Hughes wasting Ireland

[johnny crossan]

4-3-3 is the answer with a pacy, overlapping right back, who can cross. (i.e not Micah or Zabaleta) Superman would thrive alongide Barry and de Jong/Kompany in such a system, I guarantee it.

The problem with that JC is it will add extra pressure on the full backs defensively. If you want a player like Maicon who will get forward at every opportunity, with no right side midfielder to cover him, its going to leave us extremely exposed on the counter attack.

Ireland or DeJong/Kompany would do the job, or maybe Barry could come across on cover. Maicon is a touch limited defensively though, would prefer Lahm, Syrna, young César Azpilicueta or even Angel Rangel. Hughes probably wants someone with aerial ability as well, very hard to find that combination. Micah, if only you could cross.

 

[loffers]

I think if Kolo was fit then Ireland would have played instead of NDJ. This was a game Hughes set out to win and we really only need NDJ when we are up against passing teams with quality.
I think Hughes would have liked to have attacked more but with Micha in a poor run of form he erred on the side of caution. Personally I think the best form of defence is attack but then again a draw away is a positive result

 

[KenTheLandlord]

If the original poster wants what he thinks he wants, despite defeating the point of his own thread, then Hughes could only play 4-2-3-1. With Ireland in the middle of the 3 supporting attackers. Barry occupying one of the two defensive midfield roles along with NDJ or someone. However as the original poster wants two attackers, maybe we need to drop Shay Given and play an extra attacker.

TACTIX FORUM.

 

[bluebarn]

I've got to have a laugh at the OP for stating that Barry can't defend. Perhaps you would like to have this conversation with Fabio Capello who has used Barry as his sole defensive midfielder in 9 out of 10 World Cup qualification games. No offense, but I'd back Capello's judgement above yours.

 

[tonythecoleman]

hes out of the side cos hes been shite this season,plain and simple,just cos we didnt take 3 pts yesterday that no reason for wanting the boy who tells pork pies back.

 

[blueyorkie]

In my humble opinion Superman is about to become a waste by-product of the Hughes factory machine. Put simply, Hughes is wasting his immense talent and goal scoring ability by playing him defensively and out of position.

I fear for Stevie under the Hughes regime, the best midfielder, imho, last year in the Premiership is becoming a shadow of his former self under the Mark Hughes defensive shackles. Other Premiership managers must be looking on in disbelief, relief (when playing us), and weighing up the right time to bid for him.

He is being used as a second fiddle to an inferior Barry, who is a very good class midfielder but cannot defend for love nor money. Ireland can defend and has better attacking qualities than Barry.

What do you guys think?

I think you are stupid!

 

[ibennett63]

In my humble opinion Superman is about to become a waste by-product of the Hughes factory machine. Put simply, Hughes is wasting his immense talent and goal scoring ability by playing him defensively and out of position.

I fear for Stevie under the Hughes regime, the best midfielder, imho, last year in the Premiership is becoming a shadow of his former self under the Mark Hughes defensive shackles. Other Premiership managers must be looking on in disbelief, relief (when playing us), and weighing up the right time to bid for him.

He is being used as a second fiddle to an inferior Barry, who is a very good class midfielder but cannot defend for love nor money. Ireland can defend and has better attacking qualities than Barry.

What do you guys think?

i agree with you that he should be played in the same role as last season, but to say barry cant defend is quite utterly rubbish IMO.

Totally agree

 

[masterwig]

Ireland will raise his game and rise to the challenge of playing a different role for the team. There are some players who just wouldn't do that (Elano springs to mind) but Superman has the mental toughness and winning mentality that will see him alright.

I think he'll start against Fulham and become a fixture in the team once again.

 

[True_Blue69]

In my humble opinion Superman is about to become a waste by-product of the Hughes factory machine. Put simply, Hughes is wasting his immense talent and goal scoring ability by playing him defensively and out of position.

I fear for Stevie under the Hughes regime, the best midfielder, imho, last year in the Premiership is becoming a shadow of his former self under the Mark Hughes defensive shackles. Other Premiership managers must be looking on in disbelief, relief (when playing us), and weighing up the right time to bid for him.

He is being used as a second fiddle to an inferior Barry, who is a very good class midfielder but cannot defend for love nor money. Ireland can defend and has better attacking qualities than Barry.

What do you guys think?

99% correct, we needed a barry in the side, ireland though is being wasted by hughes and his system.

Im not having that. Up until he got injured he was playing in a similar role as last season, and to say a player can only play in one specific way is wrong. As a midfielder in the style of Ireland you are expected to be able to attack and defend, which from what I have seen is all that has been asked of him this season. I think he is just suffering a dip in form.

 

[Nevizade]

At the end of the day, Ireland is talented enough, young enough, and intelligent enough to be able to adapt to his new role in the centre of midfield. His new role means he can't necessarily bomb forward as much as he was able to last season, he needs to let the ball do more work as opposed to himself. When (not 'if') Stevie learns how to do this it will benefit our team greatly. Look at Fabregas-bundles of energy and likes a tackle but he is arguably more effective in a midfield pairing than behind the striker(s).

Ireland has the technique to become a brilliant passer of the ball, he is only 22 years old and has only been playing regularly (and regularly well) for just over a year. Give the lad time to adapt and he will become an outstanding asset to our team.