Would be nice to have the option to see him in a game that wasn’t a “dead rubber” where we were already 1-0 down.
The hondermarck thing doesn’t make sense to me. He’s played kind of okay in a few games but for some reason he’s lauded as some excellent player who is being held back. I know whacking the club (maybe rightly) is the thing right now but this is the third manager who hasn’t started him. Including Devaney who has been working with him with the u23 team. Could it just be that he’s not really ready? Or is that far too simple an explanation?
I never thought he was. He’s potential, but clearly has work to do hence why every manager has benched him and it’s not worked out at various clubs before. Devaney slated him for lack of effort in the U23s too. He needs to knuckle down this summer and fight for his place. He’s got the skill
What I don’t get is how he signed as a midfielder, has been coached into full back out of necessity maybe - but still asked to play full back when he came on, moving Brittain into central midfield, which he’s shown before he’s not up to. Why not just give Hondermarck half an hour in midfield?
His ball control was very poor but it's not far to judge him soley on tonight. However, if he's missed out due to attitude and lack of effort in training he needs to go, we need a team and work ethics if we're going to survive in keague 1 next season.
Because playing okay is, unfortunately, better than anything we had in midfield. The cameo appearances he made in midfield, his physicality & ability to drive forward with the ball in the middle of the park was missing from the team. His little appearances showed glimpses of it, Palmer, Styles, Moon, Gomes couldn't do it. I didn't see anyone saying he was the cure to our problems - but what we did see excited us a little, and rightly questioned why he couldn't get a game there when we've been abysmal this season, especially in that position
Is he out if contract soon? Palmer Halme and Adeboyejo are i believe. Wolfe Benson and Kane our midfield 3 next season then.
Agree with you. Haven't seen much of Hondermarck this season (and didn't impress tonight) but, fundamentally, we've had an unbalanced midfield all season. Until the recent introduction of Wolfe we've not had a midfield that showed any responsibility to win the ball or protrct the defence. This meant the defence was always exposed/open: there isn't a back 3/4/5 around (anywhete) that can stop goals without having cover in front of them - which Styles, Palmer, Benson et al didn't provide. Bringing Kane back in January would have made no difference, he isn't that kind of midfielder. What this seadon had underlined is how important Alec Mowatt was for us - because he defended very well. I hope Wolfe can develope into a similar player - watching tonights game (and he didn't remotely deserve MOTM) I hope we don't destroy him with poor coaching.
Bang on. He’s got all the physical attributes but he’s way off technically. Might be a player at some point in the future but he needs a lot of work & I doubt he’ll get much championship or league one game time in the next few years.
To be fair, he was given 30 minutes, out of position, in a side without any confidence, in a meaningless game, just as we went 2-0 down. I'm not sure what we expected him to do to be fair.
Midfielder. Not selected as we were 'converting' and 'coaching' him (Poyas words) to play as a centre half. Then play him as a full back............
