Feeling Optimistic

[Elder for England]

If directed at me then I honestly feel in Elphick we have a player for the future and so time has to be allowed for his development. He hasnt done much wrong and as not suffering with injury why would we drop him? He and Virgo played well against City and I honestly think make the best partnership we could field, not just now but possibly for the next 5 years.

Again, I like Hawkins and feel he has put in some good performances. His experience must be a huge asset to the squad but at the moment is not playing well enough to justify a starting position. FACT.

I'm not just talking about now, throughout the season this has been a debate amongst the Elphick & Lynch lovers, claiming that Hawkins isn't better than either of these two. What annoys me is that apart from a couple of games, Elphick hasn't been that good, so where is this whole drop Hawkins coming from (again, not just now). On a comparison basis, Hawkins has had more better games. FACT.

 

[Mendoza]

I'm not just talking about now, throughout the season this has been a debate amongst the Elphick & Lynch lovers, claiming that Hawkins isn't better than either of these two. What annoys me is that apart from a couple of games, Elphick hasn't been that good, so where is this whole drop Hawkins coming from (again, not just now). On a comparison basis, Hawkins has had more better games. FACT.

Hawkins HAS to be dropped. He is a great defender, but he has come back from injury way too early. People take 6 weeks to recover but Admas brought him back after 10 days

Hawkins is clearly unfit, and it is costing us goals, especially when we have a great defender playing on right midfield or left of a 3 upfront.

Hawkins has cost us goals in the last 4 games, when he shouldnt even be playing becuase he is so obviously unfit.

 

[Falmer Faithful]

I'm not just talking about now, throughout the season this has been a debate amongst the Elphick & Lynch lovers, claiming that Hawkins isn't better than either of these two. What annoys me is that apart from a couple of games, Elphick hasn't been that good, so where is this whole drop Hawkins coming from (again, not just now). On a comparison basis, Hawkins has had more better games. FACT.

.

 

[Elder for England]

Didnt realise this had been a long running battle of yours in defence of Hawkins

No intention to offend I am basing my opinion on who our best 11 at the current time is, not how many good games a player has had so far this season.

Hawkins (before Hernia) had been our best CB this season. FACT/OPINION
Hawkins (since Hernia) has seemed uncomfortable, off the pace, and unfit. FACT/OPINION
At this point in time Hawkins is not fit enough to be our starting CB, therefor ther is an arguement for him to be dropped, however once fit he may well find himself in the side again as is a great player and we look stronger at the back with him on form. FACT/OPINION

Fair point and I do agree. What I take issue with and where this started is when people claim that Elphick has somehow been fantastic and is carrying Hawkins! When he hasn't been too good either.

 

[Elder for England]

Hawkins HAS to be dropped. He is a great defender, but he has come back from injury way too early. People take 6 weeks to recover but Admas brought him back after 10 days

Hawkins is clearly unfit, and it is costing us goals, especially when we have a great defender playing on right midfield or left of a 3 upfront.

Hawkins has cost us goals in the last 4 games, when he shouldnt even be playing becuase he is so obviously unfit.

I agree for the time being he should be rested and have Virgo there, but this isn't the first time this has been brought up. It's unfair to say he is costing us goals, Elphick, Richards and Whing were all not good on Saturday, and I just feel that he is being made scapegoat for other people's bad games.

 

[Jimmy Grimble]

Give it time

 

[Mendoza]

I agree for the time being he should be rested and have Virgo there, but this isn't the first time this has been brought up. It's unfair to say he is costing us goals, Elphick, Richards and Whing were all not good on Saturday, and I just feel that he is being made scapegoat for other people's bad games.

thats fair enough. NOrthampton, the equaliser came from him not tackling Akinfenwa. 2 of the Scunthorpe goals were through him not putting a solid tackle in. 2 of Cheltenham goals were through him not being solid enough. If he was fit, he would have put his body on the line and won the challenges.

Pre season and the start of the season, he was the outstanding centre back, and played quite rightly so. I bigged him up massivley to my friends, and was excited about him so much as a replacement for BUtters.

It is just since his op he has unfairly been chucked into the team by Adams, and though I think he is brilliant, I have to admit the goals were his fault.

It wont be long til he is back and playing well, but there is no need to play him, especially when it means a GOOD player has to be dropped, so Virgo can be shoe horned in

 

[Falmer Faithful]

Fair point and I do agree. What I take issue with and where this started is when people claim that Elphick has somehow been fantastic and is carrying Hawkins! When he hasn't been too good either.

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[Silent Bob]

FAir enough, I see where your coming from. Just when we have played to Murrays strengths he has scored goals.

Last season, we used him well and he bagged 9 goals. This season we havent used his strengths nad he became a bit uneffective. Since we have signed Thornton and Anyinsah, they have provided him with the service he needs to score goals, and indeed he scored goals. Tommy Fraser did it the most out of all the midfielders we used.

Thornton and Anyinsah have come in, and are players that use Murrays stregths really well, and its no coincidence Murray has started scoring as a result.

Just need Adams to realise he doesnt have to play Hawkins or Virgo, and we will be looking good for the season*


*well end of October, until the good players go back to their clubs

Yeah, I see what you're saying. Not sure it is the same as building a team around him so much as actually the way the team plays. It's not that Murray has to be the focal point of everything we do... it's just that pumping high balls at him and Forster is useless.

 

[SULLY COULDNT SHOOT]

Teams not too bad just generally unhappy with tactics and positioning. Still... it is early days....

 

[Couldn't Be Hyypia]

To conclude on the Hawkins comments on this thread, the point is he isn't fit. I believe he and Elphick are a good pairing when fit. For now, we've got a top class CB in Virgo - give Hawkins time to recover and move Virgo back to play with Tommy. That would sort out the back and I believe would stem the flow of goals.

Midfield looking exciting and with options even outside the loanees.
Strikers firing again (Forster making space for Murray if not scoring).

Like I said - reasons to feel optimistic.

 

[Mendoza]

To conclude on the Hawkins comments on this thread, the point is he isn't fit. I believe he and Elphick are a good pairing when fit. For now, we've got a top class CB in Virgo - give Hawkins time to recover and move Virgo back to play with Tommy. That would sort out the back and I believe would stem the flow of goals.

Midfield looking exciting and with options even outside the loanees.
Strikers firing again (Forster making space for Murray if not scoring).

Like I said - reasons to feel optimistic.

yes, apologies, I will stop about Hawkins, like I said, I think he is brilliant, and I am optimistic when he comes back properly

Once the defence is sorted, we have good grounds to build up momentum during October, hopefully one that will insipre our players to carry on the good work, once the loan players go back.

I think we have left it a bit too late, as I reckon we will need to win 15 of our last 18 home games to go up, but I am optimistic, and think we will build on a dodgy start and go on to good things

 

[Falmer Faithful]

To conclude on the Hawkins comments on this thread, the point is he isn't fit. I believe he and Elphick are a good pairing when fit. For now, we've got a top class CB in Virgo - give Hawkins time to recover and move Virgo back to play with Tommy. That would sort out the back and I believe would stem the flow of goals.

Midfield looking exciting and with options even outside the loanees.
Strikers firing again (Forster making space for Murray if not scoring).

Like I said - reasons to feel optimistic.

.