Levitt could be a very good player in a couple of years time, he made about 2 good passes yesterday in my book and is no better at the moment than what we already have, he should have been sent on loan to Salford.
Vennings and Morgan don't play in the same position. How many times... ?
Don't think people realise how well regarded Levitt is at United. He is always going to struggle with our fans because he's a clever passer and not a 'Charlton style', dynamic, smashing-around-the-pitch player that usually gets people onside.
Have we ever had a deep lying playmaker? I don't think people know what it looks like.
Eventually the table is going to split into front runners and relegation teams. Then we're going to be facing brick walls where opponents have 11 men behind the ball. You don't need a Pratley or a Watson in games like those, you need a Levitt who can cut through the lines with a pass.
LB said when he joined people would have to be patient with him. He's 18 and it's his first loan. But it's funny he's being singled out for grief when after a poor first 25 he was good for the rest of the game and spread the ball around well and broke their lines with some sharp passes.
But honestly it's gonna be hopeless for him here. It would probably be good for him and Utd if he goes somewhere else in January. He should've gone to a club with less of an industrious football culture.
Isn't that what Shinnie is there for? Seen a few videos of him doing exactly that for Luton.
I don't disagree with what you're saying overall, but i also agree with Sage's earlier post that i'm not sure where he fits in. When everyone is fit (don't laugh), then he's not really pushing the first XI so wouldn't the loan spot and wages be better used elsewhere?
Under normal circumstances I'd be ringing Giggs to get his insight into how to get more out of Levitt.
Levitt is on Man Utd's books for a reason.
Based on the what I've seen of him for Wales (which is admittedly not a lot), I'm not sure Giggs gets that much more out of Levitt than we've seen already.
Although we signed him when were under the one out one in embargo instead of a player in an area we were lacking, so there must be more to come.
So, Levitt is OK for Wales, but not OK for League 1 Charlton?
Are you OK with that?
Giggs will have seen a lot more than you and I have. He will have a role in mind, and expectations.
Bowyer is not getting the best from Levitt. He might want to have a chat about it with Gunter too.
Do you think Levitt would be in the Welsh set up, considering Giggs is their manager, if his parent club was any other Premier League side?
Genuine question by the way. I just don’t think he would be anywhere near as close. Maybe I am being harsh, just how I see it right now.
Really?
As an International manager, you don't pick a player because he comes from a Club that you have affinity with. You don't last long in the job if you do.
Players often get picked due to the size of the club they play for. Walcott over Bent being a classic example.
Vennings and Morgan don't play in the same position. How many times... ?
Don't think people realise how well regarded Levitt is at United. He is always going to struggle with our fans because he's a clever passer and not a 'Charlton style', dynamic, smashing-around-the-pitch player that usually gets people onside.
Have we ever had a deep lying playmaker? I don't think people know what it looks like.
Eventually the table is going to split into front runners and relegation teams. Then we're going to be facing brick walls where opponents have 11 men behind the ball. You don't need a Pratley or a Watson in games like those, you need a Levitt who can cut through the lines with a pass.
LB said when he joined people would have to be patient with him. He's 18 and it's his first loan. But it's funny he's being singled out for grief when after a poor first 25 he was good for the rest of the game and spread the ball around well and broke their lines with some sharp passes.
But honestly it's gonna be hopeless for him here. It would probably be good for him and Utd if he goes somewhere else in January. He should've gone to a club with less of an industrious football culture.
Totally agree with this.
The boy can pass the ball, but he is guilty of not doing the other side of the game, which Morgan is singled out by Bowyer.. And this why he has been set to us on loan to learn, bit like we did with Morgan last year.
This observation is wrong. Firstly, once again, they do not play the same position.
Morgan was singled out by Bowyer for not tracking back and doing the defensive side of his game. We know Bowyer expects his attacking midfielders to work hard for the team. He even said the same of Maddison yesterday.
Do you expect him to start singling out players for getting out played by the opposition or making mistakes? Because if he did his press conferences would be awfully long.
Surely if the deep midfielder Levitt loses his man it’s WORSE than if an attacking midfielder does it?
Bowyer didn’t name names, but made it clear that the players who came in for this match didn’t impress him, Levitt being one of them.
We're out of the cup now, so it's going to be hard for Levitt to improve because he won't be playing.
One of the sometimes over-looked "benefits" of having a small squad was that younger players got regular games; like Pope, Aribo, Konsa, Lookman, Grant, Doughty etc. In a squad full of experienced Watson/Gunter/Shinnie types, where do these younger players get their experience? And I'm talking about proper playing experience...not just 2 or 3 cup games a season and being able to train with top players.
Maybe Levitt would be better being sent back in Jan and then farmed out to a club with a smaller squad, where he can play a proper run of games. Unless we get a stack of injuries (possible) or he produces a dynamite performance in one of his rare chances, he's not going to get much action.
Surely if the deep midfielder Levitt loses his man it’s WORSE than if an attacking midfielder does it?
Bowyer didn’t name names, but made it clear that the players who came in for this match didn’t impress him, Levitt being one of them.
Not sure why I'm having to explain myself again here.
Morgan was called out by Bowyer, not because he was outplayed or made any mistakes, it's because he couldn't be bothered to track back and do his defensive duties. Whys he going to call out Levitt who let's face it, didn't have any worse a game then anyone else, because he made some defensive mistakes.
That's just poor poor man management.
Honestly the mental gymnastics on this forum to try and justify your view points that you don't think Levitt is very good is plain embarrassing.
A long season ahead, injuries (we are prone) and suspensions will give him his chances and I suspect at his age, he will have some good games and some less good games, but he is a welcome squad player with an eye for a pass.
There's always a weird aspect to this board where people don't seem to have any concept of form. It seems that when players have bad games they're 'not good enough' unless they've painstakingly earned the right to have an off day over months and months. Levitt is young, he's adapting to his first time playing in League One with a new team, and he's not started brilliantly. It doesn't mean he's not good enough, it means he has to adapt. There's obviously a player in there, so hopefully he settles soon. In the mean time writing him off this early into his time at the club is just insane
There's always a weird aspect to this board where people don't seem to have any concept of form. It seems that when players have bad games they're 'not good enough' unless they've painstakingly earned the right to have an off day over months and months. Levitt is young, he's adapting to his first time playing in League One with a new team, and he's not started brilliantly. It doesn't mean he's not good enough, it means he has to adapt. There's obviously a player in there, so hopefully he settles soon. In the mean time writing him off this early into his time at the club is just insane
For as long as I can remember, starting long before the world wide web was something any of us even had a concept of, a certain section of our fan base always seems to need to have a player they can dig out and get on top of at every opportunity. This has always seemed to be the case, regardless of how well or badly the team is doing overall. It’s not a mentality I can really get my head around and I’ve never ever ever understood how fans think rinsing out a player week after week, especially a young one, is going to help them improve and, therefore, by extension help the team win. This year it looks like Levitt seems to be the target.
Under normal circumstances I'd be ringing Giggs to get his insight into how to get more out of Levitt.
Levitt is on Man Utd's books for a reason.
Based on the what I've seen of him for Wales (which is admittedly not a lot), I'm not sure Giggs gets that much more out of Levitt than we've seen already.
Although we signed him when were under the one out one in embargo instead of a player in an area we were lacking, so there must be more to come.
So, Levitt is OK for Wales, but not OK for League 1 Charlton?
Are you OK with that?
Giggs will have seen a lot more than you and I have. He will have a role in mind, and expectations.
Bowyer is not getting the best from Levitt. He might want to have a chat about it with Gunter too.
Do you think Levitt would be in the Welsh set up, considering Giggs is their manager, if his parent club was any other Premier League side?
Genuine question by the way. I just don’t think he would be anywhere near as close. Maybe I am being harsh, just how I see it right now.
Really?
As an International manager, you don't pick a player because he comes from a Club that you have affinity with. You don't last long in the job if you do.
The big clubs have always had their players picked for internationals before the small clubs. If Levitt was a CAFC academy player do you honestly believe he would be in the Wales first team?
Surely if the deep midfielder Levitt loses his man it’s WORSE than if an attacking midfielder does it?
Bowyer didn’t name names, but made it clear that the players who came in for this match didn’t impress him, Levitt being one of them.
Not sure why I'm having to explain myself again here.
Morgan was called out by Bowyer, not because he was outplayed or made any mistakes, it's because he couldn't be bothered to track back and do his defensive duties. Whys he going to call out Levitt who let's face it, didn't have any worse a game then anyone else, because he made some defensive mistakes.
That's just poor poor man management.
Honestly the mental gymnastics on this forum to try and justify your view points that you don't think Levitt is very good is plain embarrassing.
That's not true though. Morgan WAS trying to track back, but a couple of times lost his man due to inexperience, concentration lapses or whatever. He's not an Ozil
I think it is agreed that Levitt can pass well, Giggs said when we signed him that he was one of the best passers he has seen. He did not say he could defend or tackle and I am sure LB and SG knew this when they signed him. "Young inexperienced lad, has many attributes but still has a lot to learn", you could say this about 90% of young players coming into the top clubs and hope they improve.
I don't think he's good enough to get in the 1st team. As a loan signing, we'd be better off sending him back & using the wages on somebody who will improve the team
It's pretty clear to me that when everyone is fit, Levitt will be lucky to even get a spot on our bench.
JFC, Watson, Pratley, Gilbey, Williams, Shinnie, Morgan and Vennings can all play in centre midfield and are all equal to or in most cases better than Levitt.
Wouldn't be surprised to see him return to Man Utd in January.
I don't think he's good enough to get in the 1st team. As a loan signing, we'd be better off sending him back & using the wages on somebody who will improve the team
I don't think the wages are likely to be an issue, more of a loan spot in the squad. Not end of world to have six though, just means one has to miss out each game. But with a squad of 23/24 that can be managed.
I don't think he's good enough to get in the 1st team. As a loan signing, we'd be better off sending him back & using the wages on somebody who will improve the team
I don't think the wages are likely to be an issue, more of a loan spot in the squad. Not end of world to have six though, just means one has to miss out each game. But with a squad of 23/24 that can be managed.
Not an issue for us perhaps, but I can't imagine Man U being happy if Levitt ends up as a 6th loan player who barely plays
Safe to say I think Levitt will get recalled (sent back) to United in January. From this very moment I would be surprised if he was still a Charlton player in the new year
I don't think he's good enough to get in the 1st team. As a loan signing, we'd be better off sending him back & using the wages on somebody who will improve the team
I don't think the wages are likely to be an issue, more of a loan spot in the squad. Not end of world to have six though, just means one has to miss out each game. But with a squad of 23/24 that can be managed.
Not an issue for us perhaps, but I can't imagine Man U being happy if Levitt ends up as a 6th loan player who barely plays
Doesn't necessarily have to be him that missed out though. Agree with your point though, which is probably why I'd send him back to Utd. That way we don't piss them off, give them the chance to send him elsewhere.
I know we will need a squad this season but he’s nowhere near playing regularly , especially with Gilbey returning imminently
He doesn't play in Levitt's position either
Course he does, they are CM's. Might not be exactly the same sort of player but I don't understand how football suddenly has 15+ positions.
Levitt plays in front of the back four... Same position Watson and Pratley. (Although Pratley also sometimes plays as a ball-winning CM).
He's not competing with Gilbey, JFC, Morgan, Vennings, Shinnie, etc. for their starting spots. They play in central midfield. He plays behind them. We play a diamond remember?
He can play behind the strikers but that seems like a rare role for him and LB hasn't shown any interest in that side of his game.
I know we will need a squad this season but he’s nowhere near playing regularly , especially with Gilbey returning imminently
He doesn't play in Levitt's position either
Course he does, they are CM's. Might not be exactly the same sort of player but I don't understand how football suddenly has 15+ positions.
Levitt plays in front of the back four... Same position Watson and Pratley. (Although Pratley also sometimes plays as a ball-winning CM).
He's not competing with Gilbey, JFC, Morgan, Vennings, Shinnie, etc. for their starting spots. They play in central midfield. He plays behind them. We play a diamond remember?
He can play behind the strikers but that seems like a rare role for him and LB hasn't shown any interest in that side of his game.
Well Levitt started yesterday, and we didn't play a diamond. In fact, we haven't much this season at all.
Levitt is not a DM because he can't tackle, and I think that's one of his biggest problems. For me, his best position is probably as a deep lying playmaker in a 4231 as one of the two. But he's going to have to adapt and vary his game because the defensive side of his game isn't good enough, not for someone whose best position is supposedly in front of the back four.
I struggle to understand how you say he's not competing with Gilbey, Shinnie etc but then say he can play behind the strikers. Surely any midfielder who can play DM and CAM can play CM? Like I said, I agree Levitt is a different type of player but I don't agree he isn't competing with those aswell as Pratley and Morgan for a place in the squad. Yes he would play a different role but it's like saying Pratley/Watson are in direct competition but will never play together, because that's been proven wrong.
I know we will need a squad this season but he’s nowhere near playing regularly , especially with Gilbey returning imminently
He doesn't play in Levitt's position either
Course he does, they are CM's. Might not be exactly the same sort of player but I don't understand how football suddenly has 15+ positions.
Levitt plays in front of the back four... Same position Watson and Pratley. (Although Pratley also sometimes plays as a ball-winning CM).
He's not competing with Gilbey, JFC, Morgan, Vennings, Shinnie, etc. for their starting spots. They play in central midfield. He plays behind them. We play a diamond remember?
He can play behind the strikers but that seems like a rare role for him and LB hasn't shown any interest in that side of his game.
Well Levitt started yesterday, and we didn't play a diamond. In fact, we haven't much this season at all.
Levitt is not a DM because he can't tackle, and I think that's one of his biggest problems. For me, his best position is probably as a deep lying playmaker in a 4231 as one of the two. But he's going to have to adapt and vary his game because the defensive side of his game isn't good enough, not for someone whose best position is supposedly in front of the back four.
I struggle to understand how you say he's not competing with Gilbey, Shinnie etc but then say he can play behind the strikers. Surely any midfielder who can play DM and CAM can play CM? Like I said, I agree Levitt is a different type of player but I don't agree he isn't competing with those aswell as Pratley and Morgan for a place in the squad. Yes he would play a different role but it's like saying Pratley/Watson are in direct competition but will never play together, because that's been proven wrong.
We've played the diamond nearly every league game.
Even yesterday we had Levitt behind JFC and Morgan. That's how LB shapes his midfield.
I don't think you read my last paragraph but I will repeat it again, that advanced role is a rare one for him, and LB hasn't shown any interest in playing him there. So, no, he is not competing with Shinnie.
And when LB has only ever played him in that Watson slot, and when he only ever really played that same position for Utd, then why is he suddenly competing for another position?
I know we will need a squad this season but he’s nowhere near playing regularly , especially with Gilbey returning imminently
He doesn't play in Levitt's position either
Course he does, they are CM's. Might not be exactly the same sort of player but I don't understand how football suddenly has 15+ positions.
Levitt plays in front of the back four... Same position Watson and Pratley. (Although Pratley also sometimes plays as a ball-winning CM).
He's not competing with Gilbey, JFC, Morgan, Vennings, Shinnie, etc. for their starting spots. They play in central midfield. He plays behind them. We play a diamond remember?
He can play behind the strikers but that seems like a rare role for him and LB hasn't shown any interest in that side of his game.
Well Levitt started yesterday, and we didn't play a diamond. In fact, we haven't much this season at all.
Levitt is not a DM because he can't tackle, and I think that's one of his biggest problems. For me, his best position is probably as a deep lying playmaker in a 4231 as one of the two. But he's going to have to adapt and vary his game because the defensive side of his game isn't good enough, not for someone whose best position is supposedly in front of the back four.
I struggle to understand how you say he's not competing with Gilbey, Shinnie etc but then say he can play behind the strikers. Surely any midfielder who can play DM and CAM can play CM? Like I said, I agree Levitt is a different type of player but I don't agree he isn't competing with those aswell as Pratley and Morgan for a place in the squad. Yes he would play a different role but it's like saying Pratley/Watson are in direct competition but will never play together, because that's been proven wrong.
We've played the diamond nearly every league game.
Even yesterday we had Levitt behind JFC and Morgan. That's how LB shapes his midfield.
I don't think you read my last paragraph but I will repeat it again, that advanced role is a rare one for him, and LB hasn't shown any interest in playing him there. So, no, he is not competing with Shinnie.
And when LB has only ever played him in that Watson slot, and when he only ever really played that same position for Utd, then why is he suddenly competing for another position?
Of course I did. And I will repeat my question, how comes he can play DM and CAM (even if Bowyer "hasn't shown any interest in playing him there") but not CM? Also, how do you know he can play AM, you yourself said both us and Utd have only ever played him further back? I can't imagine a player like him playing just off the striker(s).
I can see your point, but I disagree with it. I appreciate he has so far played in front of the back 4, but Levitt is a central midfield player. Whether he is slightly defensive, a deep lying playmaker or a box to box midfielder, he is a central midfielder. I am not saying he is the same type player as Shinnie, but I see all of our CMs fighting for places. I simply don't see it as he is only fighting Pratley or Watson for a place in the team.
Don't think you've watched many games if you think we've played the diamond nearly every league game.
I know we will need a squad this season but he’s nowhere near playing regularly , especially with Gilbey returning imminently
He doesn't play in Levitt's position either
Course he does, they are CM's. Might not be exactly the same sort of player but I don't understand how football suddenly has 15+ positions.
Levitt plays in front of the back four... Same position Watson and Pratley. (Although Pratley also sometimes plays as a ball-winning CM).
He's not competing with Gilbey, JFC, Morgan, Vennings, Shinnie, etc. for their starting spots. They play in central midfield. He plays behind them. We play a diamond remember?
He can play behind the strikers but that seems like a rare role for him and LB hasn't shown any interest in that side of his game.
Well Levitt started yesterday, and we didn't play a diamond. In fact, we haven't much this season at all.
Levitt is not a DM because he can't tackle, and I think that's one of his biggest problems. For me, his best position is probably as a deep lying playmaker in a 4231 as one of the two. But he's going to have to adapt and vary his game because the defensive side of his game isn't good enough, not for someone whose best position is supposedly in front of the back four.
I struggle to understand how you say he's not competing with Gilbey, Shinnie etc but then say he can play behind the strikers. Surely any midfielder who can play DM and CAM can play CM? Like I said, I agree Levitt is a different type of player but I don't agree he isn't competing with those aswell as Pratley and Morgan for a place in the squad. Yes he would play a different role but it's like saying Pratley/Watson are in direct competition but will never play together, because that's been proven wrong.
Ageee with this.
We also have never played with a deep lying playmaker, never under Bowyer. As a deep lying playmaker, you need to have excellent positioning and be able to dictate the tempo of the game, he hasn’t shown to have either of those attributes.
If we focus on a formation Bowyer has played, such as a diamond, where does he fit because he most certainly isn’t going to play instead of Pratley, Watson, Shinnie, Gilbey, and Forster-Caskey in any of the three central roles. Be it in front of the defence (Pratley or Watson) or either side of the two in midfield (Shinnie and Gilbey for example). We then have far superior offensive players to play behind the front two.
In a 4-3-3, where does he play when everyone is fit? Not going to sit in front of the defence as said already. Not a box to box type midfielder like Gilbey is more that role, and not creative and offensive like Shinnie or Williams.
Morgan has a great range of passing, which seems to be what the general feeling that is Levitt’s biggest quality, but Morgan has shown he can play out wide if needed. You’ve arguably got Levitt behind him and therefore, 7th in the ‘pecking order’.
The recruitment from Gallen and Bowyer has been excellent, incredible all things considered to bring in the quality they have. But they won’t get every loan signing right.
So far, Levitt is by far the weakest loan signing out of the 5, and rather than having 6 loanees with Levitt not in the squad each week, he’d be better off going to another club who play 4-2-3-1 and he can learn his trade that way.
Sometimes players just aren’t suited to a way of playing or a club or whatever it might be, and he’s not shown anything at all to say he should be ahead of any of the midfielders who are currently ahead of him.
I know we will need a squad this season but he’s nowhere near playing regularly , especially with Gilbey returning imminently
He doesn't play in Levitt's position either
Course he does, they are CM's. Might not be exactly the same sort of player but I don't understand how football suddenly has 15+ positions.
Levitt plays in front of the back four... Same position Watson and Pratley. (Although Pratley also sometimes plays as a ball-winning CM).
He's not competing with Gilbey, JFC, Morgan, Vennings, Shinnie, etc. for their starting spots. They play in central midfield. He plays behind them. We play a diamond remember?
He can play behind the strikers but that seems like a rare role for him and LB hasn't shown any interest in that side of his game.
Well Levitt started yesterday, and we didn't play a diamond. In fact, we haven't much this season at all.
Levitt is not a DM because he can't tackle, and I think that's one of his biggest problems. For me, his best position is probably as a deep lying playmaker in a 4231 as one of the two. But he's going to have to adapt and vary his game because the defensive side of his game isn't good enough, not for someone whose best position is supposedly in front of the back four.
I struggle to understand how you say he's not competing with Gilbey, Shinnie etc but then say he can play behind the strikers. Surely any midfielder who can play DM and CAM can play CM? Like I said, I agree Levitt is a different type of player but I don't agree he isn't competing with those aswell as Pratley and Morgan for a place in the squad. Yes he would play a different role but it's like saying Pratley/Watson are in direct competition but will never play together, because that's been proven wrong.
Ageee with this.
We also have never played with a deep lying playmaker, never under Bowyer. As a deep lying playmaker, you need to have excellent positioning and be able to dictate the tempo of the game, he hasn’t shown to have either of those attributes.
If we focus on a formation Bowyer has played, such as a diamond, where does he fit because he most certainly isn’t going to play instead of Pratley, Watson, Shinnie, Gilbey, and Forster-Caskey in any of the three central roles. Be it in front of the defence (Pratley or Watson) or either side of the two in midfield (Shinnie and Gilbey for example). We then have far superior offensive players to play behind the front two.
In a 4-3-3, where does he play when everyone is fit? Not going to sit in front of the defence as said already. Not a box to box type midfielder like Gilbey is more that role, and not creative and offensive like Shinnie or Williams.
Morgan has a great range of passing, which seems to be what the general feeling that is Levitt’s biggest quality, but Morgan has shown he can play out wide if needed. You’ve arguably got Levitt behind him and therefore, 7th in the ‘pecking order’.
The recruitment from Gallen and Bowyer has been excellent, incredible all things considered to bring in the quality they have. But they won’t get every loan signing right.
So far, Levitt is by far the weakest loan signing out of the 5, and rather than having 6 loanees with Levitt not in the squad each week, he’d be better off going to another club who play 4-2-3-1 and he can learn his trade that way.
Sometimes players just aren’t suited to a way of playing or a club or whatever it might be, and he’s not shown anything at all to say he should be ahead of any of the midfielders who are currently ahead of him.
I agree. This one is weird because Bows clearly thinks he's best in front of the back 4. I guess he could play if we were dominating a game. Strange signing for me though because he doesn't seem like a Bowyer player. Maybe a bit of panic because of embargo.
Like you say though, can't get it all right and it's been outstanding yet again. Levitt doesn't seem suited to us at all.
Comments
I was one of the few who thought he did ok on his debut but he was subbed off and didn't play again for months.
Turned out to be a more than decent player.
Was Bowyer coaching with us by then?
Levitt is still a work in progress. He may or may not work out a good signing but far too early to write him off or hail him as the new Messiah.
I don't disagree with what you're saying overall, but i also agree with Sage's earlier post that i'm not sure where he fits in. When everyone is fit (don't laugh), then he's not really pushing the first XI so wouldn't the loan spot and wages be better used elsewhere?
Walcott over Bent being a classic example.
Bowyer didn’t name names, but made it clear that the players who came in for this match didn’t impress him, Levitt being one of them.
One of the sometimes over-looked "benefits" of having a small squad was that younger players got regular games; like Pope, Aribo, Konsa, Lookman, Grant, Doughty etc. In a squad full of experienced Watson/Gunter/Shinnie types, where do these younger players get their experience? And I'm talking about proper playing experience...not just 2 or 3 cup games a season and being able to train with top players.
Maybe Levitt would be better being sent back in Jan and then farmed out to a club with a smaller squad, where he can play a proper run of games. Unless we get a stack of injuries (possible) or he produces a dynamite performance in one of his rare chances, he's not going to get much action.
Morgan was called out by Bowyer, not because he was outplayed or made any mistakes, it's because he couldn't be bothered to track back and do his defensive duties. Whys he going to call out Levitt who let's face it, didn't have any worse a game then anyone else, because he made some defensive mistakes.
That's just poor poor man management.
Honestly the mental gymnastics on this forum to try and justify your view points that you don't think Levitt is very good is plain embarrassing.
If Levitt was a CAFC academy player do you honestly believe he would be in the Wales first team?
JFC, Watson, Pratley, Gilbey, Williams, Shinnie, Morgan and Vennings can all play in centre midfield and are all equal to or in most cases better than Levitt.
Wouldn't be surprised to see him return to Man Utd in January.
Levitt plays in front of the back four... Same position Watson and Pratley. (Although Pratley also sometimes plays as a ball-winning CM).
He's not competing with Gilbey, JFC, Morgan, Vennings, Shinnie, etc. for their starting spots. They play in central midfield. He plays behind them. We play a diamond remember?
He can play behind the strikers but that seems like a rare role for him and LB hasn't shown any interest in that side of his game.
Levitt is not a DM because he can't tackle, and I think that's one of his biggest problems. For me, his best position is probably as a deep lying playmaker in a 4231 as one of the two. But he's going to have to adapt and vary his game because the defensive side of his game isn't good enough, not for someone whose best position is supposedly in front of the back four.
I struggle to understand how you say he's not competing with Gilbey, Shinnie etc but then say he can play behind the strikers. Surely any midfielder who can play DM and CAM can play CM? Like I said, I agree Levitt is a different type of player but I don't agree he isn't competing with those aswell as Pratley and Morgan for a place in the squad. Yes he would play a different role but it's like saying Pratley/Watson are in direct competition but will never play together, because that's been proven wrong.
Even yesterday we had Levitt behind JFC and Morgan. That's how LB shapes his midfield.
I don't think you read my last paragraph but I will repeat it again, that advanced role is a rare one for him, and LB hasn't shown any interest in playing him there. So, no, he is not competing with Shinnie.
And when LB has only ever played him in that Watson slot, and when he only ever really played that same position for Utd, then why is he suddenly competing for another position?
I can see your point, but I disagree with it. I appreciate he has so far played in front of the back 4, but Levitt is a central midfield player. Whether he is slightly defensive, a deep lying playmaker or a box to box midfielder, he is a central midfielder. I am not saying he is the same type player as Shinnie, but I see all of our CMs fighting for places. I simply don't see it as he is only fighting Pratley or Watson for a place in the team.
Don't think you've watched many games if you think we've played the diamond nearly every league game.
We also have never played with a deep lying playmaker, never under Bowyer. As a deep lying playmaker, you need to have excellent positioning and be able to dictate the tempo of the game, he hasn’t shown to have either of those attributes.
If we focus on a formation Bowyer has played, such as a diamond, where does he fit because he most certainly isn’t going to play instead of Pratley, Watson, Shinnie, Gilbey, and Forster-Caskey in any of the three central roles. Be it in front of the defence (Pratley or Watson) or either side of the two in midfield (Shinnie and Gilbey for example). We then have far superior offensive players to play behind the front two.
In a 4-3-3, where does he play when everyone is fit? Not going to sit in front of the defence as said already. Not a box to box type midfielder like Gilbey is more that role, and not creative and offensive like Shinnie or Williams.
Morgan has a great range of passing, which seems to be what the general feeling that is Levitt’s biggest quality, but Morgan has shown he can play out wide if needed. You’ve arguably got Levitt behind him and therefore, 7th in the ‘pecking order’.
The recruitment from Gallen and Bowyer has been excellent, incredible all things considered to bring in the quality they have. But they won’t get every loan signing right.
So far, Levitt is by far the weakest loan signing out of the 5, and rather than having 6 loanees with Levitt not in the squad each week, he’d be better off going to another club who play 4-2-3-1 and he can learn his trade that way.
Sometimes players just aren’t suited to a way of playing or a club or whatever it might be, and he’s not shown anything at all to say he should be ahead of any of the midfielders who are currently ahead of him.
Like you say though, can't get it all right and it's been outstanding yet again. Levitt doesn't seem suited to us at all.