Nixon - Rooney spies on Burnley star

[quoonbeatz]

People pay for transfer rumours, wtf?!

[Juan Tanamera]

People pay for transfer rumours, wtf?!

Crazy isn't it?
It's an article from the Sun, which I saw on Facebook this morning, for free.

[Socrates]

Concerning Harwood-Bellis...

You don't captain England through the levels if you haven't got a bit.

Mark Ford says “Hi”.

[Swizzlestick]

I really do wonder about the sanity of some of our fans, especially when they somehow conjure up the opinion that THB is “no better than Kevin Long”. Mindboggling. He has areas to improve on, no doubt, but overall he’s been class and an ever present in the second best defensive unit in the league. He’ll be playing at the top level very soon - I’m not sure whether that will be with City but he will, it’s pretty clear.

[RVclaret]

Nice article in the Telegraph on THB today:

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/football/20 ... s-vincent/

As for comments about his defending:

‘He leads Burnley - by some margin - in blocked shots, interceptions and clearances. Of his teammates, only full-back Connor Roberts has dispossessed more attackers on the dribble.

He has the third most blocked shots in the league, while also ranking highly for interceptions.’

[andyh]

A bit misleading those stats. All the other defenders have been in and out of the team. As the only ever present he really should be leading the total blocks, interceptions and stuff.

[roperclaret]

Mark Ford says “Hi”.

It’s not 1989 - Nearly all England U.21’s make at the highest level these days. Look at the current squad. A lot of them are regular starters in the PL already

[RVclaret]

A bit misleading those stats. All the other defenders have been in and out of the team. As the only ever present he really should be leading the total blocks, interceptions and stuff.

Fair point on the first paragraph but the second suggests they are also highly ranked in the league.

[GrahamBranchsPerm]

So here is one of the key points to his game.

"For progressive passes (i.e. those that travel towards the opponents penalty area), no outfield player comes within 3,000 of the City loanee’s 10,901 completed yards." See Tella goal vs Blackpool as an example.

Also not buying into it he is weak in the air. He's also useful in the opponent's box.

Time will tell anyway, but as stated, for me, he is going all the way, is exceptional for his age, and will play for England at senior level.

UTC

[Hibsclaret]

Reading this thread would have you believe that some on here watch from a restricted view seat tbh. THB is getting better by the game and is part of a defence that has lost 1 game. This season is the one where he moves his development from his previous loans in poorer teams to a possession based team that will absolutely blitz through to the title.

He will be proving himself in the premier league next season, unlikely to be with us unfortunately but when you have a diamond in your midst you should just watch and enjoy rather than wishing you had a ruby.

[1914tyrone]

THB is a good footballer, but I wouldn't say he was YET a great defender, he will improve on his game all round. But for me he isn't good enough in the air. We win very few headers these days, hence why we look so vulnerable at set pieces. I can't see him being an international regular. But he's more than good enough for this league and guiding us to promotion UTC

[Hibsclaret]

Those progressive passing stats are incredible. Really is great to watch a team on the front foot open up spaces like this team does, aided by those types of passes. Absolute joy to watch. Our previous centre backs, as good as they were defensively had no such ability in terms of creating forward momentum, or they were restricted by the style of play and the fact they were up against better teams. Either way, this lad is going to the very top as others have said.

Also, to suggest we look suspect at corners etc we still seem to be conceding less than a goal a game after 18 games.

[Swizzlestick]

When was the last time we actually conceded from a corner? Bristol City? We’re not doing too bad!

[claret2018]

By Rooney’s logic if I keep watching Anna Kendrick films she’ll agree to marry me.

[Chester Perry]

There is an article on THB and the club in the Telegraph today - link takes you past the paywall

Taylor Harwood-Bellis thriving under tutelage of Premier League great
Harwood-Bellis, on loan from Manchester City, has stood out as one of the Championship's best defenders
https://12ft.io/proxy?q=https%3A%2F%2Fw ... vincent%2F

[tiger76]

Just enjoy THB well he's here because it's likely he'll be plying his trade in the PL next season, though sadly I fear not with us even if we do go up.

[ecc]

Nixon says they want Benson as well.