I asked for it and got it - from the club!? Get you mind out the gutters... I present Isaac "Makelele" Hayden's best tackles!
Some cracking tackles in there. Seems to have mastered the art of the reverse slide tackle. its a wonder he doesn't pick up more ankle injuries. It was noticeable the number of times he won the ball, one of our players picked it up and gave it straight back to the opposition.
he's a ****ing liability sometimes but he's a lot better than he used to be. Nowt better than seeing him get stuck in and come out with the ball, gets the fans going as well. He's turning into our modern day Perchinho.
No problem with players keeping the ball if they don't have a better option. Hate watching players though who don't have the vision to see somebody in a better position than them and dribbling themselves into a corner (or doing a Sissoko). The good teams have the right combination of ball winners, good passers and dribblers - we don't.
Why? I like Haydens honesty and have never questioned his tackling. I've said many times I'd retain him as a back up but we badly need a ball winner who can play. He can't. His passing is sub standard at this level. Still think he's a centre half masquerading as a midfielder.
Not quite. I said his distribution/passing isn't good enough at PL to be a regular starter in midfielder, if you want to progress past the lower end of the league. It isn't.
He did have a really ****ty spell where he struggled to understand we played in black and white. Being objective and not giving a **** about popularity or personality of a player, I would be critical. Equally when he does well I praise him. Sorry I don't buy into fandom bollocks, they only let you down eventually. That's our one of fans problem to be honest, if they like you they'll ignore your ****ness, and if they don't they won't give you a chance.
For me he's first name on the team sheet. Absolutely love the lad never shirks anything and gives 100% will be better over the next 3/4 years. Solid back four behind and Miggy and Longstaff ahead of him pushing forwards - ASM and Big Joe/another winger out wide and a decent proper number 9 up top would be a solid enough team to finish mid table with without worrying to much.
So just 4 good purchases required as a minimum. Pity we look to be spending nothing then. So, shall I start to worry now or leave it until later on?
He'll never have the quality to be part of a top side. Anyone who doubts that only needs to look at the interest in him when we made him available. He wasn't exactly a bank breaking fee. Couldn't sell, main interest came from Championship sides. Bottom line is, as likeable as he is, you have got to be better than him with the ball to play for the top end teams. Its like Kouyate at West Ham. He would never get above that level because he's not very good with the ball. More than good enough to be part of our squad at present. And at least we know he'll give 100%. But if we want to progress at any stage, a top manager will replace him straight away. Same goes for Shelvey but for different reasons, he's just not mobile enough. Maybe his lack of ball playing ability would be best served by the move back to centre back.
