Nicolas ?

[Ex-Staffs Gull]

At Wigan, I thought he was very quiet and seemed to take a very defensive role, but without the tackling. Stood back on all corners, ducked out of challenges (not the only one I know) and seemed to want to get rid of the ball as soon as...

I have read some people praising him, so I was wondering what in general , others thought.

I think he will be a good player, but needs Chippy to feel more confident about himself and his abilities.

 

[ILOVEBHA]

I thought he played well and especially in the second half he began to boss the midfield.Looked like he could become a Sidwell type player if given a chance.Getting better with every game.

 

[silky1]

Good assessment. First time I have seen him this season, and thought he was solid first half, but as with most of the team, second to all the 50/50 balls. Needs to commit himself more.

 

[Rambo]

I was going to post something on Nicolas.
I thought he was very negative on Saturday, I think he only passed the ball forward once in the whole game.

We need a creative midfielder, not someone who is going to be defensive and cant tackle for toffee.
He gets muscled off the ball far too easily.

Iam not impressed with him so far.

 

[king Wombat]

thought he was our best player on saturday, he's not meant to be an attacking player, he's meant to get in win the ball, disrupt the opposition and then give the ball to one of our creative players who can then hoof the ball to the opposition..

 

[¤DãŃn¥ §êãGüLL¤]

then give the ball to one of our creative players

Wish him luck finding one.

 

[Uncle Buck]

Wish him luck finding one.

People on here will probably say Oatway is the answer....

 

[Captain Sensible]

thought he was our best player on saturday, he's not meant to be an attacking player, he's meant to get in win the ball, disrupt the opposition and then give the ball to one of our creative players who can then hoof the ball to the opposition..

Creative players?

 

[London Irish]

Nicolas' tackling has been my major concern about him, he seems a bit on the lightweight side and I can't believe the interviews he's given where he's compared himself to Makelele.

But he does look a good passer and rarely wastes possession. so he does have a lot to offer us.

With all the goals we are conceding, I can't believe we won't restore the reliabilty of Chippy and Oatway in front of the back 4 to shore things up a bit. Then we will need to find a new role for Nicolas, but I'm not sure what to be honest, he's not as good as Currie on the right and doesn't have the gamebreaking ability of Jarrett on the left. A puzzle this one, can we afford to keep a loan player who won't make the first team?

 

[Zebedee]

People on here will probably say Oatway is the answer....

I sincerely hope not. If Oatway is the answer, I'd rather not know the question.

 

[saafend_seagull]

cant see how he was better than hinselwood, for a defensive midfielder role. hinselwood put in tackles and his passing was equally as good, and nicolas got pushed off the ball a lot at wigan

 

[Turkey]

He was pretty good in the first half but poor in the second. Although everyone was poor in the second.

With Carpenter he'll be decent.

 

[Uncle Buck]

cant see how he was better than hinselwood, for a defensive midfielder role. hinselwood put in tackles and his passing was equally as good, and nicolas got pushed off the ball a lot at wigan

Well Hinsh is doing the thing that Oatway is incapable of, once he has won possesion, he then passes it to someone on his side. For our midfield a truely unique thing.

 

[Turkey]

cant see how he was better than hinselwood, for a defensive midfielder role. hinselwood put in tackles and his passing was equally as good, and nicolas got pushed off the ball a lot at wigan

I think he has a better awareness of whats going on around him than Hinshelwood.

I remember last season Hinshelwood couldn't find a pass to save his life. Much improved now.

Nicolas wins the ball through interceptions most of the time. He reads the game very well and therefore has decent anticipation.

 

[spidey]

Chippy's back in full training today

When fully fit I would put Hinshelwood next to him.

 

[Dancin Ninja BHA]

People on here will probably say Oatway is the answer....

 

[London Irish]

Well Hinsh is doing the thing that Oatway is incapable of, once he has won possesion, he then passes it to someone on his side. For our midfield a truely unique thing.

Not every player in the team needs to be a good passer. There is a division of labour in the team and teamwork ensures that what they have to do is each perform the roles THAT BEST SUIT THEIR ABILITIES well. Charlie is our best destroyer of opposition play and the creative work can be left to his 3 midfield partners, Currie the best passer in the team, Chippy our best passer in the team last year and Jarrett or Nicolas, who can give you different things depending on which you pick.

You are getting a bit carried away in your anti-Charlie agenda if you seriously think that McGhee will pick Hinsh ahead of him. Remmber the lessons of the Reading first half - Oatway on, Harper/Sidwell contained, Hinsh on, they walk through us.

 

[Zebedee]

Chippy's back in full training today

When fully fit I would put Hinshelwood next to him.

We're all pinning a lot of hope on Chippy's return. Let's hope that he doesn't disappoint.

 

[Trigger]

Hinsh wont be picked ahead of Oatway, not a chance, however Oatway wont be picked ahead of Chippy or Nicolas or even Rodger if he gets fit...

 

[Uncle Buck]

Not every player in the team needs to be a good passer. There is a division of labour in the team and teamwork ensures that what they have to do is each perform the roles THAT BEST SUIT THEIR ABILITIES well. Charlie is our best destroyer of opposition play and the creative work can be left to his 3 midfield partners, Currie the best passer in the team, Chippy our best passer in the team last year and Jarrett or Nicolas, who can give you different things depending on which you pick.

You are getting a bit carried away in your anti-Charlie agenda if you seriously think that McGhee will pick Hinsh ahead of him. Remmber the lessons of the Reading first half - Oatway on, Harper/Sidwell contained, Hinsh on, they walk through us.

You keep talking Oatway up and everyone is entilled to their opinion, personally I doubt that Oatway would get into certain Conference sides. But I am starting to question your judgement more and more and wonder how much you actually see us play. Your assesment keeps going back to how we lost the Reading game after he went off and how he took Merson out of the game against Portsmouth 18 months ago. But for these rare decent games, there are so many where he is shown to be short of what is needed.