Joe Ironside

[NickDRFC]

Moly could do with a spell out of the side for me, but unfortunately it’s not as though we have replacements queuing up. He’s been poor for a good couple of months, I’m assuming he’s always kept on because he’s capable of a magic moment but he’s not really looked capable of producing anything in that time. Hurst looked far more lively today.

[dickos1]

When Hurst got hooked instead of Moly that was criminal

Absolutely dreadful decision. Moly has 1 goal and 1 assist in the last 13 games.

He gets doubled up on everytime he gets the ball, he’s struggled maybe the last few weeks but he’s still the most likely to make something happen. And has comfortably been our best player in 2024

[andyst79]

When Hurst got hooked instead of Moly that was criminal

Absolutely dreadful decision. Moly has 1 goal and 1 assist in the last 13 games.

To me Hurst should be playing the 10 role and we should look to get the ball into his feet early. It can be difficult out on the wings as you don't always tend to see as much of the ball. For all Cliftons energy and endeavour which you can't fault he doesn't do a great deal for me.

[thumper]

Hurst is too lightweight, for me he's a great impact sub, doesn't seem to do as much starting.

Mols definitely could do with some competition in my opinion, I'm hoping one of the loans is to challenge him, might get him back to his best as he's dropped way off for quite a while now

[ncRover]

For me Hurst is a winger and I thought he was great yesterday.
All he had to do on that counter was put the ball in to the right area rather than worry about picking out a pass. But then again, that’s easy to say from the stands.

[Usher wide.]

Apart from the two centre backs & Bailey, Joe is certainly no lightweight unlike half a dozen others.

With the ball at his feet & two defenders trying to rip his shirt off his back he still holds that ball up until he can & does make a pass to a hooped shirt.

But no, let’s bring Dodoo back eh McCammon egg n chips.

[Ian Nimmo]

Some posts say Joe always got his back to goal and also reference the amount of passing at back.
This is the problem we are passing about at the back for too long, we then have a runner who take the ball to the half way line, who then turns around to pass backwards, by which time all opposition is behind the ball.
Is the any wonder Joe always has his back to goal?

This play is why, particularly in the first half a high % of play is in our half, very little in the final third, and thus a main reason why our criticism is vastly increasing.

Grant must change these tactics immediately, otherwise we will definitely not get automatic.

[McCammon egg n chips]

Apart from the two centre backs & Bailey, Joe is certainly no lightweight unlike half a dozen others.

With the ball at his feet & two defenders trying to rip his shirt off his back he still holds that ball up until he can & does make a pass to a hooped shirt.

But no, let’s bring Dodoo back eh McCammon egg n chips.

Hahaha you're making my point for me. It's hilarious. Absolutely must not criticise Ironisde!

For the record, I absolutely don't want to see the like of Joe Dodoo near this team ever again.

By the way, did you miss the part where Ironside's strike record this season is worse than Dodoo's in that relegation season?

[drfchound]

Some posts say Joe always got his back to goal and also reference the amount of passing at back.
This is the problem we are passing about at the back for too long, we then have a runner who take the ball to the half way line, who then turns around to pass backwards, by which time all opposition is behind the ball.
Is the any wonder Joe always has his back to goal?

This play is why, particularly in the first half a high % of play is in our half, very little in the final third, and thus a main reason why our criticism is vastly increasing.

Grant must change these tactics immediately, otherwise we will definitely not get automatic.

Most centre forwards play the majority of time with their back to the oppositions goal.

[Usher wide.]

Apart from the two centre backs & Bailey, Joe is certainly no lightweight unlike half a dozen others.

With the ball at his feet & two defenders trying to rip his shirt off his back he still holds that ball up until he can & does make a pass to a hooped shirt.

But no, let’s bring Dodoo back eh McCammon egg n chips.

Hahaha you're making my point for me. It's hilarious. Absolutely must not criticise Ironisde!

For the record, I absolutely don't want to see the like of Joe Dodoo near this team ever again.

By the way, did you miss the part where Ironside's strike record this season is worse than Dodoo's in that relegation season?

No, that’s why I alluded to the point you were suggesting in your original post that because Ironside’s strike record was so poor (worse than Dodoo’s) it was time to ‘replace him’?

There’s a reason people might get ‘uppity’ about the likes of criticism thrown at him by dodo’s like you (see what I did there) it’s because he brings so much more to the team than brilliant goal stats.

You will never recognise or see that because you’re too busy looking at stats rather than the man.

[andyst79]

The biggest issue when Joe's up top on his own is he's very isolated, I thought against Walsall we went a lot more direct with long balls. I haven't an issue with this style but to do this you need to master picking up
 2nd balls & need willing runners from midfield, breaking the line and getting in and around Joe which we haven't really got at present. Biggins wasn't bad at this last season. It does make you question what we practice on the training ground at times and as others have said the quality of our set pieces is poor also.

[Lesonthewest]

Really feel for Joe, fed on scraps, he would benefit from a player similar to Fleetwoods Paterson, he does what it says on the tin for a winger, beats his man & crosses the ball.

[andyst79]

Something that gets easily overlooked is he's always fit and available and got through a hell of a lot of games for us last season alongside Bailey & Molly also

[sedwardsdrfc]

He’s a good player at this level and we probably got more goals out of him last season than we should expect.

Reality is despite been well placed in the league the whole teams been a little underwhelming this season. And striker is the position that is easiest to scapegoat when others aren’t doing what they should.

He’d benefit from us playing a bit quicker to the wider areas and then us been decisive in actually putting a ball in. If we want to register 5 passes across the back before we try to go forward then whoever is up front won’t look great.

We seem low on confidence despite been so well placed. If we can get those confidence levels up all these performance questions will disappear

[Bills view]

Joe is top class for this level. He showed that last season.

He holds it up great, is strong, wins more than his fair share of headers, puts a real shift in, he's a very good finisher and he's calm under pressure (look at his penalty taking).

Let's not doubt his team contribution.

He needs runners beyond and around him.

[mushRTID]

Wonderful player and clearly a top bloke too.

We are lucky to have him if you ask me.

[Usher wide.]

Wonderful player and clearly a top bloke too.

We are lucky to have him if you ask me.

Yes mush but, he’s got as many goals & assists as Olowu this season.

Just not good enough………..unless you like egg n chips, apparently.