I feel the lad needs a thread of his own, rather than any discussion about him getting lost in the Wolves match thread. Here's the thing: he made too many mistakes today in dangerous areas of the field - lingering on the ball, playing unwise passes. And Brucey was right to yank him for Meyler. BUT I can't help thinking he could be a very good player if he gets through this and learns quickly. Physically he has it all, with good control - it's just the mental side that's not up to scratch yet. I expect he'll find himself on the bench on Wednesday. Let's hope he learns from this and flourishes when he next gets a chance.
It's way too early to assess. We need another Livermore. Or Livermore. Experience and time served as opposed to raw potential. Give the lad chance and who knows.
This is his first real season playing 'proper' football. I think something similar can be said for most of the squad, who haven't played at this level for a while or ever. Against Huddersfield he started a little weak, but grew as the game went on and spearheaded one of the goals. Give the lad time.
I think getting him in and throwing him straight in the first team was ridiculous. To my knowledge he'd never played a senior game before last weekend. Now we're a side that's supposed to be chasing promotion, even game counts and we haven't the time to blood in a young player, who actually belongs to someone else, along with the damage his mistakes and inexperience will cause. He may hve better feet than Meyler, and may turn out to be a better player one day, but not now and that's twice in a row he's been utterly ****ing dismal. Look how involved Meyler was once he came on, he probably had more touches in any 5 minute period he was on the pitch than Hayden did in his entire 60ish. He was properly involved, he was always there in attack and defence, driving the team on. If Hayden starts on Wednesday it would be a travesty.
Hayden did play in a couple of cup games for Arsenal (West Brom and Southampton). I wasn't convinced after the Udders game and I'm even less convinced after today, it might just be a confidence thing, but he looks far too nervous.
He looks quite strong defensively, a positition where he, mostly, has to react instinctively; when he has time and space, running with the ball and looking for a pass, he's not so good ............... I think there's a great player for the future in there.
He needs to gain more experience. How's he going to do that? By playing. Could do with a run of last 20 minute appearances for a while.
That's the conundrum for Brucey - leave him in there and hope he doesn't cost us points while learning, or leave him out and work on him in training for a while?
He was ****e today. I don't like the forward brigade but he actually went backwards into trouble when there was space in front of him.
Hayden was the weak link in the team today. I thought we had much more composure when Meyler came on and I hope Meyler starts the next game alongside Hudd, providing Hudd is still here.
You ****s all told me Hayden was great last week and should be played ahead of meyller!!! Make your ****ing minds up. Never drop the boy David. FACT
When Meyler replaced him we looked a different team. We had someone breaking from the midfield to support the strikers. I felt with Huddlestone and Hayden we where far to deep in midfield. I have being Meyler's biggest critic at times, but he played very well when he came on today.
We've been to deep for as long as I can remember, it was our biggest problem last season. Elmo was ****e today aswell
Yep far too deep. The back four are and the midfield two are too. We sat back and let a bag of **** like that play against us. ****ing ****. For 5 minutes at the end we pegged them back. Lazy idle heartless ****s. We let a severely limited team make us look ****. Yes they would never have scored but for Mcgregors error but for endeavour alone they deserved to win.
Yes then we moan about not scoring goals and cry out for a striker, I'm not saying we don't need one but if the midfield managed to venture past the halfway line and we pinned teams back we might actually create more for the strikers to score. I'm really hoping we don't lose diame because we ****ing need him
Meylers a top player at this level and should start, Hayden maybe more of utility role this season for me and not a starter
Elmo was playing some weird position behind the strikers whenever we got the ball. He was hardly ever out wide and hardly go a cross in. Masterclass from Brucie; do nothing but cross it to **** strikers for a whole year then once we have some decent forwards on the pitch we stop the crossing.
I think Elmo was told to cut in to leave space for Odubajo to expose. Worth a try but Elmo was virtually ineffective today