Just back

Quoted from TownSNAFU5

On a similar theme, I thought James Hunt was under-appreciated as a water-carrier. He did a lot of good work which did not always get noticed or appreciated.  He was more effective away from home I think.

Yeah I liked him, played well in that run at the end of 08/09. Newell must've been on the white lightning when he released him but kept Boshell and Clarke.

Quoted from Abdul19

Yeah I liked him, played well in that run at the end of 08/09. Newell must've been on the white lightning when he released him but kept Boshell and Clarke.

It sort of makes sense in the context he was in his mid thirties at the time and was very much a Buckley type player and not what Newell wanted (though we later learned what he looks for in a player). Hunt was industrious, did all the donkey work in midfield winning the ball without standing out as flashy which is much of the Buckley archetype for what a midfielder is. Boshell and Clarke were utility players who it was probably hoped would be useful to have around since they could play in a few different positions, though they were not particularly good at any of them which was the problem. At least he released Richard Hopeless and wasn't the one responsible for Heywood the slowest defender I've seen in a Town shirt. The Collins/Clarke paring under Slade looked like Usain Bolt in comparison.

Clay, Disley & Nolan was probably our best midfield for many a season and a pity they had so little time playing together. As for Clay always liked him as a real grafter who wasn’t too bad on the ball and I certainly would rate him above all but Clifton in our current squad albeit Holohan probably plays a different midfield role to him.

All just opinions at the end of the day and I still remember the Barrett Stand’s dislike of Mike Hickman back in the day and he proved to be an excellent town player and had a good career when he moved on.

Hunt was the perfect foil for Sweeney in that run at the end of 08/09.

Still, we got Mike Leary as a replacement...

Quoted from Lincoln Mariner 56

Clay, Disley & Nolan was probably our best midfield for many a season and a pity they had so little time playing together. As for Clay always liked him as a real grafter who wasn’t too bad on the ball and I certainly would rate him above all but Clifton in our current squad albeit Holohan probably plays a different midfield role to him.

All just opinions at the end of the day and I still remember the Barrett Stand’s dislike of Mike Hickman back in the day and he proved to be an excellent town player and had a good career when he moved on.

I often joke that we had some terrific players even in the darkest non league times, but sadly couldn't get them together in the same team - just a year or two either way and we would have had a fantastic team.

An eleven chosen over say 5 seasons in our non league days would have been too good for league 2.

I suppose this is the dilemma managers have these days- it's very difficult to get the incremental improvements often talked about because your better players are itching to move on when their 1 year or 18month contract is up and you have to start the process again. It's a bit of a lottery really.

Quoted from lew chaterleys lover

I often joke that we had some terrific players even in the darkest non league times, but sadly couldn't get them together in the same team - just a year or two either way and we would have had a fantastic team.

An eleven chosen over say 5 seasons in our non league days would have been too good for league 2.

I suppose this is the dilemma managers have these days- it's very difficult to get the incremental improvements often talked about because your better players are itching to move on when their 1 year or 18month contract is up and you have to start the process again. It's a bit of a lottery really.

A sober XI from that period would’ve also been decent, but sadly they couldn’t emulate Gally and still perform tanked up. Conlon and Sweeney drunk their careers up the wall.

Quoted from Lincoln Mariner 56

All just opinions at the end of the day and I still remember the Barrett Stand’s dislike of Mike Hickman back in the day and he proved to be an excellent town player and had a good career when he moved on.

Hickman was pretty rubbish the season before 71-72 promotion season when he was magnificent. Lawrie Mac certainly got the best out of him as I recall.

Quoted from lew chaterleys lover

I often joke that we had some terrific players even in the darkest non league times, but sadly couldn't get them together in the same team - just a year or two either way and we would have had a fantastic team.

An eleven chosen over say 5 seasons in our non league days would have been too good for league 2.

I suppose this is the dilemma managers have these days- it's very difficult to get the incremental improvements often talked about because your better players are itching to move on when their 1 year or 18month contract is up and you have to start the process again. It's a bit of a lottery really.

McKeown
Tait Pearson Nsiala Townsend
Clay Disley Nolan
Hearn Bogle Amond

Subs: Nielson, Gowling, Magnay, Hannah, Thanoj

Quoted from jamesgtfc

McKeown
Tait Pearson Nsiala Townsend
Clay Disley Nolan
Hearn Bogle Amond

Subs: Nielson, Gowling, Magnay, Hannah, Thanoj

Harsh that Nath isn't in the side let alone the squad. I'd have Lenny on the bench as well over Hannah (whom I always thought was overrated).

Quoted from Mariner_09

Harsh that Nath isn't in the side let alone the squad. I'd have Lenny on the bench as well over Hannah (whom I always thought was overrated).

Very fair comment. Lenny and Arnold can go on the bench in place of Nielson and Hannah. I really struggled to put a CM on the bench.