Why exactly did we sign Colin Hawkins?

[goldstone]

Some signings make sense even if the players don't perform as well as we hope (McLeod).

Others make no sense at all.

We already had two good centre backs, Elphick and Lynch. We had just signed another, Virgo. We have ElAbd who can play there if necessary, and Whing who has filled in in that position on a couple of occasions and done well.

So why oh why waste a salary on another centre back? It's not as though the club is awash with money.

 

[BensGrandad]

Simple answer is we needed another one as the club were obviously aware of Lynchs stance of self importance, Virgo was signed as a utility player, Adams knew that Whing is not even a profficient right back so wouldnt be expected to claim a place as a central defender, Hinshlewood was a hit and miss not sure if he would come back ok so that left just El Abd alongside Elphick.

 

[Uncle Buck]

We got a Government grant to cover his wages.

 

[crodonilson]

Seriously, what is everyones problem with Hawkins. Admittedly I've only seen us twice this season but I thought he was commanding and was a leader. Some of the stick he gots on here is ridiculous, no wonder his confidence is shot. There I was thinking all Albion fans asked for from their players was 100% effort.

:

 

[Finchley Seagull]

Some signings make sense even if the players don't perform as well as we hope (McLeod).

Others make no sense at all.

We already had two good centre backs, Elphick and Lynch. We had just signed another, Virgo. We have ElAbd who can play there if necessary, and Whing who has filled in in that position on a couple of occasions and done well.

So why oh why waste a salary on another centre back? It's not as though the club is awash with money.

Firstly, because we had not already signed Virgo (he signed later) although I still think it was an odd signing. However, I disagree with the abuse Hawkins gets. In recent games e.g. Oldham and even MK Dons I don't think he has done much (I realise we conceded 4 against the Dons but none of those were down to Hawkins errors specifically).

 

[goldstone]

Seriously, what is everyones problem with Hawkins. Admittedly I've only seen us twice this season but I thought he was commanding and was a leader. Some of the stick he gots on here is ridiculous, no wonder his confidence is shot. There I was thinking all Albion fans asked for from their players was 100% effort.

:

I was very impressed with him in the early season games, but he went seriously downhill from there. And it's his arrival and immediate starting role that resulted in Lynch's departure.

My comment is anyway not so much about the player himself as to why we would sign another centre back when we already have sufficient good players for that position.

 

[JJ McClure]

I think we signed him because he has a good DVD collection including the boxset of Cheers that Micky wanted to borrow.

 

[Smythe]

Did we not sign him before Virgo......probably wouldnt have signed him if he Knew he would get Virgo......still dont think hes too bad tho, doesnt warrant all the stick he gets.

 

[Mendoza]

Pre season he was good, early season he was good. Then he got injured and Adams played him about 3 minutes after he recovered. Think it was the Northampton game, where Hawkins couldnt jump, kick a ball 15 yards or run, yet he was still played, and played every game in the following 3 weeks despite being CLEARLY still injured/not recovered from the op.

It meant that Hawkins kept making stupid mistakes every game which lead to us conceeding. Since November he has improved, and been pretty solid, but he still gives away goals and penalties.

He is not s ahit as everyone makes out, but is he better than Elphick, Virgo, Lynch, Hinshlewood and El Abd in centre defence, my answer is no.

 

[clippedgull]

I

My comment is anyway not so much about the player himself as to why we would sign another centre back when we already have sufficient good players for that position.

I think Bens Grandad has answered your question correctly.

If you accept Virgo is a utility player then Hawkins was I assume bought to partner Elphick in preference to El-Abd who could and has been brought in to cover for injuries.

Lynch, maybe he had set his stall out with Adams pre-season and Adams knew that he wanted away and therefore couldn't plan his season around him.

 

[The Large One]

We probably signed him because we had an otherwise very inexperienced set of centre backs.

Still should have got a decent one though.

 

[strings]

I always thought that he would be a replacement for Butters - to add a bit of experience off the pitch and to make the occasional appearance when needed.

Clearly I was wrong.

 

[mona]

I always thought that he would be a replacement for Butters - to add a bit of experience off the pitch and to make the occasional appearance when needed.

Clearly I was wrong.

That was my pre-season assumption. Sadly, Hawkins lacks Big Guy's positional sense and heading ability.

Adams has signed some excellent defenders: Crosby, Cullip, Morgan, Wicks. But he also signed Darren Carr and Robbie Pethick.

 

[Lord Large]

Stupid signing. I think quite a few people on here called it as a waste of wages when he signed.

Not worth alienating Joel Lynch over certainly.

 

[Da Man Clay]

Simple answer is we needed another one as the club were obviously aware of Lynchs stance of self importance, Virgo was signed as a utility player, Adams knew that Whing is not even a profficient right back so wouldnt be expected to claim a place as a central defender, Hinshlewood was a hit and miss not sure if he would come back ok so that left just El Abd alongside Elphick.

Totally the right answer.

 

[Lord Large]

Not the correct answer at all.

Lynch and Elphick formed a superb partnership last season. There is nothing to suggest they could not have done so again.

El Abd was decent back-up at central defence.

Hinshelwood was a risk, fair enought. But when Virgo signed he said quite clearly it was to play at the back and that he didn't want to play upfront.

Whing is a decent right back but can slot in centre half.

There was no need to sign Hawkins.

Show me another position where we started the season with SIX players fighting for TWO positions with Whing and youth teamers able to fill in if needed.

They should have spent the wages elsewhere and, if we found ourselves down to the bones because of injury, got loan cover in.

 

[goldstone]

Not the correct answer at all.

Lynch and Elphick formed a superb partnership last season. There is nothing to suggest they could not have done so again.

El Abd was decent back-up at central defence.

Hinshelwood was a risk, fair enought. But when Virgo signed he said quite clearly it was to play at the back and that he didn't want to play upfront.

Whing is a decent right back but can slot in centre half.

There was no need to sign Hawkins.

Show me another position where we started the season with SIX players fighting for TWO positions with Whing and youth teamers able to fill in if needed.

They should have spent the wages elsewhere and, if we found ourselves down to the bones because of injury, got loan cover in.

Well said that man. My thinking entirely.

 

[Bozza]

 

[Da Man Clay]

Not the correct answer at all.

Lynch and Elphick formed a superb partnership last season. There is nothing to suggest they could not have done so again.

El Abd was decent back-up at central defence.

Hinshelwood was a risk, fair enought. But when Virgo signed he said quite clearly it was to play at the back and that he didn't want to play upfront.

Whing is a decent right back but can slot in centre half.

There was no need to sign Hawkins.

Show me another position where we started the season with SIX players fighting for TWO positions with Whing and youth teamers able to fill in if needed.

They should have spent the wages elsewhere and, if we found ourselves down to the bones because of injury, got loan cover in.

El Abd isn't good enough to spend any period of time at CB IMO. In no way could we depend on Hinch and we hadn't signed Virgo yet (I doubt we thought we had much of a chance). To suggest Whing can play CB is ridiculous. At the time of signing him there was a need for another out and out CB, at least as cover (El Abd was/is already covering CM/RB/LB as well).

Hawkins was probably one of our better defenders in pre season and deserved to start at Crewe. The problem was rushing him back for his injury.

 

[Tom Hark Preston Park]

I think Micky's comment in the Argus when we signed Hawkins explains a lot:

"He is also a good character by all accounts, although I've not really worked with him. I have spoken to a lot of people at Coventry who were there when I left."