Joe Willock

[Mattoon]

It wasn't all that long ago people, myself included, were saying he was one of our best players and underrated. It's not all about creativity, but the ball for Isak was one of the best assists I've ever seen. Let's not forget how many times he turned the tide of a game on its head by carrying the ball up the other end and creating an attack from nothing.

 

A fit Willock, back to his best is still an asset to this team, people have short memories.

[The Prophet]

I have no idea what his contract situation is, but we already need a CM and the noises on Longstaff don't sound as though he'll be at the club much longer. Selling Willock on top of that would need us to sign up at least two extra bodies in the middle, on top of far more pressing positions. It'll leave us with far too much to do this summer.

 

We need a squad going into a season where we're going to be in EL minimum and we already have four other positions that are at greater need of strengthening.

[nufcjmc]

5 minutes ago, Mattoon said:

It wasn't all that long ago people, myself included, were saying he was one of our best players and underrated. It's not all about creativity, but the ball for Isak was one of the best assists I've ever seen. Let's not forget how many times he turned the tide of a game on its head by carrying the ball up the other end and creating an attack from nothing.

 

A fit Willock, back to his best is still an asset to this team, people have short memories.

Referring back to his stats 

 

https://www.premierleague.com/players/14446/Joe-Willock/stats

 

9 assists, 50% tackle rate 30odd% shooting accuracy aren't great. 

 

The assist from 2 years ago was sublime and wil be in highlight reels for years to come but is that what he's going to produce or an anomaly? Since then  it's looking like the outlier.

[nufcjmc]

4 minutes ago, The Prophet said:

I have no idea what his contract situation is, but we already need a CM and the noises on Longstaff don't sound as though he'll be at the club much longer. Selling Willock on top of that would need us to sign up at least two extra bodies in the middle, on top of far more pressing positions. It'll leave us with far too much to do this summer.

 

We need a squad going into a season where we're going to be in EL minimum and we already have four other positions that are at greater need of strengthening.

I know we shouldn't care but if we keep him how long does he get? If there are no Upturn in performances are you happy this version of willock getting an extension? If you are fine but if your thinking not then now is the time with 2 years left to sell if we can of course. 

 

If we have an option of a year and as you say longstaff goes then this can wait for another year and he gets more time to improve. 

[Ghandis Flip-Flop]

34 minutes ago, Mattoon said:

It wasn't all that long ago people, myself included, were saying he was one of our best players and underrated. It's not all about creativity, but the ball for Isak was one of the best assists I've ever seen. Let's not forget how many times he turned the tide of a game on its head by carrying the ball up the other end and creating an attack from nothing.

 

A fit Willock, back to his best is still an asset to this team, people have short memories.

I don’t have a short memory, that was now two years ago and the team has evolved significantly, despite the relative lack of additions.
 

He was really effective in Howe's first full season as we weren't yet facing low blocks on a weekly basis. He isn’t effective when he doesn’t have space to run into, which is a situation we are going to face more and more going forwards.

 

BTW I’m not saying he's shit, I’m saying he is now 3rd choice left forward, not really technical enough for what we need as a central midfielder and his attributes aren’t well suited for the tactics we now routinely face.

[SUPERTOON]

59 minutes ago, Mattoon said:

It wasn't all that long ago people, myself included, were saying he was one of our best players and underrated. It's not all about creativity, but the ball for Isak was one of the best assists I've ever seen. Let's not forget how many times he turned the tide of a game on its head by carrying the ball up the other end and creating an attack from nothing.

 

A fit Willock, back to his best is still an asset to this team, people have short memories.

The issue is, he can’t get back to his best because he can’t stay fit.

[TRon]

6 hours ago, Geordie_once_removed said:

I see him or Longstaff being sold. I'd rather Longstaff as I feel Miley is a more natural and potentially significantly superior replacement.

 

Willock's issue is he needs games to show his best but he doesn't make our best starting lineup. I'd keep him as he will get more games next season with European football and while he is a bit of a square peg in our current system he could be a really useful player in a slightly different one and we really need to add rotation of players and systems to our game to move up to the next level, which I really believe we're on the verge of doing.

 

As others have said yesterday was a game that was really ill suited to his main assets which are fast transitions and stretching play. Imagine next year he gets 75 minutes in Europe midweek, so he's not rusty like now, then on the weekend with us drawing or even losing he comes on in a game that is getting stretched (or visa versa). He could be really valuable.

 

Also that assist, he can have magic in his boots.

 

 

 

 

 

I don't mind him being sold, I don't think it's worked out for him here, and his injuries have worked against him. But right now I'm happy he's still here as I don't really see the other options to replace Joelinton unless we change our formation.

[RobsonsWonderland]

Willocks peak has him bursting through the lines or running into the box...

 

It's hard to do that when we play 16 passes around the edge of the box and try a failed cut back 90 percent of the time.

[alexf]

Alot of Joe's game was about his athleticism, compared to say someone like Bruno who is the opposite. 

 

But abit like Saint-Maximin, when you have one to many injuries and you lose abit of that explosive running power, it can really disrupt players who relied on it. Maxi needed that burst of speed to be effective, once he lost a yard he becomes some one just doing step overs but couldn't go past defenders as easily as he once did. 

 

Joe is similar he had a really bad hamstring injury and then also the achilles issues, which from my own personal experience, massively plays on your mind and also effects your ability to sprint and play like you once did. 

 

I'm not saying Willock is finished, but he looks like a player who has lost abit of what made him effective and doesn't have enough other attributes to make up for it. I hope I'm wrong and with a run of games he can find his rhythm again.

[jackflap]

Would take 20m for him, he has some great attributes and could thrive in the right system but don't see it happening here, like Longstaff think he's the type of player that needs a run of games, can be scruffy on the ball.

 

Himself and Joelinton dovetailing on the left was one of my favourite things about 2 seasons ago but not likely to see that with Gordon and Barnes in situ.

 

Too breezy and streaky a player for Howe in general IMO, lacks aggression and decisiveness, the header he missed against Brighton being a prime example.

[macphisto]

I'd definitely sell him but if it's decided to keep him then I'd give him a new contract if his current one runs out in 2027. 

 

One thing we can not do with PSR is risk a saleable asset under 30 years old leave on a free in a few years time. Situation changes a lot once you get into the final 12 months of a contract which is why this summer is so important regarding Willock. 

[PauloGeordio]

 

[Joelinton7]

“He’s a like for like replacement for Joelinton”. He’s really not. 

[kingxlnc]

Would have preferred Miley to start

[Holmesy]

27 minutes ago, kingxlnc said:

Would have preferred Miley to start

Miley looks more impressive every time I see him. That run he had in the team at the age of 17, he played it safe, kept it neat but didn't really show anything exceptional. Right now he looks twice the player Longstaff is and has end product to his game, which is something Willock sadly doesn't. He should be getting more minutes.

[TRon]

2 hours ago, Joelinton7 said:

“He’s a like for like replacement for Joelinton”. He’s really not. 

 

I think he means he's a natural fit for the left side midfield role. Miley is fine centrally, but don't think he's got the pace to pull out wide left. Ditto Longstaff who is probably more suited to right side if anything.

 

I don't really see any alternative to Willock unless we change formation.

[Elliottman]

2 hours ago, Joelinton7 said:

“He’s a like for like replacement for Joelinton”. He’s really not. 

 

Pretty obvious what he means tbf 

[KaKa]

Big chance for Willock these final few games.

 

Hope he steps up and makes the most of it.

 

Would be nice going into the summer knowing we can count on him going forward.

[Displayname]

Nothing would be better than getting Willock back to his best. Its been quite a while now though. For me he has these 4 last games to show some glimpses of his old self. If he doesnt I would let him go in the summer. 

Should be able to get a decent fee.

[Mazzy]

3 minutes ago, Displayname said:

Nothing would be better than getting Willock back to his best. Its been quite a while now though. For me he has these 4 last games to show some glimpses of his old self. If he doesnt I would let him go in the summer. 

Should be able to get a decent fee.

 

I get the idea but I'd much rather Longstaff leave. I can't see any way we could let them both go. 

[Displayname]

5 minutes ago, Mazzy said:

 

I get the idea but I'd much rather Longstaff leave. I can't see any way we could let them both go. 

Why not? Not like their performances lately will be hard to replace 

 

 

Edited May 2 by Displayname

[Mazzy]

5 minutes ago, Displayname said:

Why not? Not like their performances lately will be hard to replace 

 

 

 

 

Because we can't afford to replace both. How much would two Premier League level midfielders cost in your opinion?

 

Add to that the fact that massive squad turnover isn't helpful for team dynamics and both those players have been mainstays of the team for years now so it would be a drastic change for players around them.

[HayDen Traces]

Longstaff speed of thought is really exposed now we have top players around him. You can see our attack literally drop a couple of gears when he has the ball.

That said, in the right system he can be effective. Its just not with us anymore sadly.

[Displayname]

20 minutes ago, Mazzy said:

 

Because we can't afford to replace both. How much would two Premier League level midfielders cost in your opinion?

 

Add to that the fact that massive squad turnover isn't helpful for team dynamics and both those players have been mainstays of the team for years now so it would be a drastic change for players around them.

Like I said, I dont think we have to spend big to replace their quality. With the way PSR works it could easily be financed by what we would get for them in the short term.

 

You might have a point about not overdoing the squad turnover. We seem to be doing a good job integrating new players into our squad, might not want to push it though. 

Dont really think the team morale would get hit by letting them go, surely the team is aware of how things have to go going forward.

 

 

Edited May 2 by Displayname

[Ghandis Flip-Flop]

17 hours ago, Mazzy said:

 

Because we can't afford to replace both. How much would two Premier League level midfielders cost in your opinion?

 

Add to that the fact that massive squad turnover isn't helpful for team dynamics and both those players have been mainstays of the team for years now so it would be a drastic change for players around them.

Depends on what Mitchell can uncover in lower leagues here or abroad. We as a fanbase are going to have to come to terms with the fact that not every player we buy can be £30M+ yet, we don’t have the revenue to do it. As others have said elsewhere we need to be competing with Brighton and Bournemouth for these gems at the 10-15M bracket, with a splattering of ready made stars added in.