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3 minutes ago, TRon said:

 

I think it won't be easy to shift either of them tbh. They won't command big fees for a start, and they aren't really the ambitious type, so I think they'll be reluctant to move. This is probably the best club they will ever play for, so their next move will inevitably feel like a step down.

 

I think we could get £15M for him. A newly promoted team or Forest might take him. 

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1 minute ago, vexred said:

 

I think we could get £15M for him. A newly promoted team or Forest might take him. 

 

I'm not sure he'd want to go anywhere, and I'm not sure we'd push him out either. Him being a local lad probably gives him extra credit with Eddie, so unless it's a fee we can't turn down I think he'll be here next season. Hope he's not starting games though.

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He's popped in with a few goals here and there to help, and he has been a grafter in the past, but there's a list of possibly five or six who should be seived out.

 

I think you have to look at sides like Palace, Burnley, Everton, these slow workmen type sides where he'd fit. He's obviously better than a Will Hughes at Palace, or should Everton sell Onana, he might be a cheap alternative?

 

I could see someone buying him, or, he just becomes our bench player where he'd probably be ok as a back up to our key players.

 

In terms of Fifa negotiations, he becomes sporadic instead of important. 

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I feel bad slating him. As he might be yet another one of our players, that is playing through injury. But after a decent start this season. He has been pretty shite since coming back from….. oh yes. Injury. 
 

Last night was woeful. Seemed lazy with his tracking and Colback’esque attempts at tackles. Made some good off the ball runs, as always. But never seems to be available for the ball when it mattered and he is so limited when he does get it. 
 

I’m sure he used to be quite physical and actually get about the pitch making an impact last season? Which is why I feel like he isn’t fully fit. 
 

Either way. I wouldn’t want him playing many games next season. Would happily move him on if we could get say 10-15m for him somehow. 

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I just think that even at his best, he’s a limited footballer. Anything below his best and he’s not good enough for the top half of the PL. Hes got enough application and covers enough yards to be useful when we’re able to play a full press. Take that away, give us few opportunities with the ball and he’s just there as a passenger 

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53 minutes ago, mouldy_uk said:

He would be a reasonable player for the bench, but he wouldn’t get anywhere near any other top 6 team which is my simple barometer 

 

This season should've seen him as our McTominay tbh.

 

Absolutely sound player to bring from the bench to see games out, or even squeeze a goal. 

 

Pity he's had to play so much football as has been mentioned above, it's made his limitations really stand out with persistent football.

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He's a player that relies solely on his engine. Unfortunately he's clearly knackered at the moment, so he has very little left to offer apart from the occasional late arrival into the box. 

 

On the ball and off it, he's always two yards slower than everyone else. Watching him is like when you haven't played five a side for ages and you have to readjust to basic things like controlling the ball, and you take two extra touches before passing, except that's Longstaff every week, scaled up to PL level. 

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It'd do him a world of good to work specifically on his agility, balance and reaction time imo.

 

Turns just as slow as Dan Burn, and reacts to situations so slowly he's rarely in a position to challenge for the ball properly and the game passes him by when we're out of possession. He's too stiff and lumbering to turn his body to make space for himself when being pressed when in possession.

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Guarantee he'll start to look a hell of a lot better when he gets a bit of a break and has other players around him who aren't knackered too. He's not become a bad player suddenly, he's just in a rut and needs sat down for a few weeks. Hopefully with Willock and Anderson back soon he'll get a break and we'll see him back to his levels where he's a reliable engine room.

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No need to rewrite stuff, he did very well last season but we dominated 90% of games last season, with or without the ball. He was excellent at breaking up play and showed fantastic stamina game after game. His ability on the ball is identical this season to last, he takes too long on the ball and gives up possession when under pressure. You cannot have a player with his technical ability in central midfield if you want to consistently be a top six team

 

 

Edited by gbandit

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He just looks like a squad player who is struggling when a few things aren't there for him to function. He's a bit like Dabizas used to be - solid enough as a squad player to come in and become part of the system he's been dropped into for 4 or 5 games. But as soon as you either a) leave him in longer than 6 or 7 games or b) take the quality players away, then he starts to stand out as being pretty poor. His mistakes are more frequent and more noticeable. Then he becomes a liability who the opposition target and pressure as they know they'll get joy. That's where we currently are. Lovely lad, grafts all day but just not quite good enough technically

 

It's not his fault, he's doing his best and Howe doesn't really have much option but to stick with him for a little while longer yet. But I'd agree that he needs to be moved on sooner rather than later. Selling him would be a boost for FFP profit but we'd be losing a home-grown lad, it's swings and roundabouts

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15 minutes ago, gbandit said:

No need to rewrite stuff, he did very well last season but we dominated 90% of games last season, with or without the ball. He was excellent at breaking up play and showed fantastic stamina game after game. His ability on the ball is identical this season to last, he takes too long on the ball and gives up possession when under pressure. You cannot have a player with his technical ability in central midfield if you want to consistently be a top six team

 

 

 


The guy is a brilliant pro - works his socks off week in week out.

 

If our ambition is to somewhat solidify ourselves within the top 6 then players such as Longstaff, Miggy and Wilson eventually need replacing - it’s the brutal reality of being a club with ambition to aim high - players like these unless they improve to that level get left behind and can longer provide output at the level required 

 

If during the summer Howe doesn’t see this and the status quo remains as is, he won’t last beyond autumn.

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He’s just really limited. He’s had a few great moments or good spells but he’s probably a lower PL/top Championship player.

 

He’d be great to try and sell, for FFP as well as his limited ability. I doubt Howe would though.

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Has being pretty much a guaranteed starter for the last 4-5 months had an impact do you think? Hasn't had to fight for his place like previously. Not saying he's particularly trying any less but he hasn't had to raise his game to be in the starting XI.

 

Said at the weekend, we've really needed him to stand up recently and show a bit seniority, and he hasn't done that. 

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2 hours ago, Optimistic Nut said:

Has being pretty much a guaranteed starter for the last 4-5 months had an impact do you think? Hasn't had to fight for his place like previously. Not saying he's particularly trying any less but he hasn't had to raise his game to be in the starting XI.

 

Said at the weekend, we've really needed him to stand up recently and show a bit seniority, and he hasn't done that. 

Maybe hasn’t helped, but mainly I just think he is an extremely limited footballer who isn’t good enough for where we hope to get to.

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He's a really, really average player and not good enough for anyone in the top 8-10. Not as a starter anyway.

 

I guess he wants to stand up and give more but he's just not physically and technically capable. 

 

He would probably be better in a slower league where you get more time. 

 

 

Edited by AyeDubbleYoo

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