Lewis Miley: signs six-year contract extension (Official)

[nufcjmc]

Just now, Rod said:

Should have scored that header. Otherwise he was very good.

Easy to say I guess sitting at home and realising he was unmarked and it was a free header. I am sure out there on the pitch it must feel like you have no time and no clue if anyone is around you. 

[gbandit]

Also, it was fizzed in with barely any dip on it. A lot harder a chance than it looked 

[jackflap]

Would like him to be a bit braver on the ball in general but that should come, was really good tonight and should give him some confidence and also give Howe the confidence to rotate a bit more if needs be. Had one really nice run near the end of the first half where you could see how naturally he moves with the ball

[Super Duper Branko Strupar]

7 minutes ago, gbandit said:

Also, it was fizzed in with barely any dip on it. A lot harder a chance than it looked 

 

Nearly took his head off.

[Benwell Lad]

You could only criticise that header if you've never been on the receiving end of a cross like that 

[Kanj]

2 hours ago, Ikon said:

Would be interested in seeing Miley play the same position with Tonali and Bruno as 8's.

Get the Italian national team version of the all action Tonali 

[KaKa]

Crazily enough, the most convincing midfielder at the club when it comes to calming things and controlling the tempo of the game. 

 

Feels like all the others are always trying to go 100 miles per hour, which leads to us carelessly giving the ball away far too often at times.

[Mole]

5 minutes ago, KaKa said:

Crazily enough, the most convincing midfielder at the club when it comes to calming things and controlling the tempo of the game. 

 

Feels like all the others are always trying to go 100 miles per hour, which leads to us carelessly giving the ball away far too often at times.

One of the things I felt in the first few games of watching is everytime Bruno gets the ball I want to say like 35 yards from goal it's very positive but he doesn't see it anywhere near enough.

 

I'd love to see a midfield set-up where that actually happens. I think the concern is that Tonali does a masterful job protecting the back 4 and covering space so obviously Miley can't do that job, but I genuinely would like to see those 3 in some form for a run of games.

[Holloway]

he's maturing nicely amongst high level company. Love watching his movement, he's a glider

[KaKa]

25 minutes ago, Mole said:

One of the things I felt in the first few games of watching is everytime Bruno gets the ball I want to say like 35 yards from goal it's very positive but he doesn't see it anywhere near enough.

 

I'd love to see a midfield set-up where that actually happens. I think the concern is that Tonali does a masterful job protecting the back 4 and covering space so obviously Miley can't do that job, but I genuinely would like to see those 3 in some form for a run of games.

 

Yeah, last season really kicked into gear once Tonali was moved into the central midfield position to help protect the back four and Bruno moved into a more advanced position.

 

Miley is maturing well physically. Honestly, I think right now he does a better job sat in front of that back four defensively than Bruno, as he gets back into position quicker, which became a major issue when Bruno was there before we switched him with Tonali.

 

I think at some point we will see Tonali, Miley and Bruno as a midfield three and it will look really good. I think Miley would give the team a lot more calm and control, as he has such a natural instinct of knowing when to slow things down and play a few more "boring" passes to keep possession.

[Menace]

I'm glad we didn't loan him out. He's improving at his own pace and will be worth a hefty amount within the next 2 years.

[buzza]

2 hours ago, KaKa said:

 

Yeah, last season really kicked into gear once Tonali was moved into the central midfield position to help protect the back four and Bruno moved into a more advanced position.

 

Miley is maturing well physically. Honestly, I think right now he does a better job sat in front of that back four defensively than Bruno, as he gets back into position quicker, which became a major issue when Bruno was there before we switched him with Tonali.

 

I think at some point we will see Tonali, Miley and Bruno as a midfield three and it will look really good. I think Miley would give the team a lot more calm and control, as he has such a natural instinct of knowing when to slow things down and play a few more "boring" passes to keep possession.

I think this is perspective (I don´t completely disagree)...

I always seem to think that Miley´s tempo perhaps slows our attacks down, he seems to lack the confidence to continue pushing up the pitch with well placed, and sometimes risky, passing. I don´t know if this is what he has been told to do (keep it safe) or if he is still playing within himself (not fully confident). When the team plays well it is when we are at full tilt and zipping connections and first time passes to go through the lines, I often have in the back of my mind that Miley would be much better suited to a Man City total football possession style, a slightly slower much more focused passing game.

Anyway, liked him a lot last night, seemed like somebody had taken the "safety catch" off.

[KaKa]

17 minutes ago, buzza said:

I think this is perspective (I don´t completely disagree)...

I always seem to think that Miley´s tempo perhaps slows our attacks down, he seems to lack the confidence to continue pushing up the pitch with well placed, and sometimes risky, passing. I don´t know if this is what he has been told to do (keep it safe) or if he is still playing within himself (not fully confident). When the team plays well it is when we are at full tilt and zipping connections and first time passes to go through the lines, I often have in the back of my mind that Miley would be much better suited to a Man City total football possession style, a slightly slower much more focused passing game.

Anyway, liked him a lot last night, seemed like somebody had taken the "safety catch" off.

 

Personally, I think both Tonali and Bruno can be guilty of forcing passes too soon when there's a simpler one to be made initially.

 

It's why we so often feel like we're quite a sloppy team with the ball. They are both our better technical players and so once they start giving possession away it just gets out of hand.

 

I think Miley is better at picking the right moments to play the more incisive passes for the most part, and is more likely to keep it simple when needed, and not try to launch a switch of play pass, when there's a simple 5 yarder to someone that can get the ball and run forward into space.

[HawK]

Could be our Carrick. Not the same player, but similarities. Could be the glue that makes everything else stick.

[madras]

Picked it up in better positions, added some physicality in when out of possession, mixed it up with progression and safety. A game like that in the hurly burly of the Premier league would show massive progress imo. He's got the tools just lacks experience.

[Ikon]

Sure it’s been mentioned already, but i was super happy to see him being slightly more aggressive as well as carrying the ball and being a bit more progressive in his play. 

[Lotus]

I’ve said before we have a JL7 replacement already in Tonali. Problem was he was doing such a good job at 6. If Miley can play like that against Prem opposition it frees Tonali up to play the left sided 8. Would be amazing for us to have a creative midfielder on that side who is also dominant physical presence. Gives us balance. Would help both Gordon and Hall out massively.

[Ikon]

Deserves to keep his spot 100%. Tonali starting is obvious so I'd play Miley instead of Big Joe but let Miley play as the 6. Tonali can make some great runs off Woltemade and co. Allowing him to start again is very important imo.

[Fak]

Don't think Miley ever reaches the standard of peak Joelinton mind. 

[Ikon]

1 minute ago, Fak said:

Don't think Miley ever reaches the standard of peak Joelinton mind. 

 

Maybe not as the same type of player, but overall I think Miley can become a better player in his own right. I genuinely think he will before too long.

 

 

Edited October 22, 2025 by Ikon

[Kanj]

Yeah, i would 100% play mIley in the 6 with Tonali LCM and Bruno RCM

[Lotus]

4 minutes ago, Kanj said:

Yeah, i would 100% play mIley in the 6 with Tonali LCM and Bruno RCM

 Yes, I’ve learnt enough though that if we don’t see it, EH has good enough reasons to not implement it until everyone’s ready.

[oldtype]

23 minutes ago, Ikon said:

 

Maybe not as the same type of player, but overall I think Miley can become a better player in his own right. I genuinely think he will before too long.

 

 

 

He hasn’t even turned twenty yet. We shouldn’t be putting a ceiling on any player that young who is already PL starting quality.

[Ghandis Flip-Flop]

19 minutes ago, Kanj said:

Yeah, i would 100% play mIley in the 6 with Tonali LCM and Bruno RCM

Wouldn’t be surprised if we see him in a double pivot with either Bruno or Tonali alongside him as the season progresses, especially once Wissa is back fit and firing. Don’t think we'll be as strongly wedded to the 433 by the end of this season IMO

[Ikon]

2 minutes ago, oldtype said:

He hasn’t even turned twenty yet. We shouldn’t be putting a ceiling on any player that young who is already PL starting quality.

 

Agree.