field to a large degree, and Gillespie with Solano are two of the best right wingers we've ever had. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
GeordieT Posted January 16, 2016 Share Posted January 16, 2016 You often hear what is, for the most part, rhetoric about this player and that player having "no end product". Well Towsnend genuinely doesn't have any end product. Pitiful chance creation / assists record. Really poor decision making in the final third. The guy is 25 this year too, but he has shown little sign of pushing his career on in the last couple of years. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
NEEJ Posted January 16, 2016 Share Posted January 16, 2016 I think he could be a decent signing, like. It'll be interesting to see how he fares. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
mouldy_uk Posted January 16, 2016 Share Posted January 16, 2016 I cant honestly remember the last player we manage to actually improve, or help them to realise their talent, therefore there is a good chance he will be rubbish Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
mrmojorisin75 Posted January 16, 2016 Share Posted January 16, 2016 You often hear what is, for the most part, rhetoric about this player and that player having "no end product". Well Towsnend genuinely doesn't have any end product. Pitiful chance creation / assists record. Really poor decision making in the final third. The guy is 25 this year too, but he has shown little sign of pushing his career on in the last couple of years. Aye he's bang average at absolute best, anyone who has seen him play would know this. Never heard anyone saying Thauvin was/is the answer but at 22 coming to a new country I'd argue he deserves much more than being shipped out in January when McClaren hasn't been able to field a cohesive team the whole time. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dr.Spaceman Posted January 16, 2016 Share Posted January 16, 2016 What a drunken Irishman with a gambling habit who gets chinned of Shearer? Dat spelling and grammar. A Gillespie type would be ideal right about now. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ExiledGeordie Posted January 16, 2016 Share Posted January 16, 2016 The lad is still young, he's got bags of pace, has an eye for goal and would be a decent signing IMO. Sure there's a risk but not as much as signing a foreign player like we always do. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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