Vickers and Connell

Utter nonsense.

 

Why would hecky send back a player who was scoring and assisting so frequently and starting nearly every game.

 

Why would Leicester recall a player they had no intention of playing or loaning out elsewhere?

 

Because he was young and they didn't want him in a relegation dog fight. They tried to get him a loan at a club higher in the league but couldn't until west brom the next window. He was a regular for us right until been recalled he played 23 championship games.

 

That perspective makes zero sense. Dear Barnsley, thank you for developing our player, we’d like him back to pay all his wages and let him rot for the rest of the season.

 

He even started the last game a 1-1 draw with reading before he was recalled. It makes no sense hecky would start him then just send him back.

 

Was that the game he didn’t track the defender for a free header or was it another game? I recall Heckingbortom criticising him without explicitly naming him.

Anyway…

 

Exactly how I saw it with Vickers. Immense display, really dug in and showed another side to his game today.

 

One of Earl's best games for us today. But I genuinely rate him. Proper footballing centre back, not afraid to try things. Skillful with a decent range of passing. Is he prime Paul Futcher? Certainly not. But I still have no idea why Paul Futcher spent his best years with us, rather than playing for someone like Nottingham Forest and being a regular in the England squad. That just defies comprehension. Earl is very decent for where we are right now. He might give away the odd goal, but I really enjoy watching him play football.

 

I agree that Earl has a good deal of ability, but he makes too many mistakes and dwells on the ball too often. As you suggest, he's not remotely near being as good as Paul Futcher, who was the mainstay in a defence which went on one notable run of conceding just 3 goals in 14 games.

 

Earl can be very frustrating and often makes poor decisions. That's why he plays for us, as opposed to a top end Championship side. But some of the good things he does are a real joy to watch.

As for Futcher - one of the greatest uncapped English centre halves of all time, and arguably one of the best outfield players I've ever had the pleasure to have watched on a regular basis.

 

I share your view of Futcher, who played over 230 games for us. He's remembered equally fondly by Grimsby fans, I believe.

 

I think this is partially true.

I think the plan was to get McBurnie & Moore in & go with a front two & Barnes wasn’t very good defensively so it made sense to save on wages. If Hecky stayed & wanted to carry on playing a 4-5-1 / 4-3-3 then I think Barnes would have stayed.

The funny thing is Hecky left at the end of January & Morais wouldn’t play McBurnie & Moore in a two & played McBurnie wide where Barnes could have played.

 

On Harvey Barnes. There’s no doubt he’s a talented player but up until Eddie Howe sorted him out last season he is one of the laziest wingers I have ever seen.

Some of his performances in Leicester’s relegation season were pathetic. You can understand a bit of laziness or certainly switching off when young & inexperienced but to borderline down tools for your hometown club was really poor.

 

On Earl, his clearance for their corner & subsequent goal, could he not have done better? Looked like a real skewed effort for me. Will watch it back shortly and take another look

 

Surely your first comment is a little hyperbolic mate? Ive watched him many a times and never come across as lazy to me. Switched off at times, sure, but not lazy.

I don't particularly rate Hecky as a manager, like many do, and if it's true he sent a goalscorer/creator back, he's gone even further down in my estimations. He should have worked harder to get him to do the things he needed. I think he's off his rocker if he's actually done it.

 

Can't agree with that, admittedly I didn't watch every game bimut every tine I did see him play he brought something to the game. I was pondering the footballers " switching off" as we were struggling to hold onto the clean sheet today. How do they maintain that 100%:focus?

 

In hindsight I was definitely being a bit over the top. Thinking back there’s loads of wingers, particularly in my early days watching football who didn’t graft both ways.

I do think he was a bit lazy. I felt like up until Eddie Howe got hold of him & sorted him out I feel like he’s always had the attitude of I get goals & assists so I don’t have to do my defensive work.

I can only guess what Heckingbottom / people at the club were thinking & my guess would be that he was allowed to bring in McBurnie & Moore but that players would have to leave / have a loan cancelled to balance the books.

Unless there were issues behind the scenes I’d be very surprised if they just decided to cancel Barnes loan.

 

It’s personal pride I think & a bit of experience.

I think we’ll see it a bit with Cleary this season. He’s clearly talented but judging by Fleetwood’s 2nd goal I think he’ll switch off a few times. He doesn’t look anywhere near as aware defensively as Vickers does.

 

Connell was the best player on the pitch for me. Looks like he’s on the way back to becoming his old self.