Alex Gilliead

It’d be interesting to see how we perform without him. I’ve a feeling he’d be one of those players we’d miss if he wasn’t on the pitch. Runs for 90 minutes, which is a lot more than our other midfielders. As mentioned, he does bottle it a bit when in the final third. If he could be a bit more direct, then he’d be a massive improvement. That said, I suspect he’s holding his place exactly because he’s been asked not to drive forward and lose the ball.

 

He's the type of player who is rated highly by his teammates but poorly by those who don't know much about football (even though they regularly watch it). There I've said it. Flak jacket on

 

And other managers

 

The other managers we failed miserably under?

Good point, well made.

 

I doubt the other managers failed solely on their decision to stick with Gilliead

 

Neither do I but if Gillead is being held out as a great player simply because managers picked him (Zesh Rehman anyone?) then I can be equally daft and make the point that he was a mainstay in teams that regularly failed.

 

Gilliead was never the problem some made him out to be.

 

When he was playing in a more advanced role and especially on the wing his stats were a huge problem. I'm happy that he's improved in a side gaining confidence but let's not pretend he's not been massively disappointing right up until roughly the turn of 2023.

 

Sorry that's just wrong. 'Massively disappointing' just proves the point I was trying to make.

 

A couple of goals and a couple of assists from someone with clear ability and who played as either a winger or a no 10 for 70 odd games isn't massively disappointing?

How would you rate his first 70 games?

 

Certainly not massive disappointment. He isn't a winger anymore, Hughes doesn't play him as one nor does he play him as a 10. My gripe was folk calling him out when he the better in the partnership than Samllwood. I just can't justify a player being an ever present in a team going for the autos being a massive disappointment. If you'd said there are possibly better options in that position I could have said your point had merit. As it is, Hughes trusts him every week.

 

I said he'd improved lately when playing deeper but my original reply to you stated about him being poor playing further forward and I stand by my "massive disappointment" comment during his first 70 or 80 games.

The number of goal contributions he had also backs it up imo.

 

Good pass to release Andy Cook on Monday.

 

Yep, very pleased he's at last making contributions in the attacking third. Long may it continue.

 

He's certainly improved and will be an asset in a squad but we need more creativity next season. If we go up he'll be the sacrificial lamb as opposed to Smallwood, but I wouldn't be in agreement with that.

 

Absolutely sh1te news.