Joe Willock

[Gottlob]

When he's on form he offers us an attacking spark that nobody else in the squad quite matches, whether it is his ability to play off the cuff, his willingness to attempt the odd difficult pass, the way he gets forward with the ball or like others have mentioned that ability to look a bit laboured and indecisive before dropping a shoulder and putting on a burst of pace. 

 

Even if it was a bit scrappy at times, we looked good with he and Elanga playing in an around Woltemade while Ramsey also added strong ball carrying from the midfield. Though even at 1-0 down we were afforded more space than we often get in the Premier League.

[Holloway]

Thought he was done here but Eddie could be rekindling another redemption arc by persevering with him, he obviously sees him on a daily basis. I hope he shows enough to remain involved

[Earp]

Just now, Gottlob said:

When he's on form he offers us an attacking spark that nobody else in the squad quite matches, whether it is his ability to play off the cuff, his willingness to attempt the odd difficult pass, the way he gets forward with the ball or like others have mentioned that ability to look a bit laboured and indecisive before dropping a shoulder and putting on a burst of pace. 

 

Even if it was a bit scrappy at times, we looked good with he and Elanga playing in an around Woltemade while Ramsey also added strong ball carrying from the midfield. Though even at 1-0 down we were afforded more space than we often get in the Premier League.

Needs a run in the team and hopefully stays fit.

[Keefaz]

Thought he was excellent. Bit of a shame everyone's best position is left-wing.

[AJ9]

If he can continue this form in the LW slot, it’s incredibly helpful because we know he can actually be a goal threat. Wouldn’t actually mind a 4231 with a more compact shape through the middle with a 3 behind Wissa of Willock, Woltemade and Ramsey. 

[TRon]

1 hour ago, Holloway said:

Thought he was done here but Eddie could be rekindling another redemption arc by persevering with him, he obviously sees him on a daily basis. I hope he shows enough to remain involved

 

 

I think he might still be done here because his contract runs out end of next season. Not sure he's done enough to earn a new one, or even if he still wants to be here. But he's a good player when he's up for it. 

 

 

Edited January 29 by TRon

[Lush Vlad]

The thing is though. He didn’t really play LW last night. The same way Elanga wasn’t the usual chalk on your boots, touchline right winger that we play with. They were popping up all over. Steve Bruce would call it two false 10s  

 

To use American parlance. There is no reason why he couldn’t do similar again with the likes of Gordon and Barnes, Elanga and Murphy or whoerver being the ‘closers’. Or vice versa, depending how the game is going. 
 

I think with all the games we have, sports science, the analytics and how in depth every team has become tactically. Along with the game constantly evolving and things going in and out of fashion. The notion of your strongest XI and a set way of playing and formation. Isn’t really a thing at the top level nowadays. 
 

I suppose some managers and teams have their style and system and they won’t change. But even Pep has adapted and shifted over the years. It’s not made him any better, either. 

[Alberto2005]

It amazes how one performance can switch people's thinking from sell to keep/give him new contract.

 

He was brilliant last night, but let's not kid ourselves he's been poor for a few years now.

 

We can't just keep everyone, we need to move him on at the end of the season.

[OoOGazOoO]

Yeh I agree, it's more frustrating more than anything that he can produce a performance like that against PSG but other times we have seen him he has been pretty average, it's mad.

[nufcjmc]

1 minute ago, Alberto2005 said:

It amazes how one performance can switch people's thinking from sell to keep/give him new contract.

 

He was brilliant last night, but let's not kid ourselves he's been poor for a few years now.

 

We can't just keep everyone, we need to move him on at the end of the season.

At the very least performances like last night may increase the number of suitors or potential fee should he likely leave in the summer. 

 

Him sitting on the bench or stinking it up on the pitch does us no favours short term playing him or increase the liklihood of anyone taking him. 

[TRon]

40 minutes ago, Alberto2005 said:

It amazes how one performance can switch people's thinking from sell to keep/give him new contract.

 

He was brilliant last night, but let's not kid ourselves he's been poor for a few years now.

 

We can't just keep everyone, we need to move him on at the end of the season.

 

 

He's a player I've always liked. He has pace, can carry the ball into opposition territory, and in theory has an eye for a goal. 

 

I agree he's been very inconsistent, but I tend to give players with technical ability a bit more leeway. It might be moving him on is the right decision for a number of reasons but we should look to get a decent fee to reflect his ability. 

[Super Duper Branko Strupar]

Did really well last ight, chuffed for him. 

[Chapo]

Didn't think he could still perform like he did last night fair play to him. Just wish he was quicker releasing the ball sometimes, felt like he missed the opportunity to play a pass in behind a few times. Still, definitely found money if he can keep up that level 

[alexf]

Eddie did mention he has been working hard behind the scenes despite his limited game time. He does look in his best physical shape for a long time and finally looked to have that burst of speed back. 

 

Willock has always been a player who relies on his physical attributes over his technical skills and with all the injuries and what looked like a reduction in his athleticism it seemed like all confidence had drained from his game and his career was fizzling out.

 

The goal was something we lack at times, a midfielder that gambles and follows the ball in. It's what Willock was so good at when he first arrived and was on a scoring run. 

 

With Joelinton now injured he has now given himself a chance to get minutes and prove he can get back to being useful. Will have earned back some respect from fans last night and now he just needs to not get injured and keep that level of performance in the coming games. 

 

I would start vs. Liverpool.

 

 

Edited January 29 by alexf

[wong989]

2 hours ago, Alberto2005 said:

It amazes how one performance can switch people's thinking from sell to keep/give him new contract.

 

He was brilliant last night, but let's not kid ourselves he's been poor for a few years now.

 

We can't just keep everyone, we need to move him on at the end of the season.

True. My reaction to his performance is, if he  can get near his old form from now we finally have a midfielder who can link up with Tonali/Bruno, run with the ball, find a pass, scare defenders on the edge of the area. Having seen a few training ground videos he strikes me as not fully committed to doing everything needed to get to the top. But a good end to the season gives us much better options and hopefully we can get 20-25 for him if he plays well. Was good to see Ramsey and Elanga possibly turning the corner as well. Just need it in the prem, away now. If we can actually play some football in the middle of the park we become a far, far better team.

[wong989]

1 hour ago, alexf said:

Eddie did mention he has been working hard behind the scenes despite his limited game time. He does look in his best physical shape for a long time and finally looked to have that burst of speed back. 

 

Willock has always been a player who relies on his physical attributes over his technical skills and with all the injuries and what looked like a reduction in his athleticism it seemed like all confidence had drained from his game and his career was fizzling out.

 

The goal was something we lack at times, a midfielder that gambles and follows the ball in. It's what Willock was so good at when he first arrived and was on a scoring run. 

 

With Joelinton now injured he has now given himself a chance to get minutes and prove he can get back to being useful. Will have earned back some respect from fans last night and now he just needs to not get injured and keep that level of performance in the coming games. 

 

I would start vs. Liverpool.

 

 

 

Joelinton now, a groin injury and all. Just as he started to look back to his best. Seems we need to upgrade that position, so either Big Joe is a rotation option or sadly moves on.... the inuries only continue to pile up once you've had a couple hamstring, groin tears, or ligaments sprains/tears. Makes me very worried for Tino. And my prediction on the rat came true, it was a matter of time before a serious groin injury, and it won't be his lasT. Hopefully we got him at his best. Our transfer policy of signing players off injuries needs to go out the window though, its so risky its unbelievable. Willock had loads of serious injuries before we bought him, to both knee and the muscles in his legs. Injury history needs to be prioritized in signing players in future. We've gotten lucky thus far, but its starting to run out.

[TRon]

44 minutes ago, wong989 said:

Joelinton now, a groin injury and all. Just as he started to look back to his best. Seems we need to upgrade that position, so either Big Joe is a rotation option or sadly moves on.... the inuries only continue to pile up once you've had a couple hamstring, groin tears, or ligaments sprains/tears. Makes me very worried for Tino. And my prediction on the rat came true, it was a matter of time before a serious groin injury, and it won't be his lasT. Hopefully we got him at his best. Our transfer policy of signing players off injuries needs to go out the window though, its so risky its unbelievable. Willock had loads of serious injuries before we bought him, to both knee and the muscles in his legs. Injury history needs to be prioritized in signing players in future. We've gotten lucky thus far, but its starting to run out.

 

 

I think that's a fair point re the injuries, and we have to take that into account before handing out a bumper contract to Tino. I wasn't aware that Willock suffered from these as well, but he's certainly spent a lot of time on the treatment bench here. Might be a case of making the best use of him this season then selling in the summer. 

[Sibierski]

3 hours ago, Alberto2005 said:

It amazes how one performance can switch people's thinking from sell to keep/give him new contract.

 

He was brilliant last night, but let's not kid ourselves he's been poor for a few years now.

 

We can't just keep everyone, we need to move him on at the end of the season.

 

It's more showing what he can offer, with age still on his side. It's a tough one, because with a year left and Longstaff the benchmark, what we getting? £15m, £20m tops. Any replacement will likely then need to be a Ramsey type of establishment so that's £35m+ where the quality doesn't increase at all.

 

Or you accept you can give him a new deal, roll on next 2 seasons knowing what he can do, and spend >£15m on a project CM, knowing a different CM (i.e. Joelinton) could be off in 2027. Can then tie up wages in other areas (CB / LB) with Miley competing Tino for RB.

[Sibierski]

It's a bit different to other players in past because age was not on their side, Willock we could have for 2 more years then look to sell when he's 28/29.

[nufc123]

4 hours ago, Alberto2005 said:

It amazes how one performance can switch people's thinking from sell to keep/give him new contract.

 

He was brilliant last night, but let's not kid ourselves he's been poor for a few years now.

 

We can't just keep everyone, we need to move him on at the end of the season.

He needs to perform over time to change my mind. 

[Lenny]

I thought Willock was good last night, and a reminder that the best version of him would be so valuable to us right now. I did also however think that he stifled a good few of our attacks by not releasing the ball quicker. He either isn't confident in his ability to make the pass or simply doesn't have very good vision. 

 

His biggest strength for me is his ability to turn and transition our attacks at pace, but he's wasting his strengths if he's not seeing the next move. 

[Fak]

Just now, Lenny said:

I thought Willock was good last night, and a reminder that the best version of him would be so valuable to us right now. I did also however think that he stifled a good few of our attacks by not releasing the ball quicker. He either isn't confident in his ability to make the pass or simply doesn't have very good vision. 

 

Could be down to lack of game time/rust?

[El Prontonise]

4 hours ago, Alberto2005 said:

It amazes how one performance can switch people's thinking from sell to keep/give him new contract.

 

He was brilliant last night, but let's not kid ourselves he's been poor for a few years now.

 

We can't just keep everyone, we need to move him on at the end of the season.

 

Agreed.

 

He's been here for 5 years now in total and his good performances are few and usually away from the league nowadays.  

[Lenny]

3 minutes ago, Fak said:

 

Could be down to lack of game time/rust?

Possibly, I can't imagine he was peak confidence prior to the game.

[Coffee_Johnny]

1 minute ago, Lenny said:

Possibly, I can't imagine he was peak confidence prior to the game.

I think he was super psyched last night. Real ‘I’ll show you’ motivation. In against the Champions of Europe away, what better way to give a fuck you to all the doubters of his ability and let loose his frustrations about his recent bit part role in the side.