Jamie Hand

[Albie78]

I don't want to put the mockers on things here, but is Jamie Hand still on non-contract terms? If so lets hope the board get their finger out and give that lad a contract because he is a class act. I know he has only played a few games for the fleet but he oozes talent.

[Hannah]

Definitely sign him up.

[MrMushroom]

Definitely agree with that

[Albie78]

He looks so in control and none of this long ball crap, nice shot passes as well and good link up play.

[KShep]

He's such a tidy player. A player who passes the ball short is what we need in our side. A reliance on the long-ball game merely renders the talents of Shakes, Moore, Purcell and Long ineffective. Jamie Hand will win balls and give passes to the feet of our most dangerous players.

[Ian_D]

Having said that I saw three occasions on the highlights from the Cambridge game of Hand passing it short to Sacha only for him to hoof it. Hopefully he will influence other players to play his game.

[Hempstead Gaz]

With salary budget available thanks to offloading MacDonald and Akinde, surely there can be no excuse that funds are not available to offer Hand a contract.

He actually looks a class above any other midfielder I have seen this season, Long included.

[Andanotherthing]

Jamie Hand does look to be a cut above.

 

I would be curious to see how a 4-5-1 formation would work with Hand in front of the back four, Barrett in his usual role and Stone or possibly Moore in an attacking midfield role. I felt in pre season Stone looked happier and more effective going forward.

 

Enough of fancy football formations. If Jamie Hand is willing to commit to us I am sure the management must have had discussions to that end. If the stumbling block is money the club can hardly tell the world from fear of losing him sooner rather than later.

Maybe we need to pass the hat round again to boost the wage budget and see what happens.

Maybe interest could be gauged on this forum to see if it would be worthwhile trying to repeat the recent

[Hempstead Gaz]

I think Hand's style of play perfectly suits a 4-4-2, with the middle 4 in a diamond. Hand plays in front of the back 4, Barratt pushes forward behind the front 2, with Long and Purcell/Shakes working the wings and cutting inside at times.

This gives plenty of attacking options (Moore seems to be benefitting), and the holding palyer covering an already solid defence.

 

[Andanotherthing]

I know from lurking on this forum for some time that you (HG) are a big 4-4-2 advocate and would not disagree with your fundamentals on 4-4-2.

Although I was more curious than hopeful of seeing my 4-5-1 in action but with only 3 forwards to call on, we, may one day be a couple short and maybe a lone Gash, Moore or Ibe with Long/Shakes out wide doing their usual and Hand and Barrett doing their usual with Stone pushing forward which to me he seems more suited to, may yet be seen. Not least because I know Liam gets all his tactical ideas from here :-)

 

No takers of the

[Hempstead Gaz]

Whilst I do prefer a solid 4-4-2 line up, I still advocate playing the system that best suits the players available.

My gripes a while ago were when Liam (wrongly, in my opinion) elected to go 3-5-2. Players were out of position, centre halves were having to double as full backs, and at times we got hammerered.

Fleet Fanatic and I had some good debates on 4-4-2 - he preferred the diamond, I (at that time) preferred a flat 4. Anything was better than an an oddly mixed up 5.

 

So, to summarise, if Stone and Barratt are the 2 centre midfielders, a flat middle 4 it should be, if Hand plays, a diamond shape it is.

 

Simple game really.

[BustaGut]

I'm not sure if we do play a true 4 4 2

I think there is a lot of 4 4 1 1 going on

[Albie78]

i think stone will struggle to get back in the starting line up at the moment.

[urine trouble]

Originally Posted By: Andanotherthing

with only 3 forwards to call on, we, may one day be a couple short and maybe a lone Gash, Moore or Ibe

so what about young Kwesi Appiah he's our 4th choice and we have also got George Purcell,Stacy Long and James Smith who can all play up front.

So i'm not to sure if we will ever see your 4-5-1!

[bsmith]

Originally Posted By: urine trouble

so what about young Kwesi Appiah he's our 4th choice and we have also got George Purcell,Stacy Long and James Smith who can all play up front.

Shh, that makes too much sense

[Andanotherthing]

[quote=urine trouble

so what about young Kwesi Appiah he's our 4th choice and we have also got George Purcell,Stacy Long and James Smith who can all play up front.

 

George has some merit as a striker but Stacy and James would only be fillers if needs must and Kwesi will be unlikely to be a starter in a top of the table clash (his time will come). I still think we only have three currently viable strikers. So maybe my 4-5-1 with the afore mentioned central trio could happen. Damn this "manager picks the team" new fangled idea.

 

We have this season played 4-3-3 a fair bit which I don't think has really worked indeed when it was introduced in the Mansfield match it exposed our full backs weaknesses that played that day.

Also against Lewes it failed as there was no nearby support when a forward player received the ball.

 

[Albie78]

It says in the gravesend messenger that jamie hand is being offered a permanent contract after being on a month to month deal.