Absolutely love Bobby, but in my opinion his best days are over with us. Good bit part player now, and that's how Flicker obviously sees him. I think the reason Wiseman is preferred to Hassell is because Wiseman is younger and more mobile, something Flicker touched upon at Peterborough. He might be better defensively than Wiseman, but he would be an easy target down that right because of his pace. And unfortunately he is too small to be put in the centre half position, especially against some of the big players playing in the championship currently. Bobby's best position now is in central midfield. A defensive midfielder. However we have Perkins, Tunnicliffe, Dawson almost back from injury, Etuhu and Delap, so that leaves him 4th choice at best. I'm not Bobby bashing by any means, I love him more than anyone else, but I just can't see what difference he would have made the last two games. We are just **** defensively, that's why we are fighting relegation. Just my opinion of course.
Sorry but regardless of height, Hassell is a better centre back than Wiseman. It's as simple as that. I could to some degree understand your point about mobility at wing-back, but Hassell is a better centre back. Not even close. At least Hassell can jump/challenge for a header.
He has played well everytime he has been picked. The evidence certainly doesn't suggest he is finished. He can player cb as he times his jumps excellently and reads the game well, gets himself in position and has the strength to hold the position. Just my opinion.
Bobby would make an excellent centre back in a back 3 and it baffles me how he doesn't get in the side. Agreed his lack of pace would expose him at full back or wing back, but still worth a place for me...
Without wanting to get my head bitten off, I don't think Bobby could have played as well as Wiseman today. Flicker thought he was outstanding and I have to agree.
Yet Wiseman is allegedly quick, yet gets skinned every week. As you say, Bobby's better defensively - now it's my opinion that I prefer my defenders to be able to defend. Certainly in the first instance. Delap is slower than Hassell, yet he played RWB last week... He's two inch smaller than Wiseman, yet Bobby actually jumps in aerial challenges, perhaps a good foot in the air, so therefore he again outdoes Wiseman because Wiseman can't/won't jump. However, you're entitled to your opinion. And it does mirror the managers, seemingly. I just find it somewhat bizarre that Bobby is written off without actually doing anything negative in a game to warrant it. We're not talking about a 37 year old veteran who's costing us goals/results week in week out, we're talking about the one player under this and the previous manager who gets continually overlooked despite the fact that when Hassell plays we lose less.
You've just saved me effort of typing a response Whitey. Flicker ****** up big time today. We don't even need to sigen defenders if he'd pick Foster and Hassell. What I'm struggling with is why Flicker has completely 'reorganised' a team that was winning every week because our left back got injured... Just put Kennedy there and put Hassell in the back 3 instead of Kennedy: Steele Hassell Foster Cranie Delap Perkins Mellis Obrien Kennedy Harewood Daggers Pick that every week Flicker and we'll stay up. Start ******* about like Hill did and we'll go down. Simple.
Bobby Hassell will win more headers at centre half in a game than Wiseman and Kennedy will win combined in a month. Height doesn't matter if you're strong and can jump.
Expectations have been lowered re Wiseman. He kicks the ball correctly and people think he's played well. The entire defensive unit suffers due to the inclusion of McNulty and Wiseman. Mis-placed passes, missed headers, not clearing lines etc, all adds up to cumulative pressure. Just pick Bobby, Foster and Cranie and we'll stay up.
