Will Hughes

Discussion in 'Former Players Archive' started by hornmeister, Aug 13, 2017.

  1. Bubble

    Bubble Wise Oracle

    Totally disagree. Hughes was the heartbeat of our side under Xisco last season in that holding role and dictated the pace of pretty much every game! He also allowed Cleverley & Chalobah to express themselves higher up the pitch (which they both came out and said in various interviews last season when we changed to 4-3-3). I would say his composure on the ball, his ability to pick out the right pass and his discipline to hold his position and come to take the ball off the centre-backs was the main reason we were able to control games under Xisco. Remember, before he went into that role it was very direct and predictable to defend against.

    The simplicity in Hughes' game was a massive part of why we improved.
     
  2. lowerrous

    lowerrous First Team

    You make a fair point about lack of assists not on its own being evidence of a lack of passing range, so how about this from last season -

    Accurate long passes per 90 minutes:

    Hughes: 1.4

    Cleverley: 2.9

    Capoue: 5.5

    Also, to use your other reference, Jorginho last season: 3.4

    The claim @simpleMASH made of Hughes playing "like the quarterback" is pure balderdash.
     
    Last edited: Jul 7, 2021
  3. ITK platypus

    ITK platypus Squad Player

    If the rumours of a bust up with Foster are true (apparently caught on camera launching a tirade of expletives in his direction) then Will has no place at our club.

    Take the money from Fulham and offload this bad egg.
     
  4. LeedsOrn

    LeedsOrn Reservist

    You might have noticed that other players with more accurate long balls than Hughes include Masina, Troost-Ekong and Bachmann - that statistic hardly attests to a passing range or lack thereof.

    I think that mostly speaks to Hughes' role in Xisco system: dropping deep to collect the ball and progressing it with medium-length passes to the full backs, or number 8s. He does that really well which is why he is in the top quartile of Championship midfielders for ball progression. Progressive passes seems a much better reflection of passing ability as long balls just reflect distance. A 40 yard backpass is an accurate long ball but it is not as helpful to the team or as difficult to execute as a 15 yard pass from the halfway line that bypasses two opponents.

    As for the quarterback claim, I don't think that to be considered a quarterback (in either an American Football or football context) one has to execute lots of long balls. The role of the quarterback is to drop behind the line of scrimmage and run the play by starting off each move with some sort of progressive pass. I don't think the analogy is THAT helpful in the football context considering that the quarterback calls different set plays and is responsible for executing them but in the sense that Hughes is the one who drops deep and is responsible for starting the buildup play with a progressive pass, he is the closest thing we have to a quarterback.
     
  5. Manatleisure

    Manatleisure Squad Player

    Hughes has been alright for us when fit, but he's not irreplaceable as one of two have mentioned.
     
  6. Aberystwyth_Hornet

    Aberystwyth_Hornet Squad Player

    Would be disappointed if he didn't stay and feel it would reflect bad management. He isn't irreplaceable however as things stand I don't trust us to sign a adequate replacement
     
  7. hornetboy1

    hornetboy1 First Team Captain

    It’s so strange that we’re now into the third week of pre-season and there’s still no news on Hughes.

    No leaked stories in the press, no exclusive from Adam Leventhal or Ryan Gray, no photos of him training, not even in the background. It’s like he’s completely vanished.
     
  8. a19tgg

    a19tgg First Team

    Pretty sure he vanished for at least half of last season.
     
    La_tempesta_cielo_68 likes this.
  9. Bubble

    Bubble Wise Oracle

    Injured for half the season.....
     
  10. wfc4ever

    wfc4ever Administrator Staff Member

    Yes and they were pretty quiet about it all too.
     
  11. Sort of OK

    Sort of OK Reservist

    Like an old oak table.
     
    Bwood_Horn, Scalexman and Watford Gav like this.
  12. simpleMASH

    simpleMASH Reservist

    Pretty much confirmed he’s not in training by that new video posted where the whole squad is in a line doing an exercise and Will’s nowhere to be seen.

    Can only assume he’s been separated while he looks for a move just like we did with Capoue, Welbeck, Pereyra etc last season.
     
    Markoa$ likes this.
  13. Gromit

    Gromit Academy Graduate

    I'm at a bit of a lost if how the hell we even let it come to this. I presume we held off offering him a new contract before we know promotion was sorted.
     
    põder likes this.
  14. RS2

    RS2 Squad Player

    Relegation meant we couldn't offer better terms to anyone and it's highly unlikely Hughes would have signed it anyway, seeing as he's not signing now we've been promoted!
     
  15. Heidar

    Heidar Squad Player

    He clearly doesn't have a problem with the club, it is problem with the contract.

    Not surprising given that we are offering a 50% relegation reduction when most of the squad don't have such a clause and will be unaffected if relegated. I wouldn't sign that contract, so why would Hughes.
     
  16. Rookery Refugee

    Rookery Refugee Reservist

    I think if they paired it with a release clause he might go for it. At his age, this is his "Financial Security" deal. Any deal after this one will be less money unless he has some sort of unlikely jump in form. So he needs to get his money now. The club likewise has to ensure its own financial future - they almost suffered a disaster last year. There should be a way to protect everybody. "We stay up, you get paid" "We go down, you can leave at a reasonable fee - or take a cut with the rest of us"
     
    FromDiv4 and Heidar like this.
  17. Heidar

    Heidar Squad Player

    I agree a release clause would be a fair compromise.

    It is such a difficult position to play correctly and Hughes' retention and circulation of the ball makes the formation work. I live in hope that he's just injured or something...
     
  18. ITK platypus

    ITK platypus Squad Player

    No one entertaining the possibility that he might just be injured (as he often is)?
     
  19. Hogg-DEENEY!!!

    Hogg-DEENEY!!! Squad Player

    Wouldn't they make a big thing of it if he were? Unless the plan is to sell him...
     
  20. hornetboy1

    hornetboy1 First Team Captain

  21. The undeniable truth

    The undeniable truth First Team Captain

  22. Otter

    Otter Gambling industry insider

    School holidays are here again.
     
    UEA_Hornet likes this.
  23. RS2

    RS2 Squad Player

    I think some people had the same theory as me, that the kit and Hughes' contract will be announced together. 99% sure that won't be happening though.
     
  24. IRB

    IRB THe artist formally know as ImRonBurgundy?

    Crouchy's fluffer posted something cryptic on Twitter as well apparently
     
  25. LeedsOrn

    LeedsOrn Reservist

    Yes. He posted this morning that he was at the club filming for some sort of club content which I think he’s done in the past and responded the following to one of his replies:
    https://twitter.com/chris_stark/status/1417472151666442264?s=21
     
  26. RS2

    RS2 Squad Player

    If Hughes' contract is announced by that t!t then I don't want him to renew.
     
  27. hornetboy1

    hornetboy1 First Team Captain

  28. RS2

    RS2 Squad Player

    If it is happening then @LouOrns should know by now. Come on, spill the beans please. We won't tell anyone, honest.
     
  29. Hogg-DEENEY!!!

    Hogg-DEENEY!!! Squad Player

    Tbf at this stage I'm not that bothered, he's not irreplaceable, if we get a decent fee for him (say, £10m plus), while bringing in someone like Thorsby for less than that, so be it. Fully expect him to be sold for around £5m mind you!
     
  30. ITK platypus

    ITK platypus Squad Player

    They’re going to announce he’s signed for Palace.
     
    PowerJugs likes this.
  31. The undeniable truth

    The undeniable truth First Team Captain

    I was told in Feb but I’m afraid I was sworn to secrecy. You will see very soon.
     
    luke_golden likes this.
  32. nornironhorn

    nornironhorn Administrator Staff Member

    At this point I'd rather we put a deadline on it just so it can be resolved.

    Of course I'd rather he and Chalobah stayed, but if it isn't going to be resolved in the next week or so we would be better off cutting our loses and selling the pair while working on replacements.
     
    HeiaWatford, Otter and wfc4ever like this.
  33. SkylaRose

    SkylaRose Administrator Staff Member

    Will has found his home at Crystal Palace.

    [​IMG]
     
  34. Eric IS Bananman

    Eric IS Bananman Academy Graduate

    I saw a tweet at half time on Saturday saying:

    "Josh King has scored more goals this season than minutes Will Hughes has played for Crystal Palace"

    Made me chuckle.
     
  35. RS2

    RS2 Squad Player

    Delighted for him.
     

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