Yeah I don't think we have to give up on him. He's HG, has shown that he can do a good job for the team but he needs to be dropped right now. Partially because he looks like he needs a rest and partially because he needs a bit of a rocket to realise his place in the squad is at risk. 100% we need a new starter in that position in the summer but replacing Longstaff in the squad is a long way down the list of needs.
Realistically he's already 5th choice already and he wouldn't be starting as often if Tonali wasn't banned, Joelinton and Willock haven't crossed paths yet at Benton apart from in the treatment room and Anderson's injury has also meant he's not had a chance to even be rested/rotated yet. He's made 35 appearances this season and according to TransferMarkt his mins add up to 30 of those being full 90's (not inc. extra time) - while in the first 4 app's of the season he only 87 mins because others were available... basically since September, bar a few game injury lay off end of November - beginning of December he has played every minute.
That he wouldn't be starting many/any games if our better options weren't banned and injured? Can't be good news that we have those bans and injuries, but it does undermine wum suggestions that we are building a team around him, that he is a favourite or that he's first choice.
So it's a guess based on what people think should be the case.. I bet nobody was expecting Burn to still be playing mind. Longstaff imo is going nowhere anytime soon and will still be getting regular games next season unless Howe is replaced. I could be wrong.
Just straight up fact's I'm afraid. I think as per the above - he's not expected to play that much but with 2 injuries to midfielders he's going to get games, with 2 injured and one suspended he starts regularly, with 3 injured and a suspension he is pivotal to the team. Think Anderson and Miley will both pass him in the next few years but again as a homegrown talent he'll be here until we have better.
Because we have 3 injuries and a suspension... which means he and Bruno are the ONLY fit senior CM's at the club. Lewis Miley has 25 appearances this season, with 17 of those being starts, kids done well but if you'd asked anyone at the beginning of the season if he'd make 17 senior starts this year they'd have thought you were mad with what our squad looked like in September.
If miley is a better player and fit then he should play. This is the reason plus the fact he plays 90 minutes no matter what occurs that makes me think people will be surprised how often he's starting next season.
Not sure what your point is here? We have 3 CM positions and only 2 fit players so of course Longstaff is starting, it's nothing to do with his or anyone else's ability it is purely down to availability!
Miley was available and not injured.... you haven't got enough information to make the claim longstaff wouldn't get picked anyway it's a prediction much like mine.
A problem I see is that we seem massively overloaded on the left of midfield vs the right. All players quoted there I think prefer to play off the left. That combined with the fact we have Gordon, Barnes, Isak who looks better out wide left than up front imo. None of which we would want to lose but feels like we need to address that imbalance. Even Miggy is better on the left.
Miley's 17? Bit like Mainoo at Man U - good player, bags of potential but if everyone's fit they probably don't start? When Bruno, Willock, Tonali and Joelinton were available Longstaff was playing 20 mins a game max , when we were down to Bruno and Tonali/Joelinton available he got games, that's evidence enough and tells you everything you need to know, once Tonali was suspended and Joelinton injured Miley came in.
TBH when everyone's fit I don't think any of those would start LW for me as I wanna see that Willock/Joelinton swap down the left again. Best XI on paper for me: Pope Tino-Schar-Botman-Target Tonali-Bruno-Willock Gordon-Isak-Joelinton Dubravka, Trippier, Lacselles, Burn, Longstaff, Anderson, Barnes, Miggy, Wilson Could make a case for Trippier RB, Tino LB, Target on the bench but I'd say that is the best XI and bench we have.
I agree that Willock/Joelinton combo on the left was brilliant for us and is part of the reason we have seen a drop off this year Do you think Gordon is anywhere near as good on the right though. Im not sure ive seen enough of him there to judge but I think Howe sees that LW spot as his now. This convo I think speaks to the imbalance we have in the squad.
Look at the games Miley's played - and before I go further I am not blaming the kid AT ALL but look at the factual stats: https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/lewis-miley/leistungsdaten/spieler/922769 11 games in the league before he was starting: Won 6, Drew 2, Lost 3 (City, Liverpool Brighton - at the start of the year) 15 games in the league he started (in a row because of injuries): Won 5, Drew 2, Lost 8 No way the kid - and he is a child, he can't even vote yet! - should be starting every game regardless. Need's must and the boy has come in and done wonderfully well given the pressure and experience he's had previously but he's not the finished article yet. Give him 4 years (he'll be younger than Gordon is today) and he'll be quality and probably ready to start most games at that point.
