Massimo Luongo is the best midfielder in the championship

[Shepherds Mush]

I've said all along that Luongo would be better further up the field.

IMO, he is better because of one major factor - Scowen.

[upperloft]

Bit embarrassing isn't it.

He is playing excellent at the minute, that trio of Scowen, Freeman and Loungo is working out very well. But 4 games in and he is the best midfielder in the league? Give it a rest.

When we are in the playoffs at the end of the season I might consider that.

[bushkangaroo]

This surprises me. Although a different type of midfielder to Aaron Mooy he is not in the same class, unless he has dramatically improved beyond all recognition in last few weeks. Mind you, often the sum of the parts is better than the individual, and credit to Ollie looks like he's helped with his signings in bringing the best out of Luongo. He's playing the best I've known at the moment, having watched him for years, and I just hope he continues, but a Premiership player he will never be.

[Kevin Mcleod]

Bit embarrassing isn't it.

He is playing excellent at the minute, that trio of Scowen, Freeman and Loungo is working out very well. But 4 games in and he is the best midfielder in the league? Give it a rest.

When we are in the playoffs at the end of the season I might consider that.

To be fair to Naz hes saying it because the season stats so far show that Mass is the best midfielder in the division so it cant be classed as embarrasing to state facts imo.

[upperloft]

To be fair to Naz hes saying it because the season stats so far show that Mass is the best midfielder in the division so it cant be classed as embarrasing to state facts imo.

He said it last year.

[Shepherds Mush]

How does Luongo rate against all the other central midfielders in the Championship for loss of possession ?

Not having a dig because I think Luongo has been superb. Just interested as he used to get caught or give the ball away cheaply (IMO).

I have noticed that he does always try and win it back when he does lose it though.

[Kevin Mcleod]

He said it last year.

Yeah and that was talk.

Stats so far prove him right this season, let him have his moment .

[1cliveallen]

I'm sure Cairney, Saiz , Hoolahan, Lansbury and Hourihane might might have something to say about that.

[Kevin Mcleod]

I'm sure Cairney, Saiz , Hoolahan, Lansbury and Hourihane might might have something to say about that.

If they do say anything, show them Nassers graph.

[1cliveallen]

Double Dutch

[stanistheman]

[QUOTE=nasser95;1645254]You must have missed the game, only player in the midfield who didn't put a single foot wrong today and could have scored 3 tbh. Everyone complained that he wasn't consistent, so he got consistent, then everyone complained that he didn't score, so he's decided to go and do that because he can. Looking forward to the next thing fans find to criticize the kid on.[/QUOTE

If he can keep up his current form he can go on to be amongst the best in this league and move on to a bigger stage.

[stanistheman]

Cant argue with those stats.
We should be proud of him, hes playing so well this season.
Think Scowen is his perfect partner and thats the reason.

Interesting that Scowen only got a 6.9 on there though. I thought he played well, especially given the fact he was on the end of 3 horrible challenges. Just dusted himself off and got on with it. Exactly the sort of midfielder that we were missing last season in my opinion!

This. Scowen is the reason for Luongo's improvement. Scowen is a proper defensive midfielder and it allows Luongo the chance to play his type of game which is more offensive.

[stanistheman]

Cant argue with those stats.
We should be proud of him, hes playing so well this season.
Think Scowen is his perfect partner and thats the reason.

Ok I really like Scowen but you can't be serious can you? Mass does literally everything. Tackling? Yep, Intercepting? Yep, Heading? Yep, Through Balls? Yep, Dribbling? Yep, Chasing and hassling? Yep, even Shooting now? Yep.

I swear the guy could be our top scorer by the end of the season and people will say, yea but x, y or z got more assists...

yes, Luongo can do those things, but he was nowhere near as effective or consistent last season, because he didn't have Scowen or a player like him in midfield.
For me and others, Scowen is the more useful midfielder because even without Luongo, the midfield can be effective and creative by playing some players like Freeman, Manning, Borysuik, Cousins and even Goss in midfield with him.

[nasser95]

How does Luongo rate against all the other central midfielders in the Championship for loss of possession ?

Not having a dig because I think Luongo has been superb. Just interested as he used to get caught or give the ball away cheaply (IMO).

I have noticed that he does always try and win it back when he does lose it though.

Freeman is currently top on both being dispossessed and loss on the first touch, totalling 5.7 losses of possession per game. Luongo is at 3.8, he is certainly in the top ten of the 46 players when it comes to possession losses but that's because he's also very close to the top in terms of having the ball at his feet. in fact yesterday he had the ball for a total of 9.1% of the match (8 minutes, 39 seconds on the ball in a 95 minute match total, more than anyone in the match.

[nasser95]

I'm sure Cairney, Saiz , Hoolahan, Lansbury and Hourihane might might have something to say about that.

Last season, Luongo was 5th, Cairney 1st, Hoolahan 6th, Lansbury 17th, Hourihane 2nd

Season before, Luongo was 1st, Lansbury 2nd

I don't get where this idea was that he was inconsistent or not good, he's always been great and he's done a tonne more defensive work in the past. The thing is that we didn't have the creative spark who was being freed up by him because chery slowed everything down from open play. Now that Luongo is showing that he's a great offensive player, people are quick to lap praise onto Scowen who's just doing the job that Luongo did for two years already without any credit. I don't see anyone clamouring to complain about the fact that Scowen isn't scoring goals etc. His job in the side isn't to do that, same as how Luongo's wasn't to do that. Luongo's job was to win the ball and take it forward for the offensive players, which he did excellently, now his job is to win the ball, create, shoot, etc. Scowen's job now is to win the ball back and play it to the creative ones and he's lucky enough to have Freeman and Luongo to play to because it makes him look even better. If he had Chery or god knows who in front of him, fans would be quick to criticise his lack of attacking.