Got to be - the guy is our unsung hero and absolutely key to how we play.

Premier league ready !

Thoughts ?

Definitely been our best midfielder overall and I’ve seen a couple of popular neutral Championship podcasts put him in their team of the season so far. He will be fine in the PL, I’d be buying an athletic, more physical CM alongside him though.

Had an excellent season. Probably his worst performance of the season yesterday so he’ll be fired up for Tuesday.

Huge cog in a well thought out, beautifully designed, well oiled machine.

In a bad team though he'd look useless because he isn't 'brilliant' at anything just good at everything.

"He's not even the best drummer in the Beatles"

Hard to think of better in this league - he’s grown and grown with every game.

Positionally outstanding and is getting better at breaking up play and being quick with passes.

At the beginning of the season I think he was a bit overly cautious at times with passing sideways/backwards but he’s very good at nipping the ball forward when the opportunity arises. Top player and another bargain

No he’s not, he’s up there though

He was poor for about 70 mins yesterday. Really struggled. But fair play to him, he kept going and came on strong at the end. However, I'm afraid that lack of physicality and dynamism is why he plays for us and not a top Premier League side. He's good but not top, top drawer good.

He's really important in our system.
I hope he can make the step up... as I do with all our new players.

Will definitely need a more athletic, defensive type alongside him next season (a younger Cork essentially), but he absolutely has the attributes to be an effective PL player. He’s hugely intelligent, presses immensely, and his short to medium range passing is as good as anyone in the league.

For me he's our player of the season with Beyer a very close second. Unpopular opinion but they've both been so consistent.

The most difficult decision this season is indeed going to pick our player of the year.

For me Cullen, but I could pick 8 / 9 of our players !

whiffa wrote: ↑

Sun Feb 19, 2023 7:55 pm

For me he's our player of the season with Beyer a very close second. Unpopular opinion but they've both been so consistent.

Why would it be an unpopular opinion? You're not saying anything most fans haven't appreciated.

welsbyswife wrote: ↑

Sun Feb 19, 2023 10:19 pm

Why would it be an unpopular opinion? You're not saying anything most fans haven't appreciated.

I think it's an unpopular opinion that Cullen is our Player of the Season, not that they both haven't been brilliant.

I’d be interested in comparing him to his former mentor Noble at West Ham, someone else who was small and not overly physical, but who had a good Premier League career. Cullen reminds me of him, though plays ever so slightly further back.

For me though the player of the season is Brownhill. The most goal and assist combined totals. The most starts. Has made a huge difference. I fear the Premier League isn’t his level at the quality we aspire for, but we will see.

Great to see this thread because Cullen is absolutely vital to us being as good as we can be. This was really well demonstrated in the Ipswich replay recently when the game totally changed in our favour once he came on and plugged the gap between our CBs and the midfield. He’s a brilliant player …. Keeps us ticking with the ball and a massively tenacious winner of loose balls and second balls to get us back on the front foot if we look like losing it.

Couldn't agree more with all the praise for Cullen. I also liken him to Noble. Hope he continues here for years to come and cements his place among the fan favorites.

at the risk of upsetting folk I think he's the only on of our current midfield that is a guaranteed starter next season

Vegas Claret wrote: ↑

Mon Feb 20, 2023 2:32 am

at the risk of upsetting folk I think he's the only on of our current midfield that is a guaranteed starter next season

Not sure why it would upset folk, it is true!!

People talk about him being small but I’ve not noticed him being bullied or out muscled much, if at all.

In fact it’s the opposite he seems to come out of most duals with the ball.

He’s a brilliant footballer.

I do believe we have finally managed to replace John Deary

He is of course excellent for us but he needs to do better in front of goal. His shooting is poor and he missed a difficult but good opportunity on Saturday that would have finished the game off.

In fact pleased as I was with the win on Saturday, and the late draw on Tuesday, I'm disappointed that in both matches we weren't able to force our way of playing onto these games. That's what top teams do. Instead we seemed to have to play in our opponents style.

It shows that whilst we are the best in this league there is still a lot to do to make us into a really good team.

Hipper wrote: ↑

Mon Feb 20, 2023 10:55 am

He is of course excellent for us but he needs to do better in front of goal. His shooting is poor and he missed a difficult but good opportunity on Saturday that would have finished the game off.

In fact pleased as I was with the win on Saturday, and the late draw on Tuesday, I'm disappointed that in both matches we weren't able to force our way of playing onto these games. That's what top teams do. Instead we seemed to have to play in our opponents style.

It shows that whilst we are the best in this league there is still a lot to do to make us into a really good team.

Well that sets the bar for being a really good team pretty high. Are Arsenal a really good team? How did they get on imposing their style on Everton?

Culmclaret wrote: ↑

Mon Feb 20, 2023 11:14 am

Well that sets the bar for being a really good team pretty high. Are Arsenal a really good team? How did they get on imposing their style on Everton?

I’d argue we did impose our style on Watford we were just a bit wasteful with the final ball. At the end of the day Watford had one shot on target all game and didn’t really trouble us.

Luton is a different kettle of fish and it’s hard to play passing football on a dry, uneven surface, against a team of giants. To come out of that game with 3 points is an excellent demonstration of our character and ability to mix it as well.

Hipper wrote: ↑

Mon Feb 20, 2023 10:55 am

He is of course excellent for us but he needs to do better in front of goal. His shooting is poor and he missed a difficult but good opportunity on Saturday that would have finished the game off.

In fact pleased as I was with the win on Saturday, and the late draw on Tuesday, I'm disappointed that in both matches we weren't able to force our way of playing onto these games. That's what top teams do. Instead we seemed to have to play in our opponents style.

It shows that whilst we are the best in this league there is still a lot to do to make us into a really good team.

he was offside

Just love how he controls the game for us , and yep player of the season for me .

arise_sir_charge wrote: ↑

Mon Feb 20, 2023 7:45 am

People talk about him being small but I’ve not noticed him being bullied or out muscled much, if at all.

In fact it’s the opposite he seems to come out of most duals with the ball.

He’s a brilliant footballer.

No more so than Rovers, where he absolutely bossed the midfield.

I knew he was good on the ball when we signed him, but I didn't realise he had so much bite to his game.

Vegas Claret wrote: ↑

Mon Feb 20, 2023 2:32 am

at the risk of upsetting folk I think he's the only on of our current midfield that is a guaranteed starter next season

I too think he’s had a fantastic season - I’m still not entirely convinced that he will be quite at the level required for the Premier League but hoping to be proved wrong on that front.

Midfield is the key area for summer recruitment.

DCWat wrote: ↑

Mon Feb 20, 2023 1:06 pm

I too think he’s had a fantastic season - I’m still not entirely convinced that he will be quite at the level required for the Premier League but hoping to be proved wrong on that front.

Midfield is the key area for summer recruitment.

yes we need a younger more agile version of Jack (he still has a part to play imho) - we saw against Man Utd how we struggled a little in that area in terms of pace (granted they are a different beast to most)> I think Cullen will be fine

Vegas Claret wrote: ↑

Mon Feb 20, 2023 2:00 pm

yes we need a younger more agile version of Jack (he still has a part to play imho) - we saw against Man Utd how we struggled a little in that area in terms of pace (granted they are a different beast to most)> I think Cullen will be fine

I was very hopeful for the first month of the season that Bastien could fill that marauding, technical hybrid of a box to box and DM that Jack used to do so fantastically and Barton also. Less convinced as the season's gone on but still hoping he can step up to the plate. Sometimes players do better at a level above due to the differing demands of the game or teams. It's why I actually think Benson could do even better in the Prem, he will get much more protection from being clattered.

I think Luton aside, and Blackpool at home, Cullen has been largely superb for us. Does the unheralded work with a solid dash of playmaking, like a better David Jones with a dash of Westwood's passing (until his final season). Definitely think he's going to need help alongside him in the Prem though and wouldn't be shocked if we switch to 433.

spt_claret wrote: ↑

Mon Feb 20, 2023 2:23 pm

I was very hopeful for the first month of the season that Bastien could fill that marauding, technical hybrid of a box to box and DM that Jack used to do so fantastically and Barton also. Less convinced as the season's gone on but still hoping he can step up to the plate. Sometimes players do better at a level above due to the differing demands of the game or teams. It's why I actually think Benson could do even better in the Prem, he will get much more protection from being clattered.

I think Luton aside, and Blackpool at home, Cullen has been largely superb for us. Does the unheralded work with a solid dash of playmaking, like a better David Jones with a dash of Westwood's passing (until his final season). Definitely think he's going to need help alongside him in the Prem though and wouldn't be shocked if we switch to 433.

I think we are all unconvinced by Bastien, VK seemingly more so. It's a shame tbh as I think we were all very hopeful (he may come good as you say)

Vegas Claret wrote: ↑

Mon Feb 20, 2023 2:25 pm

I think we are all unconvinced by Bastien, VK seemingly more so. It's a shame tbh as I think we were all very hopeful (he may come good as you say)

There's something about him I really like and there's glimpses and the sense of a real player in there. Just not sure when or if it will come out.

spt_claret wrote: ↑

Mon Feb 20, 2023 2:38 pm

There's something about him I really like and there's glimpses and the sense of a real player in there. Just not sure when or if it will come out.

Tends to watch the game rather than participate. Doesn’t find space to offer himself as an option to receive the ball. I hope they’re coaching him on this