Nine Posted 19 hours ago Share Posted 19 hours ago 2 minutes ago, Yorkie said: The performances against West Ham, Palace and Brentford justifiably had people questioning the direction under him. Prior to then, he had more than enough credit in the bank to avoid severe criticism until it looked like he'd lost the squad; and tbh, I thought there was signs of that in that West Ham second half. But since that poxy run he's found solutions to problems and collectively (between him and the team) they've absolutely gorged on the opportunities presented by a kinder fixture list and gained some incredible momentum. He's put his faith in certain players and made a mockery of any notion that the team were no longer responding to his leadership. Right now things are as positive as they've been during his whole time here but the pressure, ironically, is back on with these theoretically favourable games ahead. If we drop points against, say, Wolves and Bournemouth (which could happen and wouldn't be criminal), it's beyond crucial that the fans and the usual suspects in the press room don't lose their collective shit. Because he's got this. You said it better than me Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
AyeDubbleYoo Posted 19 hours ago Share Posted 19 hours ago 1 minute ago, Yorkie said: Right now things are as positive as they've been during his whole time here but the pressure, ironically, is back on with these theoretically favourable games ahead. If we drop points against, say, Wolves and Bournemouth (which could happen and wouldn't be criminal), it's beyond crucial that the fans and the usual suspects in the press room don't lose their collective shit. TBH if anyone doubts him now then I have no idea what they want in a manager or who they think could do this job any better. Very pleased for him because I thought there was a possibility the negative talk and momentum would become too much and he would get sacked too quickly. But TBH I never really believed it would happen until the summer even in the worst case. Therefore he always was going to get the rest of this season at least, and therefore he would fix it. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big Geordie Posted 19 hours ago Share Posted 19 hours ago Eddie. Proving some of us very wrong - myself included. I thought we would perhaps make a change come the summer, but you would think no way on gods earth that is going to happen now. Mind, the club has to back him with a couple of quality transfers in. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nine Posted 19 hours ago Share Posted 19 hours ago 1 minute ago, The College Dropout said: Interesting how High and close to Isak the 3rd CM has been recently. Joelinton usually, Willock today. And we almost go into a back 5 out of possession with Murphy deep and the midfielder dropping in. Way better than that flat 5 with the big gap between midfield and defence. I felt like him and Willock were even tighter tonight than Isak and Joe usually are, perhaps I’m wrong though. Looked like it was by design as the combination of the two of them in close proximity of a high turnover would have given Arsenal huge problems. Wasn’t Willocks best night, but I think he was under instruction to do most of his work off the ball. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rod Posted 19 hours ago Share Posted 19 hours ago Just now, The College Dropout said: Interesting how High and close to Isak the 3rd CM has been recently. Joelinton usually, Willock today. And we almost go into a back 5 out of possession with Murphy deep and the midfielder dropping in. Way better than that flat 5 with the big gap between midfield and defence. Are you really Eddie Howe and not a boring Financial fair play analyst? Good observation College. Concentrate on the football being played instead of accountancy and you might even get some likes on here. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
madras Posted 19 hours ago Share Posted 19 hours ago 12 minutes ago, The College Dropout said: Confidence and momentum can add a lot. I love Longstaff but what’s his level? Bottom half PL? We’ve replaced him with a proper CL player who is a leader and plays with real authority. That’s not a small tweak. Longstaffs level is as much about those around him. He's not someone that can lift a team,say the way Bruno did but he's held his own in thwbtop half of this level. We've only replaced his space in the team sheet with Tonali, this team since Tonali went central is totally different to what we had before, it allows for so much more, hence we have more bodies getting in the box and centre halves chasing down players deep in their own half. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rod Posted 19 hours ago Share Posted 19 hours ago Just now, Nine said: I felt like him and Willock were even tighter tonight than Isak and Joe usually are, perhaps I’m wrong though. Looked like it was by design as the combination of the two of them in close proximity of a high turnover would have given Arsenal huge problems. Wasn’t Willocks best night, but I think he was under instruction to do most of his work off the ball. Great observation. I think Willock was restrained from his attacking because he was assigned to marking Partey. I never thought Partey was ever a threat so well done to Eddie and Willock. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
The College Dropout Posted 19 hours ago Share Posted 19 hours ago 2 minutes ago, madras said: Longstaffs level is as much about those around him. He's not someone that can lift a team,say the way Bruno did but he's held his own in thwbtop half of this level. We've only replaced his space in the team sheet with Tonali, this team since Tonali went central is totally different to what we had before, it allows for so much more, hence we have more bodies getting in the box and centre halves chasing down players deep in their own half. It allows for so much more. Because Sandro is so much more. Sandros given us everything Longstaff did (from a slightly different position) and much much more. Sandro is proving to be a Bruno level signing. He’s been transformative and new dimensions to what the team is capable of. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hudson Posted 19 hours ago Share Posted 19 hours ago 13 minutes ago, The College Dropout said: Miley is only 18. Next season or the season after he could have a proper place in the squad but not now imo. Let’s give him luxury minutes now. It surely that’s all Longstaff is going to get now. I get what you’re saying, and I often forget how young he is. But if your ready your ready. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
The College Dropout Posted 19 hours ago Share Posted 19 hours ago 7 minutes ago, Rod said: Are you really Eddie Howe and not a boring Financial fair play analyst? Good observation College. Concentrate on the football being played instead of accountancy and you might even get some likes on here. Fuck off man. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hudson Posted 19 hours ago Share Posted 19 hours ago 1 minute ago, The College Dropout said: Fuck off man. You can have a like from me buddy. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
madras Posted 19 hours ago Share Posted 19 hours ago 1 minute ago, The College Dropout said: It allows for so much more. Because Sandro is so much more. Sandros given us everything Longstaff did (from a slightly different position) and much much more. Sandro is proving to be a Bruno level signing. He’s been transformative and new dimensions to what the team is capable of. Slightly different position? He's very central, he's the base. He never was brought in to be a Longstaff upgrade a RCM, he was brought in to take his place on the team sheet but he was never hisbplreplacement on the pitch because now that position doesn't exist. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
AyeDubbleYoo Posted 19 hours ago Share Posted 19 hours ago 4 minutes ago, Hudson said: It surely that’s all Longstaff is going to get now. I get what you’re saying, and I often forget how young he is. But if your ready your ready. Miley brings top technique and control of possession, which is the opposite of Longstaff. We might need Longstaff's mythical hidden great teamwork at times, but hopefully less and less as we get better. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hudson Posted 19 hours ago Share Posted 19 hours ago 1 minute ago, AyeDubbleYoo said: Miley brings top technique and control of possession, which is the opposite of Longstaff. We might need Longstaff's mythical hidden great teamwork at times, but hopefully less and less as we get better. Tbh part of me is hopeful he is sold this window. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
madras Posted 19 hours ago Share Posted 19 hours ago (edited) 3 minutes ago, AyeDubbleYoo said: Miley brings top technique and control of possession, which is the opposite of Longstaff. We might need Longstaff's mythical hidden great teamwork at times, but hopefully less and less as we get better. Miley has a great future hopefully but there never been a point when I'd have picked him over Longstaff. There's a good chance that changes. Edited 19 hours ago by madras Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jonas Posted 19 hours ago Share Posted 19 hours ago Jobs not done, but never doubted this bloke mind, whatever happens , he gives us a chance in such situations as this and were capable of any result. I've never seen a better defence than the ones he's produced - even with ultra defensive managers - and the sort of professuinal results and performances we pull out now and then still don't feel like NUFC to me. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nine Posted 19 hours ago Share Posted 19 hours ago 8 minutes ago, madras said: Slightly different position? He's very central, he's the base. He never was brought in to be a Longstaff upgrade a RCM, he was brought in to take his place on the team sheet but he was never hisbplreplacement on the pitch because now that position doesn't exist. Think what he meant was that Sandro provides everything that Longstaff does from RCM but he can do it all from #6 deeper on the field Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
AyeDubbleYoo Posted 19 hours ago Share Posted 19 hours ago The good defences under Rafa were a bit different because they were more designed to mask the deficiencies of the players than anything else. Necessary at the time but not what a top team would do. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
madras Posted 19 hours ago Share Posted 19 hours ago 9 minutes ago, Nine said: Think what he meant was that Sandro provides everything that Longstaff does from RCM but he can do it all from #6 deeper on the field But that doesn't make sense. Tonali being the base Brunos new role, I'd also say new roles for the entire outfield staff mean Longstaffs position doesn't exist any more, nor does Joelintons old role, even the Joelinton/Willock dovetail. We've evolved and I'm sure Eddie knows evolution is an ongoing process. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nine Posted 19 hours ago Share Posted 19 hours ago Just now, madras said: But that doesn't make sense. Tonali being the base Brunos new role, I'd also say new roles for the entire outfield staff mean Longstaffs position doesn't exist any more, nor does Joelintons old role, even the Joelinton/Willock dovetail. We've evolved and I'm sure Eddie knows evolution is an ongoing process. I understand what you are saying that the positions/roles are not the same anymore, all I think TCD meant was that Tonali can essentially do everything Longstaff could do from RCM but from deeper on the pitch Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
madras Posted 19 hours ago Share Posted 19 hours ago 16 minutes ago, AyeDubbleYoo said: The good defences under Rafa were a bit different because they were more designed to mask the deficiencies of the players than anything else. Necessary at the time but not what a top team would do. They weren't good defences. They were low blocks, numbers behind the ball and hoping for magic from Saint Max etc. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
AyeDubbleYoo Posted 19 hours ago Share Posted 19 hours ago 1 minute ago, madras said: They weren't good defences. They were low blocks, numbers behind the ball and hoping for magic from Saint Max etc. Yeah I guess, but they were good at stopping goals. That's what I meant really, they were effective at being defensive but not the kind of thing a really good team would implement. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
madras Posted 19 hours ago Share Posted 19 hours ago 1 minute ago, Nine said: I understand what you are saying that the positions/roles are not the same anymore, all I think TCD meant was that Tonali can essentially do everything Longstaff could do from RCM but from deeper on the pitch And Bruno does it and Murphy does a bit of it, Tino does some of the hard running. Longstaffs role as it was has gone. Jeez.....all I'm saying is that Tonali was never an RCM upgrade like some seemed to think. He was always destined for the middle, either as a lone 6 or as double pivot, either way he wasn't a Longstaff replacement as he never played those roles. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
cubaricho Posted 18 hours ago Share Posted 18 hours ago 1 hour ago, Geogaddi said: Do people think the turnaround in form is really as simple as Tonali moving deeper? Seems madness that we have improved so much in just one month due to such a small tactical tweak, surely must be other factors at play . I don't believe it was as small of a tactical tweak as people on here seem to think it was. There was so much more at play beyond just playing Tonali deeper and pushing Bruno up. And it took Eddie, possibly the best manager going right now, months to get it right. And he did. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
madras Posted 18 hours ago Share Posted 18 hours ago 2 minutes ago, cubaricho said: I don't believe it was as small of a tactical tweak as people on here seem to think it was. There was so much more at play beyond just playing Tonali deeper and pushing Bruno up. And it took Eddie, possibly the best manager going right now, months to get it right. And he did. Joelintons role has changed as well and he's lapped it up, notice he's hitting the wing less now as Hall moves up to support Gordon and looks to read Isak to come in late or behind. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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