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Post by jimexotic on Dec 29, 2022 20:27:25 GMT
Scores tonight, surely must be knocking on the squad door now given how well he's settled in the ch'ship and getting assists / goals. At the top end of the league too, definitely worth a look, he's coming into his prime years. |
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Post by rushy on Dec 29, 2022 20:49:42 GMT
Beat the high line Boro defence and slotted home.
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Post by jimexotic on Dec 29, 2022 21:01:40 GMT
Blackburn are capitulating now, down to 10 men and just gone 2-1 down, very strange team.
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Post by iot on Dec 29, 2022 21:47:12 GMT
I know I always come across as a debbie downer, but there's so much newency bias in football that I feel a need to balance against it. So a quick reality check on Hedges - he's actually been in very mediocre form for the last few games and about a month leading up to the world cup, after a decent start to the season. His goal tonight was only his second goal contribution in his last 10+ games. He's only scored 2 and set up 4 goals in 23 games this season. I've seen him in 2 or 3 games now, where he hasn't done much at all to be honest, playing high up the pitch (although I know he has played wing back at times this season). I certainly wouldn't be against checking him out as a potential LWB option, but people shouldn't expect him to have much of an impact to be honest.
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Post by dai on Dec 29, 2022 22:17:48 GMT
You rubbish Hedges, who plays in the top half of the ch'ship and is highly rated by Blackburn, yet make Levitt, who plays for a crap side at the bottom of the SPL, out be some sort of midfield god. Bizarre logic.
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Post by iot on Dec 29, 2022 23:21:16 GMT
You rubbish Hedges, who plays in the top half of the ch'ship and is highly rated by Blackburn, yet make Levitt, who plays for a crap side at the bottom of the SPL, out be some sort of midfield god. Bizarre logic. No, what's bizarre is your ridiculous exaggerations and failure to distinguish between age, potential, positions, and the areas of need in our squad. I have never said Levitt is some sort of midfield god. I've described him as someone who's been highly inconsistent for us, but has a lot of natural talent and potential to be a good, important player for us provided he can develop greater consistency. I have never rubbished Hedges - in fact, I've said multiple times I wouldn't mind him having another go in the squad, but people are bigging him up simply because he hasn't been in squads and so hasn't had an opportunity to tear down people's hopes and dreams yet. It's always the same - people were furious that Sorba Thomas didn't make the first squad after people became aware of him, just because he was the exciting new thing. Levitt plays in a position where we are desperately short. He's up against League 1 players. He is also just 22 and performing well, week in week out, in the SPL. He's shown in a few appearances for us that he could have what it takes. I don't think he's definitely the answer, but I think he could be the answer and should definitely be persisted with. Hedges, on the other hand, is 27 and is a decent Championship player who's very unlikely to progress into anything beyond that. He's played most of the season in one of the positions behind the striker. In the Welsh context, he's up against Bale, Johnson, James, Wilson, Brooks, Ramsey, Matondo, Lawrence, and Luke Harris - you could even throw in the likes of Tyler Roberts and Mark Harris. He's unlikely to be an improvement on those options. I wouldn't mind testing him at wing back if we still shape up in that way, but that's not where he generally plays at club level. I really struggle to see what's bizarre about that logic. You're all over the shop on this. |
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Post by ontheroadagain2 on Dec 29, 2022 23:23:17 GMT
Scores tonight, surely must be knocking on the squad door now given how well he's settled in the ch'ship and getting assists / goals. At the top end of the league too, definitely worth a look, he's coming into his prime years. Consistency is what we need. If he does this for a couple of months he should make the squad. |
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Post by bale-droed on Dec 30, 2022 9:05:12 GMT
It’s crazy isn’t it the depth we have. At any other point between 2000-2016 Hedges probably would’ve had 30 caps by 27, even Marley Watkins can consider himself unlucky . These are the things we need to remember and be positive about. We’ve come far
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Post by talyfan on Dec 30, 2022 11:23:36 GMT
Agree with iot. Unless we go the wing back route it's worth considering him at left wing back. Otherwise we're well stocked in attacking positions with promising younger players higher up the pitch. |
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Post by rushy on Dec 30, 2022 17:34:40 GMT
Haven't seen much of Hedges but hasn't shown much when I have, Blackburn play him as a RW, yet when he was clean through on goal he put it onto his left to score last night. RND looks capable to fill the LWB role currently but competition for places is only a good thing, watched Colwill and Harris for Cardiff , they look capable enough but both need to convert their play into goals, which is the one area we desperately lack in the current set up..
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Post by allezlesrouges on Dec 30, 2022 19:08:20 GMT
He still sounds like a better LWB option than Sorba at the moment
I'd like to see us move towards orthodox wing backs moving forwards, so I'd say it ranks like this
RWB: Neco, Connor, Burns
LWB: RND, Hedges
Probably should only be picking 4 for any given squad. Not sure who would be 3rd choice behind Hedges at LWB, but perhaps someone like Beck could be tried if needed
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Post by manulike on Dec 31, 2022 17:28:26 GMT
#TeamRyan
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Post by surge on Dec 31, 2022 17:59:59 GMT
Players upping their game and creating real competition for places can only be a good thing.
Over halfway through Championship season and Hedges', not 28 til start of next season, versatility and quick burst of acceleration has made him a regular in the third best side in the division. Is it too much to ask for him to play on left internationally when this is role not played at for club side? That would make him extremely useful to us.
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Post by dai on Jan 1, 2023 13:28:48 GMT
Hedges, on the other hand, is 27 and is a decent Championship player who's very unlikely to progress into anything beyond that. He's played most of the season in one of the positions behind the striker. In the Welsh context, he's up against Bale, Johnson, James, Wilson, Brooks, Ramsey, Matondo, Lawrence, and Luke Harris - you could even throw in the likes of Tyler Roberts and Mark Harris. He's unlikely to be an improvement on those options. I wouldn't mind testing him at wing back if we still shape up in that way, but that's not where he generally plays at club level. I really struggle to see what's bizarre about that logic. You're all over the shop on this. Half of those you've listed hardly play at club level, and since when have Luke Harris, Wilson and Ramsey been wide players? Hedges is a wing forward and wing back. Lawrence is never getting picked again. Matondo, Mark Harris and T Roberts have all been tested and are all below average. If you watched the WC you'd see the importance of match fitness and sharpness , something that's missing in over half of our squad. Hedges is playing week in week out and is arguably fitter and sharper than most of our options in that area, bar James and Johnson. Even though James has been largely ineffective for quite a while now. So what that he's 27 and playing in ch'ship and that's his level, that's been the level for most Welsh players over the years. We're Wales at the end of the day, we're not going to have a team full top flight full time players. Your snobbery towards players past a certain age and playing level is surprisingly naive considering the resources at our disposal. People are 'bigging up' players like Hedges because we've largely looked pretty shit for the best part of two years now, and when you have other players playing regular football at a decent football, questions have to be asked about the selection policy. |
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Post by CrackityJones on Jan 1, 2023 13:57:33 GMT
Just watched him for 90 mins. He’s really not all that
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Post by allezlesrouges on Jan 1, 2023 14:00:50 GMT
Looked better than Colwill and Harris. If he can play as an orthodox LWB then realistically who do we have that's better? RND that's it
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Post by dai on Jan 1, 2023 14:00:55 GMT
Ahh, the old writing a player off after watching one game, make sense. Watched most of the game, and he was miles better than any other Welsh player on the pitch - Harris, Colwill, Davies etc.
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Post by CrackityJones on Jan 1, 2023 14:01:41 GMT
Seen him play a few times, have you? Like I said, Id be happy for him at LWB but he's no where near James, Johnson, Wilson
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Post by surge on Jan 1, 2023 16:04:24 GMT
Ahh, the old writing a player off after watching one game, make sense. Watched most of the game, and he was miles better than any other Welsh player on the pitch - Harris, Colwill, Davies etc. It might interest you to know that Hedges was rated 6.6 today on Sofascore whereas Harris 6.7, Colwill 6.5 and Davies 6.2. Of course that's just the headline and different things need to be considered to make sense of these ratings. The pitch, to name one thing, was absolutely dreadful and very difficult to play football on, and personally I felt that Colwill did bit better than Harris with Harris battling hard but not getting much done, too easily beaten for what lead to their goal, whereas Rubin looked more in control than any player not named Bradley Dack. I'm sticking to my earlier position that players performing in Championship or greater level is good thing and creates competition for places - Hedges must have good shot at being in wider squad for upcoming international windows based on how he's performed all season - but comparisons to Colwill and Harris (in role he plays for Cymru/Wales) are really comparing apples to oranges, and Davies was i) making just second appearance of season after injury robbed him a pre-season, ii) is 6 years younger and iii) no one is pushing for Davies to make squad selection for senior team just yet. The graphic shown after City conceded showed that Blackburn are bottom for XG in Championship this year. Will that go against Hedges? I don't know, but if there's a hint he could play LWB, then Hedges takes a big step towards a call-up despite that stat. |
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Post by iot on Jan 1, 2023 23:15:29 GMT
Hedges, on the other hand, is 27 and is a decent Championship player who's very unlikely to progress into anything beyond that. He's played most of the season in one of the positions behind the striker. In the Welsh context, he's up against Bale, Johnson, James, Wilson, Brooks, Ramsey, Matondo, Lawrence, and Luke Harris - you could even throw in the likes of Tyler Roberts and Mark Harris. He's unlikely to be an improvement on those options. I wouldn't mind testing him at wing back if we still shape up in that way, but that's not where he generally plays at club level. I really struggle to see what's bizarre about that logic. You're all over the shop on this. Half of those you've listed hardly play at club level, and since when have Luke Harris, Wilson and Ramsey been wide players? Hedges is a wing forward and wing back. Lawrence is never getting picked again. Matondo, Mark Harris and T Roberts have all been tested and are all below average. If you watched the WC you'd see the importance of match fitness and sharpness , something that's missing in over half of our squad. Hedges is playing week in week out and is arguably fitter and sharper than most of our options in that area, bar James and Johnson. Even though James has been largely ineffective for quite a while now. So what that he's 27 and playing in ch'ship and that's his level, that's been the level for most Welsh players over the years. We're Wales at the end of the day, we're not going to have a team full top flight full time players. Your snobbery towards players past a certain age and playing level is surprisingly naive considering the resources at our disposal. People are 'bigging up' players like Hedges because we've largely looked pretty shit for the best part of two years now, and when you have other players playing regular football at a decent football, questions have to be asked about the selection policy. That's some nice selective quoting there. You mentioned how bizarre it was that I've been more supportive of Levitt than Hedges, I was just pointing out how ridiculous that comparison is given the difference in positions and the depth we have in those respective areas. My first comment was intended to downplay some of the hype that was building on here, whilst at the same time saying it wouldn't be a bad idea to include him in the squad given his versatility and his ok form in the championship. He's far from being one of the stars of the division, contrary to the likes of Wilson and Johnson (and we know even they have struggled to have an impact for us), and given his age and position is unlikely to improve much. So he's very unlikely to be an answer to our problems, but worth testing nevertheless. |
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Post by manulike on Feb 7, 2023 18:31:01 GMT
Can the folk with connections with Elon Musk ( dai ?) confirm what is on with the supporters, and do they have an issue with our Ryan? He came on with 15' to play and there was a deafening silence when his name was read out. There was also a roar of discontent every time he had the ball - or was it just their frustration of being pegged 0-0 by the team at the bottom of the division? |
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Post by cadno on Feb 28, 2023 20:19:17 GMT
Good half against Leicester City. Worth giving a go as a LWB / RWB for us …. Possibly CM too
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Post by manulike on Feb 28, 2023 20:42:52 GMT
Good half against Leicester City. Worth giving a go as a LWB / RWB for us …. Possibly CM too Seen quite a lot of Ryan at the end of last year for Blackburn and the year before in Aberdeen, More of a creative number 10 or on the right wing. Similar player to Brooks / Wilson. Certainly merits a call up for me.
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Post by cadno on Feb 28, 2023 21:00:30 GMT
Good half against Leicester City. Worth giving a go as a LWB / RWB for us …. Possibly CM too Seen quite a lot of Ryan at the end of last year for Blackburn and the year before in Aberdeen, More of a creative number 10 or on the right wing. Similar player to Brooks / Wilson. Certainly merits a call up for me.
Yes he’s been everywhere, athletic enough for the top level. Starting wide right but often in the middle too, making some good runs, certainly should be called up based on what I’ve seen tonight! |
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Post by iot on Feb 28, 2023 21:51:26 GMT
Seen quite a lot of Ryan at the end of last year for Blackburn and the year before in Aberdeen, More of a creative number 10 or on the right wing. Similar player to Brooks / Wilson. Certainly merits a call up for me.
Yes he’s been everywhere, athletic enough for the top level. Starting wide right but often in the middle too, making some good runs, certainly should be called up based on what I’ve seen tonight! I would say he probably won't and shouldn't be called up based on the fact he's been ousted by Sorba Thomas from the starting xi over the last 5 or so league games. He must not have been performing that well to be dropped |
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Post by manulike on Feb 28, 2023 21:56:14 GMT
Yes he’s been everywhere, athletic enough for the top level. Starting wide right but often in the middle too, making some good runs, certainly should be called up based on what I’ve seen tonight! I would say he probably won't and shouldn't be called up based on the fact he's been ousted by Sorba Thomas from the starting xi over the last 5 or so league games. He must not have been performing that well to be dropped I feel that cadno will agree that Ryan is not likely to get on the pitch in Split (and probably not in the CCS) but surely he merits a call up into the extended squad? |
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Post by cadno on Feb 28, 2023 21:58:03 GMT
Yes he’s been everywhere, athletic enough for the top level. Starting wide right but often in the middle too, making some good runs, certainly should be called up based on what I’ve seen tonight! I would say he probably won't and shouldn't be called up based on the fact he's been ousted by Sorba Thomas from the starting xi over the last 5 or so league games. He must not have been performing that well to be dropped Based on his performance tonight I’d call him up, different type of player to Sorba, less of a dribbler more direct and explosive, good touches, hardly gave the ball away, got into dangerous positions, good delivery! |
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Post by surge on Feb 28, 2023 22:19:22 GMT
If we're looking at Hedges as right footed attacking player, then he'd probably be behind Johnson, Wilson, Thomas and fighting for place with Oli Cooper.
Could he play on the left? Much bigger opportunity on this side for him.
All depends on what Page wants going forward of course, and fair chunk based on form and fitness too.
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Post by cadno on Feb 28, 2023 22:27:35 GMT
I would like to see him experimented as a LWB. He was very good tonight against Premier League opposition. He does like to play wide right and come inside then make darting runs into the box.
Hes good at keeping the ball, he’ll run all day and he’s good defensively. One thing I haven’t really seen from him is a lot of dribbling/direct running with the ball. He does prefer to find a team mate quickly, and move into a position.
RND on the other hand will try and beat a man and get a cross in, it’s simple enough for someone athletic like Hedges, so hopefully he’s given a go by Page, maybe in a friendly to start with.
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Post by talyfan on Feb 28, 2023 22:27:49 GMT
He's left footed, so wouldn't be a terrible option as an orthodox winger on left hand side to provide balance.
Was on standby at the world cup after speaking to a bloke I know whose good friends with him.
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