Heron Posted August 14, 2022 Share Posted August 14, 2022 Willock is a funny one for me. I like him, think he's decent for us, a fairly steady performer if you like. I just struggle with his identity within the team. He's not our box to boxer, he's not our attacking threat/creative player and he's not our blocker, he's not a winger either. He's just like there going about his shit. I don't think he'll ever be like a dominant force for us, but likewise he's not an issue for us either. Perhaps, I guess, in this regard he's exactly what we need at present. Stability and a platform to build upon. Hopefully, over time and coaching he comes out his shell. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yorkie Posted August 14, 2022 Share Posted August 14, 2022 I've doubts about him but hopefully he was just suffering from the same thing everyone else was yesterday, as by all accounts he was really good against Forest. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hanshithispantz Posted August 14, 2022 Share Posted August 14, 2022 13 minutes ago, Heron said: Willock is a funny one for me. I like him, think he's decent for us, a fairly steady performer if you like. I just struggle with his identity within the team. He's not our box to boxer, he's not our attacking threat/creative player and he's not our blocker, he's not a winger either. He's just like there going about his shit. I don't think he'll ever be like a dominant force for us, but likewise he's not an issue for us either. Perhaps, I guess, in this regard he's exactly what we need at present. Stability and a platform to build upon. Hopefully, over time and coaching he comes out his shell. Basically this, aye. I feel like he shows glimpses of real quality, but the role Howe has him in isn't really suited to it, he's more there for his willingness to graft his cock off. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
joeyt Posted August 14, 2022 Share Posted August 14, 2022 16 minutes ago, Yorkie said: I've doubts about him but hopefully he was just suffering from the same thing everyone else was yesterday, as by all accounts he was really good against Forest. Yeah he was great last week and had a strong end to the season. Everyone seemed really off their game yesterday. Hoping he starts to show some consistency as I think he's got really good potential Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Away Toon Posted August 14, 2022 Share Posted August 14, 2022 Innocuous. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kid Icarus Posted August 14, 2022 Share Posted August 14, 2022 44 minutes ago, tomlynnherrington said: He goes missing too often for me.For an attacking midfield player he creates little,rarely scores and never gets beyond the opposition defenders.I see more in Murphy and he’s far from the answer in midfield. Absolutely bonkers Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kid Icarus Posted August 14, 2022 Share Posted August 14, 2022 You couldn't really say anyone bar Pope, Burn, Botman, and Schar had good games tbh. I wouldn't really single out Willock as being particularly bad either. Certainly not as poor as Wilson, Trippier, and ASM were. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Heron Posted August 14, 2022 Share Posted August 14, 2022 6 minutes ago, Kid Icarus said: You couldn't really say anyone bar Pope, Burn, Botman, and Schar had good games tbh. I wouldn't really single out Willock as being particularly bad either. Certainly not as poor as Wilson, Trippier, and ASM were. I'd say Joelinton was our best outfield performer like, to be pedantic Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
joeyt Posted August 14, 2022 Share Posted August 14, 2022 Joelinton wasn't at his usual standard, him and Bruno really struggled I thought Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
duo Posted August 14, 2022 Share Posted August 14, 2022 (edited) I think the team as a whole had a poor game so it's unfair to single him out. We're also only two games into the season. Edited August 14, 2022 by duo Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kid Icarus Posted August 14, 2022 Share Posted August 14, 2022 21 minutes ago, Heron said: I'd say Joelinton was our best outfield performer like, to be pedantic Really? I thought he was loose with his passing, it was his short pass that lead to Trippier clearing it off the line. Still love him. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ponsaelius Posted August 14, 2022 Share Posted August 14, 2022 I thought Joelinton was awful. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jackyboy Posted August 14, 2022 Share Posted August 14, 2022 I thought that the team did well and got the job done. In the past we'd have rolled over and this group of players don't do that. Brighton could well be the surprise of the season and have been working on their system for 3 years Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
tomlynnherrington Posted August 14, 2022 Share Posted August 14, 2022 2 hours ago, Kid Icarus said: Absolutely bonkers Last season and this season. 31 games 2 goals 0 assists Yeah,I must be bonkers 😀 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
tomlynnherrington Posted August 14, 2022 Share Posted August 14, 2022 1 hour ago, joeyt said: Joelinton wasn't at his usual standard, him and Bruno really struggled I thought I agree.Brighton we’re a decent,workmanlike team and we couldn’t match them. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hanshithispantz Posted August 14, 2022 Share Posted August 14, 2022 3 minutes ago, tomlynnherrington said: Last season and this season. 31 games 2 goals 0 assists Yeah,I must be bonkers 😀 I mean you were saying Joelinton is our only pressing midfielder yesterday so I can see why you think little of Willock. You haven't been watching him. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
tomlynnherrington Posted August 14, 2022 Share Posted August 14, 2022 1 minute ago, Hanshithispantz said: I mean you were saying Joelinton is our only pressing midfielder yesterday so I can see why you think little of Willock. You haven't been watching him. You haven’t defended his stats.I could have thrown in his exemplary disciplinary record but you could probably guess he’s never been booked or sent off.Joelinton is our only EFFECTIVE pressing midfield player.Who else looks like winning the ball back when the opposition midfield have the ball? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hanshithispantz Posted August 14, 2022 Share Posted August 14, 2022 (edited) 10 minutes ago, tomlynnherrington said: You haven’t defended his stats.I could have thrown in his exemplary disciplinary record but you could probably guess he’s never been booked or sent off.Joelinton is our only EFFECTIVE pressing midfield player.Who else looks like winning the ball back when the opposition midfield have the ball? Joelinton is one of the best ball winning midfielders in the league, in the air and on the ground. Bruno too is exceptional at regaining possession. Willock and Longstaff both press well, which isn't synonymous with winning the ball (although Willock's defensive stats all round are pretty good). I don't think Willock's role gets the best out of him atm but Howe prefers a midfield three and Willock works hard enough that he can slot in there. And I'm not defending his goal scoring numbers because they're shite, not really sure what your point is here though? Edited August 14, 2022 by Hanshithispantz Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dr Jinx Posted August 14, 2022 Share Posted August 14, 2022 Bruno and Joelinton are very different players but also are not a million miles apart in the way they move a ball around. They compliment each other. Willock just doesn’t really fit around that, he sort of looks like he wants to take players on but he doesn’t have that instant acceleration so he’s ineffective around the opposition box. He doesn’t really offer much protection to the back line and when in possession he’s not the most imaginative with the ball. That’s not to say he’s rubbish, he’s clearly not and he does lots of things really well. He's great at moving past players in midfield and getting a counter attack going, but that’s when he’s had a chance to stretch his legs a bit. And he definitely has a physical presence when we’re pressing. It just doesn’t fit with what the other two are doing. I think with a fully fit squad, Shelvey plays. Until we get a creative in, I think for the moment, Longstaff could play dm, and use Bruno higher up to pick passes? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
TRon Posted August 14, 2022 Share Posted August 14, 2022 1 minute ago, Dr Jinx said: Bruno and Joelinton are very different players but also are not a million miles apart in the way they move a ball around. They compliment each other. Willock just doesn’t really fit around that, he sort of looks like he wants to take players on but he doesn’t have that instant acceleration so he’s ineffective around the opposition box. He doesn’t really offer much protection to the back line and when in possession he’s not the most imaginative with the ball. That’s not to say he’s rubbish, he’s clearly not and he does lots of things really well. He's great at moving past players in midfield and getting a counter attack going, but that’s when he’s had a chance to stretch his legs a bit. And he definitely has a physical presence when we’re pressing. It just doesn’t fit with what the other two are doing. I think with a fully fit squad, Shelvey plays. Until we get a creative in, I think for the moment, Longstaff could play dm, and use Bruno higher up to pick passes? Not disagreeing with the gist of your post, but Willock not being top class isn't going to make Longstaff any better. Neither of them are good enough to make a real difference. Not sure Longstaff has ever been played as DM either. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dr Jinx Posted August 14, 2022 Share Posted August 14, 2022 2 minutes ago, TRon said: Not disagreeing with the gist of your post, but Willock not being top class isn't going to make Longstaff any better. Neither of them are good enough to make a real difference. Not sure Longstaff has ever been played as DM either. He played that role really well in one of the last pre season games. For what it’s worth I think Willock is a better player and athlete than Longstaff but it’s about picking players that can be effective together.. I’m not sure Willock can be with Joelinton and Bruno? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
tomlynnherrington Posted August 14, 2022 Share Posted August 14, 2022 (edited) 33 minutes ago, Hanshithispantz said: Joelinton is one of the best ball winning midfielders in the league, in the air and on the ground. Bruno too is exceptional at regaining possession. Willock and Longstaff both press well, which isn't synonymous with winning the ball (although Willock's defensive stats all round are pretty good). I don't think Willock's role get's the best out of him atm but Howe prefers a midfield three and Willock works hard enough that he can slot in there. And I'm not defending his goal scoring numbers because they're shite, not really sure what your point is here though? You’ve said I haven’t been watching him so you must be right in everything you say and I’ve been guessing wrong. Edited August 14, 2022 by tomlynnherrington Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
tomlynnherrington Posted August 14, 2022 Share Posted August 14, 2022 6 minutes ago, TRon said: Not disagreeing with the gist of your post, but Willock not being top class isn't going to make Longstaff any better. Neither of them are good enough to make a real difference. Not sure Longstaff has ever been played as DM either. Haven’t Shelvey and Longstaff been our defensive/ holding midfield players,as in protecting our central defenders? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bimpy474 Posted August 14, 2022 Share Posted August 14, 2022 1 hour ago, tomlynnherrington said: Last season and this season. 31 games 2 goals 0 assists Yeah,I must be bonkers 😀 I think the bonkers part is you seeing more in Murphy. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
tomlynnherrington Posted August 14, 2022 Share Posted August 14, 2022 Just now, Bimpy474 said: I think the bonkers part is you seeing more in Murphy. I would imagine Murphy’s stats playing in the same position would be superior. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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