Paullow Posted April 7, 2023 Share Posted April 7, 2023 He does seem like one of the most obvious players in the XI that could be upgraded, and you often hear people talking about Rice, Neves, that lad from Ajax etc. who would almost certainly take his starting position should they sign, but just hypothetically, say we brought him in the summer for circa £40m from either home or abroad, and he put in the exactly the same performances as he has all season would there be as much clamour for him to be upgraded? Does the fact he came through the academy and lost his way a bit under Bruce, and maybe that he is 26 later this year (so not particularly young / exciting) and has only really had a combined 2 years max of being decent affect judgment? I'm not saying that's the case, but just wondering what people thought. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
andyc35i Posted April 7, 2023 Share Posted April 7, 2023 1 minute ago, Paullow said: He does seem like one of the most obvious players in the XI that could be upgraded, and you often hear people talking about Rice, Neves, that lad from Ajax etc. who would almost certainly take his starting position should they sign, but just hypothetically, say we brought him in the summer for circa £40m from either home or abroad, and he put in the exactly the same performances as he has all season would there be as much clamour for him to be upgraded? Does the fact he came through the academy and lost his way a bit under Bruce, and maybe that he is 26 later this year (so not particularly young / exciting) and has only really had a combined 2 years max of being decent affect judgment? I'm not saying that's the case, but just wondering what people thought. I appreciate what Sean gives to the team, but I think he needs to be replaced with a similar type of player (high energy and box-to-box) that offers more technical ability. Maybe that’s the side Bruno moves to (on paper) and then we actually target a more defensively minded player (like an Urgarte) Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
toon25 Posted April 7, 2023 Share Posted April 7, 2023 Another miracle turnaround. Think of where he was under the previous fat cunt, man. Now look at him. He's absolutely integral to us at the moment. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
MrRaspberryJam Posted April 7, 2023 Share Posted April 7, 2023 Just now, toon25 said: Another miracle turnaround. Think of where he was under the previous fat cunt, man. Now look at him. He's absolutely integral to us at the moment. I thought he was decent under Benitez? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lazarus Posted April 7, 2023 Share Posted April 7, 2023 Hes the Deschamps to Bruno's Zidane. Or something.... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
TRon Posted April 7, 2023 Share Posted April 7, 2023 29 minutes ago, Paullow said: He does seem like one of the most obvious players in the XI that could be upgraded, and you often hear people talking about Rice, Neves, that lad from Ajax etc. who would almost certainly take his starting position should they sign, but just hypothetically, say we brought him in the summer for circa £40m from either home or abroad, and he put in the exactly the same performances as he has all season would there be as much clamour for him to be upgraded? Does the fact he came through the academy and lost his way a bit under Bruce, and maybe that he is 26 later this year (so not particularly young / exciting) and has only really had a combined 2 years max of being decent affect judgment? I'm not saying that's the case, but just wondering what people thought. I think you answered your own question in that post. Who do you think looked better yesterday, Longstaff or Rice? Sean's doing a great job this season but when you see genuine quality in that position, then you know the upgrade is going to have to come at some point. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Displayname Posted April 7, 2023 Share Posted April 7, 2023 Even if we bring in someone to compete in his position he is going to get a lot games next year. Europe is pretty much a certainty at this point. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chicken Dancer Posted April 7, 2023 Share Posted April 7, 2023 Our midfield really remind me of Liverpool’s at certain stages of the last 5 years or so. Not much in the way of goals but absolutely vital to the way we play. He’s a bit like Henderson was back then - never ending engine and good protection for the right side of the defence when Trippier attacks. He must be one of the fittest players at the club (not in the way Schar is fit…) Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skeletor Posted April 7, 2023 Share Posted April 7, 2023 I'd keep him in the squad for years to come personally. Ticks both home grown boxes, likeable lad, finally developing to a level close to his potential from years ago and generally a good egg. If Howe can sort out his finishing he'd actually be a top quality midfielder as well. Just wish Porkchops had never got his greasy fat hands on him during the crucial years of his development. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kanj Posted April 7, 2023 Share Posted April 7, 2023 I imagine it's actually going to be quite difficult and expensive to sign someone who has the same engine and versatility + better finishing. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ace Posted April 7, 2023 Share Posted April 7, 2023 6 hours ago, TRon said: I think you answered your own question in that post. Who do you think looked better yesterday, Longstaff or Rice? Sean's doing a great job this season but when you see genuine quality in that position, then you know the upgrade is going to have to come at some point. Rice, it would have been 10 without him Longstaff played well as well. Does a great job had technical limitations probably can be improved upon but no new player is just walking into our team with the way Longstaff is playing. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smal Posted April 7, 2023 Share Posted April 7, 2023 Rice is absolutely made for the 6/8 hybrid role threat Longstaff plays and rotates with Bruno, mind. Would be dream stuff. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Weezertron Posted April 7, 2023 Share Posted April 7, 2023 Market value is surely back to where it was when Man Utd were rumoured to be interested. 40M? Not that I'm looking to sell. I wouldn't like to be the new midfielder we buy in the summer, he'd have as much luck displacing Willock/Joe. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
wyn davies Posted April 7, 2023 Share Posted April 7, 2023 32 minutes ago, Weezertron said: Market value is surely back to where it was when Man Utd were rumoured to be interested. 40M? Not that I'm looking to sell. I wouldn't like to be the new midfielder we buy in the summer, he'd have as much luck displacing Willock/Joe. I'd sell him, history repeats and I can see him going back to as he was if something such as not featuring as often as he is whether as regular or sub, can affect a player mentally . Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Weezertron Posted April 7, 2023 Share Posted April 7, 2023 1 minute ago, wyn davies said: I'd sell him, history repeats and I can see him going back to as he was if something such as not featuring as often as he is whether as regular or sub, can affect a player mentally . History will only repeat if we get Bruce back as manager. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kanj Posted April 7, 2023 Share Posted April 7, 2023 He gets a rediculous amount of stick, and how he performs is measured so differently to others. One mis placed or one bad shot and he's fucking hounded for it. It's mad. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chicken Dancer Posted April 7, 2023 Share Posted April 7, 2023 6 minutes ago, wyn davies said: I'd sell him, history repeats and I can see him going back to as he was if something such as not featuring as often as he is whether as regular or sub, can affect a player mentally . Excuse me Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chicken Dancer Posted April 7, 2023 Share Posted April 7, 2023 3 minutes ago, Kanji said: He gets a rediculous amount of stick, and how he performs is measured so differently to others. One mis placed or one bad shot and he's fucking hounded for it. It's mad. we always have loved hating our own. Been the same for years. By own I mean academy graduates. He’s absolutely fine and will be a fine squad player going forwards, and we need to keep him for homegrown quote in Europe. Fitting he sent us to Wembley tbh. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Geogaddi Posted April 7, 2023 Share Posted April 7, 2023 However much he has improved I still can’t believe we turned down 40 million for him from Man United , we probably wouldn’t even get that much for him now . Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
gjohnson Posted April 7, 2023 Share Posted April 7, 2023 2 minutes ago, Geogaddi said: However much he has improved I still can’t believe we turned down 40 million for him from Man United , we probably wouldn’t even get that much for him now . No one will be in for him anyway. He's one of those players that should be called "useful invisible". Does loads of good work that no one notices or sees until he's not in the team. Similar to Henderson in a different sort of way...does nothing spectacularly but the team suffers when he's not there. Very different to "invisible invisible" that Colback and Hendrick demonstrated to perfection. Can't see him ever being sold tbh. If he leaves it'll be on a free cos we wouldn't renew contract Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Strawberry Posted April 7, 2023 Share Posted April 7, 2023 Can someone tell me why Joelinton and Willock get rotated but not this guy? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Killuminati Posted April 7, 2023 Share Posted April 7, 2023 3 minutes ago, Strawberry said: Can someone tell me why Joelinton and Willock get rotated but not this guy? Injurys and suspensions Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
gbandit Posted April 7, 2023 Share Posted April 7, 2023 Joelinton doesn’t get rotated, he just had the two match ban and has been making his way back into the team. Willock also seems to have nailed down a spot save for his injury. It’s hard to make a case for dropping anyone right now, save for Burn if Targett is match fit. I’d also always start Isak if he’s injury-free but that’s me Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Strawberry Posted April 7, 2023 Share Posted April 7, 2023 12 minutes ago, gbandit said: Joelinton doesn’t get rotated, he just had the two match ban and has been making his way back into the team. Willock also seems to have nailed down a spot save for his injury. It’s hard to make a case for dropping anyone right now, save for Burn if Targett is match fit. I’d also always start Isak if he’s injury-free but that’s me I would start the two Joe tomorrow in space of Longstaff. I would start Isak too but I think Howe will go with Wilson. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
BoSelecta Posted April 7, 2023 Share Posted April 7, 2023 I’d be foaming if I’m Isak and Wilson starts tomorrow. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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