Viking Supporters Co-operative
Viking Chat => Viking Chat => Topic started by: steve@dcfd on November 01, 2025, 07:00:26 pm
-
Was signed on Two year contract yet he’s not been in the squad for last 3 games.
In Grants interview yesterday he said no player was injured.
So if he’s been training why can’t he get in the 18 or today 20.
-
Who knows and there are plenty of players that McCann has forgotten about for months and then brought into the fold, but I am always reminded of that pre-season game when Cliff shouted at him to “run”. If that’s what your management team is asking for you to do and you are not, there is something fundamentally wrong.
-
Who knows and there are plenty of players that McCann has forgotten about for months and then brought into the fold, but I am always reminded of that pre-season game when Cliff shouted at him to “run”. If that’s what your management team is asking for you to do and you are not, there is something fundamentally wrong.
Did they not know what they were signing though?
-
Must still be getting used to our style of play!
-
Big squad. Can't play everyone
-
Was signed on Two year contract yet he’s not been in the squad for last 3 games.
In Grants interview yesterday he said no player was injured.
So if he’s been training why can’t he get in the 18 or today 20.
Needs to go out on loan to get his fitness up , none of preseason forwards has contributed anything so far and its embarrassing that at 39 Billy is still showing how to be a professional at any level
-
Clearly he is not up to L1, so we need to aim to get rid asap.
-
Clearly he is not up to L1, so we need to aim to get rid asap.
I think it was clear he wasn't up to L1 level before we signed him.
I think the same was clear for Olasanya.
I think Ajai was a calculated risk.
But I also don't know what people want when we are signing people for free or loan. Some big forwards in this league for big money, Alfie, N.Lowe etc.
I don't care what anyone says we have a low budget for this league and once that is accepted then our league position will be understood.
There are teams below us with bigger budgets IMO. So we are currently over achieving.
-
If it wasn't Hanlan, it would have been someone else, would you have asked the same question of them?
Its strange as if you watch That David Vlog of thr game, Hanlans shirt is hung up on the peg, pre the game
-
It’s pretty obvious McCann thinks it was a mistake in signing him. The problem is he’s on a 2 year contract and he won’t be easy to shift. Can’t see another league 1 team taking him off our hands so a loan to a team in league 2 is the best we could hope for. It’s not Hanlan’s fault, but something has gone drastically wrong in our recruitment process.
-
Lee Glover transitioned into the recruitment role at some point over the last six months, taking over the Copps. Whatever the circumstances, it seems we've got it badly wrong up top. You have to wonder in the case of Olasunya, with him in the U.S, did anyone watch him in the flesh? Or was it based on videos?
With Hanlon, I was underwhelmed at the time we announced it from previous sightings of him.
-
Lee Glover transitioned into the recruitment role at some point over the last six months, taking over the Copps. Whatever the circumstances, it seems we've got it badly wrong up top. You have to wonder in the case of Olasunya, with him in the U.S, did anyone watch him in the flesh? Or was it based on videos?
With Hanlon, I was underwhelmed at the time we announced it from previous sightings of him.
I also warned against it at the time of signing. I've seen him a few times down the years and thought it plainly obvious that he has poor instincts for a striker at any level. He's not looked fit since he's been here.
-
Within the realms of what is realistic, in January you would think we will be moving on Lasagne, Westbrooke, and perhaps Crew or Ajayi in the window. Potential maybe for some of the five lads we have loaned out to come back in to the squad. Then the only focus needs to be a striker who can play right down the middle, to support Sharp and Hanlan. No good fantasising about Hanlan being moved on. He is less than six months into a two year deal. He is staying and will have to find a place, at least until the summer.
-
From the outside looking in, it’s just odd.
He hasn’t been afforded any game time in comparison to others ( not that he’s looked great in that time)
I do feel he’s looked better each time he’s been involved though, not what we can say about some of the others.
-
Totally disagree, he was given game time at the start, and I have seen no improvement from him at all.
-
Who knows and there are plenty of players that McCann has forgotten about for months and then brought into the fold, but I am always reminded of that pre-season game when Cliff shouted at him to “run”. If that’s what your management team is asking for you to do and you are not, there is something fundamentally wrong.
The pre season “run” thing is what I keep thinking of.
I honestly think Hanlan here could be done already.
Very odd.
Lots of work to do in January and the summer.
-
No making a 9 man bench in the fa cup first round says it all.
He's done
-
Totally disagree, he was given game time at the start, and I have seen no improvement from him at all.
He played an hour in the first two league games and hasn’t started a league game since. He’s played 240 mins total in the league. That’s not being given a run is it.
Sharp has got one goal every 350 minutes in the league. That’s not good.
-
Totally disagree, he was given game time at the start, and I have seen no improvement from him at all.
He played an hour in the first two league games and hasn’t started a league game since. He’s played 240 mins total in the league. That’s not being given a run is it.
Sharp has got one goal every 350 minutes in the league. That’s not good.
Other than Bailey sharp has been our best player this season so far.
Ridiculous comment
-
McCann has form for offering contracts and binning players shortly after.
It is something we have to accept with the model of manager runs the club that we have. Concern that whoever is next isn’t as good as McCann and gets more wrong than right…. We’ve seen how quickly that spirals before
-
Totally disagree, he was given game time at the start, and I have seen no improvement from him at all.
He played an hour in the first two league games and hasn’t started a league game since. He’s played 240 mins total in the league. That’s not being given a run is it.
Sharp has got one goal every 350 minutes in the league. That’s not good.
Not Sharps fault though is it, he's not a lone striker & is feeding of scraps.
-
Totally disagree, he was given game time at the start, and I have seen no improvement from him at all.
He played an hour in the first two league games and hasn’t started a league game since. He’s played 240 mins total in the league. That’s not being given a run is it.
Sharp has got one goal every 350 minutes in the league. That’s not good.
Not Sharps fault though is it, he's not a lone striker & is feeding of scraps.
Again I’m here to question this narrative.
If Billy had the aerial presence to get on the end of Middleton’s crosses or the pace to get in behind defences then he would all of a sudden get more service.
More of either of these would help the team in build up too.
He’s doing his best, but we need better.
-
Totally disagree, he was given game time at the start, and I have seen no improvement from him at all.
He played an hour in the first two league games and hasn’t started a league game since. He’s played 240 mins total in the league. That’s not being given a run is it.
Sharp has got one goal every 350 minutes in the league. That’s not good.
Other than Bailey sharp has been our best player this season so far.
Ridiculous comment
He hasn’t. He does his best and his effort for the cause can’t be questioned. He’s just completely the wrong profile for our team.
-
Totally disagree, he was given game time at the start, and I have seen no improvement from him at all.
He played an hour in the first two league games and hasn’t started a league game since. He’s played 240 mins total in the league. That’s not being given a run is it.
Sharp has got one goal every 350 minutes in the league. That’s not good.
Other than Bailey sharp has been our best player this season so far.
Ridiculous comment
He hasn’t. He does his best and his effort for the cause can’t be questioned. He’s just completely the wrong profile for our team.
Everyone can see it apart from the manager, surely we change our formation & style of play to suit the players we have at our disposal?
-
Totally disagree, he was given game time at the start, and I have seen no improvement from him at all.
He played an hour in the first two league games and hasn’t started a league game since. He’s played 240 mins total in the league. That’s not being given a run is it.
Sharp has got one goal every 350 minutes in the league. That’s not good.
Other than Bailey sharp has been our best player this season so far.
Ridiculous comment
He hasn’t. He does his best and his effort for the cause can’t be questioned. He’s just completely the wrong profile for our team.
Everyone can see it apart from the manager, surely we change our formation & style of play to suit the players we have at our disposal?
We needed a different profile of striker. He signed one, just happens he isn’t very good. Not sure how you outperform poor recruitment.
-
Totally disagree, he was given game time at the start, and I have seen no improvement from him at all.
He played an hour in the first two league games and hasn’t started a league game since. He’s played 240 mins total in the league. That’s not being given a run is it.
Sharp has got one goal every 350 minutes in the league. That’s not good.
It’s time you accept that Hanlan is completely useless, his stats before he joined us were very poor, and stop trying to shift the blame onto Billy.
I can’t remember anytime in Bills career where he was expected to play regularly has a lone striker (which he is not and never has been).
Throughout his career he’s always thrived on receiving decent balls to hi in and around the box and at present this is not happening, with too many high crosses into the box.
I don’t think even Billy himself would have excepted at the start of the season that he would leading the line so much has he is having to do now, purely because others who were brought in to do that job have proved to be totally unable to do so.
So please don’t make Billy the scapegoat and direct your comments elsewhere.
-
Sharp is 40 in February. He is being asked not only to play 90 or close to 90 minutes pretty much every game, and play as the only striker, a role he hasn't really played in his career. There is only so much you can do against that reality. He's doing his very best but this is a far from optimal situation for him and for us. We've made a real mess of that central position really pretty much since McCann arrived. Street was a brief relief and Joe did well for much of the first McCann season but it's been a real issue for us.
-
Totally disagree, he was given game time at the start, and I have seen no improvement from him at all.
He played an hour in the first two league games and hasn’t started a league game since. He’s played 240 mins total in the league. That’s not being given a run is it.
Sharp has got one goal every 350 minutes in the league. That’s not good.
It’s time you accept that Hanlan is completely useless, his stats before he joined us were very poor, and stop trying to shift the blame onto Billy.
I can’t remember anytime in Bills career where he was expected to play regularly has a lone striker (which he is not and never has been).
Throughout his career he’s always thrived on receiving decent balls to hi in and around the box and at present this is not happening, with too many high crosses into the box.
I don’t think even Billy himself would have excepted at the start of the season that he would leading the line so much has he is having to do now, purely because others who were brought in to do that job have proved to be totally unable to do so.
So please don’t make Billy the scapegoat and direct your comments elsewhere.
The three strikers we have haven’t been good enough imo.
My gripe is at the recruitment. Signing two strikers, one that starts the first two games and basically isn’t seen again and another that’s just miles off it, isn’t good enough is it.
It’s not being pro anyone or anti anyone.
The fact Billy has played more minutes than we all expected doesn’t mean he’s exempt from having his performances/ output critiqued. Do we create enough chances as a group? I don’t think so. Would we create more with a more mobile striker? I think so.
-
Getting rid of Ironside was criminal, not suggesting he'd be a starter but for what he lacks in goals he has a presence up the pitch by holding the ball up .
-
There’s a very valid point about the front 3 and, we should add the attacking midfielder (who isn’t really Bailey).
Gibson, Molyneux, Middleton, Gotts, Clifton and Sharp. How many goals between the lot of them? Not many - clue - Billy is on 3 league goals.
Something has to be done in January. Notice I havn’t even mentioned Hanlan, Olusanya or Ajayi. And for good reason.
-
Getting rid of Ironside was criminal, not suggesting he'd be a starter but for what he lacks in goals he has a presence up the pitch by holding the ball up .
Loved Ironside, but he wasn’t good enough anymore.
But we did need to replace him with a better and more mobile version of him.
-
Totally disagree, he was given game time at the start, and I have seen no improvement from him at all.
He played an hour in the first two league games and hasn’t started a league game since. He’s played 240 mins total in the league. That’s not being given a run is it.
Sharp has got one goal every 350 minutes in the league. That’s not good.
Other than Bailey sharp has been our best player this season so far.
Ridiculous comment
He hasn’t. He does his best and his effort for the cause can’t be questioned. He’s just completely the wrong profile for our team.
He's easily been our 2nd best player.
-
Of our three strikers, two are wingers who can also play up top and the other is 39. I tried to optimistic with Hanlan especially after a half decent pre season but I think it gets clearer week on week what our issues are. Thankfully it will soon be January
-
Totally disagree, he was given game time at the start, and I have seen no improvement from him at all.
He played an hour in the first two league games and hasn’t started a league game since. He’s played 240 mins total in the league. That’s not being given a run is it.
Sharp has got one goal every 350 minutes in the league. That’s not good.
Other than Bailey sharp has been our best player this season so far.
Ridiculous comment
He hasn’t. He does his best and his effort for the cause can’t be questioned. He’s just completely the wrong profile for our team.
He's easily been our 2nd best player.
Maxwell and Bailey have been our two best players this season. That’s pretty clear.
-
As I mentioned earlier Its strange as if you watch That David Vlog of the game, Hanlans shirt is hung up on the peg, pre the game. So maybe something happened.
-
And Nixon was with the other players as they headed to the dressing room!
-
Totally disagree, he was given game time at the start, and I have seen no improvement from him at all.
He played an hour in the first two league games and hasn’t started a league game since. He’s played 240 mins total in the league. That’s not being given a run is it.
Sharp has got one goal every 350 minutes in the league. That’s not good.
Other than Bailey sharp has been our best player this season so far.
Ridiculous comment
He hasn’t. He does his best and his effort for the cause can’t be questioned. He’s just completely the wrong profile for our team.
He's easily been our 2nd best player.
Maxwell and Bailey have been our two best players this season. That’s pretty clear.
:lol: :lol: :lol: clueless
-
Totally disagree, he was given game time at the start, and I have seen no improvement from him at all.
He played an hour in the first two league games and hasn’t started a league game since. He’s played 240 mins total in the league. That’s not being given a run is it.
Sharp has got one goal every 350 minutes in the league. That’s not good.
Other than Bailey sharp has been our best player this season so far.
Ridiculous comment
He hasn’t. He does his best and his effort for the cause can’t be questioned. He’s just completely the wrong profile for our team.
He's easily been our 2nd best player.
Maxwell and Bailey have been our two best players this season. That’s pretty clear.
:lol: :lol: :lol: clueless
Can I ask you how many games you’ve watched live this season?
-
It is rather obvious that there was far more wisdom in the recruitment of the defenders and midfielders than in the forwards with the exception of Middleton. You might conclude that it became clear fairly quickly that Hanlan was not adequate which was what prompted a desperate search for another central striker which materialised in Olusanya on 30/08/25.
You might further deduce from the fact that he is a loan with little encouraging goal-scoring history that there was little money left in the transfer pot. Looking at how it turned out, the player has brought us nothing, meaning that it was cheap failed gamble and recruitment falling well short of "competent".
I've said before, and I think we've all been reminded by the "Youngest Goal-scorer" thread, that if you are going to be any good you ought to be showing promise before you are 20 or 21. 18yo players can perform well in the Premier League and so would we not have probably been better giving our U21s the chances which Hanlan and Olusanya and Ajayi have squandered. Are young players really so vulnerable that they cannot be released on to the pitch with so-called "seasoned professionals"? Is it not the case that today they are probably generally more mature both physically and mentally than my and Alick's generation were? Very few of Rovers' youngsters graduate to the first team currently and I can't help wondering whether this is because they are denied proper opportunities. I'd be surprised if Selby did not have some sympathy for this viewpoint.
-
Totally disagree, he was given game time at the start, and I have seen no improvement from him at all.
He played an hour in the first two league games and hasn’t started a league game since. He’s played 240 mins total in the league. That’s not being given a run is it.
Sharp has got one goal every 350 minutes in the league. That’s not good.
Other than Bailey sharp has been our best player this season so far.
Ridiculous comment
He hasn’t. He does his best and his effort for the cause can’t be questioned. He’s just completely the wrong profile for our team.
He's easily been our 2nd best player.
Maxwell and Bailey have been our two best players this season. That’s pretty clear.
:lol: :lol: :lol: clueless
Can I ask you how many games you’ve watched live this season?
Thats irrelevant, but ill play.
I've not missed a home game, and gone to 5 away games, and the ones I've not been to I've watched a stream, apart from yesterday when there wasn't one.
To suggest maxwell is above Billy this season, tells me either you know nothing about football, or have hardly seen any games this season, or probably both.
-
Totally disagree, he was given game time at the start, and I have seen no improvement from him at all.
He played an hour in the first two league games and hasn’t started a league game since. He’s played 240 mins total in the league. That’s not being given a run is it.
Sharp has got one goal every 350 minutes in the league. That’s not good.
Other than Bailey sharp has been our best player this season so far.
Ridiculous comment
He hasn’t. He does his best and his effort for the cause can’t be questioned. He’s just completely the wrong profile for our team.
He's easily been our 2nd best player.
Maxwell and Bailey have been our two best players this season. That’s pretty clear.
:lol: :lol: :lol: clueless
Can I ask you how many games you’ve watched live this season?
Thats irrelevant, but ill play.
I've not missed a home game, and gone to 5 away games, and the ones I've not been to I've watched a stream, apart from yesterday when there wasn't one.
To suggest maxwell is above Billy this season, tells me either you know nothing about football, or have hardly seen any games this season, or probably both.
Been to every game, home and away, in every competition bar Huddersfield. Maxwell has been superb, can’t be the only one noticing that surely.
-
Does the Kit man put every players shirt out in the away dressing room as said above Hanlan shirt was hung up so you would think he would be in the squad.
As I said before he is our player he should be given more chance than Olusanya who has shown he is not good enough.
ForsolongaRover I’m not up with all our young players and their ages but we do not have a striker/forward above the age of 17/18.
-
Totally disagree, he was given game time at the start, and I have seen no improvement from him at all.
He played an hour in the first two league games and hasn’t started a league game since. He’s played 240 mins total in the league. That’s not being given a run is it.
Sharp has got one goal every 350 minutes in the league. That’s not good.
Other than Bailey sharp has been our best player this season so far.
Ridiculous comment
He hasn’t. He does his best and his effort for the cause can’t be questioned. He’s just completely the wrong profile for our team.
He's easily been our 2nd best player.
Maxwell and Bailey have been our two best players this season. That’s pretty clear.
:lol: :lol: :lol: clueless
Can I ask you how many games you’ve watched live this season?
Thats irrelevant, but ill play.
I've not missed a home game, and gone to 5 away games, and the ones I've not been to I've watched a stream, apart from yesterday when there wasn't one.
To suggest maxwell is above Billy this season, tells me either you know nothing about football, or have hardly seen any games this season, or probably both.
Been to every game, home and away, in every competition bar Huddersfield. Maxwell has been superb, can’t be the only one noticing that surely.
‘My black cat’s blacker than your black cat’.
I’d go with Owen & Billy. Billy is absolutely essential to the team & is proving game after game that age is just a number, without him the team hasn’t anyone who can lead the line anywhere near the way he does with his runs, positioning & finishing (bar the Burton miss).
Just my opinion.
-
Never happens, but would be interested to know who was behind the signings of Hanlan & Olusanya and what they actually thought they'd bring. Both look a fair way off the standard required.
Have a little sympathy for Ajayi, 19 year old on first loan in men's footy. Pretty much only goes 1 of 2 ways, sadly for us it looks like he's not much of improvement on the Yeboah gamble of last year.
-
Does the Kit man put every players shirt out in the away dressing room as said above Hanlan shirt was hung up so you would think he would be in the squad.
As I said before he is our player he should be given more chance than Olusanya who has shown he is not good enough.
ForsolongaRover I’m not up with all our young players and their ages but we do not have a striker/forward above the age of 17/18.
Perhaps the kit man is working to instruction to prevent any potential early leakage of the team.
-
Totally disagree, he was given game time at the start, and I have seen no improvement from him at all.
He played an hour in the first two league games and hasn’t started a league game since. He’s played 240 mins total in the league. That’s not being given a run is it.
Sharp has got one goal every 350 minutes in the league. That’s not good.
Other than Bailey sharp has been our best player this season so far.
Ridiculous comment
He hasn’t. He does his best and his effort for the cause can’t be questioned. He’s just completely the wrong profile for our team.
He's easily been our 2nd best player.
Maxwell and Bailey have been our two best players this season. That’s pretty clear.
:lol: :lol: :lol: clueless
Can I ask you how many games you’ve watched live this season?
Thats irrelevant, but ill play.
I've not missed a home game, and gone to 5 away games, and the ones I've not been to I've watched a stream, apart from yesterday when there wasn't one.
To suggest maxwell is above Billy this season, tells me either you know nothing about football, or have hardly seen any games this season, or probably both.
Been to every game, home and away, in every competition bar Huddersfield. Maxwell has been superb, can’t be the only one noticing that surely.
He's been ok, ill give him that, but that wasn't your original point, you were trying to say billy has been poor, which of course is ridiculous.
-
Totally disagree, he was given game time at the start, and I have seen no improvement from him at all.
He played an hour in the first two league games and hasn’t started a league game since. He’s played 240 mins total in the league. That’s not being given a run is it.
Sharp has got one goal every 350 minutes in the league. That’s not good.
Other than Bailey sharp has been our best player this season so far.
Ridiculous comment
He hasn’t. He does his best and his effort for the cause can’t be questioned. He’s just completely the wrong profile for our team.
He's easily been our 2nd best player.
Maxwell and Bailey have been our two best players this season. That’s pretty clear.
:lol: :lol: :lol: clueless
Can I ask you how many games you’ve watched live this season?
Thats irrelevant, but ill play.
I've not missed a home game, and gone to 5 away games, and the ones I've not been to I've watched a stream, apart from yesterday when there wasn't one.
To suggest maxwell is above Billy this season, tells me either you know nothing about football, or have hardly seen any games this season, or probably both.
Been to every game, home and away, in every competition bar Huddersfield. Maxwell has been superb, can’t be the only one noticing that surely.
He's been ok, ill give him that, but that wasn't your original point, you were trying to say billy has been poor, which of course is ridiculous.
I said hes not been good as opposed to poor. Maybe my expectations of a striker, in a team with aspirations of being well into the top half of L1, are hiigher than yours.
-
Never happens, but would be interested to know who was behind the signings of Hanlan & Olusanya and what they actually thought they'd bring. Both look a fair way off the standard required.
Have a little sympathy for Ajayi, 19 year old on first loan in men's footy. Pretty much only goes 1 of 2 ways, sadly for us it looks like he's not much of improvement on the Yeboah gamble of last year.
Sonetimes its about not what they are today but hopefully what there is to work with to fit us. Some dont work and I personally still think there is time. As Mccann is very good at this. Remembering my guess is we will never be able to stretch to a top striker in form as most clubs would struggle to do. Mccann obviosuly feels both are workable to adding value and if Hanlan takes a little l9nger then fair enough. If both dont work, 8ts just one of thise things and fingers criss we can address in Jan.
-
As has been pointed out elsewhere, Hanlan seems to lack a strikers instinct. I’m unsure about the qualities McCann et al had seen and thought would bring to the team.
Just going on what I’ve seen Billy has been superb.
I question our so called creative, skilful players not doing what they are in the team to do. They need look forward, make runs, see the runs and make that pass early,take players on, get crosses in, make telling passes etc.
It will not always pay off but simply laying it back or to the side is something that any player in the team can do. Players need to do their jobs.
-
I think we’re in an inflated place in the table due to the quality of Owen Bailey. Take away his quality, work and goals and we would be bottom end and struggling. It’s a single point of failure which is hugely risky.
Sharp is running his blood to water. Hanlan doesn’t look as terrible to me as others seem to feel, but the issue for both, and Olusanya is that they don’t suit playing in a 4-3-3.
We’ve got the personnel we’ve got, for the next two months at least. So instead of blaming players I think we should stop putting square pegs in round holes and set up the team to the strengths of the players we have, e.g. playing a proper 9 and 10 - it gives game time to players that need it, and plays to the strength of Sharp, Hanlan and Olusanya who are much more likely to flourish in this set up.
-
Totally disagree, he was given game time at the start, and I have seen no improvement from him at all.
He played an hour in the first two league games and hasn’t started a league game since. He’s played 240 mins total in the league. That’s not being given a run is it.
Sharp has got one goal every 350 minutes in the league. That’s not good.
Other than Bailey sharp has been our best player this season so far.
Ridiculous comment
He hasn’t. He does his best and his effort for the cause can’t be questioned. He’s just completely the wrong profile for our team.
He's easily been our 2nd best player.
Maxwell and Bailey have been our two best players this season. That’s pretty clear.
:lol: :lol: :lol: clueless
Can I ask you how many games you’ve watched live this season?
Thats irrelevant, but ill play.
I've not missed a home game, and gone to 5 away games, and the ones I've not been to I've watched a stream, apart from yesterday when there wasn't one.
To suggest maxwell is above Billy this season, tells me either you know nothing about football, or have hardly seen any games this season, or probably both.
Been to every game, home and away, in every competition bar Huddersfield. Maxwell has been superb, can’t be the only one noticing that surely.
He's been ok, ill give him that, but that wasn't your original point, you were trying to say billy has been poor, which of course is ridiculous.
I said hes not been good as opposed to poor. Maybe my expectations of a striker, in a team with aspirations of being well into the top half of L1, are hiigher than yours.
Well, your arguing semantics now.
But to say billy hasn't been good is a ridiculous comment
-
I think we’re in an inflated place in the table due to the quality of Owen Bailey. Take away his quality, work and goals and we would be bottom end and struggling. It’s a single point of failure which is hugely risky.
Sharp is running his blood to water. Hanlan doesn’t look as terrible to me as others seem to feel, but the issue for both, and Olusanya is that they don’t suit playing in a 4-3-3.
We’ve got the personnel we’ve got, for the next two months at least. So instead of blaming players I think we should stop putting square pegs in round holes and set up the team to the strengths of the players we have, e.g. playing a proper 9 and 10 - it gives game time to players that need it, and plays to the strength of Sharp, Hanlan and Olusanya who are much more likely to flourish in this set up.
Its silly when peole say this type of thing.
Take away a goal keeper and we would have conceed loads
It just so happens the team are set up t9 play to those strengths which gives him opportunities.
-
I think we’re in an inflated place in the table due to the quality of Owen Bailey. Take away his quality, work and goals and we would be bottom end and struggling. It’s a single point of failure which is hugely risky.
Sharp is running his blood to water. Hanlan doesn’t look as terrible to me as others seem to feel, but the issue for both, and Olusanya is that they don’t suit playing in a 4-3-3.
We’ve got the personnel we’ve got, for the next two months at least. So instead of blaming players I think we should stop putting square pegs in round holes and set up the team to the strengths of the players we have, e.g. playing a proper 9 and 10 - it gives game time to players that need it, and plays to the strength of Sharp, Hanlan and Olusanya who are much more likely to flourish in this set up.
Its silly when peole say this type of thing.
Take away a goal keeper and we would have conceed loads
It just so happens the team are set up t9 play to those strengths which gives him opportunities.
So Bailey hasn't been our outstanding player? And we'd have done equally well in games with someone else playing there, e.g. Crew or Close? I personally don't think so.
-
As has been pointed out elsewhere, Hanlan seems to lack a strikers instinct. I’m unsure about the qualities McCann et al had seen and thought would bring to the team.
Just going on what I’ve seen Billy has been superb.
I question our so called creative, skilful players not doing what they are in the team to do. They need look forward, make runs, see the runs and make that pass early,take players on, get crosses in, make telling passes etc.
It will not always pay off but simply laying it back or to the side is something that any player in the team can do. Players need to do their jobs.
Clifton spotted the run Billy made for our first goal and made a perfect pass.to Billy to do what he does best!
-
I think we’re in an inflated place in the table due to the quality of Owen Bailey. Take away his quality, work and goals and we would be bottom end and struggling. It’s a single point of failure which is hugely risky.
Sharp is running his blood to water. Hanlan doesn’t look as terrible to me as others seem to feel, but the issue for both, and Olusanya is that they don’t suit playing in a 4-3-3.
We’ve got the personnel we’ve got, for the next two months at least. So instead of blaming players I think we should stop putting square pegs in round holes and set up the team to the strengths of the players we have, e.g. playing a proper 9 and 10 - it gives game time to players that need it, and plays to the strength of Sharp, Hanlan and Olusanya who are much more likely to flourish in this set up.
Its silly when peole say this type of thing.
Take away a goal keeper and we would have conceed loads
It just so happens the team are set up t9 play to those strengths which gives him opportunities.
So Bailey hasn't been our outstanding player? And we'd have done equally well in games with someone else playing there, e.g. Crew or Close? I personally don't think so.
I dont think we would be near the bottom of the league if he wasnt. He has an effect but its wrong to base it on him scoring goals, who knows whoever played there may have done the same you never know.
-
Never happens, but would be interested to know who was behind the signings of Hanlan & Olusanya and what they actually thought they'd bring. Both look a fair way off the standard required.
Have a little sympathy for Ajayi, 19 year old on first loan in men's footy. Pretty much only goes 1 of 2 ways, sadly for us it looks like he's not much of improvement on the Yeboah gamble of last year.
Sonetimes its about not what they are today but hopefully what there is to work with to fit us. Some dont work and I personally still think there is time. As Mccann is very good at this. Remembering my guess is we will never be able to stretch to a top striker in form as most clubs would struggle to do. Mccann obviosuly feels both are workable to adding value and if Hanlan takes a little l9nger then fair enough. If both dont work, 8ts just one of thise things and fingers criss we can address in Jan.
With that last sentence, I thought I was into an episode of "Allo Allo".
-
I think we’re in an inflated place in the table due to the quality of Owen Bailey. Take away his quality, work and goals and we would be bottom end and struggling. It’s a single point of failure which is hugely risky.
Sharp is running his blood to water. Hanlan doesn’t look as terrible to me as others seem to feel, but the issue for both, and Olusanya is that they don’t suit playing in a 4-3-3.
We’ve got the personnel we’ve got, for the next two months at least. So instead of blaming players I think we should stop putting square pegs in round holes and set up the team to the strengths of the players we have, e.g. playing a proper 9 and 10 - it gives game time to players that need it, and plays to the strength of Sharp, Hanlan and Olusanya who are much more likely to flourish in this set up.
Its silly when peole say this type of thing.
Take away a goal keeper and we would have conceed loads
It just so happens the team are set up t9 play to those strengths which gives him opportunities.
So Bailey hasn't been our outstanding player? And we'd have done equally well in games with someone else playing there, e.g. Crew or Close? I personally don't think so.
You're essentially saying though "if we didn't have this player that we do indeed have, this other thing would have happened."
Largely irrelevant, because we do in fact have Owen Bailey.
-
I think we’re in an inflated place in the table due to the quality of Owen Bailey. Take away his quality, work and goals and we would be bottom end and struggling. It’s a single point of failure which is hugely risky.
Sharp is running his blood to water. Hanlan doesn’t look as terrible to me as others seem to feel, but the issue for both, and Olusanya is that they don’t suit playing in a 4-3-3.
We’ve got the personnel we’ve got, for the next two months at least. So instead of blaming players I think we should stop putting square pegs in round holes and set up the team to the strengths of the players we have, e.g. playing a proper 9 and 10 - it gives game time to players that need it, and plays to the strength of Sharp, Hanlan and Olusanya who are much more likely to flourish in this set up.
Its silly when peole say this type of thing.
Take away a goal keeper and we would have conceed loads
It just so happens the team are set up t9 play to those strengths which gives him opportunities.
So Bailey hasn't been our outstanding player? And we'd have done equally well in games with someone else playing there, e.g. Crew or Close? I personally don't think so.
You're essentially saying though "if we didn't have this player that we do indeed have, this other thing would have happened."
Largely irrelevant, because we do in fact have Owen Bailey.
Quite right, but it’s a castle built on sand if he breaks his leg in the derby at the weekend or leaves for Preston in January. That was my point, we’re plain sailing with him, we’re up shit creek without him, so cross everything he’s available every week - which in fairness he usually is!
-
I think we’re in an inflated place in the table due to the quality of Owen Bailey. Take away his quality, work and goals and we would be bottom end and struggling. It’s a single point of failure which is hugely risky.
Sharp is running his blood to water. Hanlan doesn’t look as terrible to me as others seem to feel, but the issue for both, and Olusanya is that they don’t suit playing in a 4-3-3.
We’ve got the personnel we’ve got, for the next two months at least. So instead of blaming players I think we should stop putting square pegs in round holes and set up the team to the strengths of the players we have, e.g. playing a proper 9 and 10 - it gives game time to players that need it, and plays to the strength of Sharp, Hanlan and Olusanya who are much more likely to flourish in this set up.
Its silly when peole say this type of thing.
Take away a goal keeper and we would have conceed loads
It just so happens the team are set up t9 play to those strengths which gives him opportunities.
So Bailey hasn't been our outstanding player? And we'd have done equally well in games with someone else playing there, e.g. Crew or Close? I personally don't think so.
I dont think we would be near the bottom of the league if he wasnt. He has an effect but its wrong to base it on him scoring goals, who knows whoever played there may have done the same you never know.
bails is doing what bails does best!!!! Leading by example, and putting in a captains shift more often than not!!
-
Wouldn't you think that the absence of Clifton over recent games has shown the impact the presence or absence of a single key player in our team can have?
-
As has been pointed out elsewhere, Hanlan seems to lack a strikers instinct. I’m unsure about the qualities McCann et al had seen and thought would bring to the team.
Just going on what I’ve seen Billy has been superb.
I question our so called creative, skilful players not doing what they are in the team to do. They need look forward, make runs, see the runs and make that pass early,take players on, get crosses in, make telling passes etc.
It will not always pay off but simply laying it back or to the side is something that any player in the team can do. Players need to do their jobs.
Clifton spotted the run Billy made for our first goal and made a perfect pass.to Billy to do what he does best!
What was different is that we went down the middle. My worry this season has been everything goes down the wings, meaning everyone knows where we are going. Maybe different players enable us to do this better, like Clifton.
-
Report from official Site
A brace from Joe Sbarra and a Brandon Hanlan strike saw Rovers triumph 3-1 in a behind-closed-doors fixture against a fellow Sky Bet League One side at Cantley Park this afternoon
-
It is difficult to understand on what basis Olusanya was recruited.
A friend of friend is fairly senior in an MLS outfit. When he heard we'd signed Olusanya his reaction was "who?". Given he's employed to know anyone who's anyone in that league, he said the fact he'd never heard of him was worrying - for us, not for him.
From what we've seen so far, it looks like he was on the money.
Hard to say based on the glimpses we've had, but to me Hanlan looks a better option. How much his ACL injury has affected him who knows, but he has made a career at this level
-
I think we can all agree, Billy is still exceptionally sharp in front of goal, despite his age. Give him the ball in the right areas and he will score more than he will miss.lets remember he is the greatest FL Striker there has been, and he is still as fit as most of the team. Quality is not an issue here!
The issue is the same for them all irrespective of quality, SERVICE.
We could have Ronaldo, Messi and Harry Kane up top and still not score.
-
I think we can all agree, Billy is still exceptionally sharp in front of goal, despite his age. Give him the ball in the right areas and he will score more than he will miss.lets remember he is the greatest FL Striker there has been, and he is still as fit as most of the team. Quality is not an issue here!
The issue is the same for them all irrespective of quality, SERVICE.
We could have Ronaldo, Messi and Harry Kane up top and still not score.
Have to disagree there.
The service into the box from the byline by Middleton’s crosses has been exceptional.
Mols, after his personal issues are now hopefully resolved, has shown glimpses of his old self as the ball into the box from the outside of his left foot against Crewe for Bails to finish on shows.
The worry should be if we lost Billy (tired of banging this drum) because we have absolutely no one in this group close to replacing what he gives us……..& he’s knocking on forty.
Hanlan’s last manager (16 league goals over a 4 year period at Wycombe) said ‘Brandon couldn’t hit a bulls arse with a banjo’, I tend to agree.
So let’s please stop kidding ourselves into believing Hanlan must be a good player because ‘He’s played in the Championship’. He’s not & we desperately need someone in the January window who can aid/supplement Billy.
-
The point being, even as good as Billy is/ has been, he ain’t scoring goals from all these great chances you talk of.
Im not saying any of the others are good, bad or anything else, but I know if a striker of Billy's quality ain’t scoring, lesser quality won’t either.
Billy is afforded game time though his tireless running and workload, if Hanlan and Olusanya do not match this efffort as a minimum, they will not get in the team, and may well leave the club.
-
Wouldn't you think that the absence of Clifton over recent games has shown the impact the presence or absence of a single key player in our team can have?
I don't think it's ever as simple as one player making all the difference. But it is notable that McCann has selected Clifton for every game that he's been available. And the record with and without him is remarkable
With
P9 W7 D1 L1
Without
P8 W1 D1 L6
-
I think we can all agree, Billy is still exceptionally sharp in front of goal, despite his age. Give him the ball in the right areas and he will score more than he will miss.lets remember he is the greatest FL Striker there has been, and he is still as fit as most of the team. Quality is not an issue here!
The issue is the same for them all irrespective of quality, SERVICE.
We could have Ronaldo, Messi and Harry Kane up top and still not score.
Hanlan’s last manager (16 league goals over a 4 year period at Wycombe) said ‘Brandon couldn’t hit a bulls arse with a banjo’, I tend to agree.
No, he didn't say that.
-
Olusanya does what Street did last year. You can kick it over the top, however once he gets the ball he's not been like Street.
-
We’ve scored 13 goals in the league from 14 games. 5 Bailey. 3. Sharp 2 Molyneux 1 Gibson
1 Close. 1 Pearson. It’s not all about the striker although the goals from Street last seen carried us to Champions. Note he’s scored 1 goal in 13 league games for Lincoln ( not playing in the same position)
The rest of our team need to take these chances that we are creating not just Billy.
Hanlan should be on the bench more often but his goal scoring record is not good .
Olusanya has been given more time on the bench yet he doesn’t look the player to help our cause. Hanlan could be on the bench this weekend.
-
We’ve scored 13 goals in the league from 14 games. 5 Bailey. 3. Sharp 2 Molyneux 1 Gibson
1 Close. 1 Pearson. It’s not all about the striker although the goals from Street last seen carried us to Champions. Note he’s scored 1 goal in 13 league games for Lincoln ( not playing in the same position)
The rest of our team need to take these chances that we are creating not just Billy.
Hanlan should be on the bench more often but his goal scoring record is not good .
Olusanya has been given more time on the bench yet he doesn’t look the player to help our cause. Hanlan could be on the bench this weekend.
A McCann team normally has lots of goals from out wide, with the wingers essentially being strikers.
Yes Middleton’s crossing is good but he’s on zero goals!
-
Olusanya does what Street did last year. You can kick it over the top, however once he gets the ball he's not been like Street.
True he has great pace, but when clear he doesn’t seem to know what to do with the ball, whereas street would be thinking of options if he got clear, so a huge difference between the two.
-
I think we can all agree, Billy is still exceptionally sharp in front of goal, despite his age. Give him the ball in the right areas and he will score more than he will miss.lets remember he is the greatest FL Striker there has been, and he is still as fit as most of the team. Quality is not an issue here!
The issue is the same for them all irrespective of quality, SERVICE.
We could have Ronaldo, Messi and Harry Kane up top and still not score.
Hanlan’s last manager (16 league goals over a 4 year period at Wycombe) said ‘Brandon couldn’t hit a bulls arse with a banjo’, I tend to agree.
No, he didn't say that.
No you’re right.
The quote was ‘Brandon couldn’t hit a barn door with a banjo’.
-
I think we can all agree, Billy is still exceptionally sharp in front of goal, despite his age. Give him the ball in the right areas and he will score more than he will miss.lets remember he is the greatest FL Striker there has been, and he is still as fit as most of the team. Quality is not an issue here!
The issue is the same for them all irrespective of quality, SERVICE.
We could have Ronaldo, Messi and Harry Kane up top and still not score.
Hanlan’s last manager (16 league goals over a 4 year period at Wycombe) said ‘Brandon couldn’t hit a bulls arse with a banjo’, I tend to agree.
No, he didn't say that.
No you’re right.
The quote was ‘Brandon couldn’t hit a barn door with a banjo’.
He didn't say that either.
-
Oh goody. So what, if anything, did he say?
Suspense is bad for everybody's blood pressure
BobG
-
Clearly he is not up to L1, so we need to aim to get rid asap.
I think it was clear he wasn't up to L1 level before we signed him.
I think the same was clear for Olasanya.
I think Ajai was a calculated risk.
But I also don't know what people want when we are signing people for free or loan. Some big forwards in this league for big money, Alfie, N.Lowe etc.
I don't care what anyone says we have a low budget for this league and once that is accepted then our league position will be understood.
There are teams below us with bigger budgets IMO. So we are currently over achieving.
Sharp is out performing Alfie and Lowe
-
Prediction, Hanlon to cone off the bench to score the winner against Barnsley
-
Prediction, Hanlon to cone off the bench to score the winner against Barnsley
He'll need to be on the bench for that to happen - which he wasn't last week
-
Oh goody. So what, if anything, did he say?
Suspense is bad for everybody's blood pressure
BobG
I Googled it, and the only reference I found was Joey Barton saying Hanlan couldn't hit a cow's arse with a banjo when they were both at Bristol Rovers.
Worth bearing in mind he was saying this after Hanlan had actually just scored for Wycombe in a 2-0 win against Barton's side, so maybe not the most objective comments from him.
I do think there is a player in Hanlan but he's looked a yard off it since being here. Whether he's fit or still struggling with his knee I'm not sure. Surely he offers more than Olusanya though.
-
Prediction, Hanlon to cone off the bench to score the winner against Barnsley
He'll need to be on the bench for that to happen - which he wasn't last week
Agreed, lets get positive and behind him. He scored midweek, Mccann says well done lad, good game and says your on the bench for this l9cal derby.
78 mins come along, Mccann says to Hanlan, go and make yourself a hero, hey presto. 89 mins rovers win 2-1.
Can everyone imagine being happy.
-
Oh goody. So what, if anything, did he say?
Suspense is bad for everybody's blood pressure
BobG
I Googled it, and the only reference I found was Joey Barton saying Hanlan couldn't hit a cow's arse with a banjo when they were both at Bristol Rovers.
Worth bearing in mind he was saying this after Hanlan had actually just scored for Wycombe in a 2-0 win against Barton
Correct. Safe to say there's a lot gone on in Joey's life (from being a cash cow for the legal profession to providing pre-season weight-training for lower league defenders) but none of it involves managing Brandon Hanlan last season at Wycombe.
-
Clearly he is not up to L1, so we need to aim to get rid asap.
I think it was clear he wasn't up to L1 level before we signed him.
I think the same was clear for Olasanya.
I think Ajai was a calculated risk.
But I also don't know what people want when we are signing people for free or loan. Some big forwards in this league for big money, Alfie, N.Lowe etc.
I don't care what anyone says we have a low budget for this league and once that is accepted then our league position will be understood.
There are teams below us with bigger budgets IMO. So we are currently over achieving.
Sharp is out performing Alfie and Lowe
He is and will do, because he is a better player. He would get a lot more goals aswell if we played to his strengths.
Not sure what that has to do with the thread though?
-
Prediction, Hanlon to cone off the bench to score the winner against Barnsley
He'll need to be on the bench for that to happen - which he wasn't last week
Agreed, lets get positive and behind him. He scored midweek, Mccann says well done lad, good game and says your on the bench for this l9cal derby.
78 mins come along, Mccann says to Hanlan, go and make yourself a hero, hey presto. 89 mins rovers win 2-1.
Can everyone imagine being Prediction, Hanlon to cone off the bench to score the winner against Barnsley
He'll need to be on the bench for that to happen - which he wasn't last week
Agreed, lets get positive and behind him. He scored midweek, Mccann says well done lad, good game and says your on the bench for this l9cal derby.
78 mins come along, Mccann says to Hanlan, go and make yourself a hero, hey presto. 89 mins rovers win 2-1.
Can everyone imagine being happy.
He is on the bench, could it happen :)
-
Pigs might fly :rolleyes:
-
Thought he did ok when he was on today, controlled the ball well and made some good driving runs.
No negativity should be thrown at his direction today, probably the best option we currently jave for sharp
-
And molly is rubbish, I hope most people are embarrased based on the reason he had a dip.
Hanlon looks ok, he needs more than 12 mins each time to score.
-
Thought he did ok when he was on today, controlled the ball well and made some good driving runs.
No negativity should be thrown at his direction today, probably the best option we currently jave for sharp
agreed
-
Thought he did ok when he was on today, controlled the ball well and made some good driving runs.
No negativity should be thrown at his direction today, probably the best option we currently jave for sharp
agreed
Looked strong when he was on, barnsley defenders didnt know how to handle him.
Personally its time to give up the ghost with the 2 loans of olusanya and ajayi, lets stick with some consistency.
Unless of course its forced by injury or suspension
-
Also thought Hanlan looked good. He has power driving in from the wing. He's clearly not a central striker.
-
He’s clearly not a striker, which is what we needed!
-
Mate of mine who's a Barnsley fan says Molyneux streets above all our players from his point of view. The amount of times today they had 3 or 4 players around him and no support from 1 Rovers player was ridiculous. Sterry coming back can't come quick enough
-
Mate of mine who's a Barnsley fan says Molyneux streets above all our players from his point of view. The amount of times today they had 3 or 4 players around him and no support from 1 Rovers player was ridiculous. Sterry coming back can't come quick enough
1000% agree with everyrhing in this.
-
To be fair to Hanlan, did well when he came on.
-
They also marked Hanlon with three players.
-
Mate of mine who's a Barnsley fan says Molyneux streets above all our players from his point of view. The amount of times today they had 3 or 4 players around him and no support from 1 Rovers player was ridiculous. Sterry coming back can't come quick enough
He was good in the first half. Their LB was atrocious. Rooney’s cousin apparently.
-
Molly had a great game because he wasn’t marked by 2-3 players as he usually is, they inexplicably left just 1 on him, and he went off at half time, Molly ran him out. The second half he was less effective as they put 2 on him.
Hanlan was good with what he had, but again no service to him in the right areas, but the game was gone by then anyway.
-
Molly had a great game because he wasn’t marked by 2-3 players as he usually is, they inexplicably left just 1 on him, and he went off at half time, Molly ran him out. The second half he was less effective as they put 2 on him.
Hanlan was good with what he had, but again no service to him in the right areas, but the game was gone by then anyway.
Their LB in the first half was slow as a boat. In recent months Mols had been beating men and not had the pace to run them.
-
Molly had a great game because he wasn’t marked by 2-3 players as he usually is, they inexplicably left just 1 on him, and he went off at half time, Molly ran him out. The second half he was less effective as they put 2 on him.
Hanlan was good with what he had, but again no service to him in the right areas, but the game was gone by then anyway.
-
Hanlan was totally useless again, he has the chance to break clear and it seemed like he could not run with the ball, not just my opinion but that of many others around me.
-
Hanlan was totally useless again, he has the chance to break clear and it seemed like he could not run with the ball, not just my opinion but that of many others around me.
He was absolutely fine when he came on. Held the ball up, won headers, closed down and contributed. Just unfair criticism on today’s cameo.
-
Hanlan was totally useless again, he has the chance to break clear and it seemed like he could not run with the ball, not just my opinion but that of many others around me.
No he wasn't.
-
Hanlan was totally useless again, he has the chance to break clear and it seemed like he could not run with the ball, not just my opinion but that of many others around me.
No he wasn't.
Yes he was
-
Hanlan was totally useless again, he has the chance to break clear and it seemed like he could not run with the ball, not just my opinion but that of many others around me.
No he wasn't.
Did he make a good run?
Did he get a good header on the ball?
Did he make a good pass?
Did he hold the ball up well?
-
Hanlan was totally useless again, he has the chance to break clear and it seemed like he could not run with the ball, not just my opinion but that of many others around me.
No he wasn't.
Yes he was
Oh no he wasn't!
-
Hanlan was totally useless again, he has the chance to break clear and it seemed like he could not run with the ball, not just my opinion but that of many others around me.
No he wasn't.
Did he make a good run?
Did he get a good header on the ball?
Did he make a good pass?
Did he hold the ball up well?
Yes
Yes
Debatable
Yes
-
Making it about Hanlan when he’s been chucked on for 15 mins after a month of not playing is absurd.
Whenever McCann is chasing a game and throws more attackers on we are an absolute mess.
-
To be fair to Hanlan, did well when he came on.
Did he???
He had one effort on goal - a header and it was woeful!
He's making absolutely no impact in games, today no different.
-
The idea that is pushed on all our squad is that they affect the game when they go on, whether that be at the start or at 85 minutes, did Hanlan do that? Did he have a shot on goal? If we want to look at where we lost, a free header for Bailey which was missed, a free chance one on one with the goalie that Gibson had and missed, several others that were not put on target. Ay, there's the rub, too many shots off target, something that has plagued us all season, and not one player's fault, something that needs to be addressed in training.
-
I am not sure Hanlan can play down the centre but give him 90 minutes against Bradford. Or start Lasagne down the middle and Hanlan off him, or on the right. Get them to play the full game. Never going to make any impact chasing the last 15 minutes when we are behind.
-
I am not sure Hanlan can play down the centre but give him 90 minutes against Bradford. Or start Lasagne down the middle and Hanlan off him, or on the right. Get them to play the full game. Never going to make any impact chasing the last 15 minutes when we are behind.
Agree with this, the Bradford game means very little so let's give these two 90 minutes to at least try and gain some confidence.
-
Would start with the following against Bradford:
Lawlor
Sterry
McGrath
Grehan
Senior
Close
Gotts
Crew
Hanlan
Lasagne
Middleton
-
Hamlin looked good for the time he was on. He looked a bit of a nuisance, hard to knock off the ball. Probably needs longer on the pitch.
-
Get real - neither Hanlan or Olosanya are up to L1 football. A funny time to find out - after you’ve signed them!
If Billy gets an injury, we’re scuppered. And Billy was hardly used last season after Street joined us!
-
Hamlin looked good for the time he was on. He looked a bit of a nuisance, hard to knock off the ball. Probably needs longer on the pitch.
Is this a wind up?
He’s absolutely useless.
The more the weeks go by the more pissed off I’m getting about our strikers recruitment.
It’s not good enough.
Get rid of Lasagne and Hanlan in January. Both offering us nothing.
-
Hamlin looked good for the time he was on. He looked a bit of a nuisance, hard to knock off the ball. Probably needs longer on the pitch.
Is this a wind up?
He’s absolutely useless.
The more the weeks go by the more pissed off I’m getting about our strikers recruitment.
It’s not good enough.
Get rid of Lasagne and Hanlan in January. Both offering us nothing.
He’s played 252 mins of league football and started 2 games. Massively extreme opinions on him are probably slightly premature.
-
Hamlin looked good for the time he was on. He looked a bit of a nuisance, hard to knock off the ball. Probably needs longer on the pitch.
Is this a wind up?
He’s absolutely useless.
The more the weeks go by the more pissed off I’m getting about our strikers recruitment.
It’s not good enough.
Get rid of Lasagne and Hanlan in January. Both offering us nothing.
He’s played 252 mins of league football and started 2 games. Massively extreme opinions on him are probably slightly premature.
You have made plenty of premature opinions before.
There is probably a reason he’s played so few minutes! Because he’s hopeless.
-
I dont agree with gaz on many things.
But i think alot of people have a negative opinion of hanlon and it doesn't matter what he does, he will always be the scapegoat.
He was good today (yesterday). Put himself about, controlled the ball, held onto it and made some runs through defenders.
But yes lets blame hanlon for not being good enough, never mind gibson missing the 1v1, sharp tamely putting it into the keepers gloves or bailey (god) missing multiple headed chances.
Lets blame hanlon for not scoring from a 12 minute cameo.
-
I’m not saying he is good enough overall, but difficult to write someone off when he isn’t playing regular games. He looked good when he came on today, when he did get the ball. The whole side looked sloppy and lacking a bit of confidence. Having said that we deserved a draw, but unfortunately we didn’t put the chances we had away and were denied a clear penalty, by a very poor official.
We are definitely lacking in the striking department we all know that. I suspect Hanlan fit into the budget he had left so he took a chance on him. Our midfield looked lacklustre. It was wide open we have nobody controlling the game, we rely on short spurts of action to win games. To consistently win games, we need control of the midfield and probably two strikers. Josh Onomah is available on a free transfer, might be an option.
-
Did nothing wrong yesterday. Give him 90min as centre forward v Bradford imo he’s not been given enough minutes to have been tossed aside.
Not fussed about lasagne though. He’s not our player so no benefit to preserving.
-
Would start with the following against Bradford:
Lawlor
Sterry
McGrath
Grehan
Senior
Close
Gotts
Crew
Hanlan
Lasagne
Middleton
Grehan and Crew are on international duty
-
Hamlin looked good for the time he was on. He looked a bit of a nuisance, hard to knock off the ball. Probably needs longer on the pitch.
Is this a wind up?
He’s absolutely useless.
The more the weeks go by the more pissed off I’m getting about our strikers recruitment.
It’s not good enough.
Get rid of Lasagne and Hanlan in January. Both offering us nothing.
He’s played 252 mins of league football and started 2 games. Massively extreme opinions on him are probably slightly premature.
The reason he’s only played those amount of minutes is clearly because the manager, having seen him in training & the game time he’s been given, doesn’t rate him despite signing him in the summer.
In yesterday’s ‘cameo’, he got the ball out wide with his back to the goal. He then turned, beat off the challenges of four Barnsley defenders & surged into the box close to the byline. The South Stand roared their approval & I thought ‘Wow this is good, he’s going to cut it back into the six yard box now”, but sadly ‘the mist’ that separates good players from also rans came down & he chose to ‘achieve acceptance’ of the manager, supporters & team mates as the noise from the crowd increased & he made an attempt to score from the tightest of angles but his ‘shot’ merely bulged the side netting.
Brandon didn’t so much miss a bulls a**e with his banjo as fail to thread his camel through the eye of a needle.
Of course he wasn’t the only one who scorned chances yesterday but the OP is ‘about’ him & in my opinion (& it appears also to be that of the managers) the fact remains Brandon is not ‘the answer’ upfront.
We badly need ‘that striker’ come January otherwise our season may peter out by February.
-
When it comes to criticising the attacking recruitment, I guess the Hanlan business is an easier target than the Sharp business - who also signed a new contract in the summer and has played far more minutes.
Had we not offered Billy one, we would have had another option to fill a striking slot with someone more appropriate.
Middleton has also not scored a goal yet and doesn’t have a five page thread. Just feels like Hanlan is getting ganged up on.
-
When it comes to criticising the attacking recruitment, I guess the Hanlan business is an easier target than the Sharp business - who also signed a new contract in the summer and has played far more minutes.
Had we not offered Billy one, we would have had another option to fill a striking slot with someone more appropriate.
Middleton has also not scored a goal yet and doesn’t have a five page thread. Just feels like Hanlan is getting ganged up on.
Start an OP criticising Sharp if it makes you feel any better.
-
I'm in the give Hanlan a chance group, he needs games and a system which allows him to flourish. There's a player in there for me, he's strong and fast, can compete and seems to want to work at it. Going from bench to not even in the squad from week to week can't be helping him, and if we had Rob Street in last seasons form, plus Sharp on the bench then you couldn't argue with that. Sharp is working his nuts off every game but not getting the chances / goals, so surely it's time to try something else.
While I'm making a rod for my own back, I also don't think Olusanya is as bad as being made out. Any two of those three, in a team which plays through / over teams would work well, rather than a deep lying team which breaks slowly and puts all it's attacking focus on playing round teams with wide players that can't cross.
-
I'm in the give Hanlan a chance group, he needs games and a system which allows him to flourish. There's a player in there for me, he's strong and fast, can compete and seems to want to work at it. Going from bench to not even in the squad from week to week can't be helping him, and if we had Rob Street in last seasons form, plus Sharp on the bench then you couldn't argue with that. Sharp is working his nuts off every game but not getting the chances / goals, so surely it's time to try something else.
While I'm making a rod for my own back, I also don't think Olusanya is as bad as being made out. Any two of those three, in a team which plays through / over teams would work well, rather than a deep lying team which breaks slowly and puts all it's attacking focus on playing round teams with wide players that can't cross.
Share this view of Hanlan. He is a talented player who we need to make more use of. He just isn't going to be the number 9 that people want. He plays off or wide of the number 9. That's pretty clear.
-
He’s clearly not had enough game time, and is not being played in a system that he thrives in.
How good he is, is yet to be seen, but he is being beaten up on social media and forums for not being Rob Street, which is totally unfair.
I’ve yet to see him perform so badly he deserves the amount of crap he gets.
-
Give him the full 90 mins next time v Bradford and then we will see if it’s lack of game time and if his critics are right.
-
Give him the full 90 mins next time v Bradford and then we will see if it’s lack of game time and if his critics are right.
Agreed it’s a good chance for the fringe players to show us what they’ve got on Tuesday, give them a start and let’s see who will stand up and be counted, a great opportunity.
-
We normally make a few signings in Jan that make us better fingers crossed this time too.
But I’ve said this before and will again I lose a bit of faith in GM because how can he sign players and never give them a chance or offer a contract extension then bin them.
Imagine he’s spending your money on 2k week 2 year contracts and within 2 games it’s ah sorry he ain’t going to work can I have another 2-4k a week to sign someone else.
-
If he signs someone else then maybe the oruginal person misses out. He hasnt really binned them. It gives options if injuries hut and creates competition and it generally enables a big enough squad to have a decent cup run to being the monies in.
People are asking him to pick a settlrd team, which means people will be left out and the ones he thinks will play play. Its common with squads, i dont get what you are moaning at, or is it just something else to moan about
-
I think the effects of his knee injury are worse than McCann was promised.
-
If he signs someone else then maybe the oruginal person misses out. He hasnt really binned them. It gives options if injuries hut and creates competition and it generally enables a big enough squad to have a decent cup run to being the monies in.
People are asking him to pick a settlrd team, which means people will be left out and the ones he thinks will play play. Its common with squads, i dont get what you are moaning at, or is it just something else to moan about
How fat are your fingers?
-
My hands are really big :)
-
Give him the full 90 mins next time v Bradford and then we will see if it’s lack of game time and if his critics are right.
Agreed it’s a good chance for the fringe players to show us what they’ve got on Tuesday, give them a start and let’s see who will stand up and be counted, a great opportunity.
At half time I thought Hanlan was done as a Rovers player. As with the team’s turnaround, I’ve never seen such a contrast in a second half.
He looked a player, involved in every goal and a sublime finish!
Think he at least deserves half hour on Saturday, he showed character, hopefully he’s buzzing after his second half performance.
-
Strikers, especially, need a run in the team without fear of getting subbed or dropped at every opportunity.
The problem is that it is such a vital job, and time is of the essence in making an impact.