Connor Wood

The one criticism I always had of Hanson is that he rarely attacked the ball from crosses. For a bloke of his height and the ability to win so many headers, I found it strange how he rarely got on the end of crosses. You’d see more danger from the likes of McArdle, McHugh etc.

So even with Woods firing in crosses, I’m not convinced he’d have added many more.

 

He attacked one cross with gusto at Villa away. Another at Wembley v Northampton. Important crosses, important goals.

 

He didn't though. He pulled to the far post as he often did and scores the header. No complaints there. But the goal he scores against Leeds in the cup is the type of goal he should score more of. Running across the defender, near post to middle of goal, aggressively attacking the ball. Never did that enough.

 

Absolutely, my point too. He clearly had it in his locker, as shown with that goal against Leeds. But how many times did he show his power to get on the end of crosses? In my opinion, not enough.

@Allotment Bantam isn't wrong in that he did score some important goals. I’m not denying that. I just think he could have added more if he’d shown my desire/hunger to attack the ball from crosses

 

True. Wyke would score a hatful. Imagine Windass

 

Connor Wood is not a footballer, back on track. Had this conversation with a fellow fan at our last visit to Coventry.
Sadly, he has a nose bleedi going over the half way line.
Can’t defend and can’t read the game he’s young and has potential but not ready to take us forward.

 

Ah going for the award of least knowledgeable poster award this year mate? You’ve got stiff competition, but posts like that help give you the edge

 

Wow. I spent most of last season arguing with other posters (you know who you are ) that Chicksen was better than Wood. I still think he is , but even I have to admit that Wood has improved every aspect of his game and is well deserving of his starting position

 

Award for most clueless comment of the year award goes to...

 

Likewise - there's little question Chicksen was a far better defender than Wood last season.

But on this season's form, the gap has definitely closed, and Wood is hardly prone to 'nosebleeds' further up field. He might be a little more risk averse given his inability to get back last season and the reliance of Bowyer on him being the last line of defence in a lot of situations.

Frankly, I'd rather he DIDN'T venture too far up field unless absolutely safe to do so, as he's very definitely not Meredith-like in his speed or engine - but even those factors appear to be improving.

If his contract is up at the end of this season, I'd be all for offering him a year's extension before the season's out.

The argument people are making for Wood that really isn't helping him is that some are saying Chicksen was absolutely terrible last season, which is simply untrue. He wasn't great, but he was a scapegoat for many - and suffered the same conditions that Eoin Doyle was let off on for many regarding confidence and declining form. But if Chicksen was absolutely terrible, unfortunately Wood was worse - much, much worse.

That doesn't really help the lad Wood, so if people were a little more level-headed in their recollections of last season, they'd see Wood had improved from below average to above average, and take the drop in division and increase in the side's chances into account. But there are a few who won't bother doing that, and continue to hammer Chicksen (and thereby hammer Wood).