Lundstram's transformation

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BusheyBlade

BusheyBlade

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Some of my colleagues who have had to put up with me raving about how awesome we are under Wilder for several years now have been asking why I never mentioned Lundstram before this season. I simply can not answer when they ask what he was like in previous seasons because he was just a "bits and pieces" player who would do a job and get the odd goal, but never amounted to any more or even looked like he would. I then realised that if the Player of the Year awards were given out now he'd be in serious contention he's been that good.

tl:dr - my colleagues think I'm a crap football fan because I used to think JL7 was shit.
 



JL never stood a chance initally because he wasn't Paul Coutts. But I always maintained that Coutts was no Lundstram! After Coutts' injury, Lunny was asked to play a particular role he just wasn't cut out for - the Coutts role. That's it in essence. He is now playing in a very natural role for him and is flourishing.
 
i don't know who this John Lundstram is but he is playing very well.
 
If we were still in the championship Lundstram would still be a bit part player at best because we'd still be playing with a man in behind the strikers - and we know full well he can't play the 'deep lying playmaker' role.
He is very much a box to box midfielder, and now he's playing as a box to box midfielder and he's flourishing - simple as that.

Crazy to be honest, the less than Championship proven bit part midfielder has turned into a pretty much Premier League proven box to box Premier League midfielder and undoubtedly the biggest winner of our promotion despite making about 5 starts in the campaign. Footy is fucking mental.
 
He always showed glimses of been a decent all round box to box midfielder in the championship.
But to transform into a solid premier league player like he has is amazing and i doubt theres anyone who could have seen it coming.

Fair play to lunny and to Wilder for playing him that first match against palace
 
FallowfieldBlade said:
He always showed glimses of been a decent all round box to box midfielder in the championship.
But to transform into a solid premier league player like he has is amazing and i doubt theres anyone who could have seen it coming.

Fair play to lunny and to Wilder for playing him that first match against palace
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Bournemouth
 
blade67 said:
A 23 and 24 year old playing their first reall football in the premier league don't immediately tear the league up It's a disgrace.
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And that’s where we need a dose of reality at times.

We all get passionate and sometimes let that cloud our opinions but you’ve summed it up perfectly there, 2 young lads plying their trade at a level they’ve not played at before in what is arguably the best league in the world
 
Digs blade said:
And that’s where we need a dose of reality at times.

We all get passionate and sometimes let that cloud our opinions but you’ve summed it up perfectly there, 2 young lads plying their trade at a level they’ve not played at before in what is arguably the best league in the world
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Robinson in particular looks like he just doesn't believe yet that he can do it at this level. Enda Stevens didn't hack it at villa 6 years ago (aged 23), but he clearly was good enough, he just hadn't worked out the secret then . Hopefully he can help the likes of Robinson , but the lad will have to be prepared to learn.
 



One thing that we all probably agree on is that we are willing these lads like McBurnie and Robinson to succeed. It will be a tough learning curve and may be a step too far for one or both of them but they will always have my support whenever they put on that red and white shirt
 
Digs blade said:
One thing that we all probably agree on is that we are willing these lads like McBurnie and Robinson to succeed. It will be a tough learning curve and may be a step too far for one or both of them but they will always have my support whenever they put on that red and white shirt
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I'm really not sure about the 'we all' quote above.

Some of our loyal superfans have already written them off. They know what they see and no wanky United manager will persuade them otherwise.

Loads of common sense about Endy/Lunny maturing late, but I can guarantee these examples will fall on stony ground.
 
I should coco said:
I'm really not sure about the 'we all' quote above.

Some of our loyal superfans have already written them off. They know what they see and no wanky United manager will persuade them otherwise.

Loads of common sense about Endy/Lunny maturing late, but I can guarantee these examples will fall on stony ground.
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You know what mate I get it sometimes because we all deep down want our team to succeed and sometimes that makes us say things that possibly we don’t really mean?

I really don’t get some of the slagging off of our players that I see on here. Yes have an opinion and enter into debate but some of the personal stuff makes me cringe
 
I always stuck up form him. Tried to explain he was a cautious, level headed midfield player who can pass with accuracy, slow the game down, keep possession and would be brought on as a holding payer, if we were 1-0 up or away at a tough team. I stuck up form him.
But I never, ever, in my wilderest dreams thought he would be the player he is this season.
 
The simple answer is that he's improved as a player. Didn't get many opportunities last season (7 apps?), but the season before we played a number of games, particularly after the Coutts injury. What I saw was a player who wnated too much time to make up his mind before executing the pass, too many touches and those few seconds make all the difference, particularly the way we set up to play. No doubt hard work, dedication, patience and coaching has now reaped rewards and he's now making those quick decisions and making the right passes.

I know it's an obvious thing to say, but I also like the fact he's a big unit and likes a tackle (just ask Mr Grealish). Gives us some height and strength in the midfield as although Fleck is a fighter, both he and Ollie are slight compared to Lunny.
 
true99blade said:
Far too many cast him aside as shit just because our form dipped when Coutts got his injury and he had to fulfil a role that nobody at the time could have. He’s always been pretty good, but think he’s more suited to this formation in the Premier League especially.
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Bit like Monty
 
I love seeing it, it’s another compliment to CW & AK in my eyes.

Personally think it’s a sign of the staff still working with the squad and not just the starting 11 every week in training. If the effort and attitudes there you are always in with a chance of breaking in to the team.

Technically on the ball Lundstram is good. Ironically you get more time on the ball in the prem due to the football being a much higher standard.

Can’t nock Lunny for taking his chance after playing little football for 2 years.
 
Bruce Wayne said:
Lunny is probably our best player this season so far, certainly in the top 3.
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Really? I can't think of any game where he's been the best player for United. Not saying he hasn't done well - he has. Not saying he hasn't come on leaps and bounds - he has. But I'm sorry, he's been nowhere near our best player in the games I've watched - and I've watched all of them. Enda Stevens, John Egan, Jack O' Connell, John Fleck, Ollie Norwood. There's 5 players who are well ahead of him imo.

I mean, let's give Lundstram the credit he deserves - absolutely. But let's not go over the top and exaggerate to that extent. The lad has done great, but he still isn't amongst the best of our players and hasn't been the most outstanding player in any game so far.
 
Went to watch England in Malta 1/9/17.
Met an Oxford fan pre match absolutely raving about JL. Said he’d be a star for us !!

What foresight he’d got !!
 
The quote from Alan Knill when we signed him ... "We've signed him to be a big player for the next three years and we believe we can develop him, so he's certainly one for the long-term."

Amazing back then that they saw him as a player they'd develop long term. They were spot on. Brilliant coaching and vision
 
Lets say being a midfielder has 10 attributes.

Coutts was 8 or 9 out of 10 at some things but 3 out of 10 at other attributes.
Norwood....the same...brilliant at some things midfield related...poor at others.
The key for Coutts and Norwood is......they have to be used properly.

However I instantly noticed that Lundstram....he was decent 5 out of 10 at everything but not outstanding at anything.
His style reminded me of Steven Gerard.....basically he was a shit Steven Gerard.

But I thought.....he’s still young.....must have a fantastic character to be made club captain at Oxford when he was so young.
I also appreciated his versatility and engine.....not as glamourous as a Coutts but a better allrounder with big potential.
Thought to myself if he can raise his attributes from being 5 out of 10 at everything to being 7 out of 10 at everything then he’ll be a big asset.
 
BusheyBlade said:
for several years now have been asking why I never mentioned Lundstram before this season. I simply can not answer when they ask what he was like in previous seasons because he was just a "bits and pieces"
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You've answered it right there.

He was a bit-part player. Originally he came in too early when Coutts was injured and was expected to "be Coutts". Then Norwood comes in to take Coutts position and he still didn't get a proper chance.

The thing is though people are actually now praising Lundstram for doing things that he was actually doing last season. He was played/brought on in a flat 3 midfield. This meant that the fluidity to our free flowing football subsided a bit (as Duffy or Goldy wouldn't be in a No. 10 role). Then what happens is all the people start slagging Lundstram off saying "it turned shit when HE came on"... That is actually the effect Wilder was going for. Get it a bit gritty, break the play up, see the game out.

The reason we're not free flowing this year is because we don't play a No.10, but this is exactly how we are having to play because we need to be tight against tougher opposition. Lundstram is doing exactly the same job, he's just on the pitch a lot more as opposed to the last 10-15 mins to see the game out.
 



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