James Hanson

Noticed in the SH welcome video interview that James Hanson is out there training and looking good.

Would be good to have him back as that target player. He’d go well of Morais crosses and it would also give us someone that can make the ball stick in the attacking third.

Okay he’s not been prolific, but he brings strength and something that’s missing at the moment. Would be lovely if he could go on a bit of a goal scoring streak hey

Fingers crossed

Agreed. Think Moráis is what a fit Hanson has been missing.

PS I just noticed that my phone has chucked in that acute accent on the a. Don’t know if it’s right or not.

Quoted from KingstonMariner

Agreed. Think Moráis is what a fit Hanson has been missing.

PS I just noticed that my phone has chucked in that acute accent on the a. Don’t know if it’s right or not.

And a Hanson type player is what Morais has been missing too!

I have no doubt whatsoever that if Hanson gets himself fit and is able to play most of the games between now and the end of the season we'll finish well clear of the bottom two.

Mind you, he hasn’t played much for 10 months remember.

Quoted from NorthseaMariner

Mind you, he hasn’t played much for 10 months remember.

A very valid point and I think a lot of people are building him up far too much while he's been out injured. I don't rate him that much, not nowadays or many of his performances after signing for us anyway. 15 goals from 93 appearances since 2017 and a one goal in four record, 77 goals from 283 games in his prime at Bradford from 2009 to 2017. Being pragmatic, he's probably the type of striker we need, but maybe we need someone else to fill that role and not him..

A lot is made of scoring records but Hanson makes the ball stick in the final third and creates chances. I wouldn't care if he didn't score again all season — I'm confident that if he gets himself fit and playing, we'll be far more productive up front with him in the team.

He's a dream for any other striker to play alongside at this level, and a goal threat at set pieces (which, as we know, count for a lot at this level).

Totally acknowledge his injury record. I think we saw the best of him in August 2019 after he signed. Unfortunately it's been the usual injury nightmare ever since.

Morais and Hanson have previous at Bradford together aswell, both part of that famous demolishing of Chelsea.

Quoted from RichMariner

A lot is made of scoring records but Hanson makes the ball stick in the final third and creates chances. I wouldn't care if he didn't score again all season — I'm confident that if he gets himself fit and playing, we'll be far more productive up front with him in the team.

He's a dream for any other striker to play alongside at this level, and a goal threat at set pieces (which, as we know, count for a lot at this level).

Totally acknowledge his injury record. I think we saw the best of him in August 2019 after he signed. Unfortunately it's been the usual injury nightmare ever since.

For once I have to disagree with you Rich. We need to score at least 30/35 goals this season to stay up. If one of our strikers scores none, it's a tall order for the rest of the team to get to that total. And again, the games I've seen him play, his touch hasn't been that great and he lacks that burst of five yard pace to retain possession when it often bobbles off him under pressure. Wins his fair share of headers but that doesn't mean those headers have been that accurate either. Massive gamble to rely on him even if fit and his fitness record as a whole is more than a massive concern in our position. My guess and preference is that Hurst will sign another striker whose hold up play is good and is also more mobile than Hanson, someone in the mould of Vaughan at Tranmere..

Quoted from Bigdog

For once I have to disagree with you Rich. We need to score 30/35 goals this season to stay up. If one of your strikers scores none, it's a tall order for the rest of the team to get to that total. And again, the games I've seen him play, his touch hasn't been that great and he lacks that burst of five yard pace to retain possession when it often bobbles off him. Wins his fair share of headers but that doesn't mean those headers have been accurate either. Massive gamble to rely on him even if fit and his fitness as a whole is more than a massive concern in our position. My guess is that Hurst will sign another striker whose hold up play is good and also a little more mobile..

This.  Useful sub to hold up play and target for free kicks/corners and Hewitt throws. Also good as extra defence in our box. Start the young fresh guys.