Alex Pattison

Stick to making tea.

 

Oh!

 

On the lash again?

 

Harrogate fans are rare, but here is ones thoughts on Pattison.

 

My only worry with this midfield revamp is its durability. Its a long season in the basement division, shit refs who dont protect players, even worse pitches. Mcdonald an Patterson are both quality players, when fit, in the event that they get injured, we could very well be back to square 1, not to mention that Walker has had his fair share of injury problems as well.

Seeing as we had the intention of signing Mcdonald in January, I see him as Clayton's replacement.
Id imagine that Patterson was Plan B when Williams didn't sign
Yet we still offered Gilliead a contract. So my assumption is whether Gillead choses not to sign, we will have another body added to the midfield for next season

 

Hmm, really?

I think you do care, you were quite critical of the tactics and system last season Park! Even though we got into the play offs

 

I'm actually hoping East gets more game time, I was impressed with him at times

 

I was and am critical because it wasn’t effective enough. I can put up with negative boring football if it produces results. We are at a stage where only results matter

 

That's true about results, but I didn't find it particularly negative or boring, I just thought we weren't great at carrying out possession-based tactics.

I'm hoping that changes, as I'm sure you are, with the right signings.

We were 10 % short last season despite the fact we could theoretically have won the play off lottery and glossed over the issues we'd had.

Hughes and Hodges seem to have acknowledged that a little bit of quality was lacking, which is nice to see, and have made that their focus. With the right team, those tactics will be far from boring.

 

Simon Weaver comments below when he knew Pattison was leaving and wouldn't sign another contract with them...

"His aim is to play League One football, or higher, and we respect that. In my opinion, there isn’t a better counter-attacking central midfielder in League Two

 

Agree. Of course we also have East, assuming he stays which I hope he does. You only have to look at Northamptons defensive injuries last year to see how it can potentially derail your progress. I have no issue Gillead resigning and adding to the options there.

 

Yes they were unlucky with injuries, but not sure you can claim it derailed their progress when they still went up automatically.

 

I think the big worry now is the lack of pace at the back. Chrichlow is a big miss and we have a bit of quality in Stubbs and a capable Platt but against pacy teams it will be a struggle

 

You actually reminded me that we have East… I would say that’s midfield sorted for me then if Gilly re-signs

Smallwood, Pattinson, MacDonald, East and Gilliead.

looking much better on paper now!

 

Distance no object, spotted earlier in Southend

 

Yeah, I'd think Gilliead comes on as a sub at least pretty much every single game. He's guaranteed time on the pitch in my opinion, even if Smallwood/McDonald and Pattison are the first choice.

East, I think he can step in for any injuries and do a solid job.

I don't think we need anyone else for those central midfield spots as we can just shuffle formations and play 2 of those 5 in a 4-2-3-1 with Oduor, Walker, Chapman, Pattison (again) and Derbyshire all capable of playing in a 3 behind Cook.

If any of Odusina, Young or maybe even Vadaine leave, they will need replacing - but anyone else that we sign should be purely based on ability rather than numbers, which is a great position to be in so early in the Summer window.

 

To me we’re desperate for someone who can play on the right of those three behind Cook and ideally whoever we sign will have pace, I’m really hoping for Agyei who can also play on the left or upfront.

After that it’s a left back and then replace any under contract players who leave of which there are a few candidates, Young, Hendrie, Odusina, Osadebe, Oliver.

I still wouldn’t rule out Gilliead staying too.