2025/26 Ins & Outs Discussion

[robsterwood]

Yes need Ox back. Ward must be in last chance saloon.

[wellgirl]

Ward has made a couple of big errors but he's also made more than one decent save to keep us in matches - notably two at Tynecastle. I think it's pretty clear some people want Ox back and that's fair enough but Ward hasn't been all bad - just that when you make a big error - it's more noticeable 

Every keeper lets in goals. Kelly had a really dismal spell for us at one point - pretty prolonged if I recall and some people were saying Ox should go in goals then - I think we should give Ward a break tbh - and personally I trust JBA to make the right decision 

[santheman]

30 minutes ago, wellgirl said:

Ward has made a couple of big errors but he's also made more than one decent save to keep us in matches - notably two at Tynecastle. I think it's pretty clear some people want Ox back and that's fair enough but Ward hasn't been all bad - just that when you make a big error - it's more noticeable 

Every keeper lets in goals. Kelly had a really dismal spell for us at one point - pretty prolonged if I recall and some people were saying Ox should go in goals then - I think we should give Ward a break tbh - and personally I trust JBA to make the right decision 

This is it in a nutshell.

Doesn't matter what we think he's the guy who sees him every day in training and you either trust his judgement or you don't.

[wunderwell]

I think JBA likes Wards feet and we all like Ox's hands!

[robsterwood]

14 minutes ago, wunderwell said:

I think JBA likes Wards feet and we all like Ox's hands!

Your right we all like Ox hands. Like to see ox back. It must be last orders in last chance saloon for ward. 

[wellgirl]

6 minutes ago, robsterwood said:

Your right we all like Ox hands. Like to see ox back. It must be last orders in last chance saloon for ward. 

You've said that already. Why would it be last chance saloon? He's made mistakes but so does every goalkeeper. Do you not think we should back our players? There were folk slagging off Ox last season - folk have  very short memories. 

And like I said earlier - Liam Kelly went a lot longer going through a very poor spell and he didn't get the grief Ward is currently getting 

[wunderwell]

14 minutes ago, robsterwood said:

Your right we all like Ox hands. Like to see ox back. It must be last orders in last chance saloon for ward. 

if it's last orders in last chance saloon for Ward - let's hope he doesn't order shots!

[wunderwell]

10 minutes ago, wellgirl said:

You've said that already. Why would it be last chance saloon? He's made mistakes but so does every goalkeeper. Do you not think we should back our players? There were folk slagging off Ox last season - folk have  very short memories. 

And like I said earlier - Liam Kelly went a lot longer going through a very poor spell and he didn't get the grief Ward is currently getting 

Early days as you are saying. I think the grief AP is getting and Ward is getting is, is because of the JBA words of ambition. The fans are now being ambitious too. If the two had been on top form we would be on 8 points & I think a very deserved 8 points as well.
 

[wellgirl]

1 minute ago, wunderwell said:

Early days as you are saying. I think the grief AP is getting and Ward is getting is, is because of the JBA words of ambition. The fans are now being ambitious too. If the two had been on top form we would be on 8 points & I think a very deserved 8 points as well.
 

I really do get that. But I think it's a bit ridiculous that Kellys poor run in goals lasted something like ten weeks (someone can correct me if I am wrong). And there were issues with Kelly and the defence when Hammell was in charge too 

Like for me if Ward goes in goals again and makes an arse of it - drop him. I just think the criticism he's getting just now is a tad disproportionate 

[wunderwell]

1 minute ago, wellgirl said:

I really do get that. But I think it's a bit ridiculous that Kellys poor run in goals lasted something like ten weeks (someone can correct me if I am wrong). And there were issues with Kelly and the defence when Hammell was in charge too 

Like for me if Ward goes in goals again and makes an arse of it - drop him. I just think the criticism he's getting just now is a tad disproportionate 

Yeh I feel the same way about AP. Guy is slogging his guts out - perhaps even overtrying but it's not coming off for him.

[wellgirl]

Just now, wunderwell said:

Yeh I feel the same way about AP. Guy is slogging his guts out - perhaps even overtrying but it's not coming off for him.

I feel the same too and you know if players are sensible they won't look at the criticism on social media. I also get the fact that we pay money and have a right to criticise. I'm just not sure that it's productive that a couple of players are told over and over that they aren't good enough.

Also because the only reason Ward was in goals to start with was because Ox was injured. He was asked to step up - Matty too. I think we will only know how things are going to pan out when Aston is back in goals. If he deserves the number one spot fine - but I don't think Ward is a terrible keeper 

[David]

25 minutes ago, wellgirl said:

And like I said earlier - Liam Kelly went a lot longer going through a very poor spell and he didn't get the grief Ward is currently getting 

Can't agree there, Kelly got tons of grief when his form dropped.

[wellman]

34 minutes ago, wellgirl said:

You've said that already. Why would it be last chance saloon? He's made mistakes but so does every goalkeeper. Do you not think we should back our players? There were folk slagging off Ox last season - folk have  very short memories. 

And like I said earlier - Liam Kelly went a lot longer going through a very poor spell and he didn't get the grief Ward is currently getting 

Aye at least two seasons he was absolute garbage 

 

[wellgirl]

8 minutes ago, David said:

Can't agree there, Kelly got tons of grief when his form dropped.

I don't think he got as much as Ward is getting after a few games - Kelly's poor spell went on longer. Obviously it's different because we've just started the season. Like I went to two away games last season. One was a 4-1  loss and the other a 3-1 loss. I didn't see Aston get the grief Ward is currently getting if that makes sense 

[robsterwood]

Think one reason wards getting stuck is that the goals he conceded have been so costly. We could have had 6 points from last 2 games if he didn't make the errors and be near top of league. 

[robsterwood]

There's usually one guy gets pelters and soon it will be someone else.  SOd, Kelly,  ap Stam , now Ward. Next it will be someone else. Stama has improved as has SoD. 

[wellgirl]

I understand peoples point of view - but it's done. There's nothing to be gained from constantly criticising players in my view - it doesn't help them. Ward was brought in as back up anyway and if JBA thinks he needs dropped then I'm sure he will do it. 

 

[Spiderpig]

12 hours ago, robsterwood said:

There's usually one guy gets pelters and soon it will be someone else.  SOd, Kelly,  ap Stam , now Ward. Next it will be someone else. Stama has improved as has SoD. 

Stamatelopoulos is not scoring more goals, his positional play is still suspect, so in what way has he improved?

[robsterwood]

Just now, Spiderpig said:

Stamatelopoulos is not scoring more goals, his positional play is still suspect, so in what way has he improved?

I think his positional play getting better. Work rate improved and goals will come. 

[Kmcalpin]

14 minutes ago, robsterwood said:

I think his positional play getting better. Work rate improved and goals will come. 

I don't know Robster. I saw him in 3 our of the 4 League Cup group stage games and he worked his socks off, but just didn't seem to actually do very much. I would never accuse him of lack of effort. Maybe our current set up just doesn't suit him? 

[robsterwood]

25 minutes ago, Kmcalpin said:

I don't know Robster. I saw him in 3 our of the 4 League Cup group stage games and he worked his socks off, but just didn't seem to actually do very much. I would never accuse him of lack of effort. Maybe our current set up just doesn't suit him? 

In Kilmarnock game there was an occasion where he beat off side trap, was one on one with goalie, took it past him and angle was too narrow to shoot, so he passed it and nearly got assist. It's fine margins. I thinks he kept Kilmarnock busy. Just needs a break I think. Think he died drift wide too often.

[BigManTam]

4 minutes ago, robsterwood said:

In Kilmarnock game there was an occasion where he beat off side trap, was one on one with goalie, took it past him and angle was too narrow to shoot, so he passed it and nearly got assist. It's fine margins. I thinks he kept Kilmarnock busy. Just needs a break I think. 

For me, it just looks like AP is missing that X factor. Every shot of his seems to be blocked, easily pushed off the ball, always struggling to keep hold of it. Lack of pace and strength. I think he might be out of his depth, and I think he knows it too.

Hendry, from what I've seen, looks like he does have a bit of confidence, pace and strength. If he gets a bit of momentum going, he could be the missing piece of the front line jigsaw.

Edited 2 hours ago by BigManTam

[andalg]

13 hours ago, robsterwood said:

Think one reason wards getting stuck is that the goals he conceded have been so costly. We could have had 6 points from last 2 games if he didn't make the errors and be near top of league. 

i would say the only reason Ward is getting more stick than Kelly is because we now know what Ox can do 

[robsterwood]

13 minutes ago, BigManTam said:

For me, it just looks like AP is missing that X factor. Every shot of his seems to be blocked, easily pushed off the ball, always struggling to keep hold of it. Lack of pace and strength. I think he might be out of his depth, and I think he knows it too.

Hendry, from what I've seen, looks like he does have a bit of confidence, pace and strength. If he gets a bit of momentum going, he could be the missing piece of the front line jigsaw.

Hope so with Hendry. Maybe Stama is more a penalty box striker. Yes he don't have pace of Taiwando but he's not slow either. I think Stama is doing better holding up the ball and linking up play. Looks like we gonna get more goals from midfield this year.

[andalg]

17 minutes ago, BigManTam said:

For me, it just looks like AP is missing that X factor. Every shot of his seems to be blocked, easily pushed off the ball, always struggling to keep hold of it. Lack of pace and strength. I think he might be out of his depth, and I think he knows it too.

Hendry, from what I've seen, looks like he does have a bit of confidence, pace and strength. If he gets a bit of momentum going, he could be the missing piece of the front line jigsaw.

Hopefully not another John Reilly !