Whittaker.

[Mazza26]

I actually think that most of our players are playing to full optimum. Our major issues are with two forward positions. Bear with me...
Generally our defence are ok, barring a few issues from Mumba who more than makes up for it in attack, whilst Gibson, Szucs, Pleggy have generally been fine. Sorinola has really stepped up during captain Edwards' absent. Yes we have been a bit naff in 3 of our matches as a defensive unit but overall I actually think this hasn't been in the issue, and both Hazard and Grimshaw have also produced fairly good performances.

Midfield can be very hit and miss. Gyabi is an outstanding and probably one of our top 3 players in terms of quality, but he needs to just step up his consistency levels, same with Randell, who I thought was fairly poor up to the goal he scored, which was actually due to a lucky deflection. We were due some luck though, and Randell to be fair improved after that... if him and Gyabi are on it then we can really progress but it is a tough ask.
I though Houghton 2nd half against Pompey was really good and Forshaw's cameo for once, against Derby worked a treat. No doubt he's a quality player... but he isn't as quick or nimble as he once was. Against certain opposition we should avoid bringing him on but he does have intelligence and experience.

Our issues actually are in two areas.....
Cissoko obviously has been missed, and various posters made fools of themselves when they suggested that he should be sent back after a mere scuffle with the Cardiff lad who has since been found out to be a complete and utter wally with history, but a clever one at that (check out Cardiff forums for evidence, they were lovin' the dark arts)
Obafemi out of all our attackers has been the one shining light. Works extremely hard and has 2 goals to show for his endeavour. I was someone, having seen him play at his previous clubs that suggested he wouldn't work on his own up front and would be better off behind a striker, alongside a forward (a rarity to play two up front these days) or down the wing, however he has so far proved me wrong. Fair play to him.

I don't actually have a problem with Bundu or Callum Wright - both players always give it their all, although end product needs drastically improving on.

Issaka, sadly hasn't been great the past few appearances... but I still hold some hope and I do think he always gives it 100%.

The two problem positions are THE NUMBER 10 behind the striker and the right attacker position... so that's Al Hajj and Whittaker. Both of these roles haven't really been effective, so even when Hajj hasn't played, his replacement generally also fails. Whittaker on the right clearly is nowhere near the form he reached last season, now I genuinely thinks he is giving it his all, in fact perhaps defensively he's been a tad better but my point is this...

If the Number 10 position or Whittaker were firing on all cylinders then we would have scored a few more goals resulting in a few more points resulting in less pressure and focus on our defence. IN 17 MATCHES WE HAVE ONLY TAKEN THE LEAD ON TWO OCCASIONS IN THE FIRST HALF.

 

[Mark Pedlar]

Rooney says he wants more crosses yet he persists with inverting his full-backs AND his wingers, everyone comes into a congested midfield. Play Whittaker through the middle. His best period (and Hardie's) was when we played with 2x10s.

 

[Argy1e]

Excuses excuses. A striker with one penalty in 20 games. Living on part glories. Obafemi and Gray have already scored more outfield goals from less games.

And so they should. They've both played at a higher level, both scored at a higher level, both presumably been paid significantly more in their careers than Hardie ever has. The fact is, we're not creating chances for our strikers, so they're not going to score loads of goals. Rooney has been encouraging our wide players to shoot more, which is fairly common these days, which is why wingers mainly dominated the top scorers list last season, not strikers. In the right system, he will score goals.

 

[Antipodean]

As others have mentioned, Whittaker seems to be trapped into repeatedly making the same play. Get the ball, cut onto your left foot, and shoot. This has worked very well in the past and there is a big difference between knowing what a player will do and being able to stop them doing it. But Championship teams have mostly been able to thwart him in that move so far this season. It does create space for our other attackers, but this single-minded approach is not conducive to creating chances for them. He - and we - need more offensive variations.

 

[GreenTommy]

He needs to be dropped, consistent poor performances.

 

[Hargyle]

He needs to be dropped, consistent poor performances.

A better idea is that he plays himself back into form, regains confidence, and we regain the player that we know he is.

Average players should be rotated according to form, but top-players can turn it on at any moment. If you drop him for the next game, or any game, and that's the game where the magic would have come flooding back, we all miss out big time.

 

[GreenTommy]

A better idea is that he plays himself back into form, regains confidence, and we regain the player that we know he is.

Average players should be rotated according to form, but top-players can turn it on at any moment. If you drop him for the next game, or any game, and that's the game where the magic would have come flooding back, we all miss out big time.

Not seen a sign of him playing himself into form, i would like to see him come on into a game and see what type of impact he has then, however he may lose his head if he's dropped and just go completely off it.

 

[Green Flash]

I still love Morgs as a person and a player but i am slightly worried he is turning into another Danny Mayor (who is similar not only in playing style but also in being far from a typical professional footballer). Loads of ability, has a superlative break through season but is too predictable and perhaps does not work as hard as some players so that defences get wise and contributions reduce to cameo flashes of brilliance.

 

[oldage]

A better idea is that he plays himself back into form, regains confidence, and we regain the player that we know he is.

Average players should be rotated according to form, but top-players can turn it on at any moment. If you drop him for the next game, or any game, and that's the game where the magic would have come flooding back, we all miss out big time.

Playing him most games .Think they call it flogging a dead horse

 

[Nobby]

He needs to be dropped, consistent poor performances.

He was and we managed 0 shots in the entire game and were a total laughing stock. Careful what you wish for.

 

[Argy1e]

For all the criticism, there's still only three players (Borja Sainz, Finn Azaz, Rubin Colwill) who have had more shots on target in the league this season than Whittaker. Of those three, only Sainz has outscored Whittaker. Whittaker is being asked to do more this season, and he is, but that does impact his attacking input. Would be interesting to see what his 'average position' is compared to last season, as I would expect this is significantly deeper on the pitch, but that's to do with the way we're playing now. If we're to do anything this season, he will play a big part. And he already has, by coming up with big goals in big moments.

 

[Rowlypilgrim]

And so they should. They've both played at a higher level, both scored at a higher level, both presumably been paid significantly more in their careers than Hardie ever has. The fact is, we're not creating chances for our strikers, so they're not going to score loads of goals. Rooney has been encouraging our wide players to shoot more, which is fairly common these days, which is why wingers mainly dominated the top scorers list last season, not strikers. In the right system, he will score goals.

Please don’t confuse BG with facts or balanced reasoning, he will never accept it where RH is concerned. Pure prejudice oozes from every post

 

[Deacster]

For all the criticism, there's still only three players (Borja Sainz, Finn Azaz, Rubin Colwill) who have had more shots on target in the league this season than Whittaker. Of those three, only Sainz has outscored Whittaker. Whittaker is being asked to do more this season, and he is, but that does impact his attacking input. Would be interesting to see what his 'average position' is compared to last season, as I would expect this is significantly deeper on the pitch, but that's to do with the way we're playing now. If we're to do anything this season, he will play a big part. And he already has, by coming up with big goals in big moments.

Some further good stats to dispel the nonsense

 

[Balham Green]

Please don’t confuse BG with facts or balanced reasoning, he will never accept it where RH is concerned. Pure prejudice oozes from every post

So one penalty in 20 games is not a relevant fact? How many strikers get away with that? He's on the bench most games now anyway. I suppose Rooney is prejudiced also. Or perhaps just a good judge of a striker.

 

[Hargyle]

So one penalty in 20 games is not a relevant fact? How many strikers get away with that? He's on the bench most games now anyway. I suppose Rooney is prejudiced also. Or perhaps just a good judge of a striker.

Putting default negativity, stubbornness, and bloody mindedness, to one side for a moment ... why do you troll so many threads that aren't about Ryan Hardie with negative comments about Ryan Hardie? This is a thread about Morgan Whittaker, but it's now turning into yet another thread where you clearly and obviously try to drag it towards your agenda regarding Ryan Hardie. Is this going to be another one of those threads where we have to endure page after page of you refusing to let it go until you've had the last word? There's been way too many of those, and it shows absolutely zero respect for other forum users.

If you want a bitchfest about any of our players, which you are perfectly within your rights to do, why not start your own thread about that player, contain all your negative garbage within that one thread, and let it slip to the bottom of the pile where it belongs?

It would show a lot more respect to other forum users if you only post negative defeatist rubbish about Morgan Whittaker while your here, and save your mind numbing, one dimentional, agenda about Ryan Hardie for the Ryan Hardie thread that you're about to start.