The Prophet Posted June 30, 2022 Share Posted June 30, 2022 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mazzy Posted June 30, 2022 Share Posted June 30, 2022 I wouldn't say I'd be happy about starting our season with the current midfielders, however we have more pressing concerns in terms of positions that need filling. You can't sign an entire new defence, midfield and attack in one transfer window. We've got our new defence, now we need attacking reinforcements more than anything else. Next summer will then be the time to look at getting another top quality CM to go alongside Bruno. For now, a combination of Joelintion/Willock/Shelvey/Longstaff will do the job just as they did in the last 6 months. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RodneyCisse Posted June 30, 2022 Share Posted June 30, 2022 39 minutes ago, r0cafella said: Ideally, I don’t want to see Shelvey starting matches next season. Eddie seems reluctant to put Bruno in his role and have Big and little Joe ahead. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flip Posted June 30, 2022 Share Posted June 30, 2022 Chris Wood and Almiron/Fraser/Murphy were all part of the same team. If anyone believes that our form is sustainable with the current team, they're kidding themselves. That being said, if our aim is a top 10 finish then let's hope we can sign a player or more and completely avoid injuries. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Prophet Posted June 30, 2022 Share Posted June 30, 2022 I trust the club and Howe's vision of the team, but its interesting that we prioritised a high calibre centre back over a midfielder. Having Shelvey in the midfield will cost us more points than a Schar-Burn back two. That's why I think we'll still reinforce the midfield. We're a Bruno injury away from being back to square one. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
JP Posted June 30, 2022 Share Posted June 30, 2022 Just now, Flip said: Chris Wood and Almiron/Fraser/Murphy were all part of the same team. If anyone believes that our form is sustainable with the current team, they're kidding themselves. That being said, if our aim is a top 10 finish then let's hope we can sign a player or more and completely avoid injuries. First sentence highlights the need for RW and ST incomings as priority. Centre midfielder could be one we see come in late in the window if an opportunity arises. Shelvey gets some unfair cop on here, think he's been really good for us last 6 months under Howe. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Emotic Posted June 30, 2022 Share Posted June 30, 2022 1 hour ago, Flip said: Love how he's talking about doing the hard work and that Neymar wouldn't have to worry about the defensive part. His mindset has already switched from being a striker to a hard working central midfielder. Really hope he can sustain his form. Had such a tough start to his career here and has kept working hard. Big Jow's mentality is rock solid, like. Amazing what he had to put up with for two years being a target man for Bruceball and everyone calling him shit, and end up POTS. His redemption arc is the most beautiful thing about this season, imho. He must be proud as fuck. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flip Posted June 30, 2022 Share Posted June 30, 2022 2 minutes ago, JP said: First sentence highlights the need for RW and ST incomings as priority. Centre midfielder could be one we see come in late in the window if an opportunity arises. Shelvey gets some unfair cop on here, think he's been really good for us last 6 months under Howe. Our best performances last season came without Shelvey on the pitch.Norwich away and Arsenal at home were two of our best performances and in both Brunos started as the deep lying player in Shelveys position if I remember it correctly. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ponsaelius Posted June 30, 2022 Share Posted June 30, 2022 (edited) CM is only a priority for me after winger and forward. However I'm honestly not massively fussed what kind of midfielder we were to sign as long as they represent an injection of quality. I can see the merits of either a defensive or attacking option because I think Bruno's (and Joelinton's tbh) role can be adapted either way. Edited June 30, 2022 by ponsaelius Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
elbee909 Posted June 30, 2022 Share Posted June 30, 2022 Paqueta can play centre forward as well as CM/AM. Would be decent versatility. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shearergol Posted June 30, 2022 Share Posted June 30, 2022 I’d rather play Longstaff than Shelvey. That being said, I’m pretty confident our transfer work is far from done. We just need to get rid of the trash. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Holmesy Posted June 30, 2022 Share Posted June 30, 2022 49 minutes ago, The Prophet said: I think that's bollocks! If we want him, I reckon he'll choose us over most other clubs. He wants to play with his besty and knows he'll be worshiped by the Toon Army. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
mofo Posted June 30, 2022 Share Posted June 30, 2022 7 minutes ago, Shearergol said: I’d rather play Longstaff than Shelvey. That being said, I’m pretty confident our transfer work is far from done. We just need to get rid of the trash. Shelvey offers way more than Longstaff, Shelvey was very good for us back end of last season. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Emotic Posted June 30, 2022 Share Posted June 30, 2022 The Nantes manager has admitted they won't be fighting to hold on to any of their players. Ludovic Blas is one who we've been linked with since January. Looks canny good, hope we're in for him. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
gdm Posted June 30, 2022 Share Posted June 30, 2022 Howe clearly likes Shelvey and I think he sees something in longstaff too and that’s not to mention Willock was in really good forum last season. I think people are gonna be disappointed when we don’t sign another midfielder Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Prophet Posted June 30, 2022 Share Posted June 30, 2022 Based on recent speculation it does appear that we're targeting one for the future in midfield, but they wouldn't necessarily start (recently linked to Sucic and Thuram for example). Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dan Gleebals Posted June 30, 2022 Share Posted June 30, 2022 I just heard Raúl de Tomás might be on our radar today. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dan Gleebals Posted June 30, 2022 Share Posted June 30, 2022 They need to sell by tomorrow. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
The College Dropout Posted June 30, 2022 Share Posted June 30, 2022 2 hours ago, Flip said: Are you guys saying you'd be happy to go into next season with Joelinton, Shelvey, Longstaff, Bruno and Willock as our central midfielders? I think a DM/CM/CAM depending on how we plan to play Bruno should be our priority along with a RW. I think I said this word for word yesterday. It's not a good central midfield at all. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dr Jinx Posted June 30, 2022 Share Posted June 30, 2022 1 minute ago, The College Dropout said: I think I said this word for word yesterday. It's not a good central midfield at all. Joelinton and Bruno aside, it’s square pegs and round holes Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
The College Dropout Posted June 30, 2022 Share Posted June 30, 2022 1 hour ago, STM said: I AM reasonably content with our centre midfield, baring in mind the same midfield contributed to 6 months of top 4 form. 6 months IS sustained form, it's not a purple patch, it's their genuine capabilities. Saying we have weakness in centre midfield is fine but we have weaknesses in every position on the pitch if you want to go through it with a fine tooth comb and considering CM a priority over RW or ST is madness IMO. FWIW, I do think we will get another CM in during this window but I imagine it will be a younger player who will come into the squad to grow. Don't expect a big star signing unless we get Eriksen. Before you get all defensive, nobody is saying our CM is perfect or couldn't be improved but isn't this thing about growth and window by window getting better and better in each area of the pitch? Let's get those two attacking players in and see how things play out until January. If by then it's clear that Bruno needs company in terms of proper top quality, we can start looking at Paqueta or someone else. The point is, we can't do it all in one go. It's a purple patch. See Cisse, Papiss. Many called Lingard's West Ham form a purple patch too. To me - a lot of people have rose-tinted specs on for Joelinton. He's bang average on the ball. Without him, the midfield lacks physicality. We need another one in there with genuine ability. RF, ST, CM and our key business for 22/23 is done. Review in January. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
The College Dropout Posted June 30, 2022 Share Posted June 30, 2022 5 minutes ago, Dr Jinx said: Joelinton and Bruno aside, it’s square pegs and round holes Even Joelinton - he's still figuring it out. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
WillingtonMag Posted June 30, 2022 Share Posted June 30, 2022 1 hour ago, r0cafella said: Ideally, I don’t want to see Shelvey starting matches next season. Been good since Howe came in so think that's past prejudiced personally, could see a difference for the worse when he was out of the team. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tiresias Posted June 30, 2022 Share Posted June 30, 2022 Seen Shelvey long enough to know he has a purple patch then lets you down. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pilko Posted June 30, 2022 Share Posted June 30, 2022 1 hour ago, r0cafella said: Ideally, I don’t want to see Shelvey starting matches next season. I think he'll start the season in the side but likely be phased out by the end of it, especially if we sign another centre mid. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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