Topic: Joelinton - injured hip and being sent for x-ray and scan

[Optimistic Nut]

Hopefully yesterday makes Shelvey redundant and he just copies Rafa’s system with Maximin in. Longstaff was poor yesterday.

Thought about this earlier, seeing as he's inherited a very similar squad to how we started last season you'd imagine he'd have reviewed it to see what the crack was. If he had then he'd have seen that Rondon & Perez were isolated for months and part of the issue was Shelvey. Ki/Longstaff and then Almiron + 2 up fixed the issue.

What an absolute knacker.

I thought on paper the three in midfield looked good in pre-season. Hayden was the one getting forward joining the attack but after seeing Longstaff yesterday, I’m hoping it was a one-off because we’re in trouble otherwise.

[Kanji]

Was against Arsenal though - but in any case - i wonder if Longstaff's first competitive match in some time + the weather + somewhat bad day overall ?

[Optimistic Nut]

I hope so.

[ToonArmy1892]

Weather 

[TRon]

Was against Arsenal though - but in any case - i wonder if Longstaff's first competitive match in some time + the weather + somewhat bad day overall ?

I think it was probably the lack of structure with all recent changes, in both players and coaches. Rafa was very detailed about where players go and running channels so midfielders would know where to find the runners. Another poster, David Edgar said this in the match thread, and I think it was probably on the mark.

[Optimistic Nut]

I hope this isn’t it.

[54]

He's been utter w*** so far.

[Disco]

He's not a target man; surely the scouting team could see this particularly given he didn't play as such last season. Odd.

[nufc4eva]

His hold up play is awful, those defenders would be bouncing off Rondon, he would protect the ball and Joe doesn't look like he knows how to do it.

Whole team looks lost and not sure what the plan is

[TRon]

He's not a target man; surely the scouting team could see this particularly given he didn't play as such last season. Odd.

He's a big lad. Just ask wor Bruce, he did his own scouting on him apparently.

[sadnesstan]

His hold up play is awful, those defenders would be bouncing off Rondon, he would protect the ball and Joe doesn't look like he knows how to do it.

Whole team looks lost and not sure what the plan is

There's a plan?

[toontownman]

Not adjusting and a rude awakening. Doesn't help there isnt a player within 20 yards of him to support or give him a man on call.

Should have buried that header. Like almiron it's a matter of time until he mentally implodes if he doesn't start scoring.

[nufc4eva]

His hold up play is awful, those defenders would be bouncing off Rondon, he would protect the ball and Joe doesn't look like he knows how to do it.

Whole team looks lost and not sure what the plan is

There's a plan?

If there is I'm trying to work it out. I think it's wing backs to get down line and cross and hope someone is on it. Centre play is awful and the hole team looks disjointed, mind no f***s given either way, I haven't felt angry watching it, kind of want us to lose and can't want us to win that bad. Want my club back and it has to be this way.

[Optimistic Nut]

It’s Mitro’s first season all over again. Carroll will be main centre-forward by October. We’re f***ed.

[Parky]

He's never a central striker. He's more a wide/loose forward like Allmybangs. He needs the space out wide to use his pace and come in from there. Comparing him to Rondon is silly.

[TRon]

We could try sliding a few cute passes in behind the defenders. Just a hunch, but Hanley would probably prefer a physical battle with Joelinton to a foot race.

[Infinitely Content]

He's never a central striker. He's more a wide/loose forward like Allmybangs. He needs the space out wide to use his pace and come in from there. Comparing him to Rondon is silly.

[nufc4eva]

He's never a central striker. He's more a wide/loose forward like Allmybangs. He needs the space out wide to use his pace and come in from there. Comparing him to Rondon is silly.

Don't know who to compare him to otherwise, he is the replacement after all, you are right they are different players so head coach should be playing to strengths but we'll he's kind of not, other than that he cost £40 mil and can't control the ball, my word it's the same pre-rafa shot again

[Minhosa]

Rafa said £20m max on him. Which is the money most clubs spend on a bench striker. Which is perhaps what Rafa saw him as 

[hakka]

Joelinton was a young developing player in top flight German league. It's a huge ask to jump up and lead the line instantly in the Premier League. He should have had time to develop and grow. The price tag is part his potential, and partly because any side will try to push for as much cash as possible in a transfer from a Premiership side. It's expected to have some element of fleecing.

[Infinitely Content]

He's never a central striker. He's more a wide/loose forward like Allmybangs. He needs the space out wide to use his pace and come in from there. Comparing him to Rondon is silly.

Don't know who to compare him to otherwise, he is the replacement after all, you are right they are different players so head coach should be playing to strengths but we'll he's kind of not, other than that he cost £40 mil and can't control the ball, my word it's the same pre-rafa shot again

You said it yourself. That's precisely why his every move shouldn't be compared to Rondon.

[Minhosa]

Joelinton was a young developing player in top flight German league. It's a huge ask to jump up and lead the line instantly in the Premier League. He should have had time to develop and grow. The price tag is part his potential, and partly because any side will try to push for as much cash as possible in a transfer from a Premiership side. It's expected to have some element of fleecing.

Would've been a good back up/development player for Rondon. That's probably where God saw him but Charnley and Co. know more about football than Rafa so they'll be right  .

[worthy]

I mean he was bought as the replacement, and is played the same way Rondon was played. So the natural thing is comparing him to Rondon I feel like.

[David Edgar]

Still early to fully gloat, but I called this.

[nufc4eva]

Rafa said £20m max on him. Which is the money most clubs spend on a bench striker. Which is perhaps what Rafa saw him as 

Obviously Charnley knows better thought with all the top level football experience he has, why should Rafa question that. Instead let's find a complete knobhead who will sign anything