Sean Longstaff

[Kanji]

Just for shits and giggles if we signed a top end DM / 6 who can get around the pitch and play some football, you unleash Tonali as an all action 8 and you could get away with Bruno playing even further up as a hybrid 10 / 8 and let him play ball. He can also go back to being his 8 role too. 
 

ideally id love for us to get a real proper attacking mid and young athletic defensive minded mid. Move on Longstaff and jury still out on Willock, who I wish would kick on! 

[Myleftboot]

16 minutes ago, Kanji said:

Just for shits and giggles if we signed a top end DM / 6 who can get around the pitch and play some football, you unleash Tonali as an all action 8 and you could get away with Bruno playing even further up as a hybrid 10 / 8 and let him play ball. He can also go back to being his 8 role too. 
 

ideally id love for us to get a real proper attacking mid and young athletic defensive minded mid. Move on Longstaff and jury still out on Willock, who I wish would kick on! 

A Tiote regen would be nice.

[Lotus]

I’ve been very slow to understand EH’s philosophy with the midfield but I think I’m starting to see idea with 3 players who can all do a bit of 6 & 8. It really requires CBs who are good at getting super tight when we’re without the ball. Burn is a mile away from that (though he’s good at other things).

I still feel we could use a midfielder who can read the game and whose 1st instinct is to protect. If we’re gelling well and our CBs are right up the arses of the oppo forwards then this 6ish CM can go and press higher with the other 2. 

 

 

Edited October 2 by Lotus

[Kanji]

3 hours ago, Lotus said:

I’ve been very slow to understand EH’s philosophy with the midfield but I think I’m starting to see idea with 3 players who can all do a bit of 6 & 8. It really requires CBs who are good at getting super tight when we’re without the ball. Burn is a mile away from that (though he’s good at other things).

I still feel we could use a midfielder who can read the game and whose 1st instinct is to protect. If we’re gelling well and our CBs are right up the arses of the oppo forwards then this 6ish CM can go and press higher with the other 2. 

 

 

 

 

Schar and Botman were relentless with this in our 4th season. Trips and Burn were too tbf. 

[Ronson333]

Thought he looked energetic and decent when he came on, looking to move the ball forwards and much sharper with his passing than usual. Must be the Tonali effect 😀

[Joelinton7]

Honestly not bothered if he looks energetic. He’s not a footballer and we need to move on from him. Miley instantly goes in ahead of him for me. Doesn’t lose the ball anywhere near as much and is better offensively.

[Yorkie]

12 minutes ago, Ronson333 said:

Thought he looked energetic and decent when he came on, looking to move the ball forwards and much sharper with his passing than usual. Must be the Tonali effect 😀

 

Agreed. Not the first time he's made a good contribution from the bench this season; he a good option to have when legs are tiring.

[Lotus]

49 minutes ago, Yorkie said:

 

Agreed. Not the first time he's made a good contribution from the bench this season; he a good option to have when legs are tiring.

He was ok and looked better just by the virtue of not giving it away (much). I say this as someone who likes him but tbh he didn’t do anything I wouldn’t have expected Jeff Hendrick to have done. 
 

[Heron]

Tonali pass success 33/45 (73%)

Trippier pass success 62/75 (83%)

Bruno pass success 71/79 (90%)

Joelinton pass success 47/51 (92%)

Longstaff pass success 19/20 (95%)

 

Longstaff was only on the pitch for 23 minutes as well.

 

I thought Trippier and Tonali were both actually a bit more sloppy with possession than usual, as they have very, very high standards and ability and were often under hitting passes or simply trying difficult balls which they are capable of achieving but simply didn't.

 

Longstaff did virtually nowt wrong when he came on.

 

 

Edited October 6 by Heron

[gbandit]

Was a decent cameo and important to have fresh legs. Hope he can keep coming on and playing well as he can help the squad a lot that way 

[David Edgar]

Longstaff played against tired legs when the game had opened up, allowing lots of space to operate in. 

 

Tonali was poor mind. Begining to think he is obviously the guy we overpaid for.

[Heron]

6 minutes ago, David Edgar said:

Longstaff played against tired legs when the game had opened up, allowing lots of space to operate in. 

 

Tonali was poor mind. Begining to think he is obviously the guy we overpaid for.

 

So did Livramento, Willock and Almiron who also achieved less percentage wise and in terms of number of attempts, purely from a passing point of view.

 

Tonali is undoubtedly the better option, that's not my point, but the point I am trying to make is folk (not necessarily you) would seemingly prefer to highlight how shit he (Longstaff) has or has not been as opposed to simply saying he did well when he came on.

 

 

Edited October 6 by Heron

[Hanshithispantz]

I doubt Longstaff running himself into the ground all season does himself any good in terms of his average performances like.

 

It's one of his possitives that he can do that, but hopefully playing less lets him play with a bit more zip.

[Lotus]

Tonali has always been a player who tries high reward/high risk passes so he’s numbers have never looked anything special if completion rate is the only metric you’re using.

[Heron]

5 hours ago, Lotus said:

Tonali has always been a player who tries high reward/high risk passes so he’s numbers have never looked anything special if completion rate is the only metric you’re using.

Tonali was sloppy in possession (in parts) irrespective yesterday.

 

 

Edited October 6 by Heron

[Vinny Green Balls]

12 hours ago, David Edgar said:

Longstaff played against tired legs when the game had opened up, allowing lots of space to operate in. 

 

Tonali was poor mind. Begining to think he is obviously the guy we overpaid for.

Jesus fucking Christ, man. You are just a relentless downer.

[David Edgar]

8 hours ago, Vinny Green Balls said:

Jesus fucking Christ, man. You are just a relentless downer.

 

Yeah, I know. I think I'm just a bit of a perfectionist with my opinions on football and enjoy picking things apart. And this place is where I like to share my thoughts. Would rather people pick out issues, if any, with what I'm saying. 

 

Like, am I right or wrong that Longstaff can only really play to the level he showed against Everton against lower quality opponents who allow lots of space? Wasn't Tonali's passing okay for the most part on Saturday, but he made some horrendous mistakes?

[Smal]

5 hours ago, David Edgar said:

Like, am I right or wrong that Longstaff can only really play to the level he showed against Everton against lower quality opponents who allow lots of space? Wasn't Tonali's passing okay for the most part on Saturday, but he made some horrendous mistakes?

Longstaff consistently played to that level from the start for near enough a whole season a couple of years ago tbf. 

 

He really needs some confidence back in his game. Perhaps coming off the bench and putting some good appearances in from there can help him do that. 

[Ghandis Flip-Flop]

9 hours ago, David Edgar said:

 

Yeah, I know. I think I'm just a bit of a perfectionist with my opinions on football and enjoy picking things apart. And this place is where I like to share my thoughts. Would rather people pick out issues, if any, with what I'm saying. 

 

Like, am I right or wrong that Longstaff can only really play to the level he showed against Everton against lower quality opponents who allow lots of space? Wasn't Tonali's passing okay for the most part on Saturday, but he made some horrendous mistakes?

Remember a game just over a year ago against PSG? Ring any bells? Are they just a poor, lower half PL side?

[JEToon]

If we are kicking about the CL which is the plan it makes sense to keep Longstaff about given the HG measures, having to find players who are of a decent quality who will meet that will cost a fortune at a time when we could be looking at a lot of other markets. 

 

A squad does need a few players like Burn and Longstaff who are easy to maintain and keep a bit of identity about a group. 

 

A player coming on late in a game when others look tired and doing work that takes advantage of that isn't a negative. 

 

 

Edited October 7 by JEToon

[SteV]

On the latest episode of The Rest is Football with Shearer and Lineker.

 

Nothing groundbreaking bar maybe a few nice little bits on Eddie and Botman. Does reinforce the view that he’s a good guy though.

 

https://youtu.be/aUuW7FN8czQ?si=kLPnjJ8Yx34J2VhC

[Paully]

 

[ennyoueffsea]

3 hours ago, SteV said:

On the latest episode of The Rest is Football with Shearer and Lineker.

 

Nothing groundbreaking bar maybe a few nice little bits on Eddie and Botman. Does reinforce the view that he’s a good guy though.

 

https://youtu.be/aUuW7FN8czQ?si=kLPnjJ8Yx34J2VhC

Re Matty declining Messi's shirt. "Are you stupid???" 😂😂😂

[Pilko]

Enjoyed his podcast appearance, he's a nice lad and clearly appreciates the position he's in. 

[AyeDubbleYoo]

Just now, Pilko said:

Enjoyed his podcast appearance, he's a nice lad and clearly appreciates the position he's in. 

Many things you could never criticise him for. He tries his best, he loves the club, he knows how lucky he is. Have to respect the lad even though I’m a big critic of his play at times.