He’s reminding me more and more of a young Carrick with his passing and energy. And to think, his brother Marty is apparently the better midfielder.......
He certainly didn’t look lost tonight or let the game pass him by which could so easily have happened. He’s starting to look like a bit of a find.
It's the Rafa way, he's not afraid of giving the kids the set up if they can handle it, first thing he did when he came here was immediately start Laecelles in defence, when he couldn't get past a **** Taylor and a lazy Colo under McLaren. Longstaff has been MOTM in pretty much ever game so far, doesn't seem to have any nerves and his passing and shielding is outstanding for someone so young. With Shelvey either injured or **** this season, and Mo blowing hot and cold, he's gotta be are first choice mid right now.
I honestly would have got shot of Shelvey if we had a serious offer this window. A liability at best. The Hollywood passes don't mask over the fact that he: Gets booked and sent off (I know this season has not been as bad) Does not score enough goals Does not get enough assists Is quite lazy Is slow as ****
I don't think that's fair. He may be **** and championship quality but he has continued to try his best. Its not his fault he's not very good.
I thought he had a good game did Longstaff, definitely time to integrate him. It is a shame it has taken an injury crisis for Rafa to realise this lad was of use to him, but regardless he is in now and developing nicely. He has a bit of Carrick. The way he moves is like Lampard with that weird chest forward almost leaning over stance. To me though he reminds me a lot of Darren Fletcher when he came through at Man U.
I do find it odd that our best run of form this season has been when Shelvey and Kenedy have been out of the team. The 2 players that were probably our best players towards the end of last season. Longstaff appears to work well with Hayden, it'll be interesting to see what happens when Ki, Shelvey and Diame are all available. One thing that i think has been overlooked with Longstaff is his stamina levels, he has come into the team and played big mins in the engine room, but doesn't appear to tire or become sloppy towards the end and has backed up multiple games with a short turn around.
Carrick - Lampard - Fletcher Kick him in the teeth why don't you? Fletcher? Starts great and then ends up average.
I think you underestimate how good Fletcher was before his issues. Never the same after that. You don't make more than 200 apps for Man U and stay there 12 years largely under the most demanding manager the league has seen unless you are seriously talented. He's made 80 international appearances, 5 league titles, 1 FA Cup, 1 league cup, 1 CL, 4 community shields and 1 world club cup. To be honest if he has half the career Fletcher had, we will all be very lucky. All those 3 are very good players. He may be the lesser of the 3 in many eyes, but all three are better than every midfielder we have on our books by quite some way.
You could say the same or similar in relation to Wes Brown and John O'Shea but I wouldn't class either as anything above average. Not saying Fletcher was bad but just he was no where near the class of the other two.
At their best O'Shea and Brown were excellent squad players for Man U. Don't take their Sunderland stints as evidence of their ability. They were finished by then. Fletcher is better than those two aswell. As I say not at same level as Carrick or Lampard but it is a short list of players we've had of their class in our time. Fletcher was a serious player. I don't think Longstaff will ever be that good but who knows with the right coaching.
With Southgate in charge of ye guys, if he keeps this form up for the next couple of months....who knows!! If Shelvey was playing this well, pundits would be harping on about him.
Always rated Brown until I met him shopping in Costco in Manchester. That’s not the behaviour I expect from a Professional footballer.
I saw Gooch in Costco at the metrocentre when he was here....looked like he was having a party cos him and his missus (hot) had a trolley each full of drink. Nearly shat myself when I saw him, built like a brick **** house.
