[gonzohiggy]

Watched the Blackburn Bolton game last night and must say I was quite impressed with young Hanley. Although he is playing in a pretty awful team he looked very composed at the back and even showed a decent turn of pace as well (he is absolutely rapid compared to Caldwell but then again so are most people). Made some very important blocks and for a 20 year old looks very strong.

Hopefully he will get a run of games and force his way in to the Scotland side as lets be honest we could be doing with a decent centre half.

[Mr X]

gonzohiggy, on 21 December 2011 - 10:15, said:

Watched the Blackburn Bolton game last night and must say I was quite impressed with young Hanley. Although he is playing in a pretty awful team he looked very composed at the back and even showed a decent turn of pace as well (he is absolutely rapid compared to Caldwell but then again so are most people). Made some very important blocks and for a 20 year old looks very strong.

Hopefully he will get a run of games and force his way in to the Scotland side as lets be honest we could be doing with a decent centre half.

Mrs X took part in a raft race and Grant was in her team. True story

[HEY_SIDNEY]

POST DELETED??

[FC_1919]

Was totally done by Miller vs Cardiff the other week, should get a decent run in the team though.

[Mr X]

HEY_SIDNEY, on 21 December 2011 - 11:10, said:

POST DELETED??

Yes. Remarks like that arent really acceptable

[HEY_SIDNEY]

Mr X, on 21 December 2011 - 11:54, said:

Yes. Remarks like that arent really acceptable

Fair play, thanks.

[Neilly]

Must have been watching a different game thought he looked pretty slow and all over the shop at times just like another Berra.

Doesn't look head and shoulders above Caldwell or Berra at this stage I'm afraid.

[gonzohiggy]

Neilly, on 21 December 2011 - 12:51, said:

Must have been watching a different game thought he looked pretty slow and all over the shop at times just like another Berra.

Doesn't look head and shoulders above Caldwell or Berra at this stage I'm afraid.

No he wasn't. Blackburn went Gung Ho towards the end which left him really exposed but that is not his fault. I thought he didn't put a foot wrong. Neither goal was his fault and he didn't give away any chances that I can remember.

I didn't say he is head and shoulders above Caldwell and Berra because he isn't.

[Paco]

That was probably the first time I've watched him for 90 minutes and given the pish around him I thought he did quite well. Good practice for a Scotland match!

Would a Blackburn relegation be a bad thing for Hanley in the long run? They'd probably offload Samba and Dann, Givet would presumably be hoping for a move too. Whereas in the Premier League when Kean is eventually punted and the aforementioned players come back from injury he'll be nowhere near the first team.

[Unitedlad]

I have admit I didn't think he had a good game last night, not just went Blackburn pushed up in the last 20mins or so, but throughout the game. I think Championship is more his level (at best) from what I've seen of him, and I certainly wouldn't like him in the Scotland team playing against international class forwards.

This post has been edited by Unitedlad: 21 December 2011 - 16:24

[woof!]

"Championship more his level" He's only 20 ffs! Not too many of them at centre half in the Premiership.

[ginge123]

Fun fact: Hanley and I have the exact same date of birth. Fun, fun, fun.

[ayrunitedfw]

ginge123, on 21 December 2011 - 18:40, said:

Fun fact: Hanley and I have the exact same date of birth. Fun, fun, fun.

Grant Hanley is a lucky boy.

[bkay]

Average at best. Danny Wilson is out best defender but he needs game to develop

[RB-Scotland]

Is Martin from Norwich the boy that was in a recent Scotland squad? He's looked good any time I've seen him this season.

[FC_1919]

RB-Scotland, on 21 December 2011 - 23:04, said:

Is Martin from Norwich the boy that was in a recent Scotland squad? He's looked good any time I've seen him this season.

Yes.

[RB-Scotland]

Strange that he's somewhat overlooked; granted I've only seen him a few times, but on that evidence he's at least as good as Berra and Caldwell.

[FC_1919]

RB-Scotland, on 21 December 2011 - 23:59, said:

Strange that he's somewhat overlooked; granted I've only seen him a few times, but on that evidence he's at least as good as Berra and Caldwell.

He got capped in the Carling Nations and then got called up vs Cyprus and he pulled out due to injury.

[McKee]

Made some excellent tackles. Rubbish otherwise.

I've been a big critic of Christophe Berra in the past, but even I have to admit he's still shite.

Martin and Caldwell at the back.

This post has been edited by McKee: 22 December 2011 - 00:46

[Gordopolis]

Unitedlad, on 21 December 2011 - 16:23, said:

I have admit I didn't think he had a good game last night, not just went Blackburn pushed up in the last 20mins or so, but throughout the game. I think Championship is more his level (at best) from what I've seen of him, and I certainly wouldn't like him in the Scotland team playing against international class forwards.

Championship at best when aged 20 (only just turned 20 a few weeks ago)? I'll take that right now! A year or two of experience and he could be at a top half prem side - have faith, man!

The coaches at Blackburn, Billy Stark and others have all commented on how he is a bolshie and good communicator, something that is vital in holding a back line together.

As for the other night, Maldini, Baresi, McNeill or Greig could be made to look foolish if left exposed by the rest of their defence.

Wilson is still infuriatingly at Liverpool, tossing off in the under 16's or something. Why, oh why has he or Dalglish not forced the issue and clinched a loan? He looks pretty good, but the 2-2 Czech Republic game (grrr fizz ) showed he is still just raw potential

[itzdrk]

cant see anyone taking Gary Mackezie's place in the team

[nessies long lost ghost]

Gordopolis, on 23 December 2011 - 23:02, said:

Championship at best when aged 20 (only just turned 20 a few weeks ago)? I'll take that right now! A year or two of experience and he could be at a top half prem side - have faith, man!

The coaches at Blackburn, Billy Stark and others have all commented on how he is a bolshie and good communicator, something that is vital in holding a back line together.

As for the other night, Maldini, Baresi, McNeill or Greig could be made to look foolish if left exposed by the rest of their defence.

Wilson is still infuriatingly at Liverpool, tossing off in the under 16's or something. Why, oh why has he or Dalglish not forced the issue and clinched a loan? He looks pretty good, but the 2-2 Czech Republic game (grrr fizz ) showed he is still just raw potential

Remember he was played out of position for that when he came on. He was good against Denmark in the 2 - 1 Hampden win. I agree that he should try and get a move on loan in January.

[Gordopolis]

nessies long lost ghost, on 27 December 2011 - 19:38, said:

Remember he was played out of position for that when he came on. He was good against Denmark in the 2 - 1 Hampden win. I agree that he should try and get a move on loan in January.

Yeah, I wasn't fizzing at Wilson, more at the overall result that day based on the exasperating sequence of events in the last 10 mins of the game. Thing is, if he doesn't get a regular game somwhere, he will always be susceptible to blame for any mistakes in a Scotland jersey, with people citing 'lack of playing time - needs to be dropped'. Surely a move to Cardiff or West Ham for the season would suit all parties?

[nessies long lost ghost]

Gordopolis, on 30 December 2011 - 11:12, said:

Yeah, I wasn't fizzing at Wilson, more at the overall result that day based on the exasperating sequence of events in the last 10 mins of the game. Thing is, if he doesn't get a regular game somwhere, he will always be susceptible to blame for any mistakes in a Scotland jersey, with people citing 'lack of playing time - needs to be dropped'. Surely a move to Cardiff or West Ham for the season would suit all parties?

Fair enough. I thought you were fizzing at Wilson. I agree with you about him getting a loan move.

[gordon the gopher]

Hanley gets himself a wee goal against Man Utd

Wilson has also got his loan move to Blackpool - confirmed today by Liverpool