The Lundstram Myth...

[I should coco]

I kept looking for his post and getting clogged up by the crap.

Still looking for it?

WUM - don't feed him any more.

 

[Toronto Blade]

Lundstram has definitely been off his game last few games.
Where did the comments go from the beginning of the season. At that time he was being touted as a possible call up for the England squad.He did put that nice pass to Baldock for his goal, just a few games off form like all players have.

 

[IdLiketoRogerMoore]

It does help if you ignore the comments that have disagreed with you on your reasoning though.

As i said in my comment, the reasons you've given for why you think Lundstram is our 'clear weakest link' could be attributed to nearly everyone of our players at some point this season. One of your comments was about him regularly giving the ball away and yet he has a higher pass completion percentage than both Fleck and Norwood. In he has the highest pass completion percentage out of all of our regular starters.

Mate, don't let facts get in the way of someone on the internet trying to stir up attention for their own ego...

Like wrestling with a pig...

 

[fuerstenberger]

Statistics are all well and good. Lundstram is now being seen by opposition managers as a danger man. Watch how in recent games he has less time on the ball due to the opposition having players on him immediately. Watch carefully as, in the last few games, he has had someone running with him when he does one of his lung busting runs. He is not our weak link, it's because he is one of our stronger links, that it might appear so. He will learn to deal with the attention as the season wears on.
Somebody on here said that Duffy was technically better than Norwood. I'm sorry, as good as Duffy was for us, he is not in the same league as Norwood technically. I do have questions about Norwood's athleticism though.

 

[Houston_Blade]

I don't mind if you disagree with me but don't disagree and tell me you can't be arsed to look into why I might think that because I've tried to give you reasons for it if you choose not to investigate them or completely ignore then I'm not going to respect your disagreement really.

My eyes tell me he's a good player.

My knowledge of how Wilder has sought to build a close knit squad tells me that replacing every player that is perceived by the odd fan as a 'weak link' would undermine the dynamic of said squad.

I don't need stats to prove it really, by having a very quick look on infogol I can see that he isn't as good as De Bruyne but has comparable stats to McGinn at Villa. McGinn seems a similar kind of player so I'm quite happy with that. De Bruyne is world class so I'm not to concerned about that.

To your points now I've got 10 mins:

I'd need to see proof that he kicks the ball out, however his pass completion rate is 84%. This is better than say Jordan Henderson at 83% for a comparable number of passes.

The passes to Enda, I remember one yesterday in the first half where he played one with his left foot and spooned it in the air. How many of these has he actually done? Would it be better to make and complete a 5 yard pass or try and fail to complete a cross field pass that might open the game up?

Is it better to pass the ball backwards and retain possession (see the 84% completion rate as better than De Bruyne's 83%) or forwards and lose possession? Willian, Robertson, Chilwell and B Silva all pass the ball backwards with as much frequency as Lundstram, do they need to be replaced in their respective teams?

He got pushed off the ball by Aarons once yesterday, how many other examples do you have?

Pressing full backs is obviously something he's instructed to do, against most teams this season he's done it with extremely good effectiveness. The 3 games that stand out are Spurs (against Davies), Man Utd (against that young lad) and West Ham (Creswell) where he put a lot of pressure on the full backs.

 

[Bugboyblade]

He's a average player playing out of his skin, who hit the ground running at the start of the season. He has his limitations as all our players do. He fits for me into the same bracket as Didsy they are a integral part of the team but there game lacks. Didsy needs to score as simple as. Lunny in my opinion runs around like a headless chicken at times. I may be barking up the wrong tree but I think a visit to a sports psychologist would do em both good.

 

[Sean Thornton]

Ben or Beans?

 

[PittsburghBlade]

My eyes tell me he's a good player.

My knowledge of how Wilder has sought to build a close knit squad tells me that replacing every player that is perceived by the odd fan as a 'weak link' would undermine the dynamic of said squad.

I don't need stats to prove it really, by having a very quick look on infogol I can see that he isn't as good as De Bruyne but has comparable stats to McGinn at Villa. McGinn seems a similar kind of player so I'm quite happy with that. De Bruyne is world class so I'm not to concerned about that.

To your points now I've got 10 mins:

I'd need to see proof that he kicks the ball out, however his pass completion rate is 84%. This is better than say Jordan Henderson at 83% for a comparable number of passes.

The passes to Enda, I remember one yesterday in the first half where he played one with his left foot and spooned it in the air. How many of these has he actually done? Would it be better to make and complete a 5 yard pass or try and fail to complete a cross field pass that might open the game up?

Is it better to pass the ball backwards and retain possession (see the 84% completion rate as better than De Bruyne's 83%) or forwards and lose possession? Willian, Robertson, Chilwell and B Silva all pass the ball backwards with as much frequency as Lundstram, do they need to be replaced in their respective teams?

He got pushed off the ball by Aarons once yesterday, how many other examples do you have?

Pressing full backs is obviously something he's instructed to do, against most teams this season he's done it with extremely good effectiveness. The 3 games that stand out are Spurs (against Davies), Man Utd (against that young lad) and West Ham (Creswell) where he put a lot of pressure on the full backs.

Thanks for the educated and thoughtful response mate that's what I was looking for not just people telling me I'm an idiot because I don't agree with them, football is a game of opinions and people seem to forget that.

The passes he's making to stevens seem to be increasing in regularity and whilst a long cross field ball can be effective he's playing it and putting Stevens under direct pressure where he has to either head it straight away or forced to pull some skill off to get out of it. He did 2 against newcastle along with a switch that went wildly out of play. I'd rather a player kept the ball than risk losing it as often its not really been to open the game up he's doing it under no pressure and its forced in my opinion.

I know he's being told to press the full backs but i know for a fact he's not been encouraged to do so when our shape isn't in a position to allow the defensive unit to push up behind him. You're told to hold your shape if the pieces behind you aren't in a position to follow you up. 1 man pressing on his own is destructive to himself and not in aid of the team as he is easily played around. This happened twice yesterday.

 

[guancheblade]

Yes the scapegoat is back !!

To be honest, I agree in part about Lundstram. I fear that his form was a bit of a 'purple patch'. He improved in the 2nd half yesterday (as they all did) but against Wolves and Newcastle I thought he was poor for the most part.
Wolves in particular he could've passed the ball through to the strikers on a couple of occasions but held it just a little too long and got intercepted. But all players have off days.

All that said, he's certainly been a very big player for us so far this year.

I would however like to see a number 10 return in certain games - Villa & Watford at home are two where I feel we could do this. Put McGoldrick or Freeman in the 10 with McGoldrick/McBurnie upfront with Mousset.
I feel we have adapted into the division enough now to play with a little less fear.

But then if we go to Man City, Liverpool and Arsenal without Lundstram in the middle and we're asking for trouble.

Newcastle game we were crying out for a Number 10

 

[dazzlingblade]

Exactly the type of response I was hoping to avoid, I've not once said he's rubbish or he has to go but we don't have a replacement for him (something Wilder prides himself on having direct competition to push players) and he's making poor mistakes but now because its fashionable to say how good he is people aren't choosing to see it.

It's because he tries things that others don't, everyone needs a player like that, it's your opinion but for me he is in our top 5 performers so far

 

[Stanthemanfan]

I don't hate him because i criticize him thats completely stupid, I have credited him with massive improvement and said he deserves his place in the team.

I could give my best every match for united and so could everyone else doesn't mean we can't be replaced by better.

The lundstram myth
Is still clearly our weakest link
Oh yea, you love him don't you?

 

[metalblade]

Come on people who is the SCAPEGOAT make your minds up Lundstram, McBurnie or Robinson? FFS why do some of our fans always have to pull the players to bits it really is getting tedious now it's not like any of the current squad are the standard of Dean Hammond or Conor Sammon. FFS give it a rest.

 

[Tezza1889]

This makes disappointing reading, the whole team has surpassed expectations with lunny being a top performer helping the team find their feet in the early games this season.

His performances were key to building confidence within the squad as he came from the reserves and hit the ground running, you need to do your homework on how a “team” works, you want a squad full of individuals ? It’s six miles accross the city and they’re welcome to you.

 

[Houston_Blade]

Thanks for the educated and thoughtful response mate that's what I was looking for not just people telling me I'm an idiot because I don't agree with them, football is a game of opinions and people seem to forget that.

The passes he's making to stevens seem to be increasing in regularity and whilst a long cross field ball can be effective he's playing it and putting Stevens under direct pressure where he has to either head it straight away or forced to pull some skill off to get out of it. He did 2 against newcastle along with a switch that went wildly out of play. I'd rather a player kept the ball than risk losing it as often its not really been to open the game up he's doing it under no pressure and its forced in my opinion.

I know he's being told to press the full backs but i know for a fact he's not been encouraged to do so when our shape isn't in a position to allow the defensive unit to push up behind him. You're told to hold your shape if the pieces behind you aren't in a position to follow you up. 1 man pressing on his own is destructive to himself and not in aid of the team as he is easily played around. This happened twice yesterday.

No problem, I honestly thought I’d put my point across in the first response I wrote without being inflammatory or negative about your post. My main point was that it was hypercritical of a very good Blades team (irrespective of league position).

I did actually say a couple of times at the game yesterday that the rest of the team hadn’t pushed up with JL and it left an easy ball into their midfield, however I think once he’s decided to go he either goes or risks getting completely missed out.

To me it’s down to those behind him to get tight to the opposition as well and ensure that the easy ball inside isn’t on. Didn’t happen first half yesterday and on at least one occasion second half.

The balls to Stevens, we’ve gone from having the likes of Doyle, Hammond, Scougall etc who needed to play the ball in the smallest distances physically possible, to having 3 midfielders who aren’t scared to try and be a bit ‘Hollywood’ when they need to. I don’t like to see us give the ball away but Wilder always says that he won’t bollock players for trying the hard things in the right areas.

 

[bonnet de douche]

To date its between Lunny, Egan and McG for best player so far this season.

Really .!! ..

Think Stevens and Baldock have been the shining lights ...with the demands on our system these 2 have been fkin brilliant in my humble opinion ..and are the two standout contenders for POS ...

 

[Sheff de party]

Exactly the type of response I was hoping to avoid, I've not once said he's rubbish or he has to go but we don't have a replacement for him (something Wilder prides himself on having direct competition to push players) and he's making poor mistakes but now because its fashionable to say how good he is people aren't choosing to see it.

You literally said we need competition/replacement.

You’ll get pelters and rightly so because you come across as saying anyone who disagrees with you can’t see what you see, therefore they’re wrong.

The only point you’re making is if we put someone better in there we’d be better. You could say that about any of our players. Lunny has been very good this season, better than Norwood despite the latter being a better footballer.

So, disagree? Yes I do

 

[vas borbokis]

I absolutely disagree with the OP.
Not going to bother justifying it with stats.
To my eyes Lunny has been fantastic for us this season. He is also a great age to develop further.
For me he deserves a new improved contract for me. If we drag our heels on this any longer he will be poached from us and we will regret it.
Yes more competition for his position would be good but it would need a very, very good player to displace him from the team at the moment!
That is all!

 

[SwissBlade]

Really .!! ..

Think Stevens and Baldock have been the shining lights ...with the demands on our system these 2 have been fkin brilliant in my humble opinion ..and are the two standout contenders for POS ...

It’s a tough one. As I replied to others, the list could be much longer.
Those are my top three as I think they have made us tick and have been the spine of our success which has allowed the wingbacks and Norwood do their thing.

 

[Punk Blade]

Less than a month ago...

The quiet man of the team

Really interesting article about John Lundstram on the Sky Sports app today which details how hard he worked over the summer to get himself into a position to take his chance this season to the extent of taking a Dubai based personal trainer to get him in shape BEFORE pre season. The most...

www.s24su.com

 

[Akinbiyi]

Lundstram has definitely been off his game last few games.
Where did the comments go from the beginning of the season. At that time he was being touted as a possible call up for the England squad.He did put that nice pass to Baldock for his goal, just a few games off form like all players have.

He was brilliant yesterday.

 

[blade67]

Firstly I'll say he has massively improved and his conditioning over the summer was nothing short of a remarkable turnaround and has himself turned into a much better player.

Lundstram is still our clear weakest link at the minute and we have to be looking for direct competition/replacement for the January transfer window. Don't believe me? Who else is it? Because its not Deano, Enda, Baldock, Bash, Egan, O'Connell, Norwood (maybe lately), Fleck, Didzy or Mouss.

We are a very good team and play a very efficient and creative system and style of play in which he has found a home in the right of a three as a mobile and efficient midfielder.

Ok, I've got my tin hat on..BUT..

- He kicks the ball out of play under NO pressure at least 3-5 times a game...disagree? Watch every single game back from this year and count. Just outside the 18 yard box yesterday from a throw-in for a goal kick comes to mind. It's unnecessary and wasteful and when we play regular prem games we have to stop doing this our defence isn't always going to bail us out.

- He switches the ball to Enda under no pressure at least twice a game who has to either head it forward or get out of trouble with some remarkable touch or turn...disagree? Watch every single game back he literally does it every single game. Twice yesterday and once not even to Enda.

- He passes "problems" on - where he might be under pressure or even under no pressure and plays a bad ball to a teammate who is forced to either give it away or just clear the ball...disagree? His pass to George Baldock yesterday what left him facing his own goal and managed to clear it despite being outnumbered.

- His passing isn't incisive or postive at the minute and is going increasingly backward.

- For his physical size and presence he doesn't win that many aerial duels in either box or in the middle of the pitch..disagree? He got pushed off the ball by Max Aarons yesterday who took a header off him.

He's the only player we don't have direct competition for and Besic, Morrison, Freeman aren't it so I'm not having that either. I'm not saying he's terrible, or hasn't improved massively but put somebody in there better and watch us really flourish. He's looked decent in a very very good team.

Yesterday he pressed the full back without discipline of what was around him and allowed himself to get taken out of the game 2/3 times easily and its not ALWAYS GOOD to press without discipline it can leave us vulnerable and exposed.

I'd go for Connor Hourihane when Villa go down, pricey but if we can stay up we can afford him, gets around the pitch well and is a genuine goal threat who might push Lundstram to greater heights or just onto the bench..would give us a similar and better goal threat and would join our large Irish contingent who are currently recruiting players for us at every camp. I expect Randolph to join us soon too.

I disagree with you. I think he's been a real threat going forward and has won many physical battles defensively and offensively.

Wilder needs to bring in 2 or 3 players to make us stronger as squad. I suspect lunny is no more at risk than a few others

 

[alcoblade]

Not to shout down debate, but this seems a strange thing to argue.

I really think he's been one of our best players this season. Not only is he our top-scoring midfielder and second top-scoring player overall, he's had more shots than any player bar McGoldrick from getting into the box at the right time (15 out of 24 shots inside the box so it's not like he's shooting from anywhere). I know some people hate the advanced stats but he has the highest expected goals of any player on our team bar McGoldrick, to go with the highest expected assists



Out of 50 passes attempted yesterday, 23 were forward, 17 were in attacking third (only Fleck had more), he created 2 chances (joint most with McGoldrick) including the 1 "big chance" of the game that McGoldrick put over - which came off a 60-yard sprint with the ball and then a perfect pass.

Honestly if that's our weak link then it's no wonder we're 9th in the table.

That’s that nailed then.

 

[ShockingBadBuy]

None of our players are very good actually, but put all 11 (+) together and they are awesome.

Many of our players would be bricking it if they were sold. Put them at another club without our strong ethics running from top to bottom and they'd soon get found out.

They all need each other. We are a totally UNITED unit.

Strong waft of rotting tuna and under-cured pork. Give a wide berth, fellow Blades.

 

[SouthEssexBlade]

Bold and brassy statement. Not on the form of said player this season. But a massive dollop of ill-informed and prejudicial assumption.
Most improved player in the club, and you have decided that is it. Reached the plateau and is not going to improve any more, so get rid. Player dismissed, coaching team dismissed, Wilder and Knill dismissed. Arrogance personified.

 

[essexblade73]

What have I just read? Do some people make shit up to get attention?

 

[Iceybabey]

Why does everyone who's left footed HAVE to play on the left. A talented player can play anywhere and two left footed midfielders with a right are no different to two right footed midfielders and a left.

The gaffer has numerous times stated he prefers balance. The only time you'll see a right footer on the left or vice versa is if he puts the second team out. We lost Brooks so he brought Dowell in and alluded to the fact he wanted another left footer in, so I would say anyone to challenge/replace Lunny would very likely be right footed. For me it's obvious if you play down the middle in our team then it doesn't matter what foot you are but if you play on a particular side it's obvious and has been stated that the gaffer prefers right footers on the right and left footers on the left.

 

[Akinbiyi]

None of our players are very good actually, but put all 11 (+) together and they are awesome.

Many of our players would be bricking it if they were sold. Put them at another club without our strong ethics running from top to bottom and they'd soon get found out.

They all need each other. We are a totally UNITED unit.

Only just stopped laughing at this. I didn't manage to get a wink of sleep last night. So thanks for that, I'm fucking knackered.

 

[blade67]

The OP is a classic example of our observations as defined by the Israeli psychologists who were behind the Moneyball etc factual assessment of people. Human beings form an opinion very quickly and then only look for evidence to support that opinion and tend to ignore evidence that contradicts their ideas. Sports scouts are particularly guilty of this. I have experienced this myself - as early on I felt that Duffy lost the ball too often, and that became all that I saw during a game. Eventually, I went through recordings of 2 whole matches and wrote down each time that he did something well. I was amazed. This is why all of the stats gathering began, initially with baseball but now crucial in our game. The stuff that Beans quotes and Blades Analytic does is the only truly objective view of a player’s contribution. Everybody’s individual view is always subjective and biased. Unfortunately, we’re only human!!

Really good post because I think this is really true, we all do it and not just around football. It's a difficult thing to break.

 

[ChipButtyBlade]

Lundstram by his own standards this season,has been slightly off the top of his game in the last two games,its because he had reached 4 bookings and he did not want to miss the chance to kick Grealish up in the air again this Saturday.

 

[Cerberus Blade]

Much prefer Lundstram to Norwood, but both doing a job in the premiership where they are playing for the first time in their careers, show that they both have ability it is now all about doing it on a consistent basis.

Ive got a lot of respect for Lundstram - I think the lad’s done brilliant this season, but prefer him to Norwood? No. Nowhere near the influence Norwood has on the team. Norwood makes us tick.