Possibly, but it's fun... And we don't get anying else to see into Hughton's head http://www.eveningnews24.co.uk/spor...ity_tick_insists_boss_chris_hughton_1_2017200 I was particularly interested by three things he said: 1) "it was a turning point of our season... [before that] predominantly we had started with two up front" I'd forgotten this - in all the complaints about Hughton being inflexible about changing the system and being rooted in 4-5-1, he had actually come with a different view. I wonder whether he feels that 4-4-2 has bitten us too hard and has completely lost faith in it and our current first team's ability to play that system. I think this is a mistake because I feel we were still bedding a lot of players before the Arsenal match. 2) "one thing about Wes... I might be thinking about bringing him off and making a change, he'll then have a ten minute spell where he ups it" I think this tells us two things (not necessarily that we didn't know, just confirms). Firstly, from the time Hughton decides to make a change he appears to give at least ten minutes to make his mind up... Very odd. If you feel the game changing, surely it would be better to make a decisive choice as soon as practically possible? Secondly, he sees Hoolahan as our biggest creative threat and so, even when he's playing badly, this is another reason why Hughton finds it difficult to substitute him early. 3) "Wes is probably a better player than I thought he was... You could say that about a lot of the players" Again, not something we didn't know, but just highlights how low his opinion of Lambert's team was. I know I've cut off his caveat afterwards, but I don't think he's kidding anyone. I can't help but feel this attitude has really rubbed off on the players, has had a huge part in our negative philosophy and is the foundation of the problems in our season. It's too late to change this now, so I just hope that new signings in the summer will make all the difference for Hughton's attitude. He clearly has a lot of faith in most of his signings. This is the one thing that makes the Becchio situation so odd.
I just read that report and was thinking the same as you at how he regarded some of the team before he arrived. Might explain why Fox's face just doesn't fit. It is obviously not just about technical ability but the work rate he expects from players - hence why Bradley Johnson has found himself ahead of other midfielders so far this season.
I hear what you're saying Chris but I honestly believe Bradders has thoroughly earned his place this season!
I think you're right he has earned his place, means we really need some midfielders with some creative talent or just the ability to pass to a team mate more often than not
Johnson is my POTS. Fox is not Prem player IMO and if we can't beat teams with skill because of our squad then we have to stop the opposition in midfield and Johnson is the best we have at that.
Hey Dave - I certainly didn't mean it to sound derogatory towards Bradders - just trying to put it out there to all the Fox lovers who bang on about him deserving a place in the side. Hughton obviously sees it differently. We don't know what goes on behind the scenes or the effort put into training sessions or the desire to turn things around (or lack of it) to convince Hughton he deserves a crack. Bradders offers a lot of extra protection that people forget about. For example, he is fantastic in the air and we know how highly Hughton rates that part of the game, and you just cannot fault his commitment to the cause.
He has definitely got to be in the top three. Without Tettey alongside it has weakened his ability to boss the midfield. They looked back on song today paired up again. Snodgrass has been performing consistently and always gives his all but he had an absolute shocker today IMO. However, without Bassong we look absolute gutter at the back. He has given the whole back line a rigidity and sense of calmness totally lacking when he has been absent. Bassong for me Redruth
Be better if all the players in the top three could pass. BJ has been very poor in many games this season.
While I agree Johnson's distribution has been found wanting on many occasions his main role is to break up the opposition's play. To be fair when he has won the ball back he is often under a lot of pressure and the rest of the team offer such little movement that finding another player in green and yellow would be a hard task for Messi, let alone Johnson and his array of passing skills! As for Bassong, I think he generally does a sound job passing wise. For a centre back he is calm and controlled and it's not that often that he boots it aimlessly up the pitch. Snodgrass suffers from the same lack of movement as Johnson. This results in him putting his head down and running at people, trying to make something out of nothing too often. Sometimes he needs an extra touch which in the Premiership you just don't get. Situations that were opened up to him vanish instantly with that extra touch.
Snodgrass suffers not from his movement but the centre midfielders lack of movement. He gets the ball far to early and has nowhere to go. He rarely gets to pass the ball in centrally and be confident he can get it back. When he gets it further up the pitch he's far more dangerous. I don't care what anyone says, Fox should be playing with Tettey and be having a run of games to get the team playing to a rhythm. I firmly believe we'd get another 6 points in the remainder of the season. Johnson has played well but Tettey just offers so much more in terms of mobility and powerful running with the ball. You need more from a player than just breaking things up.
I think the Fox vs Johnson debate just shows how much we need a player who can do both, and fully expect us to acquire one this summer. In the championship it's enough to be good at one or the other, we now need someone who can break up play, but also calmly keep possession in midfield, and either help to create from deep or provide an out-ball when the likes of Hoolahan get themselves in trouble.
