Jacob Mellis

I've got to say, i agree with you.

Mellis isn't in the game often enough for me. Yes, he sometimes has that bit of quality but we don't see it enough most of the time.

Doesn't put his foot in at the best of times and our play doesn't run through him.

You could argue about him playing on the right hand side but he never did it in his loan spell and wasn't great last season.

 

Mellis is our only real creative outlet. He's still a young player who relies on confidence and will fade if he isn't in the zone. Without him the midfield is very pedestrian. He was easily top of assists league last year and top scoring midfielder. Plats better with a more athletic player at the side of him.

 

Also as a creative player or link player it's quite difficult when the tactics are a big hoof from the back as the ball by passes you. When Scotland came on the other night we calmed down on the kick and rush as we were clearly aware of his mobility issues.

 

He's a class player, a game changer on his day, all he needs to improve is consistency to his game. One of our best players tbh. With Perkins just edging the best player in our squad award. My opinion of cause

 

Had him as 1st scorer on tuesday half an hour or so later was realising should have backed one who is actually able to last the full match which, i'm sorry to keep repeating, mellis can't, and it seems, possibly never will, be able to a la butterfield.

 

Mellis has played loads of full 90mins for us hasn't he?

 

Barnsley supporters, not all that.

 

think its debatable especially where midweek games are involved

 

I rate him highly

As he gets older, more experienced as both a player & a person, the level of consistency will come. Unfortunately, there's a number of fans who lack patience & tolerance with developing, skilful players, others still who simply don't like flair players. You only have to look at the attitude of some in recent years to the likes of Mellis, Butterfield, Hammill, Howard, McPhail & Gorre. It's not enough that they score goals, create chances for team mates, cause problems for the opposition because of their creativity. If they don't run about like a headless chicken for the entire game every game, don't put in thundering tackles, they are regarded as offering nothing to the team.

 

Re: I rate him highly

Too right. He had two players on him pretty much every minute on Tuesday. While that stifled him and the midfield, it is still two players out of the game to all intent.

If Jacob's qualities are lost on some supporters, they certainly aren't on the two opponents we've faced so far.

 

Nonsense. He has been very good for us.