Have just been diligently watching Montenegro v Hungary - as you do - and I can report to all that Callum Styles would by a country mile be our best footballer, were he by some glorious turn of events blessed with playing for us next season. He looks far more assured in midfield - where today he's been less than "holding" but not really "attacking" - and he's been organising everyone (working on the principle that football is a universal language, or that Hungarians instinctively understand Lancastrian). He's just been subbed. So now I'll have to watch the jocks. Or choose to pull my own teeth out.
Yep, that's my issue. If he still wants to play midfield, he won't dislodge Luca for me. Perhaps Styles, Luca & Phillips, but Styles looked really lightweight further up in midfield when he's played there for us before. But I have full confidence Duff will sort him out!
Well when Styles played for us in midfield he was awful and I would not have played him anywhere other than defensive left. He did come to us as a midfielder though, and whilst it may be easier to look good against one of these foreign loose pressing international teams, he might at the very least have upped his value if we're selling him.
If Styles were to be back here next season, he’d certainly improve our squad. With regards getting in the side, he wouldn’t displace Luca or Cadden at LWB for me. So that just leaves Phillips and Kane’s positions. Would be incredibly harsh on Phillips after the goal involvements he has got for us, even though he does disappear during games. Kane does a lot of unnoticed work off the ball with his closing down and is decent on the ball too. The caveat to this is that I am 99% certain that Styles will be in the championship anyway.
Well apparently they have the odd one or two - e.g. at Atletico Madrid, Lazio, Celtic Hertha Berlin Which might mean that they are better players than those at Forest Green. Who knows?
There were plenty worse than him in what was a poor side in the last championship season and I thought he looked ok at the start of this season just gone. Millwall seem to rate him and want him. He’d walk into our team in my eyes, for Herbie Kane. If he leaves then we’ll play Kane on the left of the midfield three and we’ll be lucky to do so as at this level he is a good player. Styles is a class above though in my view. Herbie Kane looked awful for us in the championship, worse than styles ever did in midfield. I suspect he’ll want to be sold. I also suspect millwall won’t want to pay what he’s worth with two years on his contract and being a competent full international. We will have to see.
Well he will be in the league above next season. It makes no sense to suggest he wouldn't be in our first team if he stayed, one league down. There's no need to think that Connell and Styles couldn't play in the same team - of course they could. I'd leave it to Duff to pick the team and get the best out of everyone.
Watch blackpool away under schopp again he was worst player on park in center midfield may aswell come sat with me. After that he didn't play there much if at all that season I think that was the final straw. Played his best games for us under val at wing back.
Some of the criticism he gets on here is a bit harsh. He wasn't good in his last season for us, but not many players came out of that season, under Schopp/Poya with much respect. He's just finished a season in the league above us, for a team that just missed out on the play-offs. If he'd spent the season with us in League One, and under Duff, I've no doubt he'd have done well.
I don’t disagree with that, I was just thinking (typing) out loud to try and work out where he’d fit in. I’d probably have to go in front of Kane.
Far better suited to international football where you get more time on the ball. Awareness & positioning was his biggest issue playing in midfield in my opinion. Kept turning into trouble
I would agree with your memory. Could be very good on his day, also had a number of matches where he could be considered anonymous.
I don't know why I posted "country" mile as I have no idea how far that is. I'm dying to say that Styles' left foot would have found the gaping Wembley net when given THAT chance but you can't take anything Barnsley FC in life for granted. Connell has been far better for us than Styles in midfield, no argument.