Dean Hammond - seriously

[LoughboroBlade]

We brought him in as a holding midfielder to protect the defence (I think) so are we missing him doing that ugly job and getting too hung up on his lack of creativity?

I think part of the problem yesterday was the pairing with Coutts. I think if Hammond's to work in a middle two, he has to be alongside someone that is going to consistently lead on the creative side of things and be demanding of the ball. I'm a bit astonished by some of the praise I've seen on Coutt's performance yesterday, as I thought he was one of the worst on the pitch first half, marginally improving in the 2nd.

There is surely a player in Hammond somewhere which is why he's been valued at Leicester, Southampton, Brighton, and why Adkins tried to take him to Reading in addition to here. But I'm not seeing it at the minute, and I've always thought I've been one of the more sympathetic people in the past towards those doing the less creative work in midfield.

 

[Rodley]

I think part of the problem yesterday was the pairing with Coutts. I think if Hammond's to work in a middle two, he has to be alongside someone that is going to consistently lead on the creative side of things and be demanding of the ball. I'm a bit astonished by some of the praise I've seen on Coutt's performance yesterday, as I thought he was one of the worst on the pitch first half, marginally improving in the 2nd.

There is surely a player in Hammond somewhere which is why he's been valued at Leicester, Southampton, Brighton, and why Adkins tried to take him to Reading in addition to here. But I'm not seeing it at the minute, and I've always thought I've been one of the more sympathetic people in the past towards those doing the less creative work in midfield.

The thing is people were ripping into Murpht after he was dogger for about 5 months. Then he bedded in and did better. Now he's the the best player we ever had.

It just takes time for players to settle in sometimes. Coutts has been gash for 18 months now, but seems to get a bye from some.

 

[finlaytheblade]

View attachment 14400
A slow and useless croc

What metric is goals? He averages about 1 in 8 or 10. You think he was bought for his goals??

Today what I thought he brought:

• from the outset he set the tempo - zipped a fast ball out to Bob, we've been crying out for that speed of pass all season - we kept it up most of the game - for all I care he can sit in a chair on the centre spot and watch the game if he's going to make us pass quicker
• played a good ball into Adams(?) before Billy's shot that hit the post(?) - it was some good attack anyway - did this sort of thing a few times - it's just that this one's on the highlights
• worked well with Coutts - they took it in turns moving forwards - moreso Hammond in the second half - didn't receive the ball but he was up there
• broke up a dangerous attack with a fancy Premier League shove that somehow the ref didn't give as a foul
• we hit the post three times in the second half and the keeper saved from Billy from about eight yards out - all of this despite or because of Hammond?

He still looks off the pace - which is why the classy shove was needed, and he missed a tackle when they broke second half but he was back there slowing things up and from being 5 v 2 down we were suddenly overwhelming them - but we still missed tackles and they got a good shot off. This time though it didn't fly in. Is our luck turning?

Speaking of Coutts: As posted elsewhere can we dust off the Coutts is a slow and useless crock threads from the end of last season - and just apply them to Hammond because, for me, they look increasingly daft.

UTMB

Great post Mr foulkes

 

[DronnieBlade]

While N A will almost certainly have forgotten more about football than most of us on this board, if he cannot see that Hammond's legs have, in all probabilty gone, than I for one am somewhat surprised. This is harsh on Hammond as he has not long since come back from a lengthy injury. But this sometimes happens. Some players never recover from an injury and never get back to anything like the player they were pre injury. It was the same with Higdon who's legs quite clearly have gone as well although not sure if it was injury in this case that caused it. More likely pie and ale !!

We simply cannot afford to be carrying players who's legs have gone in any position on the pitch and most certainly not in the vital engine room. Massive improvement required from Hammond from where I am sitting.

For me, the CM positions are more of a concern than the CBs at this particular time (Mostly down to the Basham / Collo partnership which has IMHO steadied what was a shaky defence). But they do need some protection and that was not on offer yesterday and the result was clear to see.

We still however need a player who can do the defensive CM role an awful lot better than any player we have in the squad right now. We have multiple players who can do the creative bit in CM.

Hammond is here till January and will most certainly play every game till January. Our results with him in the side have been less than impressive thus far. I am not scapegoating him just yet, as there is more to it than just the 1 player.

But Adkins needs to start thinking about making our defensive "shape" a bit more robust and, for me, this starts by sacrificing a bit of width and shoring up the central area of the park, probably with a 3 rather than a 2. But at least one of the 3 should be a deeper holding player capable of tracking running midfielders, something that we sorely miss. Maybe even look at the popular 4:2:3:1 pattern used by many PL sides. Its much more defensive but this is our biggest problem. We are leaking goals far too easily.

UTB

 

[super_pig]

View attachment 14400
A slow and useless croc

What metric is goals? He averages about 1 in 8 or 10. You think he was bought for his goals??

Today what I thought he brought:

• from the outset he set the tempo - zipped a fast ball out to Bob, we've been crying out for that speed of pass all season - we kept it up most of the game - for all I care he can sit in a chair on the centre spot and watch the game if he's going to make us pass quicker
• played a good ball into Adams(?) before Billy's shot that hit the post(?) - it was some good attack anyway - did this sort of thing a few times - it's just that this one's on the highlights
• worked well with Coutts - they took it in turns moving forwards - moreso Hammond in the second half - didn't receive the ball but he was up there
• broke up a dangerous attack with a fancy Premier League shove that somehow the ref didn't give as a foul
• we hit the post three times in the second half and the keeper saved from Billy from about eight yards out - all of this despite or because of Hammond?

He still looks off the pace - which is why the classy shove was needed, and he missed a tackle when they broke second half but he was back there slowing things up and from being 5 v 2 down we were suddenly overwhelming them - but we still missed tackles and they got a good shot off. This time though it didn't fly in. Is our luck turning?

Speaking of Coutts: As posted elsewhere can we dust off the Coutts is a slow and useless crock threads from the end of last season - and just apply them to Hammond because, for me, they look increasingly daft.

UTMB

re Coutts/Hammond.. we should just merge the threads.. they are the same person. we are overloaded with old crocks on a final payout,, it's reminiscent of the team that got relegated from Div 3. bourne, butlin, busby.. shite.

 

[Darthblade]

Interesting how we all see things differently. Today I thought Hammond totally dominated midfield in the second half as Coutts sat back to allow him to play further forward . He picked up the second ball time after time and recycled it and I think he was instrumental in our 2nd half domination of the game.

I've been really worried about his performances since he arrived but he finally looks to be finding his match fitness on today's display. A few rang RS to slag him off earlier and I'm not surprised to have this thread but I totally disagree with the OP.

Sorry mate got to disagree with you here. I thought that, as usual, we looked slow and predictable in midfield and we were often third to the ball, particularly with the many loose balls and misplaced passes on both sides.

Our players generally appeared to have the first touch of a JCB and our passing, overall, was shoddy. We were a little quicker in the pass than some games I've witnessed this season but Southend simply wanted the ball and the game more than us !!

We look a sad, pedestrian, poor quality first division side and regrettably, that's exactly where we will be next season ........

UTB & FTP

 

[Darthblade]

If this isn't imaginary touchiness then maybe it's that despite his seemingly limitless patience and positivity he's eventually getting fed up of having to answer daft questions.

I don't think the caller on radio pig asked "daft questions tbh, on this particular occasion. I've pretty much stopped listening but I tuned in last night because I was interested to see what Adkins would say and if he would offer a full and frank apology for the first half that we ( supporters ) had to suffer. The question NA was asked was " is Hammond fit " ?

He doesn't look fit tbh and if he is, we've got even bigger problems than we thought because its pretty clear that NA intends to keep him and play him.

UTB & FTP

 

[William Henry Foulkes]

While N A will almost certainly have forgotten more about football than most of us on this board, if he cannot see that Hammond's legs have, in all probabilty gone, than I for one am somewhat surprised. This is harsh on Hammond as he has not long since come back from a lengthy injury. But this sometimes happens. Some players never recover from an injury and never get back to anything like the player they were pre injury. It was the same with Higdon who's legs quite clearly have gone as well although not sure if it was injury in this case that caused it. More likely pie and ale !!

We simply cannot afford to be carrying players who's legs have gone in any position on the pitch and most certainly not in the vital engine room. Massive improvement required from Hammond from where I am sitting.

For me, the CM positions are more of a concern than the CBs at this particular time (Mostly down to the Basham / Collo partnership which has IMHO steadied what was a shaky defence). But they do need some protection and that was not on offer yesterday and the result was clear to see.

We still however need a player who can do the defensive CM role an awful lot better than any player we have in the squad right now. We have multiple players who can do the creative bit in CM.

Hammond is here till January and will most certainly play every game till January. Our results with him in the side have been less than impressive thus far. I am not scapegoating him just yet, as there is more to it than just the 1 player.

But Adkins needs to start thinking about making our defensive "shape" a bit more robust and, for me, this starts by sacrificing a bit of width and shoring up the central area of the park, probably with a 3 rather than a 2. But at least one of the 3 should be a deeper holding player capable of tracking running midfielders, something that we sorely miss. Maybe even look at the popular 4:2:3:1 pattern used by many PL sides. Its much more defensive but this is our biggest problem. We are leaking goals far too easily.

UTB

I agree that, despite the ongoing cries that we need a CH as top priority, CM may be where we most need to improve.

That said the plan has been clear from pre-season that we are going to try to outscore the opposition. This is in contrast to Clough's attempts at 1-0s.

At this level what we gain in solidity we lose in creativity, and vv.

 

[super_pig]

problem with loan players is always the same.. they never put their foot in.. who wants to get injured playing for some poxy div3 outfit??

 

[William Henry Foulkes]

re Coutts/Hammond.. we should just merge the threads.. they are the same person. we are overloaded with old crocks on a final payout,, it's reminiscent of the team that got relegated from Div 3. bourne, butlin, busby.. shite.

Yet somehow with JCR on the wrong wing, Billy out of position, Che having a mare, and two immobile and useless crocks in *central midfield* we managed to hit the post three times in about fifteen minutes, and worked a clear shot on target from 8 yards out. All in one half.

Who knows what we'd be capable of if we weren't such a rag tag collection of demotivated, disorganised journeymen.

UTMB

 

[judge]

Yet somehow with JCR on the wrong wing, Billy out of position, Che having a mare, and two immobile and useless crocks in *central midfield* we managed to hit the post three times in about fifteen minutes, and worked a clear shot on target from 8 yards out. All in one half.

Who knows what we'd be capable of if we weren't such a rag tag collection of demotivated, disorganised journeymen.

UTMB

Might be able to win at home every now and again

 

[super_pig]

Who knows what we'd be capable of if we weren't such a rag tag collection of demotivated, disorganised journeymen.

indeed

 

[derryblade]

It appears both Nigel's plans are flawed NC didn't win enough games trying for 1-0 and NA has failed to outscore opponents on 10 occasions in the league. Work in progress, still 29 games to get it right.