Kid Icarus Posted December 27, 2021 Share Posted December 27, 2021 Definitely saw signs of what made him look good under Rafa. He was absolutely shagged from about 75 minutes though. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
HawK Posted December 27, 2021 Share Posted December 27, 2021 Shelvey before Longstaff needs to be resolved much more urgently, as well as both fullback positions, central defence, cover for Wilson. There's a lot of others to worry about before this chap if he can keep up the level he played at tonight. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
xLiaaamx Posted December 27, 2021 Share Posted December 27, 2021 4 minutes ago, Klaus said: That moment when him and Fraser won the ball, then left it for each other Poor Fraser nearly got his head taken off because of it Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
toontownman Posted December 27, 2021 Share Posted December 27, 2021 Definitely better but still sloppy and off the pace at times. It's a glimpse of rediscovering the form and potential shown under rafa though, which is promising. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thumbheed Posted December 27, 2021 Share Posted December 27, 2021 Always been convinced there's something about him. Good today and definitely a step in the right direction but plenty of room for improvement. Won't go overboard with praise just yet but definitely deserves to keep his place. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Heron Posted December 27, 2021 Share Posted December 27, 2021 35 minutes ago, Oregon_Geordie said: Athletic? thought he looked lost at times. Nah, he was just covering Shelvey's lack of athleticism and ASMs lack of defensive work in our half. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jack j Posted December 27, 2021 Share Posted December 27, 2021 1 minute ago, Heron said: Nah, he was just covering Shelvey's lack of athleticism and ASMs lack of defensive work in our half. Shelvey grafted his nuts off there like. Anar he's not the quickest or most agile but him and Joelinton put some hard yards in there Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Heron Posted December 27, 2021 Share Posted December 27, 2021 25 minutes ago, Alan Pardew said: Willock has been shocking all season but comparing these two is pointless anyway. Willock is a CAM who doesn't fit into Howe's system while Longstaff is a much more traditional CM/CDM. Problem is he doesn't have the stamina or physique to play this role. He was completely useless in the last 15 minutes tonight again. I can take certain criticisms of Longstaff but not lack of stamina like? I'm sure he runs the most in the team or something daft, his pressure got us the goal tonight and he did a lot of the defensive work his team mates were incapable or unwilling to do. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dr.Spaceman Posted December 27, 2021 Share Posted December 27, 2021 I actually didn't think he was great, he was at the minimum level required today, which is better than he's been. His positional play and decision making still isn't of the required standard. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Heron Posted December 27, 2021 Share Posted December 27, 2021 Just now, jack j said: Shelvey grafted his nuts off there like. Anar he's not the quickest or most agile but him and Joelinton put some hard yards in there That's not a criticism of Shelvey's efforts. He's seemingly fitter and/or more willing than he has been for a long time because of the way he's been man managed. However, athleticism isn't his strong point and nor has it ever been. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mattoon Posted December 27, 2021 Share Posted December 27, 2021 Bruce absolutely wrecked his progress, but he looked solid today, hopefully he can find some of that Rafa form in the second half of the season. There's definitely a better player in there than the last 2 years have shown, he just needs pointing in the right direction. Ideally the midfield is replaced in January but he may have a part to play and hopefully he keeps improving again. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Heron Posted December 27, 2021 Share Posted December 27, 2021 Going to add to this too his interview was absolutely class. Absolutely had his teammates back and basically told everyone to STFU. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dr.Spaceman Posted December 27, 2021 Share Posted December 27, 2021 1 minute ago, Heron said: That's not a criticism of Shelvey's efforts. He's seemingly fitter and/or more willing than he has been for a long time because of the way he's been man managed. However, athleticism isn't his strong point and nor has it ever been. Agree with this, and I've been one of Shelvey's biggest critics for a while. He's nowhere near the weak link he once was. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lenny Posted December 27, 2021 Share Posted December 27, 2021 2 minutes ago, Dr.Spaceman said: I actually didn't think he was great, he was at the minimum level required today, which is better than he's been. His positional play and decision making still isn't of the required standard. His pass for the first goal was very assertive. 99% of the time a player in our shirt takes one touch too many before making the pass, and thus nullifying the chance. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Heron Posted December 27, 2021 Share Posted December 27, 2021 Just now, ManDoon said: Guy runs in treacle though, not his fault obvs but he’s so slow I see him has being a Siem de Jong type but obviously in a lesser way like. Playing in the pockets and closing down opposition in the final third. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
olliemort Posted December 27, 2021 Share Posted December 27, 2021 Best performance since rafa was here Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dr.Spaceman Posted December 27, 2021 Share Posted December 27, 2021 Just now, Lenny said: His pass for the first goal was very assertive. 99% of the time a player in our shirt takes one touch too many before making the pass, and thus nullifying the chance. He made a correct decision, whoop de doo. He's a better cricketer than he is a footballer. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lenny Posted December 27, 2021 Share Posted December 27, 2021 (edited) 3 minutes ago, Dr.Spaceman said: He made a correct decision, whoop de doo. He's a better cricketer than he is a footballer. You literally questioned his decision making in your post, hence me raising the point that his decision making was spot on at a critical time in the game. He should be sacked off at the earliest opportunity based on his last few years with us, but there was nothing wrong with his decision making and positional play today, and he was better than "minimum level required". Edited December 27, 2021 by Lenny Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lenny Posted December 27, 2021 Share Posted December 27, 2021 Also well done for him for putting that interviewer in his place regarding Joelinton. Amusing comment at face value but actually extremely disrespectful and unprofessional comment to make. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Heron Posted December 27, 2021 Share Posted December 27, 2021 2 minutes ago, Lenny said: Also well done for him for putting that interviewer in his place regarding Joelinton. Amusing comment at face value but actually extremely disrespectful and unprofessional comment to make. Aye, I thought it was good because I enjoyed the honesty of it, not enough of that nowadays, but likewise Longstaff was excellent to basically say "We've got his back and he'll show you". Was good leadership and fantastic to see. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hanshithispantz Posted December 27, 2021 Share Posted December 27, 2021 Was slightly taken aback by a footbaler actually speaking well in an interviewer instead of just rattling off set phrases. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thiago Posted December 27, 2021 Share Posted December 27, 2021 LOVE his defence of Joelinton. I'm not convinced what his role is in the team long term but his pass to Murphy in the second half was a glimmer of the old Sean. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tsunami Posted December 28, 2021 Share Posted December 28, 2021 Thought he was generally sloppy in possession and struggled to make any impact. Gave the ball away far too much. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hanshithispantz Posted December 28, 2021 Share Posted December 28, 2021 Think people are being a bit harsh on the interviewer like It was obviously meant as a compliment. Joelinton has widely been regarded as one of the worst players in the league so he was just expressing his suprise, like the rest of us, that he's actually fucking amazing. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Geordie Ahmed Posted December 28, 2021 Share Posted December 28, 2021 Just now, Hanshithispantz said: Think people are being a bit harsh on the interviewer like It was obviously meant as a compliment. Joelinton has widely been regarded as one of the worst players in the league so he was just expressing his suprise, like the rest of us, that he's actually fucking amazing. Not really that much of a compliment, saying you're good now but you were shite, not sure an interviewer should be coming out with things like that. Plenty of players have turned things around and I don't recall an interviewer doing that I do think he was trying to be funny but it's shit craic really Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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