Calling Mr Hogan - your time is now

[Yellarbellyblade]

If Billy is out then this is the opportunity for Hogan to show why we brought him here and why he cost Villa so much. He’s shown glimpses at times but now is the time to really step up.

Next man up time!

 

[Bladesman]

 

[Guesty]

Oh God help us.

 

[Northyorksblade]

Can he play against Villa?

 

[Yellarbellyblade]

Can he play against Villa?

No but let’s get the main part of the season over first

 

[Northyorksblade]

No but let’s get the main part of the season over first

Automatic is done with Billy and Bash out. I'm looking at the future

 

[Flatulent_Bob]

Oh God help us.

That’s the spirit.
Personally I’d gladly have him next season, just not for £10 million. Like a few others I thought he should have come on for Billy yesterday.

 

[Yellarbellyblade]

Automatic is done with Billy and Bash out. I'm looking at the future

I do feel deflated after yesterday but it’s not over yet. Either way we need to get our form back before the playoffs or to get promotion via automatic. We don’t know the extent of the injuries but depending on how bad Billy’s is he might be back in time for the playoffs if that’s what it is especially if we don’t get Villa until a potential final if indeed we both get there. Looking at the table Villa look more likely for fourth or fifth so we wouldn’t play them in the semi.

In either scenario, playoffs or automatic, we have to get there first and Hogan surely has a major part to play.

 

[Guesty]

That’s the spirit.
Personally I’d gladly have him next season, just not for £10 million. Like a few others I thought he should have come on for Billy yesterday.

It might have been the right call shape-wise but frankly I think he's been terrible so far.

No matter though, if we go up he's nowhere near good enough for the top flight, if we don't we can't afford him. I guess he's better than Washington so in a sense no harm done, but if we could have found a better Centre Forward in January (no easy task, especially at that time of year, I realise) they might have helped get the few extra points we needed.

 

[Booker4]

Just out of interest, is there the possibility to play Leon and/or Ched in the play offs? Neither of their clubs will be in the play offs obviously, but not sure if their loan deals go beyond the end of the standard 46 game season? We might need one of them, or both. An in form Ched or Leon could be a huge asset, especially if we end up playing Villa and don't have Hogan.

 

[Grappler]

I do feel deflated after yesterday but it’s not over yet. Either way we need to get our form back before the playoffs or to get promotion via automatic. We don’t know the extent of the injuries but depending on how bad Billy’s is he might be back in time for the playoffs if that’s what it is especially if we don’t get Villa until a potential final if indeed we both get there. Looking at the table Villa look more likely for fourth or fifth so we wouldn’t play them in the semi.

In either scenario, playoffs or automatic, we have to get there first and Hogan surely has a major part to play.

Up until the 95th minute yesterday, I would have agreed with you mate, but that game pretty much finished us off, for me.

I knew the pigs would not be good enough to stop Leeds (according to a pig mate, it could have been a cricket score had it not been for their keeper) and I don't think even Villa will beat them now.

We will finish third and we won't make it to Wembley. We have run out of gas after a brilliant season. At the start of the season we would have put three past Millwall, but yesterday we managed a goal (as we did against Brum and Preston) and then struggled to do anything, constantly giving away possession.

We had chances that we should have taken, but dithered.

We have proved we can mix it with any team in this division, home and away, and it has been a fun ride.

 

[Harry's Game]

I’d start Hogan against Forest and Hull.

We need to wrap Mcgoldrick in cotton wool for the next month, plus he too was blowing after an hour yesterday.

 

[Flatulent_Bob]

It might have been the right call shape-wise but frankly I think he's been terrible so far.

No matter though, if we go up he's nowhere near good enough for the top flight, if we don't we can't afford him. I guess he's better than Washington so in a sense no harm done, but if we could have found a better Centre Forward in January (no easy task, especially at that time of year, I realise) they might have helped get the few extra points we needed.

If we go up or not, we need 2 forwards and 2 midfielders regardless, if we want to be where we are this season.
The last couple of games have really highlighted how we lack some creativity and options upfront who can unlock the tight games. This isn’t a criticism of those we have, but I think we’ve hit a limit of what we can do with honest players playing above themselves.

 

[Yellarbellyblade]

Up until the 95th minute yesterday, I would have agreed with you mate, but that game pretty much finished us off, for me.

I knew the pigs would not be good enough to stop Leeds (according to a pig mate, it could have been a cricket score had it not been for their keeper) and I don't think even Villa will beat them now.

We will finish third and we won't make it to Wembley. We have run out of gas after a brilliant season. At the start of the season we would have put three past Millwall, but yesterday we managed a goal (as we did against Brum and Preston) and then struggled to do anything, constantly giving away possession.

We had chances that we should have taken, but dithered.

We have proved we can mix it with any team in this division, home and away, and it has been a fun ride.

Respect your view mate and agree with large parts of it. Leeds did batter Wednesday from what I heard but I for one didn’t really expect them to get anything. That said we still have a chance and while we do we have to keep going.

 

[BrayfordsBushyBeard]

I actually thought his time was yesterday!! Needed the legs , needed the pace and needed the goal threat in the latter stages
As ever UTB!!

 

[originaltrueblade]

Yesterday was a hammer blow but not a killer blow. It’s not over yet. Scott Hogan has something to prove and now he has that platform he has pace but time will tell if he runs around like an headless chicken or he has quality, we are about to find off. We seemed to have become pretty clueless up front rather than shooting it’s passed sideways or back. As soon as we got the goal against Millwall we decided to sit back. I along with everyone else cannot understand why we are doing this we need to keep our attack philosophy. What comes next without No Billy Sharp no Chris Basham and for the next game no John Egan. Hogan in for Billy, Stearman in for Egan and Cranie in for Bash. Hogan up front with Madine with Mac linking between them and midfield in a role of complete freedom. With Duffy (crucial) Fleck(don’t let him take corners, hits them too long too many times) Norwood (playing a bit further forward). With Stevens Stearman Cranie O’Connell and Baldock giving the bedrock. Let’s see Jack and Co getting further forward as before as by far the best form of defence is to attack.
Forest are very weak at the back and we shall see how the Madine Hogan partnership plays out. I think we could be in for a pleasant surprise well let’s hope so. Hogan it’s your opportunity we shall see

 

[Grappler]

Respect your view mate and agree with large parts of it. Leeds did batter Wednesday from what I heard but I for one didn’t really expect them to get anything. That said we still have a chance and while we do we have to keep going.

There is always hope mate, and I appreciate your view as well. I am normally optimistic, but these last three games have knocked the stuffing out of me a bit. Millwall were looking at being dragged into a relegation scrap, we should have battered them yesterday.

 

[Northyorksblade]

I'm sorry but if we can't beat Millwall.......

 

[Houston_Blade]

It's desperate when Ched and Leon are being lined up for the play-offs!

 

[Champagneblade]

Yesterday was a hammer blow but not a killer blow. It’s not over yet. Scott Hogan has something to prove and now he has that platform he has pace but time will tell if he runs around like an headless chicken or he has quality, we are about to find off. We seemed to have become pretty clueless up front rather than shooting it’s passed sideways or back. As soon as we got the goal against Millwall we decided to sit back. I along with everyone else cannot understand why we are doing this we need to keep our attack philosophy. What comes next without No Billy Sharp no Chris Basham and for the next game no John Egan. Hogan in for Billy, Stearman in for Egan and Cranie in for Bash. Hogan up front with Madine with Mac linking between them and midfield in a role of complete freedom. With Duffy (crucial) Fleck(don’t let him take corners, hits them too long too many times) Norwood (playing a bit further forward). With Stevens Stearman Cranie O’Connell and Baldock giving the bedrock. Let’s see Jack and Co getting further forward as before as by far the best form of defence is to attack.
Forest are very weak at the back and we shall see how the Madine Hogan partnership plays out. I think we could be in for a pleasant surprise well let’s hope so. Hogan it’s your opportunity we shall see

Check your numbers mate.

It appears you see the solution as playing 12 men or having goalie wag.

If you're playing Madine and Hogan, I doubt you'll have Didzy and Duffy starting as well.

 

[BigBed]

Automatic is done with Billy and Bash out. I'm looking at the future

Cranie can step in for Bash, that's not a worry.
Next game, if Egan is out, then Stearman needs to be at his best, and Hogan or Madine, or both need to step up if Sharp's out, so has Duffy, as he's been dire the last few games.

 

[LoughboroBlade]

It's desperate when Ched and Leon are being lined up for the play-offs!

Particularly as neither would be eligible, so we’d almost certainly face sanctions for doing so. Changes made last season saw all loans for this part of the season extend right up until the next registration period begins, which will be after the playoffs have happened.

 

[Grappler]

Cranie can step in for Bash, that's not a worry.
Next game, if Egan is out, then Stearman needs to be at his best, and Hogan or Madine, or both need to step up if Sharp's out, so has Duffy, as he's been dire the last few games.

I've heard that Sharp is out for the rest of the season, and Basham may be back for the final game, both are hamstring injuries

 

[BigBed]

I've heard that Sharp is out for the rest of the season, and Basham may be back for the final game, both are hamstring injuries

Exactly my point.

 

[Yellarbellyblade]

I've heard that Sharp is out for the rest of the season, and Basham may be back for the final game, both are hamstring injuries

Joy