Sean Longstaff

[TRon]

10 hours ago, JEToon said:

He already has regularly started for a side who made the top 4
 

Where we want to eventually be will always be a side in need of squad players who serve different tactical functions. 

 

Man City have the likes of Nunes 

Liverpool Curtis Jones 

Villa have McGinn 

We played Chelsea last week featuring Dewsbury Hall. 
 

These are all good at what they do but by no means great players, they’d do well to regularly start for us to flip the argument slightly. 

 

Even sides who make the top 4 have players they don’t start often, they have squads. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I already said I have no problem with Longstaff as a squad player. But then I had no problem with Anderson and Minteh as squad players either and we had to sell those to comply with PSR, and they had a higher ceiling IMO. Those teams you are quoting like Liverpool and Chelsea don't have to sell their squad players so this is comparing apples to oranges.

 

Also just to repeat, this isn't saying Longstaff isn't good enough for where we are, but I don't think he'll be good enough to compete at a CL level consistently. Otherwise those sides who are in that bracket would be trying to buy him. If PSR is rescinded though there would be no need to even have this conversation. Longstaff would be a squad player happy to play when needed and sit out otherwise. That would be ideal.

[Shays Given Tim Flowers]

One of the issues of being 'the onion in the bolognaise' is that if we don't win a game it just looks like you've done nothing. 

[Erikse]

 

He comes off as reasonable and honest. Not like some others who would complain about critisism while being lazy as hell on the pitch. Good on him.

 

 

Edited November 7, 2024 by Erikse

[timeEd32]

Sounds like he's moved past the sadness phase of his dream becoming a bit of a nightmare and has moved onto a bit of anger.  

[Holloway]

[JonBez comesock]

Brentford

 

Tonali will start this game 100%
 

Longstaff banned (cup)

 

 

Edited November 7, 2024 by JonBez comesock

[Dokko]

Serial winner.

[TRon]

Thought he gave the ball away a few times, although he did hit one pearler of a long ball. But clearly his work off the ball and his running closes some of those gaps which were hurting us earlier in the season.

[Smal]

decent with the ball, won his duels and most tackles for the second game running.

[samptime29]

Played well. Few misplaced passes but workrate strong. 

[nufc123]

Was fine. Did his job.

[andycap]

Played okay should have come off earlier though was blowing early second half. 

[Chapo]

 

[Kid Icarus]

Take a bow son 

[Pilko]

Three lungs and three points when he plays.

[CPL]

He just gives us that balance! If we keep winning, he has to keep starting over Tonali especially with performances like that. 

[PauloGeordio]

1 minute ago, Pilko said:

Three lungs and three points when he plays.

Lungstaff!

[pubteam]

Very much found his form again and his fitness which was lacking at the start of the season. Never stops running.

[Armchair Pundit]

Weirdly, definitely seem to play better with him in the team - although, that could also just be the turn of the recent dip. Either way, we've looked better of later and if people want to give him credit for that, I'm not going to stop them 

[CPL]

It happened similar to last year, when after the opening day win, we had a bad spell before he came back into the team and our results started to change. 

[Tiresias]

I'm glad he's playing better. He gets such hate maybe because when he's bad he is incredibly frustrating in possession but some do act like he doesn't have that higher gear. 

[Pablo123]

Thought he was excellent again 

[tgarve]

[Teslact]

So is he getting the super max, or signing pre-contract with Real to replace Modric in the summer?

[JEToon]

On 05/11/2024 at 23:03, PopeandGlory said:

He’s being kept around because he’s English/homegrown, cheap and can follow instructions, although with very limited execution most of the time.

 

I can just about cope with that. I wouldn’t object to him coming on for the last 10-15 minutes to see out a game or give players like Tonali a rest. 

 

Howe has just had a full season to work with Tonali. If people are suggesting he still can’t follow instructions as well as Longstaff, there is something terribly amiss with our star signing or coaching methods.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tonali can follow instructions, but he is a different player being asked to follow different tactical instructions to Sean. Tonali just couldn't do what Longstaff does, Longstaff can't do things Sandro can, and that's OK, that's why you have a squad of players and a manager in Eddie who can coach and get use from both players, it is also OK as a fan to like both players, they both give us something, the constant battle some people create of Sandro v Longstaff just now is tedious, enjoy them both. 

 

Longstaff is being judged by some fans just now v a mythical unicornesque performance from Sandro that might happen, that is only created in peoples mind, it is a bit unfair to be honest.