Josh Hawkes

[Billy Batts]

Me too. I would have also liked to see more of Younger, Neil and Patterson, its been a huge disappointment for me that, just like Ross and Parky before him, LJ praises these players then chooses to ignore them in preference to no hopers.

This. When will we finally get a manager who walks the walk rather than talk the talk.

 

[Makemstine Roger]

Does it matter? Most of his goals were headers! You simply can’t score 30 goals without someone providing the ammunition fir you. It’s impossible. And he doesn’t take penalties. I think it’s crazy saying he was “lucky” to get those goals. Did you say the same about Bent? He was very much a right place right time man. Wonder what Wyke has to do to get the recognition he deserves

be able to play football would help mate, as i don't see a lot he does except trying to get on the end of a pass, trying to beat a man with skill, making accurate passes, getting in the right areas more than twice a game would help, Obviously it's all a matter of opinions mine is, he is not that good, we have better, and if LJ gave Hawks a chance he would be able to see how much better we can be as a team.

 

[Wolfy]

be able to play football would help mate, as i don't see a lot he does except trying to get on the end of a pass, trying to beat a man with skill, making accurate passes, getting in the right areas more than twice a game would help, Obviously it's all a matter of opinions mine is, he is not that good, we have better, and if LJ gave Hawks a chance he would be able to see how much better we can be as a team.

Spot on as usual Rog.

 

[Mackem78]

I'd rather promote half the under 23s if we're in League One next year. Not much point in letting a load of dross go and replace them with similar when we've got potential sitting in our own ranks. They might be dross also of course, but we'll have spent nothing on them.

I agree. Retain some who deserve a new deal, promote those capable from under 23's, and buy the other new players needed. Squad would have a good blend to it.

Something like: New keepers, Patterson. New defenders, Wright, Willis, Younger, Xhemajli, Hume. O'Nein, McGeady, Diamond, Neil, Hawkes, Gooch, New midfielders. Wyke, Stewart, Kimpioka, New forward.

 

[Bank of England 2]

No one thinks that they will all make it, the point is none of them will without being given the chance, and our coach is ignoring a groundswell of opinion that he has made mistakes in overlooking our U23 squad. It will be his downfall in my opinion unless he starts to back up his rhetoric with some positive results. He loaned Embleton out because he thought he wasn't good enough, I think he was wrong, and I think he has been wrong about Olly Younger, as he should have replaced Sanderson in the back line imo. Not playing Neil and Patterson has been another failing, and now not recognising Hawkes, and earlier Curry, he has a bit of form in this respect. Yes its all down to opinion, but I am beginning to wonder if he couldn't be the one disappearing into obscurity.

Absolutely spot on.

Younger should have been given much more game time. LJ says he can't wait to get 09 and Power into midfield, if he'd put Younger in, he could have done that.

Our problem is that our midfield is packed with similar types of players. 09, Hawkes and Neil offer something different to Scowen and Winny, yet all we see every week are like for like replacements. If we can't unlock a defence down the flanks, then replacing Winchester with Scowen and vice versa isn't going to help. Goals from midfield have been in short supply and Hawkes gets his fair share of goals.

I would certainly have Patterson on the bench. We need to forget about Matthews.

The manager just needs to be braver. He is doing what Ross did, by going for what seems like the safer option. We all know how that ended.

 

[Makemstine Roger]

I agree. Retain some who deserve a new deal, promote those capable from under 23's, and buy the other new players needed. Squad would have a good blend to it.

Something like: New keepers, Patterson. New defenders, Wright, Willis, Younger, Xhemajli, Hume. O'Nein, McGeady, Diamond, Neil, Hawkes, Gooch, New midfielders. Wyke, Stewart, Kimpioka, New forward.

although there are a couple there i wouldn't have in the team

 

[Peter Daniels beard]

Absolutely spot on.

Younger should have been given much more game time. LJ says he can't wait to get 09 and Power into midfield, if he'd put Younger in, he could have done that.

Our problem is that our midfield is packed with similar types of players. 09, Hawkes and Neil offer something different to Scowen and Winny, yet all we see every week are like for like replacements. If we can't unlock a defence down the flanks, then replacing Winchester with Scowen and vice versa isn't going to help. Goals from midfield have been in short supply and Hawkes gets his fair share of goals.

I would certainly have Patterson on the bench. We need to forget about Matthews.

The manager just needs to be braver. He is doing what Ross did, by going for what seems like the safer option. We all know how that ended.

I read that matthews gets a one year contract extension if we get promoted

 

[Draig]

I read that matthews gets a one year contract extension if we get promoted

A crumb of consolation if we fail to win the play-offs!

 

[Draig]

I am a bit concerned about LJ's views re the younger players.

We all know Sanderson didn't get a first team slot until our other CBs were crocked.

Now he comes out with this

"I’m not saying he wouldn’t be able to from the bench – to go and dominate an opponent technically, which he can, tactically, which naturally he’s got a little bit to do, but physically I think is the key for him."

If you can technically and tactically dominate an opponent then surely you deserve a try in the first team?!

FFS Super Kev was hardly a man mountain and neither was Micheal Owen!

 

[marcusblackcat]

be able to play football would help mate, as i don't see a lot he does except trying to get on the end of a pass, trying to beat a man with skill, making accurate passes, getting in the right areas more than twice a game would help, Obviously it's all a matter of opinions mine is, he is not that good, we have better, and if LJ gave Hawks a chance he would be able to see how much better we can be as a team.

I wonder how many teams would say the same about their 30 goal striker? We seem to be able to have a player who has exceeded everyone’s expectations by about a thousand percent, yet he’s still not good enough! I’ll stick to getting behind a lad who has had a fantastic season fir us. The rest of you can slag him off if you want. He’s a forward. His job is to score goals. If he did those things you mentioned and had 3 goals and 2 assists, he’d get slated too!

Love to know how you can “know” that about hawkes. I have seen nothing of him. Not a minute. I’ve seen him score goals at u23 but that’s it. I don’t know how good he is, I don’t know how skilful or strong he is. I hope he will get a chance at some point so I can make a decision. But it’s all speculation outside of hope

 

[The Norton Cat]

I wonder how many teams would say the same about their 30 goal striker? We seem to be able to have a player who has exceeded everyone’s expectations by about a thousand percent, yet he’s still not good enough! I’ll stick to getting behind a lad who has had a fantastic season fir us. The rest of you can slag him off if you want. He’s a forward. His job is to score goals. If he did those things you mentioned and had 3 goals and 2 assists, he’d get slated too!

He has had an amazing season and things have clicked for him after a couple of years where he never looked like he was really up to much. He's definitely an asset to the side but I think its easy to criticise him as he's a particular type of centre forward (a target man-type obviously) whereas there seems to be general shift in the game these days to centre forwards having a wider skill set and being able to do all the things Wyke does as well as carrying the ball, going past people, and being able to strike a dead ball.

 

[marcusblackcat]

He has had an amazing season and things have clicked for him after a couple of years where he never looked like he was really up to much. He's definitely an asset to the side but I think its easy to criticise him as he's a particular type of centre forward (a target man-type obviously) whereas there seems to be general shift in the game these days to centre forwards having a wider skill set and being able to do all the things Wyke does as well as carrying the ball, going past people, and being able to strike a dead ball.

Spot on. But he’s been excellent this season. You can’t be “lucky” and get 30 goals. There were crosses put into the box for him previously and he never got across his man. Never was the “right place right time” yet this season he has been that (one of the things he got slated fir most) but it’s still not good enough. He’s not Harry Kane who can carry a ball or someone with silky skills. He scored 30 goals and gets pelters from our fans. Rankles me somewhat!!

I reckon we’ll be the only set of fans in the country who slag off a 30 goal centre forward as simply scoring 30 isn’t enough

 

[The Norton Cat]

Spot on. But he’s been excellent this season. You can’t be “lucky” and get 30 goals. There were crosses put into the box for him previously and he never got across his man. Never was the “right place right time” yet this season he has been that (one of the things he got slated fir most) but it’s still not good enough. He’s not Harry Kane who can carry a ball or someone with silky skills. He scored 30 goals and gets pelters from our fans. Rankles me somewhat!!

I reckon we’ll be the only set of fans in the country who slag off a 30 goal centre forward as simply scoring 30 isn’t enough

I agree. He's looked like a completely different player this season. I want to see aesthetically pleasing football and that's not always him but I don't see how you can complain about a return of 30 goals.

 

[clockstander]

Dream on.

 

[Bank of England 2]

I wonder how many teams would say the same about their 30 goal striker? We seem to be able to have a player who has exceeded everyone’s expectations by about a thousand percent, yet he’s still not good enough! I’ll stick to getting behind a lad who has had a fantastic season fir us. The rest of you can slag him off if you want. He’s a forward. His job is to score goals. If he did those things you mentioned and had 3 goals and 2 assists, he’d get slated too!

Love to know how you can “know” that about hawkes. I have seen nothing of him. Not a minute. I’ve seen him score goals at u23 but that’s it. I don’t know how good he is, I don’t know how skilful or strong he is. I hope he will get a chance at some point so I can make a decision. But it’s all speculation outside of hope

A lot of us aren't saying that he should replace Wyke. Big Chas has done remarkably well to score as many as he has done.

We need different options both in midfield and up top in case we need to change things. Replacing like for like means we are too predictable to set up against and against teams like Blackpool, who concede very few and are difficult to break down, we need greater creativity and a different type of striker when we need to make a breakthrough.

 

[Bank of England 2]

I read that matthews gets a one year contract extension if we get promoted

I hope you're dyslexic mate. He's ****e!

 

[marcusblackcat]

A lot of us aren't saying that he should replace Wyke. Big Chas has done remarkably well to score as many as he has done.

We need different options both in midfield and up top in case we need to change things. Replacing like for like means we are too predictable to set up against and against teams like Blackpool, who concede very few and are difficult to break down, we need greater creativity and a different type of striker when we need to make a breakthrough.

Oh I agree mate. But a number are simply slagging him off despite a 30 goal season!! I’m not labelling everyone with the same sticker, but it’s been like this fir years with SAFC.

I personally, from what little I’ve seen, think Stewart is a better footballer (judging on a handful of minutes of course) but I’ve supported Wyke since we signed him when others skip,y don’t seem to be able to

 

[marcusblackcat]

I hope you're dyslexic mate. He's ****e!

He’s ****ing not. Why do people do this. He simply is nowhere near ****e.


He’s far worse

 

[clockstander]

Its just another way of saying he is not good enough, which he isnt imo.

 

[Peter Daniels beard]

He’s ****ing not. Why do people do this. He simply is nowhere near ****e.


He’s far worse

Parkinson amd whoever negotatiated his contract have a lot to be blamed for