biggmarket Posted January 15, 2023 Share Posted January 15, 2023 Doing well and has loads of potential, certainly keep him in and around the squad for the next few seasons and see how he develops. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gate4 Posted January 16, 2023 Share Posted January 16, 2023 Don't mean to shit on him but you guys really need to adjust your standards to that of a top team. Which one of the big clubs you think would sign him? Even for the bench. It's not that he doesn't have any quality. Yeah, he has moments of quality on the ball. But he often spends whole halves (if not whole matches like today) being invisible. But his biggest problem is he doesn't fit any role very well. He's not a midfielder especially for a possession team. He doesn't participate in moving the ball around like a Bruno. He doesn't even do what Joelinton and Longstaff do. He is not a creative AM. And then going forward he's not a pure winger, he doesn't offer what an ASM or Almiron do. He's not a striker, he's not a SS , he's not a false 9, he's not a 10. What is he exactly? Again, not saying he's of no quality but he just doesn't do anything good enough for me or fill any specific role well enough to be starting for a top team in a top league. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kid Icarus Posted January 16, 2023 Share Posted January 16, 2023 We are a top team and he's performing in that team, what standards are there to adjust? People said the same thing about Henderson and Wijnaldum for Liverpool, who imo would take him in an instant as the latter's replacement. He's a carrier, brilliant at the press, and a goal threat. He doesn't need to be anybody else, who he is and who he can go on to be (he's only 23 remember) is just fine. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adam Posted January 16, 2023 Share Posted January 16, 2023 That's another shit take on one of our most consistent performers. I'm not sure what games you've been watching to think he doesn't create, he doesn't keep the ball or win the ball back like Joelinton or Longstaff. Just because a player isn't getting the ball or isn't winning a tackle doesn't mean they do nothing. Could we get a "better" player, probably, would they cover all the areas Willock covers maybe not. We'd all love a team of international super stars, but that isn't going to happen in a hurry for a number of reasons, and for someone who doesn't fit any role, he's done amazingly well at it. No one on the forum is content with our team or the standards we set, but shitting on player with moronic posts about roles, whats the point? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Geordie Ahmed Posted January 16, 2023 Share Posted January 16, 2023 Also, didn't he burst down the left and created a good chance in the first half? Bit strange to say he didn't participate I really like him, seems like a likeable kid and is really growing in this side. The fact he isn't just a specialist in one thing is why he works in this team and why he's an important part of it You could get someone that's better at tackling than him but then you lose that flexibility of him and Joelinton seamlessly swapping positions. That must be a nightmare for the opposition to deal with. It provides us with a very different threat down then left in comparison to the right, which is more controlled and relies on slick passing and movement. Basically, he's playing very well and long may it continue. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gate4 Posted January 16, 2023 Share Posted January 16, 2023 What threat did he present today? Are you guys serious? Yeah no shit he did a couple of runs, he played on an attacking position on a top team, THAT'S THE BARE MINIMUM. Again, the point is not that he is shit. It's just that you guys have set the bar incredibly low. This is something very commonly seen when a club goes from not seriously competing for a time to suddenly mixing it up at the top of the table. It takes a while for people to adjust their standards. You're also ignoring my questions. What is his position? Who would sign him right now. And I'm sorry but comparing him to Wijnaldum is bizzare, how are they anything alike or anywhere near playing the same position? I'm not asking you guys to admit he is shit and I am not saying that. My point is that it's really strange to me how he is so "loved". And again about standards, I am judging Willock as a starter in a top team of a top league. Not completely outside of context. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Geordie Ahmed Posted January 16, 2023 Share Posted January 16, 2023 This season he's grown more and more into the team as the season has went on He's second behind Trippier for Big Chances created He's 4th for chances created with 17, ahead of him is Bruno with 18, Joelinton with 19 and then Trippier way ahead with 51 So this is that he does nothing is clearly not true Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lush Vlad Posted January 16, 2023 Share Posted January 16, 2023 He fits the system and Howe regularly praises him for his tactical understanding of the game. He does still need to improve and can be frustrating. In time, I’m sure we will replace him as a regular starter. But I really like what he brings and Howe seems to trust him. Which is good enough for me. Can’t have a team of superstars and we have shown that it is more about the system and the right personalities with us and players that fit. You could say. A bit like Arsenal: On 03/01/2023 at 21:48, Gate4 said: Arsenal is actually proof that you don't need to sign superstars to contend for the top spots in the league. Just need to add some quality. Xhaka, Odegaard and Zintchenko are exactly that, quality but no where near 100mil superstars. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
gbandit Posted January 16, 2023 Share Posted January 16, 2023 Just on that note, Odegaard is quite clearly a superstar. He’s one of the best players in the league Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lush Vlad Posted January 16, 2023 Share Posted January 16, 2023 9 minutes ago, gbandit said: Just on that note, Odegaard is quite clearly a superstar. He’s one of the best players in the league True. That is a bad example from Gate4. But when you go through their team. It’s not like necessarily individually they would get in ahead of players at City or Man U, probably not even Liverpool or Spurs for some positions. Or that they look outstanding all the while as an individual. But they are greater than the sum of their parts and all contribute massively to what Arteta wants. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shearergol Posted January 16, 2023 Share Posted January 16, 2023 16 minutes ago, gbandit said: Just on that note, Odegaard is quite clearly a superstar. He’s one of the best players in the league He's one of the best players in Europe, and would cost more than £100m to sign him. It was a bizarre example. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kid Icarus Posted January 16, 2023 Share Posted January 16, 2023 Aye Odegaard's unreal, I didn't expect it to be that player that would be unlocked like. I was expecting someone maybe nearer De Jong or even Rakatic or Modric, he's much more skillful and attacking than I was expecting. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Prophet Posted January 16, 2023 Share Posted January 16, 2023 Joe Willock has been excellent this season. He's one of the key cogs of our high press and is great at nicking the ball back (see out opener v Leicester). He's also really smart with the ball at his feet. I can't find the stat at the moment but he's one of the best players in the league for accurate passes in the final third. So he's also press proof himself. His relationship with Joe down the left has looked decent and allows him to use his pace and athleticism. My one gripe would be that his end product could be better, but that applies to most of our midfield. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kid Icarus Posted January 16, 2023 Share Posted January 16, 2023 Considering he's a 23 year old who looks like he'll only get better, I don't think this is 'setting the bar low' Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Elliottman Posted January 16, 2023 Share Posted January 16, 2023 I feel like I wasn't even online much during the match yesterday but between kick off and this morning I've read 'Wilson needs phased out, hasn't been the same since he had Covid' 'Drawcastle' Maxi getting hammered 'Willock offers almost nothing on the field' Staggering to think we're sitting 3rd in the league, semi final of a cup, after looking dead certs for relegation 12 months ago. Christ. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smal Posted January 16, 2023 Share Posted January 16, 2023 12 minutes ago, Kid Icarus said: Considering he's a 23 year old who looks like he'll only get better, I don't think this is 'setting the bar low' I think his fbref profile is in accurate in that it compares him to midfielders. He doesn’t really play in midfield for us. If you look at where he receives the ball on the field he is an attacking midfielder or shadow striker, really. I like him and he’s improved a lot this season, but he needs to start scoring more goals imo. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kid Icarus Posted January 16, 2023 Share Posted January 16, 2023 15 minutes ago, Smal said: I think his fbref profile is in accurate in that it compares him to midfielders. He doesn’t really play in midfield for us. If you look at where he receives the ball on the field he is an attacking midfielder or shadow striker, really. I like him and he’s improved a lot this season, but he needs to start scoring more goals imo. That's where I see him playing, but I don't think he's doing that right now like, I think you could argue that Longstaff's playing that role considering the positions he gets into to score. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smal Posted January 16, 2023 Share Posted January 16, 2023 17 minutes ago, Kid Icarus said: That's where I see him playing, but I don't think he's doing that right now like, I think you could argue that Longstaff's playing that role considering the positions he gets into to score. I’m not gonna go through all his games like, but look at his average position yesterday and against Leeds: I do wonder whether Isak will replace him in the side. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kid Icarus Posted January 16, 2023 Share Posted January 16, 2023 Fair point well made. Weird how we seemingly avoided playing down our left yesterday. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smal Posted January 16, 2023 Share Posted January 16, 2023 26 minutes ago, Kid Icarus said: Fair point well made. Weird how we seemingly avoided playing down our left yesterday. I think the absence of a left sided player in that one is mostly because Joelinton played the second half in the middle so his avg. position drags him over there. ASM fills the gap when you show the subs. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jaqen Posted January 16, 2023 Share Posted January 16, 2023 2 hours ago, Elliottman said: I feel like I wasn't even online much during the match yesterday but between kick off and this morning I've read 'Wilson needs phased out, hasn't been the same since he had Covid' 'Drawcastle' Maxi getting hammered 'Willock offers almost nothing on the field' Staggering to think we're sitting 3rd in the league, semi final of a cup, after looking dead certs for relegation 12 months ago. Christ. Just need to add in 'Hoewe needs questioned with his tactics and lineup'. Wanting to have a team with ambition that tries has quickly become demanding a team that is perfect at all times and convincingly wins every game for some Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
cubaricho Posted January 21, 2023 Share Posted January 21, 2023 Wasn’t stoked at all to come off today it looked like. I wouldn’t have either, to be fair though. Howe had to have a little talk with him. He put in a good shift today. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adam Posted January 21, 2023 Share Posted January 21, 2023 Thought we lost a bit of control after he went off. Would love to see him with ASM/Isak down the left. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
mouldy_uk Posted January 21, 2023 Share Posted January 21, 2023 His pace always amazes me for how sluggish he looks Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
gbandit Posted January 21, 2023 Share Posted January 21, 2023 2 minutes ago, cubaricho said: Wasn’t stoked at all to come off today it looked like. I wouldn’t have either, to be fair though. Howe had to have a little talk with him. He put in a good shift today. Good to see from him to be honest, shows his confidence is up Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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