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Post by jmgull on Mar 17, 2009 15:45:13 GMT
Fonda
....Hodges was signed to do the same job as he did at Argyle - he was, and is now still, a Utililty player, every squad needs 2 or 3 of them, we have Hodges, Thompson and Brough.
Hodges main value to us is that apart from Nicholson, he is our only predominately left footed defender, he's done a good job at centre half this season, you also could argue that since he has been at the back it has coincided with our improved form.
You question his fitness?, i think that is a bit harsh tbh, he's played the last 20 odd games on the trot and not even been subbed once as far as i recall........you could question his pace, I would put him on a par with Woods in that department as neither have much.
You also state that we were the only ones to offer him a 2 year deal..........are you his agent?
I don't understand how you can fault the 2 yr deal for Hodges, he's barely put a foot wrong this season...... although if he spends next season on the treatment table, then you may well have a point.
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rjdgull
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Post by rjdgull on Mar 17, 2009 16:10:17 GMT
Spot on jmgull!
I would just like to add that Hodges also provides both cover and competition for Nicholson - something we didn't have last season. He actually started the season at left back (not a bad thing considering Nicholson's previous season and England C commitments)
Although Hodges only moved to central defence due to a injury crisis there, Buckle was looking to bring in a left footed midfielder there originally....
I think Ellis as opposed to Robertson was mentioned as he was the one not getting any games.
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Fonda
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Post by Fonda on Mar 17, 2009 16:22:08 GMT
Fonda ....Hodges was signed to do the same job as he did at Argyle - he was, and is now still, a Utililty player, every squad needs 2 or 3 of them, we have Hodges, Thompson and Brough. Hodges main value to us is that apart from Nicholson, he is our only predominately left footed defender, he's done a good job at centre half this season, you also could argue that since he has been at the back it has coincided with our improved form. You question his fitness?, i think that is a bit harsh tbh, he's played the last 20 odd games on the trot and not even been subbed once as far as i recall........you could question his pace, I would put him on a par with Woods in that department as neither have much. You also state that we were the only ones to offer him a 2 year deal..........are you his agent? I don't understand how you can fault the 2 yr deal for Hodges, he's barely put a foot wrong this season...... although if he spends next season on the treatment table, then you may well have a point. Didn't mean to be over-critical of him JM, as you say he's done a fine job. I'm just not convinced either Robbo or Ellis couldn't have done equally as well - in fact before injury, it was the Woods-Robbo combination that coincided with our improved form. Take your point about his 'flexibility' too - he does offer cover at left-back (though didn't perform too well there at the start of the season in fairness). Regards the 2 year contract, i have no idea how many other clubs offered him similar terms, i took my lead from the post above mine suggesting that might have been part of the reason he signed. I certainly didn't expect to see him playing in the centre of the defence. Was he signed to play there, or was it a case of finding room for him in the first 11 - (he doesn't have the pace to play on the wing, didn't do well at full-back, and wouldn't get into the midfield)? Either way, he's performed well for us, so my post wasn't meant to end up bashing him in any way. I'm just not sure what he offers that isn't offered by others - and probably more cheaply. Would i be happy if his presence in the side resulted in Robbo looking elsewhere in the summer? No. But i concede that's no more than speculation anyway. |
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merse
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Post by merse on Mar 17, 2009 16:31:38 GMT
 Fonda, you'll never be a good judge of what makes a professional footballer in a million years if you can't see the quality and value for money of Lee Hodges. Central defender, fullback or midfield; he can handle all these roles with ease at this level and as you have been told, just last season he was handling Championship expectancies with a competence that Steve Woods couldn't get anywhere near in League 1. He's also a natural left footer *, and thus (whilst there is still room for players who favour one foot over the other) lends a natural balance to the centre of our defence. * Every time I observe the time, effort and patience that the under nines my son trains with put into being naturally two footed; I'm aghast that the age of the "one footed professional footballer" still survives!
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Post by jmgull on Mar 17, 2009 16:47:30 GMT
As you say, there will be plenty of speculation in the close season to do with next year and who stays/goes.
Whichever league we're in you would guess that 7 is the min number of defenders needed in a squad.....if you include Todd and Brough, that is the number we have currently got with Woods gone.
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Dave
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Post by Dave on Mar 17, 2009 16:47:39 GMT
Shane I don't think Hodges was signed to play as a defender, I'm sure the plan was to play him in the midfield and that is where he did start in the preseason games I saw. Bucks had wanted Hargreaves to play as a defender and as we know that did not work out that well, so he went back into the midfield.
Hodges has done OK in the defender role, I do not think he is anywhere near as good as Woods as a defender and did think he was better playing as a left back. Nico got his place back and has had a good season for me and has deserved to keep his place, but wanting to play Hodges in the side has meant a more natural defender has had to be kept out of the side to make room for Hodges.
I do know Ellis was very unhappy being kept out of the side by what he saw as someone who was a midfield player, but Ellis has now got his chance due to the Woods affair. At the end of the day not offering Woods a new contract may be no more than the club looking to reduce the size of the squad for next season, but I do wonder if Hodges would cope so well as a defender, if we went up to league two.
If Robertson decided to move on it could well be the case that we would need to bring in a defender as we would be short of any cover there, if that was to happen then it would seem very unfair on Woods who really has had a good season for us.
Still he has gone as such, we will not see him play for us again and while I still feel that things have not been handled in a way I would have liked, we will have to put our faith in the players who's job it will be, to try and get the team promoted.
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Fonda
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Post by Fonda on Mar 17, 2009 17:33:01 GMT
Merse, i understand completely how important players such as Hodges are. His versatility is invaluable, and as you say, the fact he's left-footed is of great benefit too. As i said in my post above, i didn't intend to be too critical of his performances this season - he's done a sterling job for us.
Perahaps i'm just not explaining myself very well. As Dave suggests - he wasn't bought here to play in the centre of the defence, of that i'm certain. I was commenting on the fact he's not been able to force his way into the team in any of the multitude of positions he is renowned for playing, so does his signing (considering his age and probable wage) represent value for money?
He's not quick/fit enough to play left-wing anymore (even the great Ryan Giggs could relate to that!), he was poor at left-back in the games i saw him there, and we have plenty of competition in the centre of midfield. So he's found himself in the centre of the defence - and i was wondering if he's offered anything there that Ellis couldn't have? Woods and Robbo were playing superbly until CR got injured. Could Ellis have stepped in and done a job? I think he could.
Due to lack of opportunities, Robbo would have left last summer if he'd had his way. There has to be a possibility he'll feel the same this summer, and there'll be nothing we can do about it. Is that a price worth paying for Hodges presence? I don't think so. It's just an opinion. This is meant to be Woodsie's thread anyway! Oops.
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midlandstufc
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Post by midlandstufc on Mar 17, 2009 20:49:18 GMT
Well, this has certainly entertained us all. I was never a Woods flag-waver but admit that this season, over all, he had not made as many rickets.
It is time to move on, however, and Buckle has decided to make a significant culling. With the form of Ellis, Hodges, Robertson and Todd, he feels safe to dispense with the services of Woods.
It is a bold move and makes a statement that no sentimentality will be allowed to get in the way of striving to get back to League status. At first, I was concerned that it may be short-sighted in a Season context but now I view it as throwing down the gauntlet to the young-uns to prove themselves to be what they think they are.
I don't think this one will 'bite Buckle in the bum' as I don't believe it will affect our results.
But then, I'm still a man who forsees a play-off final defeat. Please Ellis prove me wrong with a thumping 94th minute header!...
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Rob
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Post by Rob on Mar 19, 2009 3:36:54 GMT
Hardiker is believed to have resigned as a result of receiving a 12 month community order for making off without payment. This offence came on the back of receiving a caution for an identical offence last August. |
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merse
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Post by merse on Mar 19, 2009 3:58:14 GMT
Hardiker is believed to have resigned as a result of receiving a 12 month community order for making off without payment. This offence came on the back of receiving a caution for an identical offence last August. John Hardiker was a pre-season trialist at Plainmoor a few years ago. |
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Post by aussie on Mar 19, 2009 8:03:54 GMT
Has anyone considered the fact that Steve was on league two wages and probably wouldn`t take anything less! We can`t afford that kind of wage bill especially if we don`t go up! So why not replace him with younger cheaper lads who can go on to be possibly better than Steve, certainly faster anyway.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Mar 19, 2009 11:06:33 GMT
aussie
I've not seen anyone consider that possibility Aussie, not in anything I have read on the net, in articles in the newspaper or comments made by Paul Buckle or Woods himself.
All the reports seem to indicate that Woods was told he was not going to be offered a further contract..so the financial details of any contract never materialised & never got discussed.
Steve Woods is sensible enough to realise he was in no bargaining position to demand a certain level of wages from anyone..particularly at this stage of his career & in the current economic climate with all Clubs watching the purse strings.
So no I've not heard of anyone considering that Woods wasn't prepared to accept current BSP level wages......but if I do I'll dismiss it as an pretty poor attempt to discredit Steve Woods & would be very very surprised if there was even the slightest grain of truth in it.
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Dave
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Post by Dave on Mar 19, 2009 16:53:01 GMT
Aussie it is nothing to do with Woods wanting to continue on league two wages, he was simply not being offered a new contract for next season. Below I have quoted part of a post made on this thread by one of the members, the answer you are looking for may just be in that quote.
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Post by aussie on Mar 19, 2009 19:13:56 GMT
O.K. it was only an idea, but may be "the third party" might have been his agent.
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Dave
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Post by Dave on Mar 19, 2009 19:16:15 GMT
O.K. it was only an idea, but may be "the third party" might have been his agent. Or someone higher up in the club, now that would make more sense Aussie  |
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