Louis Page signs Pro Deal

[honeybradger]

10 minutes ago, jv1 said:

Best we have seen of him last night by an absolute country mile - still gave it away loads of times but he showed some very very good stuff as well - surely you bring in one experienced midfielder that can play and have 2 of him, sammy and page rotating across all the games - with skipp as a horrible 4th choice if we can’t shift him 

 

showed enough last night to be on the team sheet for next few games to see if he replicate that form - Russel would have absolutely loved his performance 

An experienced midfielder sounds good on paper but it will be someone like Smallbone clogging up the minutes that Page should be getting.

 

Page has barely gotten game time as it is, we should keep the midfield options as Page, Braybrooke and Skipp on the bench.

[jv1]

3 minutes ago, honeybradger said:

An experienced midfielder sounds good on paper but it will be someone like Smallbone clogging up the minutes that Page should be getting.

 

Page has barely gotten game time as it is, we should keep the midfield options as Page, Braybrooke and Skipp on the bench.

Page and braybrooke cannot start 40 odd games - you have to have 4 cms in a squad for a whole season 

[BKLFox]

He probably hasn’t played him due to the noise around him + how it has maybe affected him personally?

Playing him last night could have been because he or the noise has settled down or a last shop window show to Man U to put up or shut up.

If RM is bigging him up i’m sure he’ll be using him and if that’s in place of Skipp whilst he’s out then it’s down to Page to make sure he stays in the starting 11

 

[Ric Flair]

Page was exceptional last night but I think we have a problem with a Braybrooke/Page/Chaplin or one of the other 10s as a midfield 3.

 

Braybrooke is class in his own right but we simply have to get some physicality in to the spine of this team or we are toast.

 

We hated it but one of the reasons we werw so dominant under Enzo was having Ndidi in that 8 role and the 6 being a less physical force but a controller of the ball. 

 

It's a real conundrum long term but given our options right now it's got to be the academy boys and see if we can get a more aggressive midfielder in to compliment them.

 

Given we've only just signed Cullen, Reid simply has to be cut from this squad.

[ALC Fox]

His first touch on the turn was superb. It consistently bought him that extra yard and put us on the offensive.

 

His passing, especially first-time passes, were often excellent. That through-ball to McFarlane in the first half was a prime example of his awareness and ability.

 

He also showed presence and strength in the centre of midfield that belied his tender years.

 

This kid is going far. I hope he stays because he'll be a difference maker for us this season.

Edited 26 August by ALC Fox

[honeybradger]

8 minutes ago, jv1 said:

Page and braybrooke cannot start 40 odd games - you have to have 4 cms in a squad for a whole season 

They can and should. Braybrooke started 40 last season, Page could do so this season.

 

Adding another central midfielder to Page, Braybrooke and Skipp just bloats the squad which is part of the reason we are in this mess. Too many signings for the sake of making a signing.

 

No one else in league 1 will have 4 starting quality CMs.

Edited 26 August by honeybradger

[dmayne7]

23 minutes ago, jv1 said:

Best we have seen of him last night by an absolute country mile - still gave it away loads of times but he showed some very very good stuff as well - surely you bring in one experienced midfielder that can play and have 2 of him, sammy and page rotating across all the games - with skipp as a horrible 4th choice if we can’t shift him 

 

showed enough last night to be on the team sheet for next few games to see if he replicate that form - Russel would have absolutely loved his performance 

Definitely not the best we've seen of him, for the reason you've stated. Had better games last season but was still pretty good last night. He's got all the tools to play any role in midfield so he's definitely got to be starting with Braybrooke. As you say ideally we get a physical presence in midfield who can come into the team, but I don't particularly worry about Page in that regard (unlike we he started last season where he was way too weak).

 

And sadly I think that silly mistake for the 3rd goal could be the excuse for the manager to sack him off. Though it looks like he'll have no other choices in that position

[kenny]

2 minutes ago, Ric Flair said:

Page was exceptional last night but I think we have a problem with a Braybrooke/Page/Chaplin or one of the other 10s as a midfield 3.

 

Braybrooke is class in his own right but we simply have to get some physicality in to the spine of this team or we are toast.

 

We hated it but one of the reasons we werw so dominant under Enzo was having Ndidi in that 8 role and the 6 being a less physical force but a controller of the ball. 

 

It's a real conundrum long term but given our options right now it's got to be the academy boys and see if we can get a more aggressive midfielder in to compliment them.

 

Given we've only just signed Cullen, Reid simply has to be cut from this squad.

There has been a load of chat about Braybrooke not being physical enough for the DM role but our DM barely does any defensive work anyway. If our plan is to control the ball and hope our defence doesn't cock up then we would be better with a ball-playing one than a ball-winning one.

 

At this point those 3 have to start in midfield for me.

[Ric Flair]

5 minutes ago, kenny said:

There has been a load of chat about Braybrooke not being physical enough for the DM role but our DM barely does any defensive work anyway. If our plan is to control the ball and hope our defence doesn't cock up then we would be better with a ball-playing one than a ball-winning one.

 

At this point those 3 have to start in midfield for me.

Braybrooke should be the 6 and i'd thrn look to see a physical 8 in to play the box to box role and win the ball high up, that is how this type of football gets a lot of openings away from the danger areas themselves are vulnerable to.

 

In the short term let's see Sammy and Louis together though as they are the best options and hopefully they thrive. 

[Sol thewall Bamba]

6 minutes ago, kenny said:

There has been a load of chat about Braybrooke not being physical enough for the DM role but our DM barely does any defensive work anyway. If our plan is to control the ball and hope our defence doesn't cock up then we would be better with a ball-playing one than a ball-winning one.

 

At this point those 3 have to start in midfield for me.

Agree. We don't need a destroyer when we have the ball two thirds of the time. The ability to recover when we're getting hit on the break is a more important one imo.

[kenny]

Just now, Ric Flair said:

Braybrooke should be the 6 and i'd thrn look to see a physical 8 in to play the box to box role and win the ball high up, that is how this type of football gets a lot of openings away from the danger areas themselves are vulnerable to.

 

In the short term let's see Sammy and Louis together though as they are the best options and hopefully they thrive. 

They are better than anything else we have seen even if there are some short comings.

[coolhandfox]

16 minutes ago, honeybradger said:

An experienced midfielder sounds good on paper but it will be someone like Smallbone clogging up the minutes that Page should be getting.

 

Page has barely gotten game time as it is, we should keep the midfield options as Page, Braybrooke and Skipp on the bench.

Not sure 3 is enough, as we have just seen a 3 match ban mean we have Page and Braybrooke, if we had a injury at the same we are in trouble. 

 

Hopefully we bring in another young CM or give minutes to Neale in the JPT and get him up to speed.

 

[kingfox]

It’s a nice headache to have when both Louis Page and Sammy Braybrooke can give you options at both 6 & 8. What has impressed me the most about Page during pre season and last night is his ability to carry the ball, we saw numerous times last night his ability to take it on the turn, then carry us up the pitch 10-20 yards. While in pre season we saw glimpses of his ball-carrying ability which makes him perfect for a box-to-box 8. 
 

I agree with @Ric Flair and @coolhandfox that you now have a conundrum. Ideally for the perfect squad management, we need four options for central midfield, with Choudhury on the verge of leaving, he’ll need replacing. It’s clear as day we need to add a bit of physicality to the midfield, personally I think a blend of a ball controlling 6 with solid defensive ability is the way to go, whether that’s a more experienced head or a player in his early to mid 20’s, that’s up for debate.

[Ian Nacho]

My biggest complaint with him is that he's too one footed. Don't see many top midfielders who can't use both feet. 

[HankMarvin]

Makes you wonder why he couldn’t get a sniff in a team that won 2 from 20 in the league 

[StanSP]

A class above everyone else on the pitch today. 

[dmayne7]

3 minutes ago, StanSP said:

A class above everyone else on the pitch today. 

Braybrooke? But yes, he's built different. Keeps his head down and things go his way, he'll play at the very, very top

[coolhandfox]

7 minutes ago, HankMarvin said:

Makes you wonder why he couldn’t get a sniff in a team that won 2 from 20 in the league 

Crazy managers, should have played 30-40 games last season

 

[lcfc sheff]

Just found out his contract is till 2029, thank **** we’ve done one thing right 

[SafewayFox]

18 hours ago, Ian Nacho said:

My biggest complaint with him is that he's too one footed. Don't see many top midfielders who can't use both feet. 

KDH had that thrown at him (by me too) yet he’s currently playing at a very high level in the PL.

 

McCoist and Gabby were singing his praises the other morning on TS Breakfast.

 

Page glides across the pitch, I just want him to have the confidence of RM that he’s the main main and he’ll flourish.

[Chelmofox]

19 hours ago, HankMarvin said:

Makes you wonder why he couldn’t get a sniff in a team that won 2 from 20 in the league 

Ladies and Gentlemen, let me introduce you to Mr Experience. 

 

[Holly B]

Massive fan of Page but even I have to admit he is a totally different player this year. Not entirely sure playing 20 odd games last season with those charlatans masquerading as footballers would have done him any good ?

We’ll never know so let’s enjoy watching him develop here before the inevitable happens and a big club cough up the asking price.

[dmayne7]

Just now, Holly B said:

Massive fan of Page but even I have to admit he is a totally different player this year. Not entirely sure playing 20 odd games last season with those charlatans masquerading as footballers would have done him any good ?

We’ll never know so let’s enjoy watching him develop here before the inevitable happens and a big club cough up the asking price.

Na, he came back a different player after the under 17 World Cup (I think it was). Physically just totally different. Then he made a few appearances and looked a class above the other midfielders but obviously that wasn't right, so had to be booted out of the team for Winks because he was so committed to the cause... Not sure him being in the team would have kept us up, but it certainly would have improved our chances.

[Chelmofox]

1 minute ago, dmayne7 said:

Na, he came back a different player after the under 17 World Cup (I think it was). Physically just totally different. Then he made a few appearances and looked a class above the other midfielders but obviously that wasn't right, so had to be booted out of the team for Winks because he was so committed to the cause... Not sure him being in the team would have kept us up, but it certainly would have improved our chances.

And he had to lose his bench spot to Aribo, who was also so committed to the cause. 

[Vindaloo FOX]

Reminds me of Pogba.