Hessenthaler

Would have kept Hessenthaler as felt we would do well to get better than him in that protecting role, clearly if he wanted to move back closer to home there's not much you can do about it.

Wasn't bothered about Davis and Whitehouse leaving but we've definitely downgraded on them.  Whitehouse was fairly improved under Holloway and we could use his forward running at the minute.  Might have been limited technically but he was good for a high press and running beyond the front men.

Quoted from Nutsy

I thought Whitehouse was poor, very underwhelming and didn't really offer much except running about a bit

I don't even disagree. But he'd still walk into this team.

Quoted from ginnywings

And yet he was signed by a team with more ambition than us. A lot less fans, but more ambition.

They also signed Gavin Gunning after us!

He did well for Lincoln, so I was under the impression he'd add some bit and drive but injury probably affected him.

He doesn't start for FGR very often, and I think if I had the choice to warm our bench or be on more money warming FGR bench I know which I would choose.

There are loads of players who don't perform here but do elsewhere - Jamille Matt for example.

For relevance to this thread, Hessenthaler, though, performed at a solid 7.5 every single game. He did the dirty mopping up that our less mobile midfielders couldn't.

If we had Hessenthaler he would be Hurst's ideal player (similar to Craig Clay-ish).. add in any one of Clifton, Hewitt or Spokes and you have an immediately stronger core than what was on show on Saturday.

Rose shirked every tackle, Clifton (sadly) is limited but works hard, and Hewitt is good but not as mobile as Hess.

Anyway that's what I think!

Quoted from Nutsy

They also signed Gavin Gunning after us!

He did well for Lincoln, so I was under the impression he'd add some bit and drive but injury probably affected him.

He doesn't start for FGR very often, and I think if I had the choice to warm our bench or be on more money warming FGR bench I know which I would choose.

There are loads of players who don't perform here but do elsewhere - Jamille Matt for example.

For relevance to this thread, Hessenthaler, though, performed at a solid 7.5 every single game. He did the dirty mopping up that our less mobile midfielders couldn't.

If we had Hessenthaler he would be Hurst's ideal player (similar to Craig Clay-ish).. add in any one of Clifton, Hewitt or Spokes and you have an immediately stronger core than what was on show on Saturday.

Rose shirked every tackle, Clifton (sadly) is limited but works hard, and Hewitt is good but not as mobile as Hess.

Anyway that's what I think!

Hess was about 1000x better than Clay. A hell of a lot more mobile and had a lot more quality on the ball, plus could take decent corners/free kicks. I always thought Clay was overrated. He ran around a lot, kept the shape of the team but was very, very limited. Given what we know about Hurst though, Hess would certainly have been his sort of player.

Quoted from Nutsy

They also signed Gavin Gunning after us!

He did well for Lincoln, so I was under the impression he'd add some bit and drive but injury probably affected him.

He doesn't start for FGR very often, and I think if I had the choice to warm our bench or be on more money warming FGR bench I know which I would choose.

There are loads of players who don't perform here but do elsewhere - Jamille Matt for example.

For relevance to this thread, Hessenthaler, though, performed at a solid 7.5 every single game. He did the dirty mopping up that our less mobile midfielders couldn't.

If we had Hessenthaler he would be Hurst's ideal player (similar to Craig Clay-ish).. add in any one of Clifton, Hewitt or Spokes and you have an immediately stronger core than what was on show on Saturday.

Rose shirked every tackle, Clifton (sadly) is limited but works hard, and Hewitt is good but not as mobile as Hess.

Anyway that's what I think!

Clay in the main was crap when he played here, Hewitt isn consistent enough in midfield, on Saturday I forgot he was playing.

Quoted from Mariner_09

Hess was about 1000x better than Clay. A hell of a lot more mobile and had a lot more quality on the ball, plus could take decent corners/free kicks. I always thought Clay was overrated. He ran around a lot, kept the shape of the team but was very, very limited. Given what we know about Hurst though, Hess would certainly have been his sort of player.

I thought the reverse - I thought Hess was overrated and Clay underrated!

Hess just got on my nerves in the end with the constant backwards and sideways passing when we could have gone forward. Either would walk into the current side though and be the star performer we are that bad.

I think both Hess and Whitehouse are better than our current midfield options.

Quoted from ginnywings

2nd lowest budget in the EFL and they can find players that have pace and skill; score goals and actually put in dangerous free kicks. They looked head and shoulders above us.

It's so galling.

I suspect their close proximity to London has a big impact on the type of players they can attract. We just don't have that pull.

Quoted from Mighty_Mariner

I suspect their close proximity to London has a big impact on the type of players they can attract. We just don't have that pull.

Hess’s dad Andy used to play with John Yems, think that’s why he ended up at Crawley

Quoted from Mighty_Mariner

I suspect their close proximity to London has a big impact on the type of players they can attract. We just don't have that pull.

Yeah, I do realise there are mitigating circumstances.

We should however make ourselves more attractive, and hopefully we now will.