JonJo Shelvey

[Shaggy]

Was Alonso quick?

Well exactly, like I said you don't need pace to be a good CM. But Xabi has an amazing football brain - reads the game well, sees a pass early etc. And his range of passing is obviously impeccable, so his lack of pace is negated. Shelvey isn't that good yet and I doubt he'll ever have a football brain/game intelligence to match Alonso, so my concern is his chronic lack of pace might hinder him a bit. In the few games he's started he's seemed to tire pretty quickly/badly, but obviously he can work on that.

[Fredo]

I thought he covered the ground well when he came on yesterday, he even marauded forward and dispossessed Rafael in his penalty area but completely ****ed his final pass.

[Shaggy]

I thought he covered the ground well when he came on yesterday, he even marauded forward and dispossessed Rafael in his penalty area but completely ****ed his final pass.

Yeah I meant to mention yesterday was the best he's looked physically.

[barnes10]

i think he's the new lucas/insua.

cracking young player who needs nurturing and game time to develop and build up his experience. he needs first team football alongside our top players.

yet im almost certain that there'll be an army of internet cretins will be slagging him off reletlessly for the first few years with us.

[Craig_H]

Insanely too early to make a judgement.

[wiw]

He looks to receive the ball and then wonders what to do with it. Any top player knows before they've trapped it. I don't think he'll make it personally, not with us anyway. Insanely early to judge him though, the above is just a first impression really

[saj]

I don't think he'll make it either. He's a decent passer. But his lack of pace I feel will prevent him from being the next Gerrard. Having said that, he did much better than Meireles when he came on.

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[redstaralex]

he looks half decent and most importantly, more than most of the players this season he's tried his best every game, no doubting there's room for improvement but I think this lad will turn out well

[Muddled]

I think he has something, but - as Shaggy has mentioned - he lacks pace. He has great technique and strikes the ball true, will be interesting to see how he develops and where his best position is. He bottled a few challenges yesterday, so I think his role will be more about providing the springboard to an attack.

Has potential, but waaaay to early to judge.

[Craig_H]

I don't think he'll make it either. He's a decent passer. But his lack of pace I feel will prevent him from being the next Gerrard. Having said that, he did much better than Meireles when he came on.

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As for the post - he can still make it without being the next SG

[BigChief]

Don't know why but I get the feeling that he's a bit disillusioned with his time at 'Pool so far. Maybe he's regretting having rejected elsewhere to come here. If that is the case lets hope its all change now that Dalglish and Steve Clarke are here.

[Exiled_red]

It's far too early to judge him, I think he's had some decent moments, but he's been playing in a team lacking confidence and not playing at their best.

[RedReet]

He can obviously play football - can pick out a pass and wotnot - but I worry about his dire lack of athleticism/pace. He's painfully slow. Not that a ball-playing CM needs pace, but his lack of pace is particularly chronic.

I think he looks a good player as I like a good ball playing midfielder and agree with Rich below that he should play to his strengths and model his game on the likes of Alonso.

I highlighted the bit above because I thought for that reason he was a poor sub to come on when we only had ten men. Ideally we needed someone to get up and down the pitch to try and compensate for the one man disadvantage, but to be fair to Kenny he didn't really have many other options without completely losing the shape of the team.

Shouldn't this thread be merged with the other one knocking around?



He should look to become a Huddlestone/Alonso type player.

He should also learn to use his height to his advantage. The size of the lad, he should be on the end of every corner, not sitting back.

[johnp]

Thought he did well enough yesterday, but what was he thinking with that long range free kick?

He was thinking he'd score Nice attitude for an 18 year old when at OT
I liked his cameo yesterday, especially chasing the ball into the corner and also urging everyone to play higher up the pitch. Guess they are small things, but I was impressed all the same.

[CJ]

Judging an 18 year old lad who has jumped up two divisions, and then had a couple of minutes playing in weakened teams for us under Hodgson?!

I think I'll pass

being an open david essex fan i am quite glad that you have passed