The old Chris Hughton discussion thread

[Keefaz]

Most of this thread seems to be speculation, tbh. The PL will be a slog for anyone... I wonder what Hughton will have to do to keep the supporters happy? If we finish 16th would it have been a good season?

[macca888]

If you accept we probably started season with the best squad in the division then the key task at hand was to motivate them. Now as an unremarkable pre-season programme drew to an end the highly motivated and well organised team that Hughton was managing went to Leyton Orient, and got thrashed 6-1. This prompted the now legendary youre with us or not players meeting, where it would seem a group of senior players (Nolan, Butt and Smith?) decided to take matters into their own hands. We know this to be true as its been put forward as the catalyst for the superb team spirit by the players themselves on numerous occasions.

 

Hughton can take credit for going with the flow, perhaps even spotting when he was onto a good thing and creating an environment where the players resolve didnt waiver when we hit a long losing streak. However, anyone who knows jackshit about football knows its a very thin line between the players having a healthy input and the losing control. Its worked this season and Hughton can take credit for this. He can also take credit for buying a right winger and moving Guthrie inside, as we all thought Guthries best position was wide right and having two plodders in central midfield was the best thing since sliced bread did we not?

 

Next season will be a totally different proposition. The players will think that wrongs have been righted, that they are back where they belong. The motivational spur they had this season will be gone. No doubt theyll set a new target but when they lose a game it wont be as easy to bounce back. Confidence will be eroded and taking the lads ten pin bowling wont restore it. Hughton will have to motivate players who motivated themselves this season, he might be up to the job or he might not. Theres also the issue of bringing in new players would he, for example, have the balls to replace Nolan and Smith, and will this seasons togetherness remain if two of its main protagonists find themselves out of the team for long stretches.

 

Hughton has succeeded this season by being a pragmatist, which is obviously his natural way of doing things. What we dont know is to what extent he shaped events and to what extent he was led by them. As I keep saying, hes done enough to lead us into next season but question marks remain.  

 

 

I agree with every word in that post.

 

Aye. He has done a great job this season and he deserves everything that comes his way, but if things start to go wrong how will people inevitably deal with it...

In my opinion, the current squad, with a bit of tinkering, in other words, a couple of players out and about 5 in, will be good enouigh for a midtable position next season. I dont expect us to match the top 10, but I cant see any reason why we couldnt handle the likes of Hull Burnley, Bolton, Blackburn, Stoke, Wigan, Sunderland, WBA and West Ham and one or two others.

 

 

[Mick]

Most of this thread seems to be speculation, tbh. The PL will be a slog for anyone... I wonder what Hughton will have to do to keep the supporters happy? If we finish 16th would it have been a good season?

 

I'll be happy to be playing Premiership football the season after next, anything better will be a bonus.

[Guest firetotheworks]

Most of this thread seems to be speculation, tbh. The PL will be a slog for anyone... I wonder what Hughton will have to do to keep the supporters happy? If we finish 16th would it have been a good season?

 

Depends who we sign, just to add to the speculation. Say we signed Messi and finished 16th, then that's bad. If we sign noone and play Best up front then 16th would be a miracle.

[Guest malandro]

Most of this thread seems to be speculation, tbh. The PL will be a slog for anyone... I wonder what Hughton will have to do to keep the supporters happy? If we finish 16th would it have been a good season?

 

Depends who we sign, just to add to the speculation. Say we signed Messi and finished 16th, then that's bad. If we sign noone and play Best up front then 16th would be a miracle.

This sort of, it depends on what we and other clubs do in the summer transfer window. If we don’t strengthen at all 16th would be about the mark. Dangerously close to a relegation spot - one bad refereeing decision or one fluky goal away from going down again.

 

Our weakness this season has been CM. Our attacking options have been limited to the long ball to Carroll or giving it to the wingers. It won’t take much for the organisation, athleticism and superior technique in the PL to stifle our goal threat. We’ve played with a little more variation recently but generally our play has been fairly predictable.

 

With reference to Hughton this raises two issues. Will he be strong enough to stand up to Ashley if our owner continues with the attitude that saw us drop out of the running to sign Beckford and Moses, and can he step up his game on the tactical front.

 

[BottledDog]

Wouldn't that mean he was assuming supporters who have doubts about Hughton will be the ones booing if things go wrong? In my experience the boo boys are the ones with unrealistic expectations, the ones whose opinions get blown about by short term events. On that basis it will be the people who are convinced one season proves he’s top notch who will be most disappointed if we aren’t whipping Wigan at home.

 

Thats knee jurk if ever isaw it, and who ever said he was top notch.

Just enjoy it instead of getting your knickers in a twist

 

The only people getting their knickers in a twist are those who can’t accept any opinion that diverges from the partyline. If you choose to swallow all the gumpf that’s been written about Hughton this season that’s your prerogative. I prefer to give him credit for what he’s done this season and wait until he’s proven himself in more testing circumstances before getting a stiffy.

You are playng both sides of the fence here, bonny lad. You are prepared to give him credit (wow, this is big of you) but you would actually rather someone else as manager (hopefully Ashley isnt rading your opinions).

 

Facts are this:

 

He took over a depleted squad bewildered by the events of last season,

Had no money to spend last summer.

Worked on a week by week contract, as did Calderwood.

Lost most of his star names, fortunately.

Lost his most influential striker early

Forced to play a kid on his own up front but still got results.

Spent limited funds in January wisely

continued to gain results and top of the league.

gelled his squad together despite difficult periods of losing further influential players, Taylor, Barton, Colo, Enrique, Smith etc

Improved the standard of football especially at hoime as season has gone on.

ONLY LOST FOUR LEAGUE GAMES ALL SEASON

Only lost once in thne last 26 league games.

Despite losing quality defenders, has best defensive record in the division

Has the only unbeaten home record in all divisions

will be promoted with at least 5 games of the season left to play.

Possibly smash 100 points record and 90 goals for season

 

AND YOU GRUDGINGLY DEEM SOME CREDIT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

Mate, you know jackshit about football and would be more suited to ready steady go or whatever those philistines 12 miles down the road are called.

If you accept we probably started season with the best squad in the division then the key task at hand was to motivate them. Now as an unremarkable pre-season programme drew to an end the highly motivated and well organised team that Hughton was managing went to Leyton Orient, and got thrashed 6-1. This prompted the now legendary ‘you’re with us or not’ players meeting, where it would seem a group of senior players (Nolan, Butt and Smith?) decided to take matters into their own hands. We know this to be true as it’s been put forward as the catalyst for the superb team spirit by the players themselves on numerous occasions.

 

Hughton can take credit for going with the flow, perhaps even spotting when he was onto a good thing and creating an environment where the players resolve didn’t waiver when we hit a long losing streak. However, anyone who knows jackshit about football knows it’s a very thin line between the players having a healthy input and the losing control. It’s worked this season and Hughton can take credit for this. He can also take credit for buying a right winger and moving Guthrie inside, as we all thought Guthrie’s best position was wide right and having two plodders in central midfield was the best thing since sliced bread did we not?

 

Next season will be a totally different proposition. The players will think that wrongs have been righted, that they are back where they belong. The motivational spur they had this season will be gone. No doubt they’ll set a new target but when they lose a game it won’t be as easy to bounce back. Confidence will be eroded and taking the lads ten pin bowling won’t restore it. Hughton will have to motivate players who motivated themselves this season, he might be up to the job or he might not. There’s also the issue of bringing in new players – would he, for example, have the balls to replace Nolan and Smith, and will this season’s togetherness remain if two of its main protagonists find themselves out of the team for long stretches.

 

Hughton has succeeded this season by being a pragmatist, which is obviously his natural way of doing things. What we don’t know is to what extent he shaped events and to what extent he was led by them. As I keep saying, he’s done enough to lead us into next season but question marks remain.  

 

 

Much of what you say about so called player power is absolute nonsense and heresay. Yes, you are probably right that there is a group of players who form a committee in motivation as well as many other facets of playing for the club, including tickets on matchdays, organiosing social turns etc etc etc. If you read Roy Keanes biography, you will see it happens at Manchester United as well as most other clubs.

 

This is not to say that the players pick the team. What is happening at NUFC now is no different to what was happening several years ago under SBR with the likes of Shearer, Given, Speed etc dealing with certain matters as detailed above.

 

The Orient event was well documented in the papers but do you believe everything you read? Are you saying the players themselves sorted the problems out? Absoluite rubbish. You seem to be basiing much of your opinion on the fact the Hughton is a mild mannered man, not subject to rants and ravings like many of his predessors in the job. It has been stated on several occasions by many players at the club this season, and in particular by Nolan, Smith and Harper, even young Ranger, that Hughton has a temper on him and uses it when it matters.

 

As for the squad at the beginning of the season, just a reminder that the club lost Owen, Viduka, Martins, Beye, Edgar and several others without replacing them. Many people, including yourself, have been happy to slate the likes of Butt, Nolan, Smith and Ameobi on here, but this is what we were left with and on;y the likes of Lovenkrands coming in without a pre season behind him. The squad was thin, so thin that for the majority of the first few games, Ranger led the line and we had the likes of Lua Lua, Donaldson, Tozer and Vukic on the bench. Several of these kids actually played. So, yes, we had the strongest squad in the division, didnt we? Stronger than WBA for example!!!!!!!!!!!!!!.

 

You might want to cast your mind back also to the injuries suffered by the likes of Colo, Taylor, Barton etc, further reducing the strength of the squad. Admittedly, we got Harewood and Khiz in but do you really believe they enhanced the quality?

 

Furthermore, credit should be given to Hughton and Ashley for spending money on the 6 players they brought in when money was clearly tight. This has been the undoing of Forest. If they had done something similar, they might well be closer to us.

 

Furthermore, do you honestly think a group of 4 would select the team and at the same time, keep total harmony throughout the club? It would be total anarchy and I cannot see Ashley or Hughton standing for it.

 

I am a coach myself and have run many teams. There is nothing wrong with having trusted lieutenants out on the park, motivating and ensuring players perform to their best. Part of our problem last year was that we had an inept captain in Michael Owen and very few others stepped up to the plate. This year, we seem to have a hell of a lot of leaders out there, all answering the call to alms and leading by example. If we had this last year, we might not have got relegated.

 

Oh, and getting back to my original point of squad strength, didnt we also lose Duff on transfer deadline day after he scored the equaliser at WBA and failed to replace him too.

 

Decent points on both sides.

[BottledDog]

Most of this thread seems to be speculation, tbh. The PL will be a slog for anyone... I wonder what Hughton will have to do to keep the supporters happy? If we finish 16th would it have been a good season?

 

Depends who we sign, just to add to the speculation. Say we signed Messi and finished 16th, then that's bad. If we sign noone and play Best up front then 16th would be a miracle.

This sort of, it depends on what we and other clubs do in the summer transfer window. If we don’t strengthen at all 16th would be about the mark. Dangerously close to a relegation spot - one bad refereeing decision or one fluky goal away from going down again.

 

Our weakness this season has been CM. Our attacking options have been limited to the long ball to Carroll or giving it to the wingers. It won’t take much for the organisation, athleticism and superior technique in the PL to stifle our goal threat. We’ve played with a little more variation recently but generally our play has been fairly predictable.

 

With reference to Hughton this raises two issues. Will he be strong enough to stand up to Ashley if our owner continues with the attitude that saw us drop out of the running to sign Beckford and Moses, and can he step up his game on the tactical front.

 

 

And what atittude was that?

 

Moses wanted Premiership football and wages. Leeds were asking way to much for a 3rd division striker coming to the end of his contract. Neither deserved persuing further imo.

[ChezGiven]

Malandro's long post above says that the players motivated themselves in pre season and Hughton just went with the flow, since it was also clearly the best squad then not a great deal of credit goes to hughton.

 

My problem with that is that if you look at the teams performances in early season, they were a lot poorer than recently. Also the sides put out that lost at scunthorpe, forest and Blackpool were only one or two players from the current first team.

 

The overall improvement of the team, the specific improvement in individual performances and the quality of the additions to the squad have got, IMO, fuck all to do with a players committee meeting held in pre-season. To attribute any of the parameters of improved performance over the season to that meeting is churlish bollocks.

[Guest malandro]

Wouldn't that mean he was assuming supporters who have doubts about Hughton will be the ones booing if things go wrong? In my experience the boo boys are the ones with unrealistic expectations, the ones whose opinions get blown about by short term events. On that basis it will be the people who are convinced one season proves he’s top notch who will be most disappointed if we aren’t whipping Wigan at home.

 

Thats knee jurk if ever isaw it, and who ever said he was top notch.

Just enjoy it instead of getting your knickers in a twist

 

The only people getting their knickers in a twist are those who can’t accept any opinion that diverges from the partyline. If you choose to swallow all the gumpf that’s been written about Hughton this season that’s your prerogative. I prefer to give him credit for what he’s done this season and wait until he’s proven himself in more testing circumstances before getting a stiffy.

You are playng both sides of the fence here, bonny lad. You are prepared to give him credit (wow, this is big of you) but you would actually rather someone else as manager (hopefully Ashley isnt rading your opinions).

 

Facts are this:

 

He took over a depleted squad bewildered by the events of last season,

Had no money to spend last summer.

Worked on a week by week contract, as did Calderwood.

Lost most of his star names, fortunately.

Lost his most influential striker early

Forced to play a kid on his own up front but still got results.

Spent limited funds in January wisely

continued to gain results and top of the league.

gelled his squad together despite difficult periods of losing further influential players, Taylor, Barton, Colo, Enrique, Smith etc

Improved the standard of football especially at hoime as season has gone on.

ONLY LOST FOUR LEAGUE GAMES ALL SEASON

Only lost once in thne last 26 league games.

Despite losing quality defenders, has best defensive record in the division

Has the only unbeaten home record in all divisions

will be promoted with at least 5 games of the season left to play.

Possibly smash 100 points record and 90 goals for season

 

AND YOU GRUDGINGLY DEEM SOME CREDIT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

Mate, you know jackshit about football and would be more suited to ready steady go or whatever those philistines 12 miles down the road are called.

If you accept we probably started season with the best squad in the division then the key task at hand was to motivate them. Now as an unremarkable pre-season programme drew to an end the highly motivated and well organised team that Hughton was managing went to Leyton Orient, and got thrashed 6-1. This prompted the now legendary ‘you’re with us or not’ players meeting, where it would seem a group of senior players (Nolan, Butt and Smith?) decided to take matters into their own hands. We know this to be true as it’s been put forward as the catalyst for the superb team spirit by the players themselves on numerous occasions.

 

Hughton can take credit for going with the flow, perhaps even spotting when he was onto a good thing and creating an environment where the players resolve didn’t waiver when we hit a long losing streak. However, anyone who knows jackshit about football knows it’s a very thin line between the players having a healthy input and the losing control. It’s worked this season and Hughton can take credit for this. He can also take credit for buying a right winger and moving Guthrie inside, as we all thought Guthrie’s best position was wide right and having two plodders in central midfield was the best thing since sliced bread did we not?

 

Next season will be a totally different proposition. The players will think that wrongs have been righted, that they are back where they belong. The motivational spur they had this season will be gone. No doubt they’ll set a new target but when they lose a game it won’t be as easy to bounce back. Confidence will be eroded and taking the lads ten pin bowling won’t restore it. Hughton will have to motivate players who motivated themselves this season, he might be up to the job or he might not. There’s also the issue of bringing in new players – would he, for example, have the balls to replace Nolan and Smith, and will this season’s togetherness remain if two of its main protagonists find themselves out of the team for long stretches.

 

Hughton has succeeded this season by being a pragmatist, which is obviously his natural way of doing things. What we don’t know is to what extent he shaped events and to what extent he was led by them. As I keep saying, he’s done enough to lead us into next season but question marks remain.  

 

[/quote) Much of what you say about so called player power is absolute nonsense and heresay. Yes, you are probably right that there is a group of players who form a committee in motivation as well as many other facets of playing for the club, including tickets on matchdays, organiosing social turns etc etc etc. If you read Roy Keanes biography, you will see it happens at Manchester United as well as most other clubs.

 

This is not to say that the players pick the team. What is happening at NUFC now is no different to what was happening several years ago under SBR with the likes of Shearer, Given, Speed etc dealing with certain matters as detailed above.

 

The Orient event was well documented in the papers but do you believe everything you read? Are you saying the players themselves sorted the problems out? Absoluite rubbish. You seem to be basiing much of your opinion on the fact the Hughton is a mild mannered man, not subject to rants and ravings like many of his predessors in the job. It has been stated on several occasions by many players at the club this season, and in particular by Nolan, Smith and Harper, even young Ranger, that Hughton has a temper on him and uses it when it matters.

 

As for the squad at the beginning of the season, just a reminder that the club lost Owen, Viduka, Martins, Beye, Edgar and several others without replacing them. Many people, including yourself, have been happy to slate the likes of Butt, Nolan, Smith and Ameobi on here, but this is what we were left with and on;y the likes of Lovenkrands coming in without a pre season behind him. The squad was thin, so thin that for the majority of the first few games, Ranger led the line and we had the likes of Lua Lua, Donaldson, Tozer and Vukic on the bench. Several of these kids actually played. So, yes, we had the strongest squad in the division, didnt we? Stronger than WBA for example!!!!!!!!!!!!!!.

 

You might want to cast your mind back also to the injuries suffered by the likes of Colo, Taylor, Barton etc, further reducing the strength of the squad. Admittedly, we got Harewood and Khiz in but do you really believe they enhanced the quality?

 

Furthermore, credit should be given to Hughton and Ashley for spending money on the 6 players they brought in when money was clearly tight. This has been the undoing of Forest. If they had done something similar, they might well be closer to us.

 

Furthermore, do you honestly think a group of 4 would select the team and at the same time, keep total harmony throughout the club? It would be total anarchy and I cannot see Ashley or Hughton standing for it.

 

I am a coach myself and have run many teams. There is nothing wrong with having trusted lieutenants out on the park, motivating and ensuring players perform to their best. Part of our problem last year was that we had an inept captain in Michael Owen and very few others stepped up to the plate. This year, we seem to have a hell of a lot of leaders out there, all answering the call to alms and leading by example. If we had this last year, we might not have got relegated.

 

Oh, and getting back to my original point of squad strength, didnt we also lose Duff on transfer deadline day after he scored the equaliser at WBA and failed to replace him too.

 

 

What happened after the Leyton Orient fiasco isn’t hearsay, the players have been banging about it all season. It’s been this season’s mantra. I didn’t ask why it took this humiliating defeat to prompt the club into dealing with the team spirit issue. Perhaps as a coach yourself you can tell us why Hughton did nothing about it earlier?

 

The rest of your post is old ground and not worth going over again. However I will add that I never said the players were picking the team, we only bought four players in January and the Sunday League isn’t professional football.

 

[OzzieMandias]

Malandro's long post above says that the players motivated themselves in pre season and Hughton just went with the flow, since it was also clearly the best squad then not a great deal of credit goes to hughton.

 

My problem with that is that if you look at the teams performances in early season, they were a lot poorer than recently. Also the sides put out that lost at scunthorpe, forest and Blackpool were only one or two players from the current first team.

 

The overall improvement of the team, the specific improvement in individual performances and the quality of the additions to the squad have got, IMO, fuck all to do with a players committee meeting held in pre-season. To attribute any of the parameters of improved performance over the season to that meeting is churlish bollocks.

 

Was just about to post on similar lines myself. There are several reasons why I'll be reasonably content going into next season with Hughton at the helm, and apart from continuity and stability, and the fact that he can evidently work with Ashley, the main one is that he's clearly been getting better at his job as the season has progressed.

[Guest malandro]

Most of this thread seems to be speculation, tbh. The PL will be a slog for anyone... I wonder what Hughton will have to do to keep the supporters happy? If we finish 16th would it have been a good season?

 

Depends who we sign, just to add to the speculation. Say we signed Messi and finished 16th, then that's bad. If we sign noone and play Best up front then 16th would be a miracle.

This sort of, it depends on what we and other clubs do in the summer transfer window. If we don’t strengthen at all 16th would be about the mark. Dangerously close to a relegation spot - one bad refereeing decision or one fluky goal away from going down again.

 

Our weakness this season has been CM. Our attacking options have been limited to the long ball to Carroll or giving it to the wingers. It won’t take much for the organisation, athleticism and superior technique in the PL to stifle our goal threat. We’ve played with a little more variation recently but generally our play has been fairly predictable.

 

With reference to Hughton this raises two issues. Will he be strong enough to stand up to Ashley if our owner continues with the attitude that saw us drop out of the running to sign Beckford and Moses, and can he step up his game on the tactical front.

 

 

And what atittude was that?

 

Moses wanted Premiership football and wages. Leeds were asking way to much for a 3rd division striker coming to the end of his contract. Neither deserved persuing further imo.

The attitude where Hughton said he wanted to bring a player in but Ashley wouldn’t pay the market rate to get him.

[OzzieMandias]

Most of this thread seems to be speculation, tbh. The PL will be a slog for anyone... I wonder what Hughton will have to do to keep the supporters happy? If we finish 16th would it have been a good season?

 

Depends who we sign, just to add to the speculation. Say we signed Messi and finished 16th, then that's bad. If we sign noone and play Best up front then 16th would be a miracle.

This sort of, it depends on what we and other clubs do in the summer transfer window. If we don’t strengthen at all 16th would be about the mark. Dangerously close to a relegation spot - one bad refereeing decision or one fluky goal away from going down again.

 

Our weakness this season has been CM. Our attacking options have been limited to the long ball to Carroll or giving it to the wingers. It won’t take much for the organisation, athleticism and superior technique in the PL to stifle our goal threat. We’ve played with a little more variation recently but generally our play has been fairly predictable.

 

With reference to Hughton this raises two issues. Will he be strong enough to stand up to Ashley if our owner continues with the attitude that saw us drop out of the running to sign Beckford and Moses, and can he step up his game on the tactical front.

 

 

And what atittude was that?

 

Moses wanted Premiership football and wages. Leeds were asking way to much for a 3rd division striker coming to the end of his contract. Neither deserved persuing further imo.

The attitude where Hughton said he wanted to bring a player in but Ashley wouldn’t pay the market rate to get him.

 

Well, right now I'd prefer a manager who can work within given limits to one who spits out the dummy because Ashley won't fork out £10 million for Jermaine Beckford.

[BottledDog]

Most of this thread seems to be speculation, tbh. The PL will be a slog for anyone... I wonder what Hughton will have to do to keep the supporters happy? If we finish 16th would it have been a good season?

 

Depends who we sign, just to add to the speculation. Say we signed Messi and finished 16th, then that's bad. If we sign noone and play Best up front then 16th would be a miracle.

This sort of, it depends on what we and other clubs do in the summer transfer window. If we don’t strengthen at all 16th would be about the mark. Dangerously close to a relegation spot - one bad refereeing decision or one fluky goal away from going down again.

 

Our weakness this season has been CM. Our attacking options have been limited to the long ball to Carroll or giving it to the wingers. It won’t take much for the organisation, athleticism and superior technique in the PL to stifle our goal threat. We’ve played with a little more variation recently but generally our play has been fairly predictable.

 

With reference to Hughton this raises two issues. Will he be strong enough to stand up to Ashley if our owner continues with the attitude that saw us drop out of the running to sign Beckford and Moses, and can he step up his game on the tactical front.

 

 

And what atittude was that?

 

Moses wanted Premiership football and wages. Leeds were asking way to much for a 3rd division striker coming to the end of his contract. Neither deserved persuing further imo.

The attitude where Hughton said he wanted to bring a player in but Ashley wouldn’t pay the market rate to get him.

 

Beckford? The fact that he didn't move anywhere else goes to show he wasn't for sale at 'the market rate', and we weren't going to be taken for fools. Well done Ashley, for that 'attitude'.

 

As for Moses, lets get real, we weren't even in the same market for him once Premiership teams got involved.

[Guest malandro]

Malandro's long post above says that the players motivated themselves in pre season and Hughton just went with the flow, since it was also clearly the best squad then not a great deal of credit goes to hughton.

 

My problem with that is that if you look at the teams performances in early season, they were a lot poorer than recently. Also the sides put out that lost at scunthorpe, forest and Blackpool were only one or two players from the current first team.

 

The overall improvement of the team, the specific improvement in individual performances and the quality of the additions to the squad have got, IMO, f*** all to do with a players committee meeting held in pre-season. To attribute any of the parameters of improved performance over the season to that meeting is churlish bollocks.

Personally I think you’ve lost sight of the importance playing vastly inferior opposition every other week has had on our ‘progress’ this season. How playing weaker teams and winning games breeds confidence. How coming to a stadium like SJP intimidates teams in this division. Football is a game of margins not absolutes.

 

Hughton’s done a decent job, but we’ll have to wait until next season to find out who is talking churlish bollocks.

 

[Guest malandro]

Most of this thread seems to be speculation, tbh. The PL will be a slog for anyone... I wonder what Hughton will have to do to keep the supporters happy? If we finish 16th would it have been a good season?

 

Depends who we sign, just to add to the speculation. Say we signed Messi and finished 16th, then that's bad. If we sign noone and play Best up front then 16th would be a miracle.

This sort of, it depends on what we and other clubs do in the summer transfer window. If we don’t strengthen at all 16th would be about the mark. Dangerously close to a relegation spot - one bad refereeing decision or one fluky goal away from going down again.

 

Our weakness this season has been CM. Our attacking options have been limited to the long ball to Carroll or giving it to the wingers. It won’t take much for the organisation, athleticism and superior technique in the PL to stifle our goal threat. We’ve played with a little more variation recently but generally our play has been fairly predictable.

 

With reference to Hughton this raises two issues. Will he be strong enough to stand up to Ashley if our owner continues with the attitude that saw us drop out of the running to sign Beckford and Moses, and can he step up his game on the tactical front.

 

 

And what atittude was that?

 

Moses wanted Premiership football and wages. Leeds were asking way to much for a 3rd division striker coming to the end of his contract. Neither deserved persuing further imo.

The attitude where Hughton said he wanted to bring a player in but Ashley wouldn’t pay the market rate to get him.

 

Well, right now I'd prefer a manager who can work within given limits to one who spits out the dummy because Ashley won't fork out £10 million for Jermaine Beckford.

good for you. And which striker did we sign instead?

[OzzieMandias]

Most of this thread seems to be speculation, tbh. The PL will be a slog for anyone... I wonder what Hughton will have to do to keep the supporters happy? If we finish 16th would it have been a good season?

 

Depends who we sign, just to add to the speculation. Say we signed Messi and finished 16th, then that's bad. If we sign noone and play Best up front then 16th would be a miracle.

This sort of, it depends on what we and other clubs do in the summer transfer window. If we don’t strengthen at all 16th would be about the mark. Dangerously close to a relegation spot - one bad refereeing decision or one fluky goal away from going down again.

 

Our weakness this season has been CM. Our attacking options have been limited to the long ball to Carroll or giving it to the wingers. It won’t take much for the organisation, athleticism and superior technique in the PL to stifle our goal threat. We’ve played with a little more variation recently but generally our play has been fairly predictable.

 

With reference to Hughton this raises two issues. Will he be strong enough to stand up to Ashley if our owner continues with the attitude that saw us drop out of the running to sign Beckford and Moses, and can he step up his game on the tactical front.

 

 

And what atittude was that?

 

Moses wanted Premiership football and wages. Leeds were asking way to much for a 3rd division striker coming to the end of his contract. Neither deserved persuing further imo.

The attitude where Hughton said he wanted to bring a player in but Ashley wouldn’t pay the market rate to get him.

 

Well, right now I'd prefer a manager who can work within given limits to one who spits out the dummy because Ashley won't fork out £10 million for Jermaine Beckford.

good for you. And which striker did we sign instead?

 

Yeah, a waste of space. And how much has that mattered in the wider scheme of things?

[Guest toonlass]

And if we had signed Beckford and he had the form he is having at Leeds recently here then Hughton would have been blamed for that too. The lad can't do anything right for some. I am pleased that we are top of the league and the team seem to be happy, the Taylor/Carroll incident aside.

[hallihg]

Hughton deserves a new contract and a chance in the PL. 

[midds]

And if we had signed Beckford and he had the form he is having at Leeds recently here then Hughton would have been blamed for that too. The lad can't do anything right for some. I am pleased that we are top of the league and the team seem to be happy, the Taylor/Carroll incident aside.

 

Which has pretty much blown over. It'll be brought up again obviously but the clamour for sackings and police involvement has, by and large, gone. The club and manager got it absolutely spot on by not giving in to the press and commenting on it. They've moved on to something else.  

[Guest malandro]

And if we had signed Beckford and he had the form he is having at Leeds recently here then Hughton would have been blamed for that too. The lad can't do anything right for some. I am pleased that we are top of the league and the team seem to be happy, the Taylor/Carroll incident aside.

He would, and if Beckford had signed and knocked in a few goals Hughton would have been given the credit. Such is a manager’s lot. Not that it’s relevant; the point was if you can’t compete in the transfer market you end up with second choices like Leon Best.

[johnnypd]

i wouldnt say he cant do anything right, signing routledge was an excellent move on his part, williamson too considering taylor's injury, while signing best was shite (though hopefully it doesnt stop us getting a couple of strikers in the summer). he gets the credit where its due as well as the criticism.

[LiquidAK]

Best could still turn good once he breaks his duck. Not holding my breath mind, but it's still early in his career.

[Cajun]

We have two games without much rest time between them, will the shit hit the fan if certain favourites are rested or certain villains used?

[JH]

We have two games without much rest time between them, will the s*** hit the fan if certain favourites are rested or certain villains used?

 

We won't win both, we just won't. Not with the likes of Nolan in the team - he can't play two games in two days.

[Guest Chris P]

 

We won't win both, we just won't. Not with the likes of Nolan in the team - he can't play two games in two days.

 

What? is that a question or a statement