McNeil is a centre midfielder

[Bin Ont Turf]

Not for me he isn't.

Perfect where he is.

[Royboyclaret]

Not for me he isn't.

Perfect where he is.

Absolutely, and watching the game back last night, was shocked to hear Jon Walters claim centre-mid was his real position. I remember his earliest games on the Turf a few seasons ago and they were all played wide left.

[ClaretAndJew]

I was surprised to hear that on the commentary actually. Doing a good job in his current position.

[SGr]

Not surprised it’s been confirmed though. Said quite recently his future is probably eventually central. But given how well he’s doing on the left that will be quality for his education, and he’s our best option for the position.

[Tricky Trevor]

Needs to do a bit more ball winning for CM but creativity wise he's good enough. Time is on his side. Still looks a little lightweight for me but that is fixable. We have a gem.

[jdrobbo]

There’s not a single other Burnley player I’d want running onto a loose ball around the edge of the box. His left peg almost always finds the target!

[Ashingtonclaret46]

There’s not a single other Burnley player I’d want running into a loose ball around the edge of the box. His left peg almost always finds the target!

I agree John, however, he needs to gain a bit of confidence to havea go with his right foot because he found himself in decent positions twice yesterday but decided to pass instead of shoot with his right foot.
I have to admit that most games I saw him play for the youth team he played on the left side of centre in a midfiled four and I said that he was a good prospect ----I never thought that he would be given his chance so soon ---great to see.

[RalphCoatesComb]

Still looks a little lightweight for me but that is fixable

Haffners?

[Bin Ont Turf]

There’s not a single other Burnley player I’d want running onto a loose ball around the edge of the box. His left peg almost always finds the target!

To be fair, there's a bit more to being a centre midfielder for Burnley at this level.

[Rileybobs]

He's an attacking player, in our system he would be completely wasted in central midfield. That's not to say that in time he might not transition into that position but more likely in a midfield 3.

[dsr]

Every transfer window since Sean Dyche arrived, we have been saying we want to sign a tricky winger with a good cross. And now we have found one, what do we want to do with him ...

[jdrobbo]

To be fair, there's a bit more to being a centre midfielder for Burnley at this level.

I didn’t say there wasn’t

[ayrshireclaret83]

Is he really a centre midfielder or are sky mixing him up with Aidan O’Neil again?

[Murger]

Is he really a centre midfielder or are sky mixing him up with Aidan O’Neil again?

It's Jon Walters who said he was a centre mid.

[MRG]

I didn’t think they were saying that he was historically a CM more that that’s where they could see him playing as he develops more

[MonkeyThief]

He’s a winger... can play centre mid and has done for youths/u23s, but his best and favoured position is on the wing. You don’t get the same space in the middle as out wide, bit more freedom out there. Also allows him to come inside and affect the game, like build up to first goal. So we leave him where he is, playing his natural game as a winger. JBG, Brady and Hendrick (whose been fantastic there BTW), can fight it out for place on the other wing.

England are short of decent naturaly left sided players. So Also give him the best chance of getting some international recognition. Especially if keeps developing like he has.

[claretspice]

It was Jon Walters who said he was naturally a central midfielder, and he said it in a way which suggested it's not really a debate within the club.

He's doing an outstanding job for us out wide, but I reckon he'll end up playing more centrally. As I understand it, he's played both out left and centrally as he's come up through the age groups, but I think he'll increasingly settle in the centre. His crossing will always mean that the option of playing him out wide is attractive, but as we saw on Saturday before the first goal he's got the ability to find space and a pass in the most congested areas of the field.

[Quickenthetempo]

He can certainly pick a pass from the midfield area but for me he hasn't the defensive game or stamina yet.

I prefer him to get us off to a good start dragging us down the left and whipping early balls in.

[Bosscat]

He’s a winger... can play centre mid and has done for youths/u23s, but his best and favoured position is on the wing. You don’t get the same space in the middle as out wide, bit more freedom out there. Also allows him to come inside and affect the game, like build up to first goal. So we leave him where he is, playing his natural game as a winger. JBG, Brady and Hendrick (whose been fantastic there BTW), can fight it out for place on the other wing.

England are short of decent naturaly left sided players. So Also give him the best chance of getting some international recognition. Especially if keeps developing like he has.

He has stated his favourite ever player is/was Ryan Giggs and is modelling himself on him....

Could have a worse role model (on the pitch at least)

[claretspice]

He can certainly pick a pass from the midfield area but for me he hasn't the defensive game or stamina yet.

I prefer him to get us off to a good start dragging us down the left and whipping early balls in.

Funnily enough, I think he's more comfortable defensively in the centre. He's perfectly decent at holding his position and pressing opponents - you can tell he's been drilled in that from a young age. Where he looks vulnerable is when it comes to tracking an opponent down the line - he naturally seems to get sucked inside and his slightly powderpuff tackling can be exposed 1 v 1 (although I've noticed his technique in this area appears to have improved hugely in even the two months or so he's been in the team, so he clearly doesn't lack diligence).

His big contribution on Saturday came when he was basically in a central midfield position, and so did his big contribution at Brighton. For the time being, his crossing ability means it suits us to use him on the wing, but especially in games when we're on the back foot, I think he'll sometimes get a bit lost out on the flank because he doesn't have the out and out pace to lead a counter-attack and get into a crossing position.

But it's a great debate to be having - he's a huge talent wherever he ends up playing.

[agreenwood]

Whatever he is, he’s probably the brightest prospect we’ve had in the last 30 years, arguably with the exception of Rodriguez.

It’s a surprise that he hasn’t been linked with a move away yet. Im sure the rumours are imminent.

[Quickenthetempo]

Funnily enough, I think he's more comfortable defensively in the centre. He's perfectly decent at holding his position and pressing opponents - you can tell he's been drilled in that from a young age. Where he looks vulnerable is when it comes to tracking an opponent down the line - he naturally seems to get sucked inside and his slightly powderpuff tackling can be exposed 1 v 1 (although I've noticed his technique in this area appears to have improved hugely in even the two months or so he's been in the team, so he clearly doesn't lack diligence).

His big contribution on Saturday came when he was basically in a central midfield position, and so did his big contribution at Brighton. For the time being, his crossing ability means it suits us to use him on the wing, but especially in games when we're on the back foot, I think he'll sometimes get a bit lost out on the flank because he doesn't have the out and out pace to lead a counter-attack and get into a crossing position.

But it's a great debate to be having - he's a huge talent wherever he ends up playing.

On the defensive issue I was more thinking how easy full backs have turned and knocked it past him in dangerous positions for themselves. Antonio seemed to do it a few times.

I'm not seeing a pace issue although he looks better running with the ball. I was thinking we need Wood or Barnes to gamble early on every cross as he gets them in so early. One flashed right across the box on Saturday with nobody near it.

Fantastic talent and hopefully will become Burnley's greatest player of modern time.

[Blackrod]

I can see where they are coming from but in our team set up and for now he is best where he is and rightly starts.

[Goobs]

Fantastic talent and hopefully will become Burnley's greatest player of modern time.

If we're hoping then let's hope he becomes our greatest player of ALL time.

[ClaretLoup]

I was thinking we need Wood or Barnes to gamble early on every cross as he gets them in so early. One flashed right across the box on Saturday with nobody near it.

I remember that one. Wood could see the number five on the Spurs player's back but then ran towards the front post! If he had slipped behind him it would have been a tap in. I like Wood but he is no Andy Payton/Ingsy.

McNeil put another amazing cross in when near the corner flag, the swirling loopy one that dropped right under the cross bar when Wood barged into Lloris. Wood should have stood off a bit as Lloris was never going to catch rather than try and head it.

Hopefully they will begin to read him a bit better or find a forward that can.

[Tricky Trevor]

One thing this thread has raised is we certainly don’t use chalk on heels wingers.
Dwight was central leading to our first goal and JBG was for our second. Over the last couple of years JBG & Brady have popped up in there to our advantage, Bradys goal at Bournemouth being a perfect example.

[Quickenthetempo]

If we're hoping then let's hope he becomes our greatest player of ALL time.

You will never win that argument though, so I only go off players I have seen.

[ClaretTony]

I thought I'd posted on this thread last night but the same topic was being discussed on the Walters thread which is where I posted it, so I'll repeat below my thoughts on McNeil and his best position.





Always played on the left wing in the youth team but last season Michael Duff tended to play him in an advanced midfield role similar to how Hendrick played in the first team. Jon Walters will have played alongside him when he’s been playing in that position.

Earlier this season Steve Stone used him as a holding midfield player and he was the best player on the pitch. We sat there watching him that night and agreed that he needed to be moved up permanently to the first team squad.

Those who have worked with him and played alongside him will know which is his best position but what I know is that he’s a very good footballer in the making.

[Woonderbah]

If it ain't broke, don't break it

[Quickenthetempo]

It's good that they have played him in different roles to learn more about the game.

With McNeil and JBG we have two players comfortable all across the pitch and want the ball as much as possible. It's great to see.

[Colburn_Claret]

I know this is picky, because I think he's a great player, but he was very slow reaction time on Saturday.
He's very quick when he has the ball, but on more than one occasion there were balls that broke loose from a challenge and the Spurs player was on it on the B of Bang, Dwight was after it on the G. Small points that make the difference in centre mid. I'd prefer to see him stay out wide. He would also need to fill out a bit for the rigours of centre mid.

Still a cracking player

[Greeny]

All good teams have a natural balance. Sean has finally found that with McNeil (and Heaton taking control at the back) A left footer, playing on the left and getting good early crosses in (amongst his other attributes to the team). He has been a massive factor in our upturn in form. Long may it continue. Hopefully we don't see Lennon getting back in again when fit as when he moved to the left hand side, we might as well have put a traffic cone in his place.

[Quickenthetempo]

I know this is picky, because I think he's a great player, but he was very slow reaction time on Saturday.
He's very quick when he has the ball, but on more than one occasion there were balls that broke loose from a challenge and the Spurs player was on it on the B of Bang, Dwight was after it on the G. Small points that make the difference in centre mid. I'd prefer to see him stay out wide. He would also need to fill out a bit for the rigours of centre mid.

Still a cracking player

Who would of thought Spurs had a lot faster athletes than Burnley?

[Vegas Claret]

don't think i've ever been so excited by a young player getting his chance with us as I am with McNeil

[Colburn_Claret]

Who would of thought Spurs had a lot faster athletes than Burnley?

I'm not on about his speed, just his speed of reaction, there's a difference. Yes, they would be faster, but it's something he needs to work on. Quick reactions are important in many positions, but I think they are more essential in centre mid, than out on the wing.

[bfcmik]

I know this is picky, because I think he's a great player, but he was very slow reaction time on Saturday.
He's very quick when he has the ball, but on more than one occasion there were balls that broke loose from a challenge and the Spurs player was on it on the B of Bang, Dwight was after it on the G. Small points that make the difference in centre mid. I'd prefer to see him stay out wide. He would also need to fill out a bit for the rigours of centre mid.

Still a cracking player

Often that reaction time is down to just where your body's momentum is taking you at the particular instant. If you, for example, need to go to the left you need to already have mass able to be vectored that way or have your right foot ready to plant in order for your leg muscles to adjust your direction of movement.

[Bin Ont Turf]

I'm not on about his speed, just his speed of reaction, there's a difference. Yes, they would be faster, but it's something he needs to work on. Quick reactions are important in many positions, but I think they are more essential in centre mid, than out on the wing.

He needs to just carry on what he has been doing, and I'm sure Dyche will be telling him that.

I said on another thread that he plays like he's in slow motion, it's just the way he is, don't want that changing.

He's 19 years old, plenty of time to get the ugly stuff right.