Shelvey

[BleedingClaret]

Laurent was outstanding again today.

He was

Shelvey could have come on rather than Brownhill

[claretspice]

Can’t get my head around the Laurent knockers at all. He gives us physicality in midfield, something totally lacking when we try playing Cullen and Brownhill. Different levels k know but it reminds me of when Deary played back in the day - you didn’t realise how good he was until he wasn’t there. Laurent is the same. Some of our rancid performances this season have noticeably been when he hasn’t started. He’s a key man for me. I marked him as a 6 today but he was nearer a 7 than a 5.

I'd argue Brownhill has more in common with Deary than Laurent.

I don't think anyone is "knocking" Laurent at all. He's a good player and for what we paid, has been a very astute signing.

However, physicality is not everything. Neither of the two midfield units we routinely used two seasons ago (Cullen, Cork, Brownhill and Cullen, Brownhill, Gudmundsson) had an equivalent player to Laurent in it and they were the most successful midfield units seen at this level (the record of the second of those units, where Brownhill played deeper alongside Cullen, gives the lie to the idea Brownhill and Cullen somehow aren't compatible). With the likes of Hannibal, Shelvey (if fit - not sure he is currently), and even Flemming in that 10 role, alternatives in a midfield 3 to Laurent, we're not remotely short of physicality.

In any event the point yesterday is that by the hour mark it was quite obvious that Preston desperately wanted qn arm wrestle, and we desperately didn't. The onus was on us to move the ball quicker and commit more men to forward areas to avoid the arm wrestle. The complaint isn't that Laurent started, it's that he remained on the pitch when those dynamics meant it just wasn't a battle for which he was ideally deployed.

[DanH90]

It’s not a Shelvey vs Laurent argument. I like Laurent, and have posted on here previously about how important I think he is to this team. But it was clear that when Preston started to dig in and make it a scrap, we needed quality balls in behind to get Edwards running at their backline. Only Shelvey can do that.

[warksclaret]

The only player that can hit a killer ball for us is ER, and several times a game he creates our best great chance, usually for Anthony, with a ball over their full back. Imagine if Shelvey could get a half-I cant except Shelvey is not fit as he has been with us for about 6 weeks, and had been training with Newcastle prior to this

[boatshed bill]

Perhaps play Shelvey in a back 5 so that he could knock long passes all game?

[Murger]

Shelvey played about an hour at Southampton. To say he’s not fit is just BS.

[loganking222]

Parker is becoming dychesk in his refusal to try game changing substitutions

You're kidding right? Other than yesterday his subs have pretty much been bang on.

Who did he bring on who scored the winning goal against Southampton?

[boyyanno]

I agree with the overall sentiment that Shelvey could have played and made a difference but I actually think people are talking about Laurent because of who he is as opposed to within the context of the game.

For me the longer it went on yesterday the more it would have been Cullen to come off.

[CrosspoolClarets]

You're kidding right? Other than yesterday his subs have pretty much been bang on.

Who did he bring on who scored the winning goal against Southampton?

Southampton is different. It is a game where a draw and extra time was the worst outcome with a midweek game following.

The argument against Parker is that he chooses to stick not twist when the league game is drawing and our rivals are winning most weeks. I don’t doubt he would put attackers on if we went behind.

There is another issue too, if we sneak up by hook or by crook, or stay down, lose big players, and need to somehow upgrade others to compensate, will players like Shelvey want to stay if they aren’t being picked?

I like Parker, but the jury remains out for me, and not going for a win in a local derby doesn’t really endear me to him. He’d dispute he wasn’t, but we are becoming a laughong stock nationwide with boring Burnley becoming a common insult.

[Jakubs Tash]

Perhaps play Shelvey in a back 5 so that he could knock long passes all game?

Where is the logic in trying to put another square peg in a round hole? I mean, I wouldn’t put it past this manager but surely Shelvey would be more effective in midfield….

[loganking222]

Where is the logic in trying to put another square peg in a round hole? I mean, I wouldn’t put it past this manager but surely Shelvey would be more effective in midfield….

Pretty sure he was kidding.

[blatherwickstattoos]

Won’t be anywhere near fitness for parker yet. My gripe is, why not start with Edwards and others who actually effect the game than sub them when tired. We are too focused on not conceding over scoring and battering opponents
. Let’s be honest Preston are bang average. We shouldn’t be not scoring against teams like this. Got help us if we go up. Parker won’t last long if he doesn’t take the shackles off a bit

[Jakubs Tash]

Pretty sure he was kidding.

Fair enough. In all honesty, all the threads on this site are merging into one right now which means I didn’t read the whole thread.

[loganking222]

Won’t be anywhere near fitness for parker yet. My gripe is, why not start with Edwards

Edwards doesn't look close to match fit. You'll be one of the first to complain if we started with him and he comes off at half-time.

You'll be complaining like mad that Parker took off someone who was playing well without the understanding of why he was taken off.

[blatherwickstattoos]

Edwards doesn't look close to match fit. You'll be one of the first to complain if we started with him and he comes off at half-time.

You'll be complaining like mad that Parker took off someone who was playing well without the understanding of why he was taken off.

I wouldn’t at all. Edwards is clearly better than anything we have. Offers more in his last 3 sub appearances than what we started with.

Another super fan who complains about fans complaining.

[Row x]

I wouldn’t at all. Edwards is clearly better than anything we have. Offers more in his last 3 sub appearances than what we started with.

Another super fan who complains about fans complaining.

A superfan who joined here yesterday

[CrosspoolClarets]

Don’t think anybody is saying that Parker believes Edwards wouldn’t improve us. Quite the opposite, hence why we pulled out of the Whittaker deal. I’m sure he will play whatever minutes Parker feels he can manage.

The issue is why a nearly fully fit class player like Shelvey doesn’t come on at the same time to introduce more creativity to win the game, even if again it is only 20 minutes. Barnes too. Because unlike Sarmiento they are proven as difference makers in a chaotic game such as that.

No problem Brownhill coming on, but I’d have brought on Shelvey, Brownhill and Edwards then Barnes on for Flemming for the last 10

[loganking222]

A superfan who joined here yesterday

Doesn't matter who joins and when. I'll talk more sense than you if I signed up last year, last week or last hour.

[Row x]

Doesn't matter who joins and when. I'll talk more sense than you if I signed up last year, last week or last hour.

[loganking222]

[quote="Row x" post_id=2509813 time=1739724671 user_id=9130]:lol: :lol:[/quote]

I know I'm right, so laugh as much as you like.

[kwwden]

Why is he on the bench, then?

Because he isn't fit enough. You gain your fitness with minutes from the bench and it gradually increases.

[mickleoverclaret]

Because he isn't fit enough. You gain your fitness with minutes from the bench and it gradually increases.

The post I responded to suggested he wasn't coming off the bench because he wasn't fit enough to play any minutes.

[kwwden]

The post I responded to suggested he wasn't coming off the bench because he wasn't fit enough to play any minutes.

Then I apologise. But I think the initial reason why he's not starting is because he's not fit enough. And the reason why he didn't come on was tactical. I do agree with some comments though that we should go for it now.

[Elizabeth]

I don't expect Shelvey to feature much in our league games as much as we'd like to imagine his expansive passing improving our goalscoring. Maybe the cup game.

[boatshed bill]

Where is the logic in trying to put another square peg in a round hole? I mean, I wouldn’t put it past this manager but surely Shelvey would be more effective in midfield….

I knew I'd catch someone with that silly suggestion. Sorry, sometimes i can't help myself.

[EarbyClaret]

An added complication yesterday doubt SP wanted to bring Hannibal off as he was having a very effective game

Otherwise Shelvey for Laurent would have been the logical option - it had become attritional

Possibly more surprising was that Barnes didn't come on

[dsr]

You're kidding right? Other than yesterday his subs have pretty much been bang on.

Who did he bring on who scored the winning goal against Southampton?

We've played 12 games where it was 0-0 at 75 minutes, and have won 1 of them. His subs make no difference, by and large.

[ecc]

I must admit I wasn't best pleased when the rumours started about JJS being at TM (for various reasons).

But SP decides and so I'm up for giving him his chance.

Not seen him play for us before tonight.

In just over ten minutes it's clear why he's been signed. Playing more or less as a libero he merrily sprayed long pass after long pass, almost setting up a goal. In addition to that, he was pulling the strings of the midfield.

Only right to give credit where it's due.

[BurnleyFC]

Loved the Shelvey chant that’s been thought up.

First time I heard it tonight.

[Murger]

Nearly had a great assist to his name.

[123EasyasBFC]

There where so many fans saying signing Shelvey would be a waste and had lots of negative comments about him, I stand by that a fully sit Shelvey starts for every team in the league

[beddie]

He did okay but didn’t look fully fit to me. He will though be a very useful squad player as he improves his fitness.

[Buxtonclaret]

His great long balls apart, he's more than good enough for this league.

[Burnleyareback2]

He did okay but didn’t look fully fit to me. He will though be a very useful squad player as he improves his fitness.

I started to think back, has he ever looked fit? Isn’t this just how he plays wandering around the middle of the pitch?

[longsidetrumpet]

His great long balls apart, he's more than good enough for this league.

I’ve got long balls, but I’m not good enough for this league

[DCWat]

I’m sure that the announcer suggested that Brownhill scored with the first touch of his ball, tonight.

[GetIntoEm]

I’m sure that the announcer suggested that Brownhill scored with the first touch of his ball, tonight.

Was it not his first touch?

[NewClaret]

Laurent was outstanding again today.

Have to say, I see nothing in his game I’d call outstanding. He’s a grafter, industrious and adds some physicality to our midfield we would otherwise lack but his passing is awful (e.g first half - should’ve been a certain goal but awful cut back).

[DCWat]

Was it not his first touch?

It may well have been, but quote whether it was the first touch of his ball!?

[gtclaret]

I’ve got long balls, but I’m not good enough for this league

Show off

[Taffy on the wing]

I’ve got long balls, but I’m not good enough for this league

Getting longer by the year.

[CharlieinNewMexico]

I was blessed with the opportunity to watch a 90 minute replay of the game over here, and so I focused on Shelvey at the end. Really watched his movement and involvement. Goodness he’s miles off the pace fitness wise. But if he can spring that trap once or twice a game, it’s a risk worth taking. Also noticed he’s being told to take up the Cullen role. In possession The CBs split, he drops to create a 3rd, and then prompts from deep.

[Wembley09]

He looked so unfit today.
Looked tired early on in the 1st half! Really struggled with the pace of the game today.

I watched him at Southampton and he played really well that day, neat and tidy. But Southampton barely pressed us that day, and it was a nice slow pace for him to pull the strings.

Today in a feisty local rival game, he really struggled.

[BurnleyFC]

My God he was awful today.

I’d have scored him less than a 3 if that was possible. So disappointing.

[123EasyasBFC]

Having him next to brownhill in a double pivot was never going to work, if Cullen can’t cope in a double pivot next to brownhill then Shelvey was never going to

[GetIntoEm]

Can see why he hasn't been starting. Absolute toss. Waste of a wage

[dermotdermot]

He did indeed look absolutely useless.

[Silkyskills1]

One of so many players on show today that are not suited to this level of football. It's difficult when there is one player not up.to the required level but 4 or 5 is just too many.

[Alanstevensonsgloves]

He was a lumbering, shuffling excuse of a footballer today.

Had we played Gru from Despicable Me instead of Shelvey I would not have noticed the difference.

[Stonehouse]

There where so many fans saying signing Shelvey would be a waste and had lots of negative comments about him, I stand by that a fully sit Shelvey starts for every team in the league

Are you sure about the Easy after today’s performance?