Just been told Hanson is signing for Bradford city to replace Swindon-bound Eoin Doyle.

Anyone else heard this?

Heard Vaughan is signing for Tranmere this week as hes fallen out with Bowyer so could be some truth in the matter.

I don't expect there to be any truth in this, but it'd be a massive blow if there was.

He can only sign for Bradford if we allow him to. He's under contract.

I’d say that he’s worth more to us actually staying, compared to any fee we could get. Mind you, he does seem injury prone. Hopefully he’ll stay injury free and also stay here.

If we are offered any money for him, we'd be foolish not to take it for a 32 year old.

Let's see if he's in the team tonight then !!!

https://twitter.com/officialgtfc/status/1222229100821008385?s=21

Hanson starts

I’d say it’s a load of rubbish bearing in mind they’re signing Matt Rhead..yes that Matt Rhead.

Quoted from marinerjase

I’d say it’s a load of rubbish bearing in mind they’re signing Matt Rhead..yes that Matt Rhead.

This is true - photos have been leaked of him having his medical.

[img]https://z55cs7m7rg43v2f4blrxlpsgy5o3pomvrlnnihlkb3p3tm6gyxfa.cdn.ampproject.org/ii/w1200/s/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk/incoming/article1480554.ece/ALTERNATES/s615/Weight%20Loss%20Ward%20patient%20Terry[/img]

Quoted from Poojah

This is true - photos have been leaked of him having his medical.

[img]https://z55cs7m7rg43v2f4blrxlpsgy5o3pomvrlnnihlkb3p3tm6gyxfa.cdn.ampproject.org/ii/w1200/s/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk/incoming/article1480554.ece/ALTERNATES/s615/Weight%20Loss%20Ward%20patient%20Terry[/img]

Clearly a fake I’m afraid.






That’s his slimmer brother 😉

I can see why it would appeal to him, but Hanson would be daft to go there now. They'll have a new manager in 4 weeks, he might find himself shipped off again by the end of March.

We've also got the pull of a name manager. Still seems weird typing that.

I might be in the minority here, but I actually think this would be good for us if it turns out to be true. Big earner. 18 months left on contract. When all fit we currently have 4 (5 if you count Cardwell) senior strikers battling for what appears to be 1 space in the team.

We need the big man, no one else can hold the ball up

Quoted from Rik e B

We need the big man, no one else can hold the ball up

Yeah, you're right. No one else in the history of football has ever controlled a football (with his head, chest or foot), held the ball up and played a simple pass to a teammate.

Quoted from GollyGTFC

Yeah, you're right. No one else in the history of football has ever controlled a football (with his head, chest or foot), held the ball up and played a simple pass to a teammate.

Who in our current squad is as good at that as Hanson?

Is it a coincidence we couldn’t hit a barn door when he was out injured?

Stevenage doubled up on him all night creating space for other players. All teams will do that as he offers something which he is arguably the best in the league at. As it stands we would be crazy to release him.

Although this will and is likely to be complete balderdash, not sure I’d be disappointed if Hanson left.

Just haven’t taken to him and don’t see him as being as effective as folk think.

I’m sure plenty do rate him and it’s all about opinions ...

Quoted from bax

Who in our current squad is as good at that as Hanson?

Is it a coincidence we couldn’t hit a barn door when he was out injured?

He was on a run of no goals in 16 games when he got injured...

Quoted from GollyGTFC

He was on a run of no goals in 16 games when he got injured...

In a team that was terrible. He brings so so much more to games than goals.

We had no one feeding off him with Jolley but it was great to see all his knock downs last night were being snaffled as we were much further up and closer to him.

If true(IF) then Ollie has someone similar lined up, strange that he would play and risk getting injured last night if he was going to Bradford

Wouldn’t want Hanson to leave at this stage of the season but I did comment last night that he should have scored with both the headers that led to goals at Crawley and Stevenage, basically inside the six yard box with free headers both should have been buried.

Nights like last night demonstrate he’s still required as Stevenage not the only physical team made up of six foot plus guys ( liked the left back though who went off sweet left foot) and his battling is a great contrast to the footwork of Clarke and Vernam. Puzzles me what he has to do to win free kicks gets a terribly raw deal from refs.

Quoted from bax

In a team that was terrible. He brings so so much more to games than goals.

League games that James Hanson has started,,,

Played 20
Won 5 (25%)
Drawn 6 (30%)
Lost 9 (45%)
Scored 22
Conceded 28
Goal Difference -6 (-0.3 per game)
Points 21 (1.05 per game)

League games that James Hanson hasn't started,,,

Played 8
Won 3 (37.5%)
Drawn 3 (37.5%)
Lost 2 (25%)
Scored 8
Conceded 6
Goal Difference +2 (+0.25 per game)
Points 12 (1.5 per game)

Vital member of the team. Hmmmm.....

They would be good stats if football teams consisted of 1 player, they don't...

So we are a one man team?

Statistics can be shaped to frame any argument. Who was the manager for most of those games?

Quoted from GollyGTFC

League games that James Hanson has started,,,

Played 20
Won 5 (25%)
Drawn 6 (30%)
Lost 9 (45%)
Scored 22
Conceded 28
Goal Difference -6 (-0.3 per game)
Points 21 (1.05 per game)

League games that James Hanson hasn't started,,,

Played 8
Won 3 (37.5%)
Drawn 3 (37.5%)
Lost 2 (25%)
Scored 8
Conceded 6
Goal Difference +2 (+0.25 per game)
Points 12 (1.5 per game)

Vital member of the team. Hmmmm.....

Sorry but that reasoning is flawed...it's if he'd only played in 1 league game and we won it that would give 100% win rate with him in it!!...now if it was 20 games and 20 games without then you could do a real comparison....when he's in the team he offers something else no one else does, there's always 2 defenders tied up with him and now we have players, a la Clarke and Whitehouse, that are feeding off him and finding the spaces he's even more important...oh, and the change in the style of play will pay dividends for Hanson too...
My only concern is stopping Macca returning to type and lumping it up to him, even that was doing Ollie's head in last night!!

I’d be disappointed if he went in this window as we could do with some stability while we change the way we play.

If he went in the summer and IH brought in better I’d not be too worried

Macca mixed it up last night and didn't just lump it to Hanson.

Was it just me, or were Macca's kicks flatter to Hanson instead of a big high kick?

Quoted from mimma

Macca mixed it up last night and didn't just lump it to Hanson.

Was it just me, or were Macca's kicks flatter to Hanson instead of a big high kick?

The wind

Quoted from GollyGTFC

Yeah, you're right. No one else in the history of football has ever controlled a football (with his head, chest or foot), held the ball up and played a simple pass to a teammate.

Tell me now, who else in our squad could do half as good a job as Hanson if he were to suddenly leave?

And how easy have we found it to get hold of such a player in the last several seasons since The Shop many years ago?

We've been screaming out for such an option for ages. Never mind a target man, have we even got another effective number 9 considering the 6 foot plus lumps of centrebacks in L2?

Ollie has stated it great to have 'the big man' back as it gives us the option to slam it up to him and it to stick to him enabling the rest rest of the team to push higher up the pitch.

Quoted from Fishy clapper

The wind

Don't have peas with your fish and chips - I had the same problem

Quoted from Lincoln Mariner 56

Wouldn’t want Hanson to leave at this stage of the season but I did comment last night that he should have scored with both the headers that led to goals at Crawley and Stevenage, basically inside the six yard box with free headers both should have been buried.
.

But they both resulted in goals, and if Hanson wasn’t in the team, would they have?

We’re utterly toothless up top without him.

Quoted from GollyGTFC

When all fit we currently have 4 (5 if you count Cardwell) senior strikers battling for what appears to be 1 space in the team.

Not sure I agree with that. I don't see the likes of Vernam, Rose, Clarke as competition for Hanson's spot. Hanson is the number 9 central striker in a three and pretty much everyone else is battling it out for the two wide spots surely?

Quoted from Son of Cod

Not sure I agree with that. I don't see the likes of Vernam, Rose, Clarke as competition for Hanson's spot. Hanson is the number 9 central striker in a three and pretty much everyone else is battling it out for the two wide spots surely?

Hanson
Green
Cook
Rose
Cardwell

Whether you agree with Rose's inclusion or not, we have 3 experience, senior centre-forwards and all the signs are's only 1 place in the starting line up for them.

Quoted from GollyGTFC

Hanson
Green
Cook
Rose
Cardwell

Whether you agree with Rose's inclusion or not, we have 3 experience, senior centre-forwards and all the signs are's only 1 place in the starting line up for them.

Always forget about Cook. Cardwell aside, the rest of them can all play other roles though as opposed to Hanson who can only play up front in the middle. I don't really see that central spot as up for grabs if Hanson's fit.

Cardwell is out for the season with an injury picked up on his debut for Chorley.

I'd happily go into the remaining chunk of the season with Rose, Cook and Green as our available strikers.  ??)

At least none of them pick up any injuries...

I like Cook, but for me Rose & Green shouldn't be part of Holloways plans.

Winger wise
Clarke
Vernam
Wright

I like these 3 a lot, and still have Tilley who we haven't properly seen yet, so we have options already.

But for me, Hanson has to be on the starting 11 every time when fit

For me Rose is a replacement for our wide forwards and Green probably is too which leaves Hanson and Cardwell as your two central strikers as I'm not convinced Cook is a striker. Good player technically but I don't know what his position is.

With Cardwell injured I think we do need another player in the Hanson mould.

I don't see Green, Cook, or Rose being able to lead the front line effectively even when they fully match fit when back from the treatment table -which none of them are at the minute.

Cook more of a number 10 and about 5 foot f**k all, Green would be best employed working off someone (*cough* Hanson) in a two up front formation -probably why we never have and unlikely going to see the best of him and Rose is a raw young kid and injury prone who couldn't and shouldnt be required to carry that burden all season. And short too. Cardwell not an option -may have come back a changed man like Vernham after his loan but before that most considered him a waste of wages and he now out anyway

As Sam GY pointed out, Hajson may not have scored but had he not been up there putting himself about that would have been a couple of goals in last two games that wouldn't have happened (no one who could have replaced him has the same aerial prowess and presence).

Okay it probably a fair bit to do with Ollie's new instructions to get forwards but our 'Goals For' column has shot through the roof since his return which no coincidence I'm sure. We now got that outlay up top which I repeat Ollie said so fantastic to suddenly have compared to not.

Im not going to dig stats out and pick them to suit my case but simply put 5 goals in the last two games (and the rest in games previous) is five (seven, eight?) more the the zero, or pretty much while he was out.

But of course there's other factors like the entire team we're out of confidence and what have you so that's why I'm not one to really get anal over them.

Quoted from Rik e B

As Sam GY pointed out, Hajson may not have scored but had he not been up there putting himself about that would have been a couple of goals in last two games that wouldn't have happened (no one who could have replaced him has the same aerial prowess and presence).

Not forgetting he did actually score one of them! (albeit, with the follow up rather than the initial header).

Plainly speaking he a bloody nuisance to opposition defenders, who double up on him freeing up space for the likes of Vernham, and fantastic to have.

Surely one of the first names on the team sheet and absolute madness to let him go or say wouldn't be a big loss.

'Replace him with somebody similar', easier said than done I'm sure, he probably the best in the division at what he does.

He had a lean spell (with everyone else) when there was clearly disquiet amongst the squad and Jolley went all heads gone with his chopping and changing, brain bamboozling tactical presentations and the devoid of ideas belting it up straight to him (with no support anywhere near) , but prior to that was ripping it up in August and now back proving himself extremely handy again.

Quoted from Jarmo.Is.God

I like Cook, but for me Rose & Green shouldn't be part of Holloways plans.

Winger wise
Clarke
Vernam
Wright

I like these 3 a lot, and still have Tilley who we haven't properly seen yet, so we have options already.

But for me, Hanson has to be on the starting 11 every time when fit

With Green being an experienced player, I think he should still be part and parcel for Ollie's team.

Now Rose.........how can I say this without sounding nasty..........get rid. To me he offers nothing. Yes I know he is still learning, but he just doesnt seem to be getting any better. His control is almost non existant. His shooting is nothing special. Even Ollie commented on how bad his shot was that he scored with against Salford. Yes I know a goal is a goal and they all get chalked up, but I believe he should be playing at a lower level. He has his work permit now so can go anywhere within the British Isles, so Ollie can ship him off quite easily.

Quoted from aldi_01

Although this will and is likely to be complete balderdash, not sure I’d be disappointed if Hanson left.

Just haven’t taken to him and don’t see him as being as effective as folk think.

I’m sure plenty do rate him and it’s all about opinions ...

19 crosses for expressing his opinion.  Do we all have to agree here?  I think he is a good target man but when he's there we have been a one trick pony and other teams worked that out rather quickly.  I also think that his head goes down too quickly.  

Quoted from Mayaman

19 crosses for expressing his opinion.  Do we all have to agree here?  I think he is a good target man but when he's there we have been a one trick pony and other teams worked that out rather quickly.  I also think that his head goes down too quickly.  

That’s the Fishy for you! ;D

He is a good target man and he is the only one we have. Anyone else up there the other night would have been kicked off the park by the two dinosaurs at the back for Stevenage. Certainly we were a one trick team earlier on when Hanson played. But there were other reasons for that too - Jolley insisting that we mark the opposition even when we had the ball cut the options from the back to one wellie downfield. Also we have seen more action from Vernam in the last 4 games than for a whole season previously, plus the clear instruction for midfield to get up there in support of Hanson. All down to the manager I’d guess. Next job is to get a winger to the by-line for the cross and Hanson has it all going for him.

2 wingers or overlapping backs that send in centres on a regular basis and Hanson will be back scoring more.

As for pushing up and leaving one for opposition corners- cause the opponents problems- stay high and challenge in their half not ours.

Keep moving after passing so you're free for another pass in the move.

Quoted from Mayaman

19 crosses for expressing his opinion.  Do we all have to agree here?  I think he is a good target man but when he's there we have been a one trick pony and other teams worked that out rather quickly.  I also think that his head goes down too quickly.  

I don't think his head goes down, he actually seems a natural leader, in all respects. Just imagine he got pi**ed off challenging for balls when no one was within 30 yards of him.

Turned off crosses n ticks so blissfully unaware of their use or purpose and zero felicitations given if I get them or not if I even can but could the red crosses simply be because they disagree with his opinion? I disagree also but he well within his rights to such opinion and not about to fall out over! Differing opinions is what it's all about and makes for interesting debate.

Lee Novak now gone from Scunts to Bradford - hopefully puts and end to this !!!!! ;D

Quoted from Rodley Mariner

Cardwell is out for the season with an injury picked up on his debut for Chorley.

That will teach him for trying to do an Ogbu goal celebration when he scored. :(

Not exactly had a lot of practise has he?

Quoted from Bradford Mariner

Just been told Hanson is signing for Bradford city to replace Swindon-bound Eoin Doyle.

Anyone else heard this?

They've signed Lee Novak now so we're fine haha