We were unlucky with injuries today, but they came at the right time, just after a run of winnable games, and the next game will likely be the hardest game so far in 2022, which I expect a defeat in. Hopefully we'll get any injured players back after this game. Ratings - Dubz - 7.5 - Would have given him just a 7, but that sweeper keeper header saved us at one point. Good play. Trippier - 7 - Would be higher but didn't play long enough. Good goal. Well worked freekick from us even if it was a bit lucky, we left players there to distract the goal keeper and we made the best of a free kick at an awkward angle. Burn - 8 - Beast. Should be captain if Trippier is injured. MOTM Schar - 7.5 - Solid. Manq - n/a Dummett - 6 - He was servicable but we looked noticably worse when he played. Krafth - 6 - Good effort, helped keep a clean sheet, but noticable drop in quality. Willock - 7.5 - Worked very hard, won a lot of freekicks and gave away some decent fouls. Shelvey - 8 - Thought he was great today, especially defensively. I thought he tracked players runs really well. Joelinton - 7.5 - Apart from the silly fouls at times, he worked hard, defended well, did a great job. He falls apart in the box though. Fraser - 7 - Good work rate, some decent balls into the box, and does well to be so two footed. ASM - 6 - Offers nothing defensively. Some bright spells but mostly anonymous. Deserves this rating despite this because he was still a good threat at times. Not his best game. Wood - 6 - Won quite a bit in the air and flicked on into some dangerous areas, contributed to the defence also. Nothing special but hard working. Burno - n/a
Willock is so underrated. Burn was clearly the best but Joe wasn’t that far behind. He’s one of the most tactically astute midfielders we’ve had in a long time. I agree with @Ben 10 too, I thought Fraser was class. Grafted his bollocks off, and was smart enough to realise how much Krafth was struggling with the level and tactically, so just dropped right in and was Jonas like in helping him out. A proper team effort again which is great to see. Fans were mint again. Enjoyed it for all we weren’t at our best. Mainly cause Maxi was pretty poor bar a couple of flashes. Wood did ok again, but that shot was horrific . Thought Joelinton was good and really controlled himself after the booking. I’d describe us as rugged and dogmatic today. Sometimes you’ve got to grind it out. We wouldn’t have done that a few months ago. Eddie really has done a terrific job with them.
I think the fans are realising now what he’s been doing for a while. He is positionally so sharp. The goals are not far way too, starting to pick up some dangerous positions. Looks worth every penny we paid. I think that goal run affected him and the fans. But even before we picked up he had some terrific games like Norwich. Quality player for me. Him Big Joe and Bruno I can’t wait to see.
Be a huge mistake for me but I’m not gonna question Eddie too much. He is getting it right a hell of a lot.
Willock literally ran himself into the ground today (as did lots of our lads). He put in a real shift yet again and won so many important challenges. I think him, Joelinton and Bruno together will be great to watch.
Bruno has gotta start soon for me. Question is do you drop Shelvey, Joelinton or Willock? If it's Shelvey then it's a big risk starting a foreign player in such a crucial deep lying central role. Bruno is a box to box mid. It could be a waste to put him there. I have a feeling Shelvey will remain in the side for the rest of the season. If that's the case, do you drop Willock or Joelinton? Willock and Joelinton are both kind of high energy box to box mids, but they lack much finishing/creative quality, especially Joelinton who can't finish for crap. If it were up to me, I'd consider Joelinton. Maybe Bruno could play that central CDM spot at some point, but at this season, It may be too risky to rely on him, and Shelvey has been doing well there recently. He was solid there today.
Fraser, Joelinton, Willock. All are like new signings under Howe. Add that onto our 5 actual signings.
If a straight choice between Joe And Will then reluctantly I would drop Will. Of the two I think Joe has made himself more vital but of the three I’d “rest” Jonjo.
I would pick Willock out as my MOM. Thought he pressed well, nicked the ball away from their midfield on so many occasions and looked good carrying the ball forward. It was noticeable as he started to tire in 2nd half we lost our shape in midfield. For all Shelvey's good work he has difficulties dealing with a midfielder, like Ramsey, who runs at him, due to his lack of pace. Thought Schar and Burn together looked very composed but once Kraffth came on it started to unravel. He looked like he didn't know where he should be playing. Good job we are getting Targett back for next game as Dummett looked off the pace today. St Maximin was ****ing frustrating today. He had so many chances to play others in but tried to go on his own.
To be honest, I don't think it's a case of which individual he drops to make way for Bruno. This new high tempo, high press style will mean that ideally we need 4 (possibly 5) midfielders per game for the 3 man midfield. Going forward they will be rotated. We won't be relying on all three playing 90 minutes every game. Gone are the days of having to panic when you bring a sub on because we only have 11 purple players.
I don't think Bruno has to start because we're winning. Joelinton is a tremendous cm player and willock has been instrumental in everything we've done. Shelvey played well yesterday, so I wouldn't change anything until a suspension, injury or poor performance comes along.
Yeah I agree. I think the work rate the midfield is putting in to support the high pressing game and to be a more dynamic box-to-box team, is a lot to expect for 90 minutes every game. Willock & Joelinton ran themselves.into the ground (as did Fraser and a few others). I think the only reason Bruno didn't come on earlier is due to already making 2 subs rhrough injury and having various others struggling at times (Schar, Subravka, Maxi all looked like they might need subbing at some point), so I think Eddie had to hold back and not risk it. For future games I expect more rotation in midfield, to give players a break.
