The old Chris Hughton discussion thread

[TRon]

I agree almost completely with bobyule's last few posts. That's not something I thought I'd ever type. Unfortunately it will probably go over most people's heads and just get lost in amongst the "Nolan's shit but he'll never drop him" rubbish. It's nowhere near as cut and dried as people are making out that putting Ben Arfa in as a the 2nd striker or free-role-linking-midfielder, or whatever will be the answer to all our problems.

 

I'm quite happy that Hughton isn't the sort of manager that people on here seem to want him to be, and will chop and change a team which won a difficult away game the previous week just to try out players in new positions on a whim in important games because it looks like it might work in theory. It may well end up that Ben Arfa takes Nolan's position, but if he does I'm sure it will be after it has been tried, tested and practised in training.

 

The problem in the second half on Saturday had nothing to do with who our 2nd striker was, it was that Stoke instead of allowing us to dominate possession, soaking up pressure and hitting us on the break like they tried in the first half knew they had to come at us a bit more. It's disappointing that they found it so easy to do so, but not really surprising. That's not really Hughton's fault though, it's down to the quality of the players he has in the squad. How should he have changed the midfield to stop that happening? When Ben Arfa was on the pitch he didn't stop it happening, and when Gutierrez came on neither did he, so where's the thinking that having both of them on the pitch at the same time would have suddenly stopped Stoke come from?

 

I think the problem in your thinking is reflected in your language and probably also mirrors Hughton's thought processes. We had by far the better players in the first half and weren't concerned about"stopping" Stoke at home. Once we switched to negative mode far too early in the second half, Stoke sniffed the fear and accepted the invitation to dominate us on our own turf. If we had the defenders available to soak up pressure from the aerial bombardment then it might have made sense, but are Perch, Colo and Enrique's best qualities likely to be show-cased in an aerial battle against Stoke?

 

 

[Ronaldo]

The defenders did ok with the aerial ball, in fairness. The free headers were mainly occuring in the 6 yard box, which is Krul's territory.

[Mowen]

The defenders did ok with the aerial ball, in fairness. The free headers were mainly occuring in the 6 yard box, which is Krul's territory.

 

Given that one defender headed one into his own net from outside the six yard box I'd question whether this is entirely true.

[Mowen]

It's a tough decision with Nolan vs. Jonas if we're to keep this formation. One has literally no end product and the other one has nothing but end product. If we could somehow magically combine their best bits we might have one decent player there.

[Ronaldo]

The defenders did ok with the aerial ball, in fairness. The free headers were mainly occuring in the 6 yard box, which is Krul's territory.

 

Given that one defender headed one into his own net from outside the six yard box I'd question whether this is entirely true.

 

If Krul had come off his line we could point a bigger finger.

[Mowen]

The defenders did ok with the aerial ball, in fairness. The free headers were mainly occuring in the 6 yard box, which is Krul's territory.

 

Given that one defender headed one into his own net from outside the six yard box I'd question whether this is entirely true.

 

If Krul had come off his line we could point a bigger finger.

 

For that corner? Krul didn't have a great game by any means but it's stretching it massively to blame that one on him. There's no way that header should have gone in.

[Mick]

It's a tough decision with Nolan vs. Jonas if we're to keep this formation. One has literally no end product and the other one has nothing but end product. If we could somehow magically combine their best bits we might have one decent player there.

 

If you were to combine the best of both you would only use Nolans goals and shots, other than that he's behind Jonas at everything except when it comes to giving away free kicks.

[Mowen]

It's a tough decision with Nolan vs. Jonas if we're to keep this formation. One has literally no end product and the other one has nothing but end product. If we could somehow magically combine their best bits we might have one decent player there.

 

If you were to combine the best of both you would only use Nolans goals and shots, other than that he's behind Jonas at everything except when it comes to giving away free kicks.

 

True, but Jonas is properly wank at shooting. He really should practice it at some point, it's embarrassing.

 

edit: not quite true, Nolan is also much better at finding space in and around the area which is pretty much crucial when it comes to scoring.

[Mick]

 

True, but Jonas is properly w*** at shooting. He really should practice it at some point, it's embarrassing.

 

Jonas seems to lack any power when he shoots, I'm not sure practice will do anything with that problem.

[Mick]

 

 

edit: not quite true, Nolan is also much better at finding space in and around the area which is pretty much crucial when it comes to scoring.

 

Nolan is bound to, he's playing centrally.

[Mowen]

 

 

edit: not quite true, Nolan is also much better at finding space in and around the area which is pretty much crucial when it comes to scoring.

 

Nolan is bound to, he's playing centrally.

 

Come off it, Nolan is pretty good at finding space in and around the area, I'm not sure I can remember Jonas doing it once in his two and a bit years. He must have cut inside once or twice!

[Mick]

 

Come off it, Nolan is pretty good at finding space in and around the area, I'm not sure I can remember Jonas doing it once in his two and a bit years. He must have cut inside once or twice!

 

Do you think Nolan would find that space in and around the area if he was playing on the wing?

[midds]

Agree, though I don't rate Nolan either. Talk of it costing him his job is laughable at this stage.

 

If he's so blinkered that he refuses to acknowledge the problem, let alone deal with it, then we're going to drop points and fall down the league as a result. I don't think Ashley is the most patient bloke in the world and if we're in the shit in February then I'm expecting him to pull the trigger.

 

It may be a bit premature to talk of his loyalty to Nolan costing Hughton his job but he's got more chance of being sacked if he continues to pick him as opposed to dropping him.

[Mowen]

 

Come off it, Nolan is pretty good at finding space in and around the area, I'm not sure I can remember Jonas doing it once in his two and a bit years. He must have cut inside once or twice!

 

Do you think Nolan would find that space in and around the area if he was playing on the wing?

 

Probably, he'd be fucking knackered so he'd tuck inside and find a bit of cheeky space despite his massive girth.

[Ronaldo]

I don't think it's premature at all, it shows that he's not cut out to be boss.

[midds]

I don't think it's premature at all, it shows that he's not cut out to be boss.

 

Got to admit, I'm massively worried by his refusal to deal with the Nolan situation. That's the nettle that needs to be grasped but he simply won't.

[Ronaldo]

It's either a massive flaw in judgement, or outright cowardice. Either way, it sadly needs to be addressed before we hit March and need to get points at places like Stoke, Liverpool and Chelsea to survive.

[midds]

It's either a massive flaw in judgement, or outright cowardice. Either way, it sadly needs to be addressed before we hit March and need to get points at places like Stoke, Liverpool and Chelsea to survive.

 

Couldn't agree more. 

[Mick]

 

Probably, he'd be f***ing knackered so he'd tuck inside and find a bit of cheeky space despite his massive girth.

 

I wouldn't expect Nolan to get many goals playing from the wing.  So far his 3 goals have been a penalty which most players score from.  His first against Villa was a soft header which he was lucky to get as the keeper should never have put the ball on his head and the other was a good goal as he was in the right place at the right time.  Apart from that I can't remember any keeper having to make a brilliant save to keep one of his shots out, I might be wrong, and he hasn't an assist to his name.  Basically, he hasn't done anything this season to change a game through direct play as his goals have come when we were walking one game and the other was a defeat.

 

I've actually lost site of why we're discussing Jonas v Nolan when they play in different positions. 

[David Icke - Son of God]

I'd rather cut a bollock off with a rusty razor blade than swap Nolan for Jonas. I love Gutierrez but in no way is he capable of performing that off the shoulder role that Chunk is. First of all for all his sins Nolan seems capable of reading a game, getting into space and doing something with the ball when we're seeing enough of it whereas Jonas either punts it into row L, punts it into row R or punts it into row Y.

 

If anyone is going to replace Nolan it'll be HBA, Jonas will go back on the left and we can watch him and Enrique bum rape full backs once again. Happy days.

[Doops]

I'd rather cut a bollock off with a rusty razor blade than swap Nolan for Jonas. I love Gutierrez but in no way is he capable of performing that off the shoulder role that Chunk is. First of all for all his sins Nolan seems capable of reading a game, getting into space and doing something with the ball when we're seeing enough of it whereas Jonas either punts it into row L, punts it into row R or punts it into row Y.

 

If anyone is going to replace Nolan it'll be HBA, Jonas will go back on the left and we can watch him and Enrique bum rape full backs once again. Happy days.

 

 

Eh I think thats what people have been saying for the past 50 pages or so

[Neil]

I'd rather cut a bollock off with a rusty razor blade than swap Nolan for Jonas. I love Gutierrez but in no way is he capable of performing that off the shoulder role that Chunk is. First of all for all his sins Nolan seems capable of reading a game, getting into space and doing something with the ball when we're seeing enough of it whereas Jonas either punts it into row L, punts it into row R or punts it into row Y.

 

If anyone is going to replace Nolan it'll be HBA, Jonas will go back on the left and we can watch him and Enrique bum rape full backs once again. Happy days.

 

So therefore, Jonas will replace Nolan. Just not in the same position.

 

See: the past umpteen pages.

[EthiGeordie]

It's either a massive flaw in judgement, or outright cowardice. Either way, it sadly needs to be addressed before we hit March and need to get points at places like Stoke, Liverpool and Chelsea to survive.

 

I wonder what will satisfy you and your kind of you here??? I am sure you think this team is capable of top four finish... Delusional C***s

[Ronaldo]

Getting points of Blackpool and Stoke would do me.

 

Someone ban this half-wit, please.

[EthiGeordie]

Getting points of Blackpool and Stoke would do me.

 

Someone ban this half-wit, please.

 

What about losing at Goodison and Stamford bridge? I am sure you don't mind that as well...