NE27 Posted February 25 Share Posted February 25 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. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andy Posted February 25 Share Posted February 25 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. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Conjo Posted February 25 Share Posted February 25 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. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Geogaddi Posted February 25 Share Posted February 25 He was never very good really , last season he ran about a lot and got away with being poor because we did so well, he's not even running anymore , wouldn't look out of place in the championship. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pilko Posted February 25 Share Posted February 25 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. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
gbandit Posted February 25 Share Posted February 25 (edited) 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 February 25 by gbandit Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
midds Posted February 25 Share Posted February 25 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 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mikky Posted February 25 Share Posted February 25 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. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big Jow Posted February 25 Share Posted February 25 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. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Optimistic Nut Posted February 27 Share Posted February 27 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. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
SUPERTOON Posted February 27 Share Posted February 27 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. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
mattypnufc Posted February 27 Share Posted February 27 There's a reason Tonali was set to replace him in in the starting 11... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
AyeDubbleYoo Posted February 27 Share Posted February 27 (edited) 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 February 27 by AyeDubbleYoo Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Optimistic Nut Posted February 27 Share Posted February 27 Possibly. Was looking forward to seeing him build on last season and really progress but it's not happened. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
GEFAFWISP Posted February 27 Share Posted February 27 (edited) Always find the "he's not top x" type of critique a bit of a nonsense. He started in a team that came 4th last year, as did "not top 6 quality" Almiron. It's an understandable concept of course, but functionally it doesn't really matter, you can have players who aren't technically or physically brilliant, have major flaws in their game, etc, and still have them excel in the right system, as Howe got them to last year. With that said though, he is a squad player and the one paced, lethargic, unfit performances of late only highlight the need for rotation and improvement there. Edited February 27 by GEFAFWISP Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
AyeDubbleYoo Posted February 27 Share Posted February 27 One of our main signings was a direct replacement, I think that says where he is on the football ladder. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
GEFAFWISP Posted February 27 Share Posted February 27 Aye, shame with the injuries we've not seen him fresh and rotated in when the Joe's or Tonali needed a rest. Think we'd stomach him a bit more if that was the case. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
worthy Posted February 27 Share Posted February 27 Sell for FFP Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
The College Dropout Posted February 27 Share Posted February 27 1 hour ago, Optimistic Nut said: Possibly. Was looking forward to seeing him build on last season and really progress but it's not happened. Just doesn't have the ability. In the starting line-up Longstaff, Burn & Almiron have the least ability. They all have positive attributes and great on-pitch personalities. But their abilities are limited. And in a team that isn't functioning well, it's getting exposed. Saying that - he wasn't as bad as the likes of Botman on the weekend. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
TRon Posted February 27 Share Posted February 27 10 minutes ago, The College Dropout said: Just doesn't have the ability. In the starting line-up Longstaff, Burn & Almiron have the least ability. They all have positive attributes and great on-pitch personalities. But their abilities are limited. And in a team that isn't functioning well, it's getting exposed. Saying that - he wasn't as bad as the likes of Botman on the weekend. Burn is a leader, whatever else his shortcomings. He tends to step up on the bigger occasions. Longstaff and Miggy are background players. You can almost predict to a tee that the big games will see them shrinking and hiding from the ball. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
The College Dropout Posted February 27 Share Posted February 27 5 minutes ago, TRon said: Burn is a leader, whatever else his shortcomings. He tends to step up on the bigger occasions. Longstaff and Miggy are background players. You can almost predict to a tee that the big games will see them shrinking and hiding from the ball. Meh. Almiron was brilliant against PSG iirc. Was brilliant against Brighton to all but secure CL football. Agree Burn is a leader. To me ALmiron leads with his intensity. I would like to keep both as they set standards (assume Burn does as a leader - no idea really, he shouts and points though) All 3 are limited footballers for their position and need bumping out of the XI next season. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
TRon Posted February 27 Share Posted February 27 8 minutes ago, The College Dropout said: Meh. Almiron was brilliant against PSG iirc. Was brilliant against Brighton to all but secure CL football. Agree Burn is a leader. To me ALmiron leads with his intensity. I would like to keep both as they set standards (assume Burn does as a leader - no idea really, he shouts and points though) All 3 are limited footballers for their position and need bumping out of the XI next season. Yes I would love to keep all these players as squad players used to rotate out the big boys. But due to FFP we may need to sell to raise funds to buy a better class of player, and I would rather not sell our blue chip players. This season we've ended up relying on too many players who aren't good enough to produce the results and that's why we are currently sitting 9th. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jordan Posted February 27 Share Posted February 27 Waste of space again tonight. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ronson333 Posted February 27 Share Posted February 27 wtf is he still falling over! Someone - even family members - tell him to stop it please! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pilko Posted February 27 Share Posted February 27 Poor bastard desperately needed taking out the firing line, so 120 minutes is obviously just what the doctor ordered. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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