Myles Lewis-Skelly: Spooky Scary Skelly

[NieThePiet]

All Hale End Academy players who have to help out als LB will turn great, I believe.

 

[Tir Na Nog]

If a young Wilshere was coming through now he'd definitely be put at LB.

 

[MutableEarth]

I don't mind him settling in a LB for a while. Bit less pressure on him there.

It's the sort of thing Wenger would have done.

Me neither, I didn't mind it initially when Wenger did it - my problem is I still have scars from AMN man - I hated full-back for him (still do). And it didn't help his cause that he just didn't apply himself enough while there either. I'll die on the hill that he'd have been a much better player if he continued the trajectory he was already on before they decided he had to be a full-back.

I just don't want it to become permanent for Lewis-Skelly - he'll still be a great player even if he stays there as he has a different temperament and is IMO a superior talent, but I'd much rather he be given the keys to the middle of the park at some point. A player who can pass like that, dribble like he does and has the strength, tenacity and agility to win the ball the way he often does should be the general dominating the midfield. Inverted full-back roles should be for guys like Zinchenko. Midfielders who are tidy but don't (or can't) dominate. We've even got a few guys like that in the academy. Theo Julienne is a nice little player. He's not as dominant as some of the other talents in the midfield but he looks fantastic in a support role from RB. Very good technique, almost Trent like. Michal Rosiak is another who can do that role, and he has the whole set-piece deal aswell (corners, free-kicks etc).

Have to add (general comment), the Zinchenko comparison is ridiculous IMO. Zinchenko's a good technical talent, and a very smart player when he's on point. That said, Lewis-Skelly can do what Zinchenko does - Zinchenko can't do what Lewis-Skelly does. Nuff said. That's why guys like Zinchenko and AMN (nowadays) play full-back - because they have to. Trent to me is the only exception to this, and now Lewis-Skelly.

 

[High Elbow]

Seeing his mum so happy in the stands a few weeks ago as he was about to come on to make his CL debut just brought a smile to my face. Think i might make him my most liked player.

 

[ASAP Berg]

Reminds me of Romeo Lavia, press resistant but he has really good vision.

I’ve been waiting all season for Calafiori to play just like MLS played, inverting but making it COUNT, not just adding to numbers forward.

If we can integrate MLS into this team, and somehow get Nwaneri in there the potential is outrageous. Nwaneri probably more next season he’s just too young, but MLS is too talented and physically ready.

It will save Arteta plenty of headaches having MLS to play LB/LCM. All he needs to find is 1-2 special forward players to push us to the next level.

 

[Geofranco]

Reminds me of Romeo Lavia, press resistant but he has really good vision.

I’ve been waiting all season for Calafiori to play just like MLS played, inverting but making it COUNT, not just adding to numbers forward.

If we can integrate MLS into this team, and somehow get Nwaneri in there the potential is outrageous. Nwaneri probably more next season he’s just too young, but MLS is too talented and physically ready.

It will save Arteta plenty of headaches having MLS to play LB/LCM. All he needs to find is 1-2 special forward players to push us to the next level.

Skelly and Nwaneri also combine really well with each other. They have good chemistry on the pitch. As they've played together for years.

 

[Geofranco]

Me neither, I didn't mind it initially when Wenger did it - my problem is I still have scars from AMN man - I hated full-back for him (still do). And it didn't help his cause that he just didn't apply himself enough while there either. I'll die on the hill that he'd have been a much better player if he continued the trajectory he was already on before they decided he had to be a full-back.

I just don't want it to become permanent for Lewis-Skelly - he'll still be a great player even if he stays there as he has a different temperament and is IMO a superior talent, but I'd much rather he be given the keys to the middle of the park at some point. A player who can pass like that, dribble like he does and has the strength, tenacity and agility to win the ball the way he often does should be the general dominating the midfield. Inverted full-back roles should be for guys like Zinchenko. Midfielders who are tidy but don't (or can't) dominate. We've even got a few guys like that in the academy. Theo Julienne is a nice little player. He's not as dominant as some of the other talents in the midfield but he looks fantastic in a support role from RB. Very good technique, almost Trent like. Michal Rosiak is another who can do that role, and he has the whole set-piece deal aswell (corners, free-kicks etc).

Have to add (general comment), the Zinchenko comparison is ridiculous IMO. Zinchenko's a good technical talent, and a very smart player when he's on point. That said, Lewis-Skelly can do what Zinchenko does - Zinchenko can't do what Lewis-Skelly does. Nuff said. That's why guys like Zinchenko and AMN (nowadays) play full-back - because they have to. Trent to me is the only exception to this, and now Lewis-Skelly.

I never saw AMN ever making it as a midfielder at the highest level. Same way I felt about Oxlade Chamberlain when Wenger started saying he had potential as a CM, they both just lack that je ne sais quoi, that special something. Skelly has it in spades. Some people try to compare him to Joe Wiillock, not a bad comparison as I actually always rated Joe's talent in midfield, but Skelly has a bit more guile and agility than Joe.

 

[TakeChillPill]

J

I have seen someone in reddit say that MLS is basically Zinchenko with less technical ability and more athletic ability....... except the gap technically is arguably smaller than the athletic advantage. I tend to agree with him.

You'd hope minus the zinchencko brain farts.

 

[Mrs Bergkamp]

I don't mind him settling in a LB for a while. Bit less pressure on him there.

It's the sort of thing Wenger would have done.

Very true but with Partey likely to leave in the summer, I would like to see MLS learn his style of play. That would make him a very complete CM around whom, dare I say, a team or at least a consistently functioning midfield could be built.

 

[Bloodbather]

Reminds me of Romeo Lavia, press resistant but he has really good vision.

I’ve been waiting all season for Calafiori to play just like MLS played, inverting but making it COUNT, not just adding to numbers forward.

If we can integrate MLS into this team, and somehow get Nwaneri in there the potential is outrageous. Nwaneri probably more next season he’s just too young, but MLS is too talented and physically ready.

It will save Arteta plenty of headaches having MLS to play LB/LCM. All he needs to find is 1-2 special forward players to push us to the next level.

Calafiori doesn't really invert the same way though, he goes forward from the wing like Ben White. He's not a midfielder so he won’t play like that, which is actually a good thing because we need someone to provide width there so that Martinelli/Trossard can play more centrally.

MLS is a midfielder so him playing LB is a completely different thing, it's more akin to Zinchenko playing there.

 

[Bloodbather]

Yeh I’m starting to think we may not need to sign a highly technical CM which I was wishlisting. Wouldn’t wanna block him.

Maybe sign an attacking mid type player instead if we wanna give MLS a chance at CM (hopefully).

Yeah, I'm starting to feel the same way also. Nwaneri convinced me that we don't need another AM type signing, and MLS is starting to convince me that we don't need a deep lying playmaker type either. Just blood these two in and spend the big bucks on a LW and a Jesus replacement.

 

[SA Gunner]

Left back is not his starting position, but he is giving us that option there particularly in Calafiori's absence.

Allows us to bring Timber back to that right back spot and bring the overlap back to Saka's side.

Hopefully MLS continues his run in the team, it brings natural rotations back to our flanks. And I believe this is a secret ingredient to our success this season.

 

[SA Gunner]

Yeah, I'm starting to feel the same way also. Nwaneri convinced me that we don't need another AM type signing, and MLS is starting to convince me that we don't need a deep lying playmaker type either. Just blood these two in and spend the big bucks on a LW and a Jesus replacement.

Nwaneri can grow into being our Musiala and Lewis-Skelly could become our Camavinga.

Use them, this season. They both bring something different between the lines which teams havent seen from us much. This in addition to giving us more natural width out wide.

And yes... in the summer it allows us to go big for a player like Kvaratskhelia on the left and someone solid on the right too, someone like Kudus/Mbuemo.

 

[Blood on the Tracks]

Me neither, I didn't mind it initially when Wenger did it - my problem is I still have scars from AMN man - I hated full-back for him (still do). And it didn't help his cause that he just didn't apply himself enough while there either. I'll die on the hill that he'd have been a much better player if he continued the trajectory he was already on before they decided he had to be a full-back.

I just don't want it to become permanent for Lewis-Skelly - he'll still be a great player even if he stays there as he has a different temperament and is IMO a superior talent, but I'd much rather he be given the keys to the middle of the park at some point. A player who can pass like that, dribble like he does and has the strength, tenacity and agility to win the ball the way he often does should be the general dominating the midfield. Inverted full-back roles should be for guys like Zinchenko. Midfielders who are tidy but don't (or can't) dominate. We've even got a few guys like that in the academy. Theo Julienne is a nice little player. He's not as dominant as some of the other talents in the midfield but he looks fantastic in a support role from RB. Very good technique, almost Trent like. Michal Rosiak is another who can do that role, and he has the whole set-piece deal aswell (corners, free-kicks etc).

Have to add (general comment), the Zinchenko comparison is ridiculous IMO. Zinchenko's a good technical talent, and a very smart player when he's on point. That said, Lewis-Skelly can do what Zinchenko does - Zinchenko can't do what Lewis-Skelly does. Nuff said. That's why guys like Zinchenko and AMN (nowadays) play full-back - because they have to. Trent to me is the only exception to this, and now Lewis-Skelly.

Do you think if AMN had received a proper go at CM and applied himself a bit more he could have had a decent career here?

I think the initial run at FB was a good introduction to first team football for him, but there's an argument that it may have hindered him longer term. The weaknesses he had in terms of positional play and concentration you can get away with a bit more at FB, particularly with his exceptional pace. If he'd got a proper run at CM it may have forced him to improve on the areas, or at least sink or swim.

To me there's something about Myles that is almost Saka like, not ability wise, he just has that natural composure which is rare for a player of his limited experience. He feels like a first team player already.

 

[TromsoGooner]

I never saw AMN ever making it as a midfielder at the highest level. Same way I felt about Oxlade Chamberlain when Wenger started saying he had potential as a CM, they both just lack that je ne sais quoi, that special something. Skelly has it in spades. Some people try to compare him to Joe Wiillock, not a bad comparison as I actually always rated Joe's talent in midfield, but Skelly has a bit more guile and agility than Joe.

Same here. Always felt he lacked the passing ability, tenacity and focus needed to excel there. Who knows if things had turned out differently had he been played there more.

 

[MutableEarth]

I never saw AMN ever making it as a midfielder at the highest level. Same way I felt about Oxlade Chamberlain when Wenger started saying he had potential as a CM, they both just lack that je ne sais quoi, that special something. Skelly has it in spades. Some people try to compare him to Joe Wiillock, not a bad comparison as I actually always rated Joe's talent in midfield, but Skelly has a bit more guile and agility than Joe.

I did. I saw him doing what Rice is doing now. That much pace and technical ability and it went to waste because he was too casual and didn't stay switched on for the full 90 in most games. Telegraphing simple balls and lazy decision making killed him as much as playing at full-back did. A few of the players we produced around that time had that problem but he typified it.

I had less faith in Oxlade-Chamberlain because like most midfielders in his age bracket he wanted to be Steven Gerrard and to be Steven Gerrard you have to have Steven Gerrard's ability. Ox could have had a good career as a winger if he stayed fit and beat himself up a lot less. He definitely goes in the What If? category because on his day he was unplayable but could never build up the kind of form to get him talked about higher.

As for Joe Willock, I think that's a pretty good comparison. Willock's taller and I always felt like he had great ideas on the ball but not always the execution. While his brother Chris had the execution but not always the ideas! Think the major difference between him and Lewis-Skelly is that Lewis-Skelly seems to have the execution for his ideas mostly. That disguised reverse ball in between the lines that he plays in particular is absolute cash money for him in a way that it wasn't for Willock. I like how Willock has reinvented his game in this attacking B2B role, leaning on his dribbling and duel-winning capabilities, and he still does have an eye for a decent pass. I still kinda wish we had him if I'm honest.

Do you think if AMN had received a proper go at CM and applied himself a bit more he could have had a decent career here?

I think the initial run at FB was a good introduction to first team football for him, but there's an argument that it may have hindered him longer term. The weaknesses he had in terms of positional play and concentration you can get away with a bit more at FB, particularly with his exceptional pace. If he'd got a proper run at CM it may have forced him to improve on the areas, or at least sink or swim.

To me there's something about Myles that is almost Saka like, not ability wise, he just has that natural composure which is rare for a player of his limited experience. He feels like a first team player already.

Don't think we'll ever know. He certainly didn't help himself at times. He was excellent whenever he locked in, but sometimes he just didn't - inexplicably at times. Even at U21 level he was like that and I thought it was just because he'd outgrown that level but I think that was just him! I do believe that had he stuck to the #6 position that he was initially moved to, he would have excelled more than he did at full-back - I never felt he suited that position at all, even though he used to be a winger. By how much he would have excelled in comparison, I don't know.

Lewis-Skelly is a bigger talent IMO. There's very little to separate them technically and AMN might be slightly quicker, but Lewis-Skelly is a big character who will lock in and strive to play at his normal high level. That alone makes him better IMO. Even though I don't want him at full-back either, I reckon he'll make LB work.

 

[Tnegs]

Guys like AMN and Willock didn’t make it here because they simply didn’t have what it takes to make it at this level. We’ve see this play out after the 07/08 team broke up and Wenger tried to replace them with Diaby, Denilson, Song, Bendtner, Gibbs etc. Wenger bent over backwards to accommodate them, protected them when they were ****, coached them, supported them, gave them plenty of game time and did everything possible to help them succeed yet they still failed.

If you don’t have it then you just don’t have it. Guys like Salah and KDB were sold by Chelsea and went on to prove them wrong by having fantastic careers. Our guys who were sold have gone on to do nothing. Cant blame anyone for that when they simply were not good enough.

 

[GoonerJeeves]

Considering the hectic Christmas period, you'd think there would be more chances coming his way.

 

[Blankety Blank]

Although he is obviously talented I think it is prudent keeping him at LB certainly for a while to help learn the top level game especially from a defensive viewpoint.

In the future who knows?
He may develop into a top player in either position or be a very good utility man.

I really don't like projecting too much on young players after a handful of senior appearances.

He looks very promising & eager to learn.

 

[Blankety Blank]

Nwaneri can grow into being our Musiala and Lewis-Skelly could become our Camavinga.

No pressure there then