Is this guy the answer in midfield? We were told (by Slater) at the start of the season that we were building a team who could be competative in the Championship but at 33 Hughes is far too old for a midfield role next season. Is he in the squad to do a job of stabilising the midfield and starting a new run of results going or is he there until Stephens/Alonso can prove in training that they are a better option? What do you think? AllHell
He's not the answer, he's proof of the system Powell is trying to implement. Stephens is a better player than Hughes and Alonso could bring more long term. He's slotted in well but I don't think these results are because of his inclusion but more of Powells work at Sparrows Lane. Also his work on team morale
AllHell, I think that for next year I don't see Hughes as our optimal player in the center of midfield and the likes of Hollands, Stephens and (eventually) Alonso will provide better options. But it's important to win the games in front of you whilst planning for the future and Hughes seems to be providing the perfect foil for Hollands at the moment and the team appears (I haven't seen any of the games) to be very well balanced. I am hoping as the season goes on that Alonso will eventually fill this role with Stephens/Hollands in that box to box role alongside him. I actually think that if (when) we get promoted I wouldn't be concerned about the CM department.
Deserves his place for now. We've had 3 wins, 2 away, 2 of them 4-0. Stephens wasn't at his best in his last few games, not been so good this season that he should just walk back into the team.
Two tough choices there - I do like the idea of Stephens playing the Home Games and Hughes the Away ones but at the end of the day continuity is the key. Stephens on the bench for Euell
