Trust to Eddie, mate. If Jonjo is popular and vocal, Eddie will manage it the right way. Bruno may start instead of Big Joe, who's really still adapting to being a midfielder. We don't have access to the science, so trust to the process. Eventually Shelvey will be gone. It might be next game, it might be next season, but the end is nigh.
This is what quality players bring. Targett and Trippier have such an impact that we're much further up the pitch. Max is getting the ball where he wants it already and we haven't even got started on the players. Bruno slotting in could see even bigger improvements to the point where anybody turning up weak as pish like Everton is going to get 5 or more put past them. 10 if Wood's not playing......(couldn't help myself).
Once Bruno is ready for 90 minutes, I think it has to be Shelvey out. The lift in work rate will be incredible. Imagine the energy and box to box effort of having Bruno, Joelinton & Willock. Jonjo is - and always has been - a liability, both in terms of (lack of) work rate and his ability see red and make those ridiculous clumsy/reckless challenges. He's always at risk of being carded, even in games where we appear to be in control. Yes, OK, so twice a season he 'might' score from 30 yards, or hit a 50-yard wonder pass. But so what in the grand scheme.of things. He's not a player for the modern game.
Wood is far from perfect but he has replaced Wilson’s workrate. He batters the centre backs too. We need better and clearly Eddie wanted another but I think he can do what we need through to Wilson’s return. I can’t wait for Bruno personally. I think Shelvey is a liability you don’t need in a pressurised situation. Gives away stupid free kicks, has a red in him, and I just can’t stand that thing where he doesn’t want to run anymore and starts handing off runners and pointing his fingers. It’s blatantly obvious he’s given up at that point. If I was his teammate I’d be ****ing livid at times. I will concede his passing last night was top end, and generally he’s done ok in the last few games. But let’s not kid ourselves, we are where we are because of attitudes like his.
Ive said loads when people get at him, put better players around him and then judge. Try running 60-80yds to make your own chances, it doesn’t matter how good you are it’s tough. Last night we saw him released and receive the ball higher up the pitch. Around the box and his acceleration and ability to just strip people was there for all to see. Then he looks effective. He does chuck himself about a bit because he gets kicked a lot. His body language could be better at times. Last night he looked leaner, fitter and stronger. He didn’t roll round as much and go down as easily. So well done the coaches for getting into him. Generally we are lucky to have someone of that ability. The press Eddie has introduced is the single biggest reason for our improvement. Modern football for first time in over a decade. Better times ahead.
I suspect that having other players up around him for him to potentially find gives him a boost as he doesn't feel he has to do it all by himself any more. There were a few good balls into the box yesterday that had players at least trying to get on the end of which must help him.
Definitely there is mental aspect to it too. Having someone like Trippier for instance, the players aren't idiots. Having a full England international (we're a top side these days) who was starting full back for one of Europes elite, they know that is a massive jump in quality. Max has been carrying us with Wilson in terms of goal threat. He knew it was all on him really. So now he can actually play with less tension. Long way to go, but if we keep working that hard without the ball, and pressing up the pitch, we will see a massive improvement in our league position. Villa is a big game now. Win that and the feel good goes through the roof. Eddie's single most important job this week along with coaches and senior leaders like Trippier is ensure we don't think "job done". If we can string a few more results in there we can drag a few more into what is turning into an absolute dogfight in the bottom half of the table.
I can see a win win solution very soon,Shelvey is on 4 yellows so a booking against Villa takes the awkwardness out of it!
What I find hilarious is going back to Bruce talking about things "taking time". Yeah, it takes a bit of time and there will be bumps but under Bruce we just kept sliding backwards, still hitting bumps! Eddie's had some tough matches - but we still did enough in some matches and probably should have beaten Brentford, Watford, Norwich and arguably Man U.
To be fair Rafa was worse in this regard and actually was the one who set us off down this archaic path. We never pressed under Rafa except when they got to a certain part of the pitch. It was like an old Italian or 90's type of football. The fans couldn't see it because they liked him so were blinded in my opinion. Bruce tried to change it but he didn't have clue what it actually meant or how you implement it. Him saying "it needs time" was really him saying "**** me this isn't something I know anything about, in my day..." Its fine saying "I want to be a pressing team" but how do you actually coach it, how do you get it drilled into them? You've got to understand modern coaching and its why I was negative about Rafa coming back. It was a decision that would have set us back another 5 years. Eddie is outstripping my thoughts on him for all I was happy to support him like any NUFC boss. I love the attention to detail, I love the modern style, I feel like we are actually trying to compete again. We're a long way from where we want to be, but we have finally set off on a good pathway again. The likes of Ashworth can cement all this. Eddie might not even work out in the end, but he's the right guy for now.
Very good point this. I was actually thinking last night Villa was an option, 2 games in a week etc. We might have to see how Willock pulls up anyway as he ran himself into the ground 2nd half. If not Shelvey is a shoe in for that 5th booking
If we're going to keep Shelvey in that mid CM position, surely then the only option is Joelinton? Willock is on fire right now. Joelinton is a beast in regards to his work rate and ability to run with the ball, but he will offer nothing in regards to assists or goals. Bruno should start ASAP we need to risk it.
Shelvey is the only reasonable choice to drop for Bruno. Joelinton is key to how we are playing right now and Willock offers that drive forward.
Then do we play Bruno in the deeper lying CM role then? Seems a waste. He's a box to box mid, and we need creativity going forward. Willock and Joelinton offer work rate and ability to run with the ball, but we need creativity. Bruno could offer that. Joelinton offers nothing in the final third, Willock may at some point score a goal again, but doesn't look much like doing so. Bruno looks like he could provide key assists.
Some info found online: So it's either swapping for Shelvey in a 433, or playing with Shelvey in a 4231.
Bruno has not shown himself to be prolific with assists. Where he excels is incisive passes to set up the assisting player. He will help us transition forward much faster than Shelvey which in itself should mean we can keep our forward players further up the pitch. Burn is also very good at playing out from the back so having both those in the team will allow us to (hopefully) cut through the lines
I thought this too. But having thought about it it’s because we have stepped up our energy levels and the style of play. To bring a normal premier league level. Rather than sitting back and letting teams dictate play. It’s a contrasting style of play for us and it will be interesting to see if it continues against Villa.
