One to get you Hume-ing

[Thracian]

There seems to be a lot of flak flying on other forums about Iain Hume - and the usual excuses for Fryatt.

The latest criticism seems to stem from his Hume's failure to pass to Horsfield when Mattock put him through for his shot which went just over. Oh yes and for hitting the base of the post with another wicked effort - instead of putting it in (like it was easy).

The first effort was a cracking move and had the finishing gone in it would have been celebrated as an outstanding goal.

But it didn't. The striker took responsibility and missed. Same again when he hit the post. Big deal.

There's no betting, as implied, that Horsfield would have scored had Hume passed anyway. He was ten yards out and missed from three or four at Burnley.

No mention either that Fryatt could have passed to Mattock when breaking into the box for what would have been a far better chance instead of turning inside and being dispossessed easily.

The point is Hume's not only bearing the striking responsibility but he's charging all over the place trying to be a supplementary midfielder, and even defender on occasions.

If he had someone with him to geniuinely share the workload that would help. But no. Fryatt continues to fire on way less than full throttle and City look lost around the box.

In fact, attacking wise we haven't got a sodding clue - either with our team selection or our performance.

If you want workmanlike effort and an outlet ball then Hammond's the best option.

If you want an in-form striker then we're fecked unless we go for Billy McKay or trust to the questionable stamina of Danny Cadamarteri. But right now I'd sooner have either - or even Horsfield cos at least he wins some free-kicks in dangerous positions.

I cannot remember Fryatt posing any real threat at Preston.

[The People's Hero]

Anyone who criticises Fryatt for not bustling round the entire field is completely missing the point that you need different types of footballer in a team.

Fryatt is a finisher, deadly in and around the box.

This season, it hasn't worked for him, he hasn't been sharp enough. He needs a disciplined approach from a disciplined team of manager and coaches and he needs hard work over the close season.

Hume & Fryatt can and SHOULD be our front two next year though.

[Flexx]

Fryatt just lacks any stamina or strength. We all know he can finish and has something about him, but he just seems lazy at times. Hume has been getting a bit selfish recently, but who wouldn't with the rest of the team so incapable of doing anything.

[weggy1976]

[if you want workmanlike effort and an outlet ball then Hammond's the best option.

Thracian - sorry to dissapoint you but Hammond won't wear blue very often if Ian, Doug and NW have anything to do with it. Trust me.

[MBK]

Anyone who criticises Fryatt for not bustling round the entire field is completely missing the point that you need different types of footballer in a team.

Fryatt is a finisher, deadly in and around the box.

This season, it hasn't worked for him, he hasn't been sharp enough. He needs a disciplined approach from a disciplined team of manager and coaches and he needs hard work over the close season.

Hume & Fryatt can and SHOULD be our front two next year though.

I reckon you are wrong. We need a major investment in a pacey forward and Billy Sharp fits the bill. We should get him now.

[Thracian]

Anyone who criticises Fryatt for not bustling round the entire field is completely missing the point that you need different types of footballer in a team.

Fryatt is a finisher, deadly in and around the box.

This season, it hasn't worked for him, he hasn't been sharp enough. He needs a disciplined approach from a disciplined team of manager and coaches and he needs hard work over the close season.

Hume & Fryatt can and SHOULD be our front two next year though.

You are joking, I presume. We can't go another season without a big, strong, hard-running striker who can hold the ball up and win a few headers.

We've played a 4-4-2 system all season that eventually relies on someone having the ability to score from crosses at near or far post and we have no-one to do either.

Indeed we're only a threat from crosses when the big defenders come up - as our record clearly shows.

Fryatt doesn't have the strength, height, speed or range of shots to be a first choice Championship striker.

Even allowing for his injuries he's scored 10 goals for us in 50 appearances. It's just not enough for a guy who is an out-and-out striker and nothing else. Hume has scored 22 in 85 and he's an attacking midfielder really.

We need at least two new strikers for next season.

If we persist with Fryatt if should only be as back-up in the hope he can eventually get us our money back though personally I'd sooner go with one of Dodds, Chambers, McKay or Odihiambo on the bench.

All four have more aspects to their game than Fryatt from what I've seen all should continue to improve whereas Fryatt has gone backwards for whatever reason.

Mind you, I hope that winds the guy up for Barnsley cos it would be nice to get some sort of payoff and a goal that keeps us in the league will lift him to iconic status in some eyes. There'd be shouts for a minimum three-year-deal!.

[Ric Flair]

Both players are very inconsistent, but on their day they are both quality at this level. Next season if neither do perform consistently then I expect them to shape up or they'll be shipped out.

I didn't go on saturday, but in the two home defeats to Norwich and Birmingham, Fryatt looked the better performer but neither have taken their chances recently.

[DB11]

I think you are right in what you are saying, our strikers do not pass the ball enough but if I was Hume I would be thinking "I have done all the hard work, I have worked my socks off and I am going to have this chance to try and score; it's the least I deserve." So I do have some sympathy for Hume

[THEBIGJOHNSTEADER;]

hume and Fryatt + service = GOALS

[MBK]

We can't go another season without a big, strong, hard-running striker who can hold the ball up and win a few headers.

We've played a 4-4-2 system all season that eventually relies on someone having the ability to score from crosses at near or far post and we have no-one to do either.

Precisely. And we must be prepared to spend for that. However Fryatt was finished from the start. How the physios never realised the root of the problem I don't know. I hope MM gets a look at the staff and makes sure they are top-notch.

[Thracian]

hume and Fryatt + service = GOALS

Sadly, not enough by a long way this season and even then only certain types of goals.

[Dames]

hume and Fryatt + service = GOALS

If only.

Though recent games things have perked up a bit.

And Fryatt has been poor this season, unfit and off the pace in the first 3/4.

Though since he has come back he has generally looked a good player and got a good goal at Derby, though recent games show he isnt fully fit and should be coming off the bench for Horse/Cadders untill he is fully match fit.

Sorry Thrac but i hate the idea of Hammond wearing the blue of Leicester city again.

Gives me nightmares.

[THEBIGJOHNSTEADER;]

Sadly, not enough by a long way this season and even then only certain types of goals.

Are there any Steve Howard-esque players around for purchase, he's really made the difference for Derby this season

[Thracian]

Are there any Steve Howard-esque players around for purchase, he's really made the difference for Derby this season

It's a big world out there and I'd imagine Africa is full of em.

But I've seen no-one suited to that role in the Academy.

The strikers are all quite small, as seems to be the modern fashion, so they can link with four pass-and-move midfielders rather than having genuine wingers as such.

The Academy does have traditional wingers but King comes through to provide the aerial threat and there's always someone like McKay going near post, like Cottee used to do. It's the movement and timing makes them effective so they don't need a biggie.

Our first team doesn't have either an effective header of the ball, a near-post man or the movement I mentioned - so it's no wonder we don't score enough.

[Fez of Mahrez]

It's a big world out there and I'd imagine Africa is full of em.

Is anyone else picturing herds of Steve Howards sweeping majestically across the Serengeti?

[Zingari]

Is anyone else picturing herds of Steve Howards sweeping majestically across the Serengeti?

you can see them from a torquay window

[Ric Flair]

Is anyone else picturing herds of Steve Howards sweeping majestically across the Serengeti?

We all dream of a herd of Steve Howards................. (to the tune of we all dream of a team of Gary Breen's)

[Manwell Pablo]

It's a big world out there and I'd imagine Africa is full of em.

But I've seen no-one suited to that role in the Academy.

The strikers are all quite small, as seems to be the modern fashion, so they can link with four pass-and-move midfielders rather than having genuine wingers as such.

The Academy does have traditional wingers but King comes through to provide the aerial threat and there's always someone like McKay going near post, like Cottee used to do. It's the movement and timing makes them effective so they don't need a biggie.

Our first team doesn't have either an effective header of the ball, a near-post man or the movement I mentioned - so it's no wonder we don't score enough.

Not really, and the ones with talent are normally spotted by French scouts and bought straight away.

[Ric Flair]

Not really, and the ones with talent are normally spotted by French scouts and bought straight away.

I know an old German who would fit the bill.

[The People's Hero]

You are joking, I presume. We can't go another season without a big, strong, hard-running striker who can hold the ball up and win a few headers.

We've played a 4-4-2 system all season that eventually relies on someone having the ability to score from crosses at near or far post and we have no-one to do either.

Indeed we're only a threat from crosses when the big defenders come up - as our record clearly shows.

Fryatt doesn't have the strength, height, speed or range of shots to be a first choice Championship striker.

Even allowing for his injuries he's scored 10 goals for us in 50 appearances. It's just not enough for a guy who is an out-and-out striker and nothing else. Hume has scored 22 in 85 and he's an attacking midfielder really.

We need at least two new strikers for next season.

If we persist with Fryatt if should only be as back-up in the hope he can eventually get us our money back though personally I'd sooner go with one of Dodds, Chambers, McKay or Odihiambo on the bench.

All four have more aspects to their game than Fryatt from what I've seen all should continue to improve whereas Fryatt has gone backwards for whatever reason.

Mind you, I hope that winds the guy up for Barnsley cos it would be nice to get some sort of payoff and a goal that keeps us in the league will lift him to iconic status in some eyes. There'd be shouts for a minimum three-year-deal!.

What makes you think I am joking?

Both players are plenty good enough for this division. Hume misses a good, goalscoring partner to play along side and Fryatt hasn't been that this year.

So many of our players underperformed under RK... doesn't make them necessarily bad players Thracian.

[Thracian]

Not really, and the ones with talent are normally spotted by French scouts and bought straight away.

Couldn't we send one of the Leicester Ladies out to find one - that might scupper the French advantage! :thumbsup:

[harpendenfox]

'Hammond' and 'workmanlike effort' are not words I'd have thought I'd have read in the same sentence. Hammond may be many things - offside being one of them - but workmanlike he isn't.

If we want a new partner for Hume, give Cada a go up front

[Ric Flair]

'Hammond' and 'workmanlike effort' are not words I'd have thought I'd have read in the same sentence. Hammond may be many things - offside being one of them - but workmanlike he isn't.

If we want a new partner for Hume, give Cada a go up front

But they are both too short to play together when we play long ball and we do play long ball like young male adolescants play with their todger.

[Thracian]

'Hammond' and 'workmanlike effort' are not words I'd have thought I'd have read in the same sentence. Hammond may be many things - offside being one of them - but workmanlike he isn't.

If we want a new partner for Hume, give Cada a go up front

I've always thought he works very hard - but with the limited amount of pitchtime he gets he's always going to need recovery time with the pace he goes, the distances he covers and the battles he gets into on the way. Nothing ever looks relaxed and comfortable with Elvis but I think you'd need to mark him to realise what a handful he is.

[The People's Hero]

'Hammond' and 'workmanlike effort' are not words I'd have thought I'd have read in the same sentence. Hammond may be many things - offside being one of them - but workmanlike he isn't.

Correct.

But why let that get in the way of putting the lazy, incompetent wannabe gangsta in the team?