Hanlan

[Usher wide.]

Early days still, but has had been said he did little to ‘help his cause’ tonight.

Had Joe not have been offside (look across your line Joe!) & his ‘goal’ have stood tonight, it would have done wonders for his confidence & given us a more ‘reliable’ source for a goal scorer come Saturday, coming in off the bench once Billy had run his ‘blood to sweat’ against Rotherham.

It’s a position we are lacking in at this stage of the season.

[ncRover]

Attacking midfield more of an issue? Sbarra really not up to it.

[ncRover]

Unless we try Gibson or Ajayi in attacking midfield and have Hanlan as a back up wide option?

[StocksArmy]

Not throwing the towel in with him but, I’m failing to see what kind of striker he is. He has pace to play off the shoulder but, seems to want to back into the defender all of the time rather than spin off them. His positioning when the ball went out to Gibson and Ajayi was really poor, he gave them nothing to hit and there was always a defender on him.

[andyst79]

Unless we try Gibson or Ajayi in attacking midfield and have Hanlan as a back up wide option?
[/quote
Gibson's got to be worth a shout in the 10 role surely

[steve@dcfd]

Unless we try Gibson or Ajayi in attacking midfield and have Hanlan as a back up wide option?

Sbarra Gibson and Ajayvery poor this evening and none those three have the capabilities to pass the ball consistently

[big fat yorkshire pudding]

McCann though is right on one thing, Hanlan needs to learn to play in our team and may take him time. That is fair, some good players have taken time to adjust under managers, some here for example.

[DMnumber4]

Hanlan has spent a lot of his career playing with - or off - a target man e.g. Vokes, Eaves, Mandron, Akinfenwa.

Reasonable assumption to suggest he'd do better playing alongside Ironside, but that would not suit McCann's preferred formation.

Bit of a mystery why we / he thought this would be a good move.

[roversdude]

Unless we try Gibson or Ajayi in attacking midfield and have Hanlan as a back up wide option?

Sbarra Gibson and Ajayvery poor this evening and none those three have the capabilities to pass the ball consistently

Thought Gibson had a good game tbh

[andyst79]

Unless we try Gibson or Ajayi in attacking midfield and have Hanlan as a back up wide option?

Sbarra Gibson and Ajayvery poor this evening and none those three have the capabilities to pass the ball consistently

Thought Gibson had a good game tbh

He was our best player 1st half , retained possession well and got us up the pitch.

[Ian Nimmo]

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.

Think you both were watching a different game to me.
He was weak and truly beaten to almost every ball by L2 defenders, and is way off the ball.
Another shocking performance from him and offered nothing for the team last night.

[Pinter777]

Would hanlan play better with ironside next to him? Holding the ball up? I understand because he hasn’t scored yet he’s getting slated, but I can see a willingness from him, he is strong, and occasionally will run back to defend.

[Move DRFC]

Gibson played well last night.

Hanlan tbf has struggled but seems like people are being a bit harsh on last night. Hardly given much service was he.

[The Dav]

I honestly just can’t see a footballer in him, he was woeful again last night ! How he gets the nod in front of Ironside is beyond me, I know Grant signed him and he must of seen something in him ! Wtf that is or was though I just don’t see ! Maybe he will come good, however I won’t hold my breath with this one, even Fergie at Manure signed the odd dud though didn’t he?

[ncRover]

He needs space to run in to with someone else doing the rest of the work.

He isn’t a focal point.

First touch not the best and is currently on 3/21 headers won in all matches.

That’s what sets someone like Street apart from him who could do all that whilst also being quick and strong. Not many of them about though.

[sedwardsdrfc]

I just can’t believe Lincoln have a better number 9 than Street. They are in the same division as us aren’t they!

[drfchound]

Unless we try Gibson or Ajayi in attacking midfield and have Hanlan as a back up wide option?

Sbarra Gibson and Ajayvery poor this evening and none those three have the capabilities to pass the ball consistently

Thought Gibson had a good game tbh

He was our best player 1st half , retained possession well and got us up the pitch.

It only he could shoot!

[mpc123]

I just can’t believe Lincoln have a better number 9 than Street. They are in the same division as us aren’t they!

It's about how the manager sets up and obviously Lincoln do it different to us at the moment, its why  players fail at clubs and if they shine. We obviously set up perfectly for Streete to excel. Remember we played him in the wing initially too. After they excel its dead easy for fans to say why didn't we do this or why dont we do that but its the managers that have to go through that process to get what they can out of the players, different formations, different players in the team to pick up the rest or be able to give him the ball in those positions.

Turn it around and its like Hanlon at the moment, Mccann is going through that process with him too. Hopefully it works out.

[aidanstu]

He takes a bit of stick on here but thought he was outstanding when he came on today.great hold up and link play.

[Filo]

He takes a bit of stick on here but thought he was outstanding when he came on today.great hold up and link play.

Better than he has been, looked like he wanted it today

[drfchound]

Hanlan justs needs time to settle in.
Even Mols took time to get to his best.
I can remember him getting lots of stick on here and people saying he only had one trick, cut inside and shoot.

[Cramby10]

His arse fell out when clean through late on though. He didn’t fancy that one iota. Not the sign of a lethal marksman.

[Bessie Red]

He takes a bit of stick on here but thought he was outstanding when he came on today.great hold up and link play.

Agreed, perfect performance by him to see the game out!

[DonnyBazR0ver]

His arse fell out when clean through late on though. He didn’t fancy that one iota. Not the sign of a lethal marksman.

I thought he made the right call taking it into the corner. Billy got much credit for doing the same recently.

I thought he did OK today when the game needed us to manage it out.

[Tommy A]

His arse fell out when clean through late on though. He didn’t fancy that one iota. Not the sign of a lethal marksman.

Yes. That was a worrying sign.

If he doesn’t have the pace to go through there then he needs to be getting on the end of crosses and he’s not done that either to date

[streathamdave]

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.

Dowie in a recent interview said the idea that LE Tissier lacked fitness or work rate is nonsense. Playing alongside him he ought to know.

[Cramby10]

His arse fell out when clean through late on though. He didn’t fancy that one iota. Not the sign of a lethal marksman.

I thought he made the right call taking it into the corner. Billy got much credit for doing the same recently.

I thought he did OK today when the game needed us to manage it out.

he didn’t do that on purpose. He was left with no choice as he dithered for so long. A selfish top striker would have only one thing on their mind. Hit the back of the net and put the game to bed.

[Spud]

I thought he did well when he came on today, looked strong & held it up well. The chance, did he hesitate for just a split second, thinking he was offside? Did well in the end but his instinct should have been to bury it then look at the liner.

[Padge_DRFC]

Yes it was the only choice after he fluffed it

[DonnyBazR0ver]

His arse fell out when clean through late on though. He didn’t fancy that one iota. Not the sign of a lethal marksman.

I thought he made the right call taking it into the corner. Billy got much credit for doing the same recently.

I thought he did OK today when the game needed us to manage it out.

he didn’t do that on purpose. He was left with no choice as he dithered for so long. A selfish top striker would have only one thing on their mind. Hit the back of the net and put the game to bed.

There were plenty of occasions when our players didn't quite get the first touch right. There were other opportunities that went begging to make it two. Bailey, Broadbent, Middleton, Ajayi all had great opportunities so I think you're being overly harsh on him. Of course, we'd love to see him bang it in but at least he took the second best option.