Hanlan

[Pancho Regan]

I might be totally wrong here but I’m wondering whether Grant is seeing something in Hanlan that he doesn’t like, namely he is not showing enough energy and commitment to run, press, and track back when out of possession.

Billy was amazing at Port Vale, ran his socks off to press PV as if he was a 20-year-old.

We know that Grant sees this as a pre-requisite in his players, as Kyle has found out to his detriment.

You can work with players to improve many aspects of their play, but if they don’t have the heart to put in the hard yards when required, that’s not so easy to change.

As I say, this is pure speculation on my part. Hopefully I’m wrong and Hanlan will come good with a little more time.

[jamesrover17]

Not a fan of this prerequisite of having to run around to get into the team, all for athleticism but are we saying you can have all the technical ability in the world but because you don’t run a marathon a game you wont play… Got to have a bit of creativity and guile to go with it

[BobG]

Agreed James.

Matt leTissier, Duncan Mackenzie, Tony Currie, Stan Bowles, Alan Hudson, Martin Peters - they were all rubbish weren't they...?

BobG

[ncRover]

Grant highlighted Hanlan’s pace, pressing and hard work in his interview when he signed him. Said he’s known about him for many years.

https://youtu.be/Qtgr7aeZ1TA?si=MESRPxgn6yBukjju

[idler]

Agreed James.

Matt leTissier, Duncan Mackenzie, Tony Currie, Stan Bowles, Alan Hudson, Martin Peters - they were all rubbish weren't they...?

BobG

Apart from Martin Peters, Bob how many won major trophies?  They were all great players and entertainers but underachieved on the amount of talent that they had.

[Chris Black come back]

Hudson was part of the Chelsea side that won the ECWC in 1970/71 beating a Real Madrid side captained by Gento in the final.

[BobG]

Is winning a trophy the only measure of talent these days? Christ Almighty.....

That makes Clifton a world beater then.

BobG

[Pancho Regan]

Agreed James.

Matt leTissier, Duncan Mackenzie, Tony Currie, Stan Bowles, Alan Hudson, Martin Peters - they were all rubbish weren't they...?

BobG

I agree too, and maybe if Grant was managing us in the Premiership or Championship, he’d take a different view.
But perhaps he feels that in the bottom two tiers you can’t afford the luxury of a player who doesn’t work hard.

[NickDRFC]

Matt Le Tissier would have had a damn sight more than his 8 England caps if he’d been fitter and worked a bit harder.

[ForsolongaRover]

Agreed James.

Matt leTissier, Duncan Mackenzie, Tony Currie, Stan Bowles, Alan Hudson, Martin Peters - they were all rubbish weren't they...?

BobG

I agree too, and maybe if Grant was managing us in the Premiership or Championship, he’d take a different view.
But perhaps he feels that in the bottom two tiers you can’t afford the luxury of a player who doesn’t work hard.

Perhaps the question to ask of Le Tissier etc., is how much better would they have been if they had great energy as well as skill? You might use Mo Salah as an example of the combination.

If Hanlan begins to show some flair there might be some compensation in what he contributes, but in a team where a 39-year old will run for 90 minutes I’m not in favour of making exceptions.

[idler]

Is winning a trophy the only measure of talent these days? Christ Almighty.....

That makes Clifton a world beater then.

BobG

The question is more that if the players that you mention had had a better work ethic to match their skill, how much more could they have achieved? You can without doubt admire their skills but watching very skillful players stand watching after giving the ball away or ambling back would soon wear thin in a relegation battle.

[ncRover]

Agreed James.

Matt leTissier, Duncan Mackenzie, Tony Currie, Stan Bowles, Alan Hudson, Martin Peters - they were all rubbish weren't they...?

BobG

I agree too, and maybe if Grant was managing us in the Premiership or Championship, he’d take a different view.
But perhaps he feels that in the bottom two tiers you can’t afford the luxury of a player who doesn’t work hard.

Barely any luxury players in the Prem. The work rate only goes up.

[BobG]

You're missing the point.

Professional football as it's played today requires lots of lung busting effort. Lots and lots and lots of players can give that, can perform to that mantra. But doing that don't mean they have the talent of those players mentioned.

Talent and effort are two entirely different things. And like I said, if winning something is the definite itiom of talent, then the English language has been prostituted.
.
BobG

[knockers]

Is winning a trophy the only measure of talent these days? Christ Almighty.....

That makes Clifton a world beater then.

BobG

How many times have you actually been at a game and seen Clifton on the pitch to make that assessment?

[RoversInSpain]

If I’m reading this thread right, then the super talented players like Le Tissier et al were fabulous and scored some great goals, however the team work ethic was lacking and therefore in his case it’s felt that’s why he didn’t play internationally or perhaps for a really big successful club.
Perhaps that type of player thinks it’s below them to ‘get stuck in’ and help out when it’s backs to the wall.
Then we get to Clifton in Lg1. Works like a maniac however seems to it be the most talented in the team, but his altitude, desire and work rate will get him appearances …At this level.
We see Molyneux who has both, some real talent and will forge back and do some gritty stuff, perfect, he’s going to play at this level every week, and probably higher.
Back to Hanlan, early days, however it seems we aren’t seeing either, a work ethic or some real talent and there in lies the issue. We need to see at least one of these pretty soon.
So many lower level players get in teams through work ethic and then develop their talent through experience.

[andyst79]

He's Joe Dodoo in disguise I'm telling you

[PDX_Rover]

Well Hanlon did very little to boost his case this evening.

[colincramb]

Ironside has looked far more effective and threatening in 15 minutes than Hanlan did in nearly 70.

It will be a travesty if he gets on the bench ahead of Joe on Saturday surely?

[steve@dcfd]

None of the starting four were good enough Ajayi very poor Gibson not good enough and Sbarra runs nothing creative going to Hanlan. Crew was poor and doesn’t deserve a place on the bench in front of Close. Second half better players and We looked better

[PDX_Rover]

Joe Isonside

[andyst79]

None of the starting four were good enough Ajayi very poor Gibson not good enough and Sbarra runs nothing creative going to Hanlan. Crew was poor and doesn’t deserve a place on the bench in front of Close. Second half better players and We looked better

Agree bringing better players on helped us but Gibson was decent. Hanlan's movement looks poor and his closing down almost seems half hearted at times but in fairness didn't have much service. Sbarra's a waste of a shirt.

[Monkcaster_Rover]

I thought Hanlan looked alright tonight. Held the ball up well and battled hard against 2 big lumps. Bit unlucky with his chance when he half fell into it.

[drfchound]

I thought Hanlan looked alright tonight. Held the ball up well and battled hard against 2 big lumps. Bit unlucky with his chance when he half fell into it.

Agreed.

[dknward2]

Think grant will be giving Joe a chance from the bench on Saturday and hanlan will be saved for the Vertu cup next Tuesday

[Alan Southstand]

I’m sorry, but he’s not better than Ironside. A poor signing, for me.

[donnygav93]

Watched hanlan and Ironside tonight almost felt a little sorry for both of them neither of them look at this moment like they could play in league games and with bailey being our league top scorer with 3 we definitely need to bring another forward in

Might have been a blessing for us to exit the cup tonight because it could have helped Ironside going on loan

[ncRover]

Hanlan is poor at winning headers for his size. Wasn’t even the out ball when we had to go long.

[ChrisBx]

His goalscoring record is poor across his career and, so far, I'm yet to see that he offers much else. I hope he comes good, but it looks an odd signing at this stage.

[redarmi66]

The best flashes(two)ive seen of him have been out wide running direct at the left back. Where he look ed a handful. Through the middle he looks lost !

[danumdon]

The best flashes(two)ive seen of him have been out wide running direct at the left back. Where he look ed a handful. Through the middle he looks lost !

if GM had kept him on and moved him to wide right, JI up top we may have seen something more from him and most importantly not had to risk Mols, hopefully it just precautionary.