Joe Willock

[TheBrownBottle]

I still think the lad has talent, and that games like today aren’t exactly perfect for his all-action athleticism and box-to-box running style.  Still, it’s been a while since he looked at the level, so he’ll need to start showing form again in the not so distant future otherwise I reckon he could be out the door

[GallowgatePigeon]

Another player who we've outgrown. He deserves to be starting week in week out somewhere, it won't be nor should it be here. I can imagine him at a Fulham type team.

 

I'll forever be grateful to him for single handedly keeping us up in 2021 despite Capt Steakbakes best efforts.

[TRon]

Thought he was ok tbh. Bruno was the best midfielder by a long way today, but Willock did a job. Maybe I'd have been harsher if we hadn't won.

[Ginola14]

he's very much a confidence player and needs a run of games I think 

 

Joelinton's injury might be the break he needs

 

when he's on it he's brilliant, not gonna give up on him yet 

 

 

 

 

[AyeDubbleYoo]

He was fine, he’s just not really the normal profile for a CM because he’s quite untidy. I don’t rate him very highly TBH, I don’t see where he could play in a successful team. But he’s not a shit player or anything. 

 

 

Edited 21 hours ago by AyeDubbleYoo

[Rafalove]

So long as the club believe in him, I do too. Hopefully injuries haven’t fucked his career and it’s mostly a confidence issue.

[Kanj]

I am fine with I’m and still love to see him at his best but not sure he’ll ever get that type of game time with us. He’d be super handy in European football with his pace and length. 

[Pablo123]

39 minutes ago, Kanj said:

I am fine with I’m and still love to see him at his best but not sure he’ll ever get that type of game time with us. He’d be super handy in European football with his pace and length. 

Length, you say 

[The Butcher]

It's not easy to play well when you hardly ever play.

 

That's a massive issue with playing more or less the same XI every week. The bench will not be anywhere match fit.

[gbandit]

Didn’t think he had a bad game at all, just doesn’t impose himself on games enough, especially games where he can’t run into space and carry the ball 

[nufcjmc]

He was trying to find his feet quite literally at times. 

 

Wanting to drag the ball out to the left and occupy space that Barnes and Tino were occupying wasn't great. When the ball came to him the first half in the box instead of trying a shot he took his foot out of the way.

 

Felt sorry for him getting bullied by their player who was clearly on the wind up. He looked visibly annoyed at being subbed which I think was him knowing that chances to impress and cement some sort of more regular starts are starting to run out. The fact the side  needs players outside of midfield this summer and longstaff the more likely to go next gives him a little more time. 

[Newcastle Fan]

I think he was fine, first time we change the team in a long time so anyone coming in would've been lacking match fitness, the fact that out of the three subs Eddie trusted him to start says something and unlike the likes of Longstaff i still think he has something to offer going forward.

[Erikse]

25 minutes ago, Pablo123 said:

Length, you say 

 

Pace AND length?

[Keggy_Keagal]

 I don't think as a sub a lot of times he plays particularly welI. It seems to me Joe needs a few games to find his rhythm but never seems to get them due constantly suffering niggling injuries. If we can get back the Willock of a couple of seasons ago he's definitely worth a place in the squad. I don't know if has that in him anymore though. 

[Erikse]

I don't think he's another player that we've outgrown, atleast not per definition. It's all about the injuries for me. At 22 he was showing glimpses of world class. I think some people just see it as a purple patch and forget how well he played that entire season. To me it was more of a young player starting to show his true potensial.

 

I'm not convinced we should keep him with how he's playing after all the injuries, but I wouldn't put him in the same category as for instance Almiron and Longstaff who were never going to be world class over time.

 

 

Edited 20 hours ago by Erikse

[Smal]

you really want him to do well because when he’s good he can be really good, and he seems like a nice lad, but he just doesn’t seem bothered this season. If someone wants to give us £15-£20m I think we take it.

[Optimistic Nut]

In a squad of 25, he's probably fine to keep on the books if he's between 20-25th in terms of ability. Not sure he's good enough to be one of our first substitution or rotation options if we're in the CL next season. 

 

 

Edited 18 hours ago by Optimistic Nut

[huss9]

responsible for one of the best assists i've ever seen.

[TRon]

Not really the ideal game for him to be fair, they were camped in their own half, and he is best when he's got space to run into. That's why I think criticism today is a bit harsh, he put in a decent shift for me.

[joeyt]

3 hours ago, The Butcher said:

It's not easy to play well when you hardly ever play.

 

That's a massive issue with playing more or less the same XI every week. The bench will not be anywhere match fit.

 

When would you have dropped one of our starting XI for him?

[Disco]

Thought he was fine without pulling up trees. I know the angry lads always need someone to turn on but it was slim pickings today as no one was particularly amazing or shit.

[The Butcher]

6 hours ago, joeyt said:

 

When would you have dropped one of our starting XI for him?

In hindsight Palace or Villa in recent times as we played three games during that week.

 

 

[r0cafella]

7 hours ago, joeyt said:

 

When would you have dropped one of our starting XI for him?

This is not a critic of you or your post but as a fan base we really need to embrace the idea of rotation and when a player is rotated not consider it as "dropping". 

 

Obviously we also need a squad full of players who can contribute as well. 

 

 

Edited 9 hours ago by r0cafella

[ExiledGeordie]

12 hours ago, AyeDubbleYoo said:

He was fine, he’s just not really the normal profile for a CM because he’s quite untidy. I don’t rate him very highly TBH, I don’t see where he could play in a successful team. But he’s not a shit player or anything. 

 

 

 

Yeah I was watching with my sisters father in law and we were both saying “what exactly does he do currently”. He doesn’t really look like scoring, he’s not that fantastic on the ball currently. Maybe he’s still rusty and a bit out of form after injuries 🤷‍♂️ I’ve always associated him as an impact sub who can run with the ball from midfield. 

[macphisto]

I'd be very surprised if he's not sold in the summer. What I could see online, his contract expires in 2027 so this will be the optimum time to get the most for him. Hopefully stays fit and makes a decent contribution until the end of the season to attract clubs. 

 

When people say we need to be better at selling players, surely Willock is a prime example?