Sean Longstaff

[OoOGazOoO]

Honestly, I've had enough of his diving ability and flinging himself to the floor at the slightest breeze, it's embarrassing, it cost us a potential goal tonight and also led to them scoring their second.

 

He is absolutely horrendous.

[huss9]

like gordon - needs to leave the pressure of playing for his hometown club.

its too much for him.

such a canny lad, too.

but in his defence he was never meant to be a first team regular this season and playing through an injury has destroyed the little self-confidence he had to start with.

[KaKa]

Again a glaring lack of self belief.

 

This again led to him taking the easy option and looking for the referee to bail him out, as is typically the case with him.

 

Instead of doing everything he could to try and get a shot off from a great position, as soon as he feels the slightest touch, he chooses to go to ground, rather than take responsibility.

 

Incredibly disappointing stuff.

 

 

[Pilko]

It's painful watching him and tonight was one of his worst showings for sure. Just got to try and remember he's been playing injured and next year we'll see a lot less of him either by way of him being sold or (more likely) a squad option. And in the latter case he'll look better for the rest and better players around him.

 

He just needs this season to come to an end, desperately tbh.

[Newcastle Fan]

The diving has to stop, someone really needs to have a good word with him about it.

[KingArthur]

Just fking shoot when you get in the box man.

[Sibierski]

When fit and confident, he’s great in that RCM role breaking into box. Issue is, he needs to be fit and confident for that, but also, that’s a very limited style of play.

 

Not someone who’s going to drop into pockets and take ball on half turn, not going to play on left side, not going to play the deepest. So in particular games, where we need to move the ball, retain possession and do things differently, we’re restricted by having him on the pitch. Because the ball will need to be played to him in challenging zones otherwise we may as well play with 10 and jig the shape.

[Lush Vlad]

8 hours ago, Pilko said:

It's painful watching him and tonight was one of his worst showings for sure. Just got to try and remember he's been playing injured and next year we'll see a lot less of him either by way of him being sold or (more likely) a squad option. And in the latter case he'll look better for the rest and better players around him.

 

He just needs this season to come to an end, desperately tbh.

I hope he’s sold and have said so plenty of times. He won’t be, as Howe likes him and what he brings. Plus if we get to Europe, I’m assuming we need him for the home grown quota. 
 

But injuries or not. I think he’s always been at it with the flopping instead of making a meaningful, positive decision. I think it was levelled against him

last season. 
 

I feel like whenever he is in our midfield. He half shows for the ball as a bit of a token gesture. Then passes it straight back from where it come from. Or just seems to get in the way and the likes of Schar and Bruno sometimes ignore giving him the ball and seeing him as a genuine option. 
 

Got to be aiming higher than him

if we want to evolve and progress as a team. He’s a dreadful ‘footballer’ for this level. 
 

Grateful for what he did last season and fair play for playing through injuries. But it almost feels like a blindspot from Howe (yes I know he knows more than us).
 

I genuinely couldn’t envisage Hall or even Gordon doing a worse job in CM right now. Plus earlier in the season. We did have the odd rare occasion where we had options. Yet he always started or played the full 90. 
 

Maybe the weekend will be the perfect tonic for him and he can chip in with a goal. As he is still good at hitting the box. 

[McCormick]

Always comes unstuck against a good press. Great engine, great attitude, very coachable but terrible in tight spaces; poor close control, slow decision-making and zero press-resistance. 
 

It’s a real testament to his work ethic though that he’s managed to forge a career for himself at the highest level without any natural advantages in his game. 

[Groundhog63]

9 hours ago, huss9 said:

this is it.

so weak mentally.

in his interviews it always seems as if he has imposter syndrome.

surprised as his dad was an elite sportsman.

 

please sort it out sean. 

 

Fred West's kids should be good at rape and murder

[HawK]

Beginning to think he's got something on Eddie at this point. How Joe White is not getting a crack to use an Eddieism 'baffles me'. White's had more experience than Miley did when he filled in, and regardless of Longstaff's issues as a footballer, he's been playing injured for months.

[Lotus]

Feel very bad for Sean. He’s just been offering anything significant for a while now. 
We’re out of options for the rest of this season though. I really hope he plays well at home.

[Mikky]

I still retain my view from this season that we need a CM - I’m not interested if we have 7 on the books - sell one if needs be and buy a quality player like Y Fofana 

[Solitude20]

Let’s remember that Sean wouldn’t have even played the match had Tonali not turned out to be a bidding addict. I agree, his performance leave a lot to be desired for a team that wants to play in UCL every year. But just like with Dubravka, he’s not supposed to be starting games. 

[Shearergol]

2 minutes ago, Solitude20 said:

Let’s remember that Sean wouldn’t have even played the match had Tonali not turned out to be a bidding addict. I agree, his performance leave a lot to be desired for a team that wants to play in UCL every year. But just like with Dubravka, he’s not supposed to be starting games. 

 

Oh completely, no point in hating them, just hate the fact that they're having to play.

 

But we're only a couple of years in to this project, we were never going to replace 24 players in that time period.

 

However, throwing yourself to the floor every time the opposition is near you is a choice.

[arnonel]

I am so conflicted on this one. 

He is such a great human being and one of our own. He is also having to play with literally zero breaks. There is nobody else to play in his role.

Poor lad is also having to play through some terrible form and low confidence.

 

Must be such a terrible position to be in. Playing for your hometown club, with such low confidence, because there is literally nobody else to do it. 
There is nobody else. Feel for the lad, but holy crap - his form is so poor. A literal shell of a player that was there before. He was undroppable last year. This year it feels like he is anonymous or disasterous.

 

 

 

 

Edited April 25, 2024 by arnonel

[vexred]

If we can sell him for anything north of £15M, he has to go. I don't think he's good enough to be a squad player. 

 

Replace him with a player like Manu Kone or Khéphren Thuram.

[Mikky]

10 minutes ago, arnonel said:

I am so conflicted on this one. 

He is such a great human being and one of our own. He is also having to play with literally zero breaks. There is nobody else to play in his role.

Poor lad is also having to play through some terrible form and low confidence.

 

Must be such a terrible position to be in. Playing for your hometown club, with such low confidence, because there is literally nobody else to do it. 
There is nobody else. Feel for the lad, but holy crap - his form is so poor. A literal shell of a player that was there before. He was undroppable last year. This year it feels like he is anonymous or disasterous.

 

 

 

 

 

At some point if you want to go places as a club, sentiments have to go out of the window - it’s just what it is 

 

If Eddie is super loyal then next season will be Eddie’s last imo 

[timnufc22]

We need a midfielder who can offer more control, which is why I mention Ross Barkley. Yes he’s 30 but we’ve got to think of the here and now along with buying younger players; he has the strength, technique and intelligence to keep the ball under pressure and work with Bruno & Tonali. If he’s not quite up to the required standard then someone in that mould.

 

Even when Joelinton is fit, he’s more about athleticism, as is Wilock, carrying the ball forward. Longstaff isn’t good under pressure and again is about his running off the ball.
 

Bruno and Tonali are the only two who are truly good at holding and keeping the ball especially under pressure. The jury is out on Anderson about his best position. Sell one of Longstaff or Wilock and bring in someone like Barkley who can play a 6 and 8.
 

 

[AyeDubbleYoo]

I know what you mean but that’s harsh on Joelinton. We do need one more control option though, I agree. 

[Jinky]

I'm afraid that Anderson made Longstaff look half decent by last nights viewing.....

[vexred]

46 minutes ago, Mikky said:

At some point if you want to go places as a club, sentiments have to go out of the window - it’s just what it is 

 

If Eddie is super loyal then next season will be Eddie’s last imo 

 

That's my biggest fear for Eddie and I don't want that to happen. If he was cutthroat then Almiron, Longstaff and maybe even Willock are moved on. 

[Max Rockatansky]

1 minute ago, vexred said:

 

That's my biggest fear for Eddie and I don't want that to happen. If he was cutthroat then Almiron, Longstaff and maybe even Willock are moved on. 

 

If Willock needs surgery and gets his fitness back then he's 100% a player that should be kept.

[Mikky]

33 minutes ago, vexred said:

 

That's my biggest fear for Eddie and I don't want that to happen. If he was cutthroat then Almiron, Longstaff and maybe even Willock are moved on. 

The summer will tell us more about Howe tbh - it’s where it gets difficult for him because the expectations will be higher, rivals will improve - we simply cannot carry people now 

[jackflap]

Problem with Longstaff for me and even Howe alluded to it is that he's the type of player that needs to find a rhythm to bring the best out of him, he's technically below par and his footwork is below that again. I can't see how he'd work out as a good rotational player if he needs to be playing regularly to be at the required level. Anything north of 15m I think would be good business provided there's a suitable alternative they like. I'd like to see them sign a young no. 6 with the potential to be a long term option in that position and is able to grow into the role whilst Bruno is at the club (assuming he stays) with a view to succeeding him should he eventually leave. Feel we need the option of someone tailer made with traditional attributes for that position but as it is we've enough bodies in midfield.