Kyle Hurst

[Butchers Red]

Well tonight's game has surely provided conclusive proof the lad is miles ahead and more effective,clinical and gifted than Gibson,Sbarra and Clifton put together. Watching the game until he came was to say the least - a little frustrating, loads of possession,taking up great positions and then it all kept fizzling out again and again.

Hursty has to start every game in free roving no 10 role - he looks 2 divisions higher than anyone else on the pitch, and DELIVERS goals and assists.

Sadly then we have Tom Anderson's performance - awful, cost us the goal and nearly another whilst picking up a booking for being too slow, Senior had by far a better game at CB.

Kelly brilliant also.

[Padge_DRFC]

Last 10 minutes against their C team wouldn't get too carried away. However he deserves to start for sure.

[DonnyBazR0ver]

We know Hurst has bags of talent but he's been inconsistent. In the past, when he's on it, he's great but when not, the games have passed him hy as he hasn't been able to contribute much defensively.

In pre-season, the signs were there that he'd improved and was relishing playing more centrally, plus he was also doing his bit defensively.

Alas, the same pattern seemed to effect him where he struggled to make an impact. McCann has more or less confirmed it's between Kyle's ears where the issues are being a confidence player.

We've got to hope he can string some performances together without disappearing out of games, as there's no better sight than him ghosting past players and scoring goals.

[danumdon]

Thought at one point they'd been told to walk the ball into the net.

That shooting practice is sorely needed!

Hurst looked quality when he came on, when he gets going and ghosts past players he looks very much a class player, give him the game time and let him settle back in and we look far more clinical going forward. Very much suits a quicker, attacking style of play. When we overpay it we play into a defences hands.

[Butchers Red]

Last 10 minutes against their C team wouldn't get too carried away. However he deserves to start for sure.

Well I certainly wasn't getting carried away watching the other 3 for 70 minutes against their C Team ........

[ncRover]

Great comment Baz. It’s not been a case of  McCann not picking him when he should have, it’s down to Kyle to prove himself. Which he now is. And then some!

With Kyle’s electric form and Gibson’s dismal showing tonight I think it’s safe to say he’ll be in the starting lineup for a long while now.

[danumdon]

In the end is was nothing more than a stiff workout for quite a few of them tonight but Hurst looked head and shoulders above his direct competition. Looking forward to seeing him playing against a determined Barrow side on Sat.

[Alan Southstand]

There certainly seems to be a few question marks hanging over some of the player’s heads. Nothing of a game, really, so it was a chance for some to stake a claim that they should be in the match day squad. One or two maybe made that claim, e.g. Kelly,Nixon and Ironside. But, the likes of S’Barra, Close  and Anderson are going to find it difficult, if not impossible, to get game time, going forward. Anderson has been out for 6 games so could argue a bit of ring rust needed shaking off.

The other one I’d question is Jordan Gibson. He seems to offer a lot of promise but then flatters to deceive. He need to start sharpening up.

Interesting how things are shaping up, with January getting closer.

[DonnyBazR0ver]

Thought at one point they'd been told to walk the ball into the net.

That shooting practice is sorely needed!

Hurst looked quality when he came on, when he gets going and ghosts past players he looks very much a class player, give him the game time and let him settle back in and we look far more clinical going forward. Very much suits a quicker, attacking style of play. When we overpay it we play into a defences hands.

Interestingly, I heard a pundit describe a player as a 'High IQ' player, providing the quality in the final third. Something we've been lacking a bit up until Kyle came off the bench v Bromley.

He definitely has the potential to be the key that opens up more goalscoring opportunities. Close supposed to be a High IQ player, as does Westbrooke, but in modern football, you have to do the hard yards too. 

We're going to need that High IQ in more than one player if we want to be the best in this division.

[sedwardsdrfc]

I know it’s relative to the level but we are in L2 so expecting any player to be on top form every game is a stretch. They’d be playing higher up if they were consistent.

Hurst has match winning capabilities just like Moky so imo should be starting and we accept a little inconsistency.

[DonnyBazR0ver]

I know it’s relative to the level but we are in L2 so expecting any player to be on top form every game is a stretch. They’d be playing higher up if they were consistent.

Hurst has match winning capabilities just like Moky so imo should be starting and we accept a little inconsistency.

Totally agree but when a player isn't on it, he has to contribute the best he can. For example, Moly does dig in and does his defensive duties to help the team. Kyle wasn't. He was weak in the tackle, he would shirk competing for headers, you'd rarely see him defending on the edge of our box when all hands are needed. He has shown signs of improvement in those departments. Gibson needs to make sure he doesn't fall the same way.

[RoversInSpain]

Is Kyle at the crossroads?
He’s been around a little while now, he was one of very few who looked like a decent player when we were god awful in the last few seasons.
Since this pre season he’s totally disappeared, until now, absolutely unplayable at Bradford after tripping over the ball in the first half.
Is he a Liam Mandeville or an Andy Watson?
Or a McIndoe?
Somehow I think it will have to be Grant to nurture him into a great player, as someone said ‘it’s between the ears’. Put the right batteries in and you’ll have a McIndoe.
Look forward to seeing what pans out on this lad.

[McCammon egg n chips]

With Kyle’s electric form and Gibson’s dismal showing tonight I think it’s safe to say he’ll be in the starting lineup for a long while now.

Why so much projecting from a couple of games? If you'd have done the same after Grimsby you'd have said Gibson will be first choice for a long time..

What's the key takeaway? Strong squad depth. When a player falls out of form we have another solid player to bring on. This will be massive come winter when injuries bite other teams.

It's been a long time since we've had such a strong squad to rotate.

Gibson and Hurst will both play their part.

[DonnyBazR0ver]

Is Kyle at the crossroads?
He’s been around a little while now, he was one of very few who looked like a decent player when we were god awful in the last few seasons.
Since this pre season he’s totally disappeared, until now, absolutely unplayable at Bradford after tripping over the ball in the first half.
Is he a Liam Mandeville or an Andy Watson?
Or a McIndoe?
Somehow I think it will have to be Grant to nurture him into a great player, as someone said ‘it’s between the ears’. Put the right batteries in and you’ll have a McIndoe.
Look forward to seeing what pans out on this lad.

That's a very good question. He reminds me of Copps in his early years. Sometimes looking like a little boy lost, trapped in his own self doubt. It could have easily gone wayward for Copps, but he managed to find enough for successive managers to see the potential in him. As we know, as he matured and developed, over time he became more influential. Had Copps been more self assured and produced the goods more c onsistently, he probably would have alerted interest from bigger clubs but thankfully for us, he wasn't the typical footballer in it purely for the money and glory.

Time stands still for no man, particularly nowadays in football, so there will be a point where patience runs thin if he doesn't do enough more consistently.

I can't remember who it was Copps said was a major influence on his mentality but we all recall under SOD'S reign he started to flourish culminating in that play off semi v Southend when it all came together in one magical night. 

Who better than Copps to be that mentor for the mental side of the game while MCann gives him the platform and encouragement to realise his potential?

[keyser_soze]

I think we're getting what was predicted from fans of his previous clubs with Gibson. Flashes of brilliance, but swathes of anonymity. He's done well to remain a consistent name on the team sheet for this long. As has been said here, they all have a part to play, as there are several options in each position. I can't remember us having so many decent full-backs in Sterry, Maxwell, Nixon, Fleming, Senior & Emmanuel. Even in the Championship years if Gareth Roberts got injured it was a right-back in at left back straight away.

[jmt23]

Not sure Clifton deserved the comments he got in the original post, he’s been great and does pose a goal threat, he obviously scored last night within minutes of entering the pitch.

[Pancho Regan]

It's great to be seeing the best of Kyle Hurst in these last couple of games. We know what he's capable of and he's really showing that at the moment.
If he's given a run in the team now, I'm sure the confidence and momentum will keep building and Kyle will keep hurting the opposition.
He was man of the match against Bradford - all neutral commentators agreed with that.

A nice interview after last night's match too.

[Butchers Red]

Not sure Clifton deserved the comments he got in the original post, he’s been great and does pose a goal threat, he obviously scored last night within minutes of entering the pitch.

And who provided the assist?

Clifton is a 100% grafter, but to me no better than Biggins was with similar end results.

[jmt23]

I’m not arguing Hursts part in the last two games, he’s been terrific, long may it continue, but it’s hard to compare him to any other players than Moly, Gibson and Yeboah.

Clifton is that proper midfield grafter - box to box, aggressive in the challenge and a real goal threat, he doesn’t have the trickery or pace though.  You could say he is everything Hurst isn’t.

When compared against his like for likes, Molly is better and maybe not fair as it’s the opposite side, Gibson (who I like) and Yeboah have a fair bit to be worried about though, and Hurst should now start in front of them, until his form dips.

The issue with Kyle which we have all seen is consistently, a world beater in one match, a scared of his shadow kid in another ( let’s not forget he is very young!) . If he finds his confidence, he is not a league 2 player and one hell of a talent.

[andyst79]

This is the kind of man management Hurst needs
https://youtu.be/_Nu_hMIDVX4?si=KsCldEnr01LXnhCn

[DonnyBazR0ver]

This is the kind of man management Hurst needs
https://youtu.be/_Nu_hMIDVX4?si=KsCldEnr01LXnhCn

Gotta love Warnock.

His management of Taarabt didn't fair too well in this game though did it! ?

https://youtu.be/XR8L5QLtbVE?si=tYVGPGFQmHsrhZhD

What memories!!

[Padge_DRFC]

Yeboah looks nowhere as good as the other 3. I wouldn't bother keeping in January when we're more than likely out all the cup competitions after thwt month.