Match days thread - Burnley v NUFC

[Remember Colo]

But he still covers more ground than anyone and was making tackles all over the pitch at the end. Think he just looks knackered because of his running style and the fact his face goes red after 2 minutes

Yeah he looks shattered walking out from the tunnel.

I have to say Shelvey has been better lately - it suits him to sit in front of back 3 and not have get up and down the pitch. He's been quite good at breaking up the play. (Never thought I'd say that). Then you have Longstaff doing the running.

I've kinda always said that he and Hayden are a poor pairing together. Both have some pretty dramatic limitations as players, Hayden's poor (and unwilling) play on the ball, and Shelvey's limited mobility (and lack of dribbling ability). Having more willing ballhandlers in central midfield definitely prevents Shelvey from drifting too far forward and then lacking the pace to usefully track back, or having Hayden constantly lay the ball off to Shelvey and him having few options but to try more hollywood passes. I don't know if Longstaff will be a meaningful upgrade on either of them, but credit to him for playing better the past couple weeks.

[gola]

agree with the above. as much as i love hayden ur right

[Remember Colo]

agree with the above. as much as i love hayden ur right

Don't get me wrong, Hayden has improved a lot in his time with us, and his last ditch tackling bails us out a lot. But I also don't think he can be a starting CM in a side that plays the way most of us would want us to. Not that I think Shelvey is either. Both of them seem better suited to back-up roles deployed circumstantially.

[gola]

i get ya, i just like hayden cos it seems like he actually cares. mayb not so much about the club but he always puts effort in trys his balls off and is class at breaking up play.

[bodacious benny]

I think Hayden can be in the starting XI, just not with Shelvey. Always rumours of West Ham being interested in Shelvey...if only they’d bid.

[Valentino's fast feet]

I think Hayden can be in the starting XI, just not with Shelvey. Always rumours of West Ham being interested in Shelvey...if only they’d bid.

Fully agree with this, although the Shelvey to West Ham rumours won't happen any more haha. I'm a big fan of Hayden. He's obviously limited, but what he can do he does very well. Get's on with the job. His limitations means he's better with a certain kind of midfield partner. SLongstaff works well with him, as he does with Shelvey now. Hayden and Voldermort don't work well together, at all, it's a poor pairing. Not sure why Longstaff has been frozen out for so long, both really, but glad that SL has come back into the team. I'm a big fan of Hayden but admittedly Longstaff's performances in his absence have made a difference.

[Remember Colo]

i get ya, i just like hayden cos it seems like he actually cares. mayb not so much about the club but he always puts effort in trys his balls off and is class at breaking up play.

No doubt, I'd definitely never question his commitment or effort. I guess I just think you need more in your locker than breaking up play if we're ever to be a side that consistently plays on the front foot - though that's a moot point without some major changes in the management and squad anyway.

[Sanchino]

Yeah he looks shattered walking out from the tunnel.

I have to say Shelvey has been better lately - it suits him to sit in front of back 3 and not have get up and down the pitch. He's been quite good at breaking up the play. (Never thought I'd say that). Then you have Longstaff doing the running.

I've kinda always said that he and Hayden are a poor pairing together. Both have some pretty dramatic limitations as players, Hayden's poor (and unwilling) play on the ball, and Shelvey's limited mobility (and lack of dribbling ability). Having more willing ballhandlers in central midfield definitely prevents Shelvey from drifting too far forward and then lacking the pace to usefully track back, or having Hayden constantly lay the ball off to Shelvey and him having few options but to try more hollywood passes. I don't know if Longstaff will be a meaningful upgrade on either of them, but credit to him for playing better the past couple weeks.

Very good point.

I think Longstaff & Hayden is our best pairing as they both compliment each others games well.. but Longstaff - Shelvey seem to be a decent duo so far. But yeah I agree with all three having there own limitations in there own way.. I think depending next season on who's in charge & what not we should still try & improve the CM options & buy someone who can do what Longstaff, Shelvey, Hayden & Willock already do well. Like a complete midfielder sort of player like a Cabaye (peak Cabaye).. all action, could score, could tackle, could pass, could drive us forward, comfortable on the ball & great technical ability. Can not only playmake but tackle & move well. We haven't ever properly replaced a peak Cabaye - peak Tiote in midfield & that's what I think would elevate us to the next level. There's a reason Shelvey doesn't play for a top 6 side & when he did play for Liverpool it didn't work out & we can all see why. Longstaff (pre-injury) when he first burst onto the scene was a cracking midfielder & those links to Man United seemed real. People were saying he's like the new ''Carrick'' but since that injury he hasn't quite been the same but last 2 games have shown the quality & potential is still there just has to improve his consistency & keep fit & injury free for a while. I hope him & his brother Matt knuckle down & can actually find consistent form to establish themselves as they have the attributes & potential to do something special here.

In summer we should look to get Willock on a loan to buy deal, get Sean on a new contract & loan his brother Matty out to the Champs until Jan or a whole season depending, keep Hayden, look to potentially sell Shelvey (while he still has transfer value) but who would buy him now?.. those West Ham links have gone cold now. Rice & Soucakel better than him anyway so I don't even see him starting.. unless he's Noble's replacement when he retires. Sell Hendrick if possible.. or keep him as a squad player but he shouldn't be nowhere near the first team to be honest. Buy a classy technically gifted strong & powerful box-to-box CM from aboard in the Moussa Demebele/Yaya Toure mould to start with Hayden & keep Willock/Sean as back-ups. Of course this is IF we stay up..