Viking Supporters Co-operative
Viking Chat => Viking Chat => Topic started by: colincramb on August 17, 2025, 11:27:26 am
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Just before I start, I’m not digging the lad out. He’s been here 5 minutes.
But, on the showing so far I really think this is a strange signing. He doesn’t look even a remotely dangerous goal threat, is miles from good balls into the box and his hold up play doesn’t look as good as Ironside (albeit he was poor last season but excellent the one before)
The fact Grant choose to start a 40 year old in front of him yesterday isn’t great really. Of course, he might come good but I’m not betting on it.
People say we can’t sign another striker as it means he won’t be in the match day squad are right. But it’s worrying.
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Great post ! This echos my thoughts, I know Grant usually gets it right, however on his showing so far I think we’ve been sold a dud ! That said he’ll get myfull support while he’s wearing the hoops.
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I'd imagine that Hanlon is in no doubt about what we require from him, the opportunity is there for him to show us.
It may not be the case for too long.
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He holds the ball up ok. I think Hanlan is a winger not a striker. I’ve seen him play lots over the years and the best he looked is when he was on the wing for Gills.
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He holds the ball up ok. I think Hanlan is a winger not a striker. I’ve seen him play lots over the years and the best he looked is when he was on the wing for Gills.
Yes I’d probably agree that he looks better suited to a wide position rather than through the middle.
With that in mind, it’s a bit of a concern that we are therefore relying on goals from midfield/wide areas and a 40 year old to score goals.
I think we definitely need another
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Thing is Hanlan looked completely different in preseason to what he has so far competitively.
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Thing is Hanlan looked completely different in preseason to what he has so far competitively.
No disrespect to the teams we played pre season, but Blackpool aside they were all very poor sides
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From what I saw from pre season training and pre season friendlies, he didn't look very quick and I was contradicted but seeing more of him, I'll stick to that assessment. Yesterday, he dualed with a defender near the west side touchline, and was busting a gut to just about keep possession.
Now of course, pace isn't everything, but we've yet to see what his speciality is, whether it's strong running down the channels, dribbling or hold up play, and bring a threat in and around the box, we just don't know.
I don't think McCanns plan A needs a hold up player, we need movement, good runs, like Billy always trying to get away from defenders to get into space, not having a tussle with centre half's all the time.
Yesterday we were all hoping to see if he could get on the end of a Middleton cross however, there was only one really that he could have attacked, but he made a run for the near post instead.
As said above, Ironside also wasn't anywhere near where we wanted him to be often enough last season but a least he showed some inclination to get on the end of something last Tuesday when he hit the post. The trouble is, I feel with Ironside, it slows our game up too much and we become more predictable but as a plan B to bring on the big man when all else fails, we maybe better off the Joe.
Far too early to write enyone off though.
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Ironside needs to go, he’s nowhere near this level and he’s not going to play.
I thought Hanlan looked better when he came on yesterday albeit against tired legs. The striker position is going to be our downfall this season, it all depends how much is in the budget and how ambitious we want to be. I’d love to see us capitalise on this great start to the season, bring in a proven goalscorer and we’ll be a real threat, it’s probably not going to come cheap though.
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I think the penny might already be dropping with GM that he's dropped a clanger with Hanlan's signing. He must have known that Brandon would have been really up for it against his old side yesterday, as players usually are. Yet he chose a 39 year old in his place.
I'd love the kid to come good, but I just can't see it.
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I sincerely hope you’re right SS. It is early days, I agree, and he needs game time to get to grips with what’s required, but can we really afford to give him that game time, when there doesn’t seem to be any danger to the opposition when he plays?
I keep saying it, but we had the blueprint last season, when Street was moved to the middle of the front 3. He would have caused some serious damage to teams, had we managed to get him again. If it’s not to be, so be it, but we know the type of player that quite simply fits GM’s system. We just need to get him (whoever ‘him’ ends up being).
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Problem is we've signed him now, can't just discard him!
This is where the coaching staff earn their coin and get him integrated into our team. It's still very early to judge so we must give him a chance.
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I say loan him to Eastleigh and say he’s good enough for the Championship!
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I think there’s some harsh words here, his hold up play is great when not being repeatedly fouled. (Exeter and Mansfield)
Far to early to see or understand if he’s good enough for me, I thought he did some decent stuff against Exeter, had no chance with the poor ref and fouling from Mansfield.
I’m not saying I’m 100% sold on him, but we have to back him for at least a season.
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I think the penny might already be dropping with GM that he's dropped a clanger with Hanlan's signing. He must have known that Brandon would have been really up for it against his old side yesterday, as players usually are. Yet he chose a 39 year old in his place.
I'd love the kid to come good, but I just can't see it.
There centre Half's would have eaten him alive ,Billy has the guile and knowhow against defenders of that size ,Hanlon will come good it's only been 2 games ,after the Middlesbrough game Grant could have made 8-9 changes and it would not have shocked me ,just relax and trust in MCcann
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I was expecting him to be more of a line leader if not a great goalscorer from what was sold when we signed him. From what I’ve seen the centre half’s get quite an easy game against him.
Was hoping he’d be a Rob Street just with fewer goals but still important for getting us up the pitch and dragging defenders around. Not done that yet.
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Have I counted right, have we got 4 loan players? Room for one more if so. TLT, CO'R, CC, DA
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For Hanlan to show goals he needs to use his pace not ball to feet or hold up play he needs to run in behind down the centre. The centre midfield players must play good passes on the floor for him to run onto.
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For Hanlan to show goals he needs to use his pace not ball to feet or hold up play he needs to run in behind down the centre. The centre midfield players must play good passes on the floor for him to run onto.
This.
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I have watched two £40 million pounds strikers struggle in their new teams in the premiership this weekend never mind a free transfer.
Against Exeter I thought he worked very hard off the ball as all those up front have done in the opening games Ironside at Boro included.
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Look back to this forum after street had played two games, he was also getting some stick, you’ve got to give players a bit longer before you start digging them out
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Look back to this forum after street had played two games, he was also getting some stick, you’ve got to give players a bit longer before you start digging them out
As I stated in the opening thread, he’s been here all of 5 minutes. But its observations based on what I have seen so far. There could be many reasons GM didn’t choose to start him on Saturday, however it will be interesting to see whether he starts on Tuesday.
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Sharp has just been very good every time he's played which makes things look worse I think. See what happens and give him a chance although as already mentioned when Sharp plays it's been a big upgrade
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Just before I start, I’m not digging the lad out. He’s been here 5 minutes.
But, on the showing so far I really think this is a strange signing. He doesn’t look even a remotely dangerous goal threat, is miles from good balls into the box and his hold up play doesn’t look as good as Ironside (albeit he was poor last season but excellent the one before)
The fact Grant choose to start a 40 year old in front of him yesterday isn’t great really. Of course, he might come good but I’m not betting on it.
People say we can’t sign another striker as it means he won’t be in the match day squad are right. But it’s worrying.
[/quote John Marquis-was a slow starter and had to build his game up to first getting into good positions and even dropping into midfield to get the ball , couldn’t never win a header in challenge but still eventually got goals inspite of missing more chances than he scored . Hanlan will build his game around where and when to run into the box or when to lay it off , he’s still a work in progress and I think McCann knows that he’s willing to listen and learn .. time is on our side only play 3 games ..
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Sharp has just been very good every time he's played which makes things look worse I think. See what happens and give him a chance although as already mentioned when Sharp plays it's been a big upgrade
Billy's looked really fit & sharp so far this season, looks like a good decision to keep him on so far
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Look back to this forum after street had played two games, he was also getting some stick, you’ve got to give players a bit longer before you start digging them out
As I stated in the opening thread, he’s been here all of 5 minutes. But its observations based on what I have seen so far. There could be many reasons GM didn’t choose to start him on Saturday, however it will be interesting to see whether he starts on Tuesday.
If you listen to McCann then he goes on constantly about not having a first 11 and he’ll pick a team on the opposition. Hence why after winning 2 league games we made 5 changes, hanlan was just amongst 5 players that McCann didn’t think should be the in that starting 11 that’s all.
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I think we're mostly in agreement making similar observations and we're all prepared to give him time. He could very well be starting tomorrow at Huddersfield after Billy started the last two matches.
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I am hoping that Joe will be fit to start. It will be a tough game where we come under pressure for large parts of the game, therefore we need someone to battle for the ball and try and hold the ball up when we get chance to go forward.
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I can't help but get the feeling that hanlan, was plan B or C, after mcann couldn't get his first choice.
Pity, because we are a good striker away from being a serious team.
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I am hoping that Joe will be fit to start. It will be a tough game where we come under pressure for large parts of the game, therefore we need someone to battle for the ball and try and hold the ball up when we get chance to go forward.
I'd like to see Ironside given a fair crack first before he's completely written off, like some will have him on here. I imagine the Huddersfield defence will be big and physical and Joe is the man for that battle. He deserves a chance at it if he's over his injury problem of last season.
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I don't think GM will change any of the front 3 for tomorrow's game.
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I don't think GM will change any of the front 3 for tomorrow's game.
3 starts in 8 days is a big ask for someone pushing 40. Wouldn’t surprise me to see Gibson back on the bench either given he’s generally in and out of the team.
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Returning to Hanlan, McCann seemed to believe that he had a lot of the characteristics which are seen on here as lacking. His record as a goal scorer does not really compare with Ironside’s, but he has played mainly at a slightly higher level and although there have been worrying injuries he’s also a bit younger. The qualities that McCann cited when he signed him - “energy and pressing ability” - have not been too obvious so far and his “goal-scoring potential” remains just that and as yet unfulfilled. Both “energy” and “pressing ability” don’t necessarily yield results but they are qualities that are very visible. But the question is “Are they?”
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Completed 90 minutes three times last season and a few other times in the 80s minutes. Subbed on and off basically the entire season. Can he be the main guy leading the line, running the press from the front and linking play? Is that what he is physically up for or able to do?
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He holds the ball up ok. I think Hanlan is a winger not a striker. I’ve seen him play lots over the years and the best he looked is when he was on the wing for Gills.
what have you been watching, not seen him bring down 1 ball yet, it bounces off him or he gets bullied. Doesn’t help when Billy sharp is making it look easy, backing into defenders and controlling the ball at time.