Hanshithispantz Posted February 20, 2022 Share Posted February 20, 2022 Also Willock is only 22 and had an obscene scoring record last year. His goals have dried up but he is looking a very polished midfielder recently. I don't know why we would write him off as someone who needs replacing. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shak Posted February 20, 2022 Share Posted February 20, 2022 You'd hope that ultimately Bruno will take Shelvey's place. Willock has had some struggles but is still only 22, there's a lot of room for growth as a player there. Shelvey meanwhile turns 30 in a week and his athletic limitations are only going to get worse in the coming seasons. In the short term we could see Bruno play Willock's spot if needed though, looks a very capable all rounder who can fill a number of roles. Once the fixtures start coming thick and fast I expect we'll see plenty of rotation. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Conjo Posted February 20, 2022 Share Posted February 20, 2022 7 minutes ago, Solitude20 said: I trust Howe, and that’s the only reason why I am okay with that. But don’t forget the ambition of the new owners, we have to win the EPL in 10 years and qualify for Europe in 2-3 years. That will only be achieved by replacing most of our starting team with better players. It is inevitable that many of our starting XI would be upset for not starting games next season. There’s noway around that, otherwise we won’t achieve our ambitions. what message are we sending to our potential signings next summer if they know they won’t be getting their promised playtime just to maintain the squad harmony? What if we keep the current form until the end of the season and never remove Willock from the starting XI, are we going to spend millions on world-class players then choose to play Willock just because we maintained form? The bigger question is: what could Bruno and those like him offer to the team when they are playing on great form? Even if Bruno was lower than his average form, he could outplay a top form Willock. If we maintain the same form next season - getting through a whole season without losses & qualifying for the CL (on current form we're 4th in last 5 matches) we can sign and bench pretty much anyone for all I care tbh Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wilson Posted February 20, 2022 Share Posted February 20, 2022 3 minutes ago, et tu brute said: Thing is though I honestly think by adding Bruno to that midfield it will also take up our level of performance up a level. This is my thoughts, there's no need to wait for it to go tits up, just improve on what's there. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robster Posted February 20, 2022 Share Posted February 20, 2022 3 minutes ago, et tu brute said: Thing is though I honestly think by adding Bruno to that midfield it will also take up our level of performance up a level. I would possibly agree but what you are suggesting is trying something new (no matter how confident we might be in it working) against going with something that is currently working for us and getting us points. We still aren't really in a position to experiment with the starting line up. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
TBG Posted February 20, 2022 Share Posted February 20, 2022 (edited) Ignoring extra time cause it doesn't go with the narrative, but Bruno officially had 1 minute against Everton and 1 minute against Villa. Both games that we went on to win. Against West Ham though he was given 2 minutes but we only managed a draw. Quite worrying and one to ponder. Edited February 20, 2022 by TBG Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jackyboy Posted February 20, 2022 Share Posted February 20, 2022 Having Bruno on the bench waiting to step in will be pushing the other midfielders on. We've not had that before Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hanshithispantz Posted February 20, 2022 Share Posted February 20, 2022 1 minute ago, et tu brute said: Thing is though I honestly think by adding Bruno to that midfield it will also take up our level of performance up a level. I mean it does in theory and it might in practice but I think Howe has earned the right for us to trust what he's doing. He won't just be keeping Bruno out to keep others happy, he'll genuinely believe that it's the best thing for the team at the minute. As odd as it looks on paper that midfield has been rock solid recently. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Solitude20 Posted February 20, 2022 Share Posted February 20, 2022 (edited) 12 minutes ago, Shak said: You'd hope that ultimately Bruno will take Shelvey's place. Willock has had some struggles but is still only 22, there's a lot of room for growth as a player there. Shelvey meanwhile turns 30 in a week and his athletic limitations are only going to get worse in the coming seasons. In the short term we could see Bruno play Willock's spot if needed though, looks a very capable all rounder who can fill a number of roles. Once the fixtures start coming thick and fast I expect we'll see plenty of rotation. Bruno operates in the final third and offers a lot there. Playing him at the back in Shelvey’s place is a waste of his talent. i mean, look at what he offered in the final third in such short spell at Lyon. we need those defence-splitting passes NOW. No one does those in our current team. Edited February 20, 2022 by Solitude20 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Solitude20 Posted February 20, 2022 Share Posted February 20, 2022 13 minutes ago, Conjo said: If we maintain the same form next season - getting through a whole season without losses & qualifying for the CL (on current form we're 4th in last 5 matches) we can sign and bench pretty much anyone for all I care tbh Lol, I get your point. But if we are 4th with our current form, then we could be 2nd with better players. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikejaxer Posted February 20, 2022 Share Posted February 20, 2022 37 minutes ago, Elliottman said: He’ll come in when we lose a game or get an injury to one of the three. The team isn’t getting changed until then, would be canny nuts to change things at the moment. We also have like what, 4 games in 9 days in March? He'll get some game time. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Manxst Posted February 20, 2022 Share Posted February 20, 2022 2 minutes ago, Solitude20 said: Bruno operates in the final third and offers a lot there. Playing him at the back in Shelvey’s place is a waste of his talent. i mean, look at what he offered in the final third in such short spell at Lyon. we need those defence-splitting passes NOW. No one does those in our current team. Probably because the defence splitting passes would be currently going to Wood, and he isn’t mobile enough to benefit. Hence we don’t need those passes NOW. We are currently playing to our limited strengths, and doing so very well, with Willock being so mobile, Joe disrupting and laying the ball off, and Shelvey spraying from deep. Once Wilson is back, and we buy another forward in the summer, then Bruno’s passing range and running forwards with the ball will be much more important to the team and the way we will play. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
et tu brute Posted February 20, 2022 Share Posted February 20, 2022 16 minutes ago, Hanshithispantz said: I mean it does in theory and it might in practice but I think Howe has earned the right for us to trust what he's doing. He won't just be keeping Bruno out to keep others happy, he'll genuinely believe that it's the best thing for the team at the minute. As odd as it looks on paper that midfield has been rock solid recently. Solid yes, creative not really. Personally I think Bruno should start or at least be given more game time. I’m not the manager though, look at Diaz at Liverpool, Klopp has given him game time straight away. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hanshithispantz Posted February 20, 2022 Share Posted February 20, 2022 Liverpool made like 7 changes or something against Norwich though. Klopp has an insane squad with years drumming into them what they need to be doing. Howe has like 5 games or so of his squad playing really well together. I don't think it's so much as him not trusting Bruno to fit in as it is just him not wanting to break up his midfield just as he's gotten them going. Don't get me wrong, I wouldn't be surprised at all if Bruno comes in and we look instantly better. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wilson Posted February 20, 2022 Share Posted February 20, 2022 12 minutes ago, Manxst said: Probably because the defence splitting passes would be currently going to Wood, and he isn’t mobile enough to benefit. Hence we don’t need those passes NOW. We are currently playing to our limited strengths, and doing so very well, with Willock being so mobile, Joe disrupting and laying the ball off, and Shelvey spraying from deep. Once Wilson is back, and we buy another forward in the summer, then Bruno’s passing range and running forwards with the ball will be much more important to the team and the way we will play. The way Willock played yesterday, I think he'd have had a field day getting on the end of some of Bruno's through balls. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kanj Posted February 20, 2022 Share Posted February 20, 2022 Those through balls will be perfect for Maxi Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
HaydnNUFC Posted February 20, 2022 Share Posted February 20, 2022 2 minutes ago, Kanji said: Those through balls will be perfect for Maxi ASM rarely makes runs in behind though, he often comes deep to receive the ball. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
GWN Posted February 20, 2022 Share Posted February 20, 2022 (edited) 1 minute ago, HaydnNUFC said: ASM rarely makes runs in behind though, he often comes deep to receive the ball. Doesn’t have to be defence splitting Edited February 20, 2022 by GWN Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nobody Posted February 20, 2022 Share Posted February 20, 2022 2 hours ago, HaydnNUFC said: ASM rarely makes runs in behind though, he often comes deep to receive the ball. Possibly because there's not been anyone in our team that can play those passes. Only took Bruno a couple of minutes to find ASM with a through ball against Everton. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Consortium of one Posted February 21, 2022 Share Posted February 21, 2022 Bruno should be starting against Brentford. Jonjo could use a rest and I think we'll see that anything Jonjo can do Bruno can do better. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Prophet Posted February 21, 2022 Share Posted February 21, 2022 I don't think Bruno will get his first start until the mad run of games between Brighton and Palace. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thiago Posted February 21, 2022 Share Posted February 21, 2022 I don't think his intelligence on the ball will always show itself in through balls and obvious chance creation. I think he'll switch the point of attack and essentially give us more control of games. Shelvey is good at those searching passes or putting it into dangerous spaces but that is also quite a speculative approach. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
80 Posted February 26, 2022 Share Posted February 26, 2022 So, is he starting today? In Howe I trust, but if we all agree he's going to get used during the busy fortnight coming up, today seems the safest time to blood him. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alberto2005 Posted February 26, 2022 Share Posted February 26, 2022 2 minutes ago, 80 said: So, is he starting today? In Howe I trust, but if we all agree he's going to get used during the busy fortnight coming up, today seems the safest time to blood him. Nope. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
GWN Posted February 26, 2022 Share Posted February 26, 2022 26 minutes ago, 80 said: So, is he starting today? In Howe I trust, but if we all agree he's going to get used during the busy fortnight coming up, today seems the safest time to blood him. No I don’t think so , next week will be his time Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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