Jonny Hayes . . .

[RednBlackComeback]

announces his retirement https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/cz5r1p8ne8no

Thanks for the memories Jonny!

Especially this tap in

 

[SMEE]

There is more exciting football on show in the above clip, that what i saw on show at the whole of Euro 2024. Could you imagine teams now trying to deal with attack minded players rushing at them, at pace. Shows how much the game has deteriorated over the years

[hislopsoffsideagain]

16 minutes ago, SMEE said:

There is more exciting football on show in the above clip, that what i saw on show at the whole of Euro 2024. Could you imagine teams now trying to deal with attack minded players rushing at them, at pace. Shows how much the game has deteriorated over the years

Indeed. If only a tricky, speedy attacker like Nico Williams, or Bukayo Saka, or Jamal Musiala had been involved in the tournament 

 

Going back on topic, Hayes might be my favourite ICT player ever. The goal above was a particular highlight, but I can think of others: the way he terrorised defences in our promotion season; a late equaliser against Dunfermline in the cup where he deflected the keeper's clearance into the net and then ran off to the corner flag with his hand over his mouth; a win over Hibs where he gifted them a goal with an errant pass and almost instantly demanded the ball from the kickoff and promptly set up Adam Rooney to score; more than one occasion where he raced 70 yards at full speed to halt an opposition counter-attack. There was no messing about, no pointless tricks or showboating; just a guy who worked his ass off for 90 minutes every week, with and without the ball. We were privileged to have him for a few seasons.

[Starscape]

To think, when he started, I thought he was the poor man's Robert Eagle.

[Yngwie]

Saw the thread title and hoped he’d signed for us! I always hoped he’d come back to us for a season or two before retiring.

Terrific player, and certainly one of the most exciting we have ever had.

[IBM]

Yes indeed a great player for us exciting to watch running with the ball and scoring goals just brilliant compared to the style of football we have now.

[+Northern_jaggie]

Hayes and Robson were my two favourite players. What Smee says is true, much of the excitement in watching football for me is seeing players take on defences when dribbling, nothing speaks of confidence more.
 

My favourite formation was 4-2-3-1, with the two central defensive midfielders and the back four doing the groundwork which freed up the forward 4 to take on players and terrorise defences. The good old days. 

[Robert]

2 hours ago, Northern_jaggie said:

My favourite formation was 4-2-3-1, with the two central defensive midfielders and the back four doing the groundwork which freed up the forward 4 to take on players and terrorise defences. The good old days. 

Mine too, and I feel we’d get the best of our current squad playing that formation now, utilising the pace of guys like Bray, Brooks, Longstaff and Thompson and getting Mckay back up front.

[tm4tj]

Great player.

Was right behind that one. Was in as soon as it left his boot. One of the best strikes ever at the Stadium.

[Starscape]

8 hours ago, Northern_jaggie said:

Hayes and Robson were my two favourite players. What Smee says is true, much of the excitement in watching football for me is seeing players take on defences when dribbling, nothing speaks of confidence more.
 

My favourite formation was 4-2-3-1, with the two central defensive midfielders and the back four doing the groundwork which freed up the forward 4 to take on players and terrorise defences. The good old days. 

I favour a 5-4-1, with a full-back, winger and striker in the midfield, plus a non-scoring forward up front. We need to get a load of loanees in though, otherwise the players will waste the ball by shooting. For goodness sake, keep that ball in your own half where it can't do any harm!