Not hard to read between the lines of CP's statement and see that Hughes' days as first choice are numbered. "So I brought on Andy Hughes ... he put his head in [and] made tackles, and that's all I ask of him". Good, because that is all he does. He brought in Russell because he would "put his foot on the ball and maybe just add something to us as a team". If CP felt the need to throw in Russell into an important match after only a few days training with the team, I don't give much for Hughes' chances of winning a regular place back. And that is before Jackson and Stephens return and with Pritchard waiting in the wings. Too slow for full-back, and no longer wanted at CM, looks like Andy will have to content himself with "being good in the dressing-room".
I've never seen the worth in him tbh, even through the good patch of form the team has had with him. But last night I thought he was excellent. I know his distribution is non-exsistant but he covered superbly last night.
I see him as a 'steady-eddy', doesn't have flair, doesn't stand out, doesn't necessarily make crunching tackles, but he's a good solid, (fairly) reliable player who can help grind out results during those horrible away days playing in muddy fields up north, where we can't play our 'on the floor flair' game. Add to that him apparently being a 'character in the dressing room' - I would say he can probably raise the team when they're feeling low or lacking confidence. I can't be bothered to check how old he is (mid 30s I think?), so I wonder whether he'll be considering coaching badges soon, I reckon he could make himself a decent career as a coach once he retires.
With the restriction to 5 people, as he is a perfect defensive substitute, whether in the back 4 or midfield, so he'll get plenty of game time
The problem is that, if you cannot distribute, the ball keeps coming back at you. I think the answer is in CP's interview. Yes, AH is good at what he does, but to be a really good team you need a bit more in midfield. Unless Russell blots his copybook he is clearly going to replace AH. And once Jackson and Stephens come back, Hughes will struggle to get a place on the bench. I have nothing against the guy. He has surprised some of us who wrote him off prematurely and I am grateful for his contribution. But the fact is that he is limited and not going to become any more rounded as a player at his age (33). Which is why Leeds and Scun thorpe let him go when trying to build for the future. Sorry, I cannot see it (unless we get really unlucky with injuries in midfield or defence). Four or five appearances as sub at best.
I'm assuming that we will get further injuries and suspensions, and from past history Solly is unlikely to go through the whole season without injury...
agree with eddiefirmani. He's a squad player who might add a bit of leadership and bite when we're on the back foot.
We will sign another right-back. We know CP is already looking because Parnaby played on trial. Hughes is too slow for full-back. I think CP would rather play Cort there than Hughes. No quicker but has other qualities like defending the back post.
I say 'bring back Semedo and Racon' ! and Butterfield,and Andy Gray and Izale Mcleod and..... Those days seem so long gone now !
Absolutely right. After that awful performance against Brentford in the JPT, (but, then again, wasn't everyone's?) I just thought "what on earth have we got here?" - but since then, he's been fine. Solid, unspectacular, workmanlike. He was tremendous at Wycombe. Not every midfielder can put his foot on the ball, have a quick look round and hit a forty yard pass straight to feet, sometimes you've got to have someone there who simply says "they shall not pass". That's pretty much how I see Hughes' role and IMO, he does it very well.
I think it was the Exeter game, but Hughes was "warming up" on the touch line. What he was actually doing was coaching Hamer and the back for, even running up and down to mark the "line" for the back for. Him an Euall where signed for 2 reasons. 1st to add depth to the squad as they can both "do a job" in a couple of positions, second they both understand what it is all about. Something that would be seriously lacking in the squad with out them IMO!
I agree he is unsung, however I'm not sure of hero, quite. I saw him as Kish on Monday, who was truly an unsung hero. Hughes is a decent squad player that will be reliable enough, but you could see the small differences Russell made in his 45 minutes. Not only did he break up play and win literally every header in the middle of the pitch, he also held up the ball and made passes. I think the point of all this has been missef, we've got 2 decent players to do one job, no problem in my eyes
I don't think he's expecting to be a first choice. His main achievement on coming in was to free up Hollands to take a more attacking role, which was a fairly significant achievement, plus that fantastic last ditch tackle after about a minute against Halifax, but he's a squad player and good influence, which I think everyone's fine with. But currently Russell, Stephens and Jackson are definitely ahead of him in the order... of course none of them are 100% fit. Interestingly, Alonso doesn't appear to be ahead of him, however.
I'm not sure Stephens would automatically go ahead of him, as Hollands seems to have more scope to go forward with a defensive player alongside him, whereas with Stephens there, he has to do more of the defensive donkey work himself.
