Upfront on Saturday

[Sheff de party]

I fancy going somewhere further than County Durham myself.

I can never associate that with Washington as they all called it Weshie when I lived up there.

 

[bladesrus]

Brissle aren't a push over despite recent form and we need a win. Billy and Didsy have got to start. Any rest can start in the summer break.

 

[PokerBlade]

If Hogan can not manage to get some significant pitch time in the next 2 games, his loan signing will most probably go down as somewhat of a mistake.

FWIW, and for the reasons stated above, my front 2 for Saturday would be Sharp and Hogan with Duffy in the 10 behind.

Dependent on how things go, this can be changed with Dids or Dowell coming on. This might mean a slight change in formation with a sole striker with two tens in behind.

UTB

If Hogan doesn't play another minute for us then it'll be because those ahead are doing their job well enough.

And if Hogan warms the bench for another eight games then it'll still have been a good decision to prepare ourselves for the possibility of Sharp or McGoldrick getting injured/suspended.

 

[Stretch]

On what I have seen from his few appearances so far, Hogan seems to start really well, giving defenders something to think about with his pace and gets into good positions. But after a while he looks to get frustrated and lose a bit of interest. I think he clearly sees this as his big chance to lift the Villa hoodoo, and perhaps is just trying a bit too hard, and maybe being a bit too hard on himself?

In short, he needs a goal and soon. He could then go on and bag a few more for us. Equally I could see him not scoring at all during his time with us, just coming frustratingly close.

 

[Pinchy]

If Hogan doesn't play another minute for us then it'll be because those ahead are doing their job well enough.

And if Hogan warms the bench for another eight games then it'll still have been a good decision to prepare ourselves for the possibility of Sharp or McGoldrick getting injured/suspended.

Absolutely right. Tufty has made sure we don’t end the season scraping the barrel for strikers in the manner of Wilson and SemiPro. That didn’t end well. Well done him.

Sharp and Didsy to start for me. Take it from there.

 

[DronnieBlade]

If Hogan doesn't play another minute for us then it'll be because those ahead are doing their job well enough.

And if Hogan warms the bench for another eight games then it'll still have been a good decision to prepare ourselves for the possibility of Sharp or McGoldrick getting injured/suspended.

I have no problem with other players doing the business and players of higher caliber being there as effectively back up.

But as I understand it, we are funding Madine and Hogan to the tune of £60,000 per week.

For a club who’s highest contracted player being on about £15k per week, it strikes me as somewhat of a misuse of funds, whatever the perceived advantages.

Don’t get me wrong, Madine for Clarke is a clear upgrade.

I was very much for bringing Hogan on board in January and realistically thought he would be a great addition.

There is time yet !!!!

UTB

 

[wizadry]

I have no problem with other players doing the business and players of higher caliber being there as effectively back up.

But as I understand it, we are funding Madine and Hogan to the tune of £60,000 per week.

For a club who’s highest contracted player being on about £15k per week, it strikes me as somewhat of a misuse of funds, whatever the perceived advantages.

Don’t get me wrong, Madine for Clarke is a clear upgrade.

I was very much for bringing Hogan on board in January and realistically thought he would be a great addition.

There is time yet !!!!

UTB

What have you judged Hogan on and how do you think we’re doing form wise since he’s come in?

 

[originaltrueblade]

We need to win so it's a no brainier Sharp and McGoldrick to start

 

[DronnieBlade]

What have you judged Hogan on and how do you think we’re doing form wise since he’s come in?

My eyeballs predominantly !!

I see where you are going with this.

But I just can’t accept that the form of others is down to having Hogan lurking in the wings !!

Healthy competition and options is great. Credit to the club and Wilder for upping the ante in January. No doubt.

But the form of Sharp and Dids has been there for all to see since day 1 of the season. Let’s not pretend Madine and Hogan have further impacted on this.

UTB

 

[wizadry]

My eyeballs predominantly !!

I see where you are going with this.

But I just can’t accept that the form of others is down to having Hogan lurking in the wings !!

Healthy competition and options is great. Credit to the club and Wilder for upping the ante in January. No doubt.

But the form of Sharp and Dids has been there for all to see since day 1 of the season. Let’s not pretend Madine and Hogan have further impacted on this.

UTB

You need to take them pickled eggs out then.

Your last sentence couldn’t be further from the truth, squad rotation has played its part and only a fool would disagree with that. Tiredness cost us a lot last season, it won’t this season.

 

[DronnieBlade]

You need to take them pickled eggs out then.

Your last sentence couldn’t be further from the truth, squad rotation has played its part and only a fool would disagree with that. Tiredness cost us a lot last season, it won’t this season.

Lol.

How so squad rotation ?

Be specific.

From where I am sat, Madine and Hogan, to date, have NOT contributed much.

Contributed ? Yes.

Contributed much ? An emphatic no.

Things can change and a hero could emerge.

But I am looking at specific games where we should have done better (Wendy’s immediately springs to mind) where the squad rotation hindered rather than helped us.

Not as straightforward as you think, is it ??

Please don’t think I’m being negative. Squad depth has improved. No doubt.

Which is good .

UTB

 

[PokerBlade]

I have no problem with other players doing the business and players of higher caliber being there as effectively back up.

But as I understand it, we are funding Madine and Hogan to the tune of £60,000 per week.

For a club who’s highest contracted player being on about £15k per week, it strikes me as somewhat of a misuse of funds, whatever the perceived advantages.

Don’t get me wrong, Madine for Clarke is a clear upgrade.

I was very much for bringing Hogan on board in January and realistically thought he would be a great addition.

There is time yet !!!!

UTB

I don't know where the wage info comes from but given we didn't pay out a fee on a permanent signing in the JTW we have more to play with there.

Point is, if Sharp or McGoldrick are forced to miss a few games then we would've had nothing. We've been there before with strikers, finishing seasons at Wembley with Craig Beattie up front alone.

There's cover in the squad for every position, maybe aside from Fleck, but we lacked real options up front. Hogan and Madine provide that. Sure, it might look wasteful if we don't end up needing Hogan, but what if we DID need him and we hadn't got him? That lack of preparation might cost us everything.

He's already allowed us to rest players in a couple of games, so there's value there, but you have to look at what could happen and not just what does happen.

 

[DronnieBlade]

I don't know where the wage info comes from but given we didn't pay out a fee on a permanent signing in the JTW we have more to play with there.

Point is, if Sharp or McGoldrick are forced to miss a few games then we would've had nothing. We've been there before with strikers, finishing seasons at Wembley with Craig Beattie up front alone.

There's cover in the squad for every position, maybe aside from Fleck, but we lacked real options up front. Hogan and Madine provide that. Sure, it might look wasteful if we don't end up needing Hogan, but what if we DID need him and we hadn't got him? That lack of preparation might cost us everything.

He's already allowed us to rest players in a couple of games, so there's value there, but you have to look at what could happen and not just what does happen.

All valid points, that maybe I don’t fully appreciate.

Same goes for you Wiz.

But, for £60k per week between the two of them, I can’t help but feel a tad short changed. As things stand.

Not exactly pushed the main 2 and we would always have had Clarke and Washington in reserve if we hadn’t twisted in January. Not the same I accept !!

UTB

 

[PokerBlade]

All valid points, that maybe I don’t fully appreciate.

Same goes for you Wiz.

But, for £60k per week between the two of them, I can’t help but feel a tad short changed. As things stand.

Not exactly pushed the main 2 and we would always have had Clarke and Washington in reserve if we hadn’t twisted in January. Not the same I accept !!

UTB

I've always backed Clarke but he doesn't offer us the variations that Madine does. And I hate to write a player off but I'm yet to see anything that gives me much hope in Washington. If we had to play the last eight games with Washington up front, I'd really fear for us.

 

[wizadry]

Lol.

How so squad rotation ?

Be specific.

From where I am sat, Madine and Hogan, to date, have NOT contributed much.

Contributed ? Yes.

Contributed much ? An emphatic no.

Things can change and a hero could emerge.

But I am looking at specific games where we should have done better (Wendy’s immediately springs to mind) where the squad rotation hindered rather than helped us.

Not as straightforward as you think, is it ??

Please don’t think I’m being negative. Squad depth has improved. No doubt.

Which is good .

UTB

Just one game off the top of my head was Villa away, if we keep Madine on then we don’t draw that game, he was bossing them.

The games where we have rotated with Madine and Hogan, I don’t necessarily blame the players or the rotation, I think the tactics have been wrong on a few occasions and we’ve gone too direct. Madine can play a bit more than I first thought so perhaps when we play him we play him in the same way we played him in the Villa game, a game in which he bossed their defence and we played some lovely stuff?

I will state this though, if Goldy is fit enough and not fatigued at all then start him by all means as I prefer the Billy and Goldy partnership but I don’t think Wilder after what he’s done recently will risk him, I think it’s almost nailed on to be Sharp and Hogan so let’s just get behind dem Blades.

 

[Pinchy]

We need to win so it's a no brainier Sharp and McGoldrick to start

Why would anyone expect Sharp to be any brainier? Unless he’s been on a course?