To Willis or not to Willis? (2 Viewers)

[Brighton Sky Blue]

Bit of a dilemma ahead of Saturday following last night's strong defensive display. Should Willis come straight back into the side or not?

 

---

[clint van damme]

I would put him on the bench. Why drop Hyam when he's played so well?

 

[speedie87]

Willis back in for me.

 

[Brighton Sky Blue]

I would put him on the bench. Why drop Hyam when he's played so well?

The back line has held without him, and is building a bit of momentum, hard to call.

 

[matesx]

Willis plays for me definitely.

 

[Nick]

I am not sure Willis could handle Rhead.

 

[sw88]

What you talking about Willis (for)

Bench. Like McDonald after his absence he should be made to work for his place, or have to wait until a chance comes up through injury or suspension

 

[pusbccfc]

Haven't conceded a goal since Hyam came on.

 

[Nick]

Haven't conceded a goal since Willis was sent off.

We did against Mansfield.

 

[Old Warwickshire lad]

Got to play your best players, so Willis back in.

 

[Liquid Gold]

I'd put Willis back in, Hyam has played very well but is 4th choice for a reason, is still learning his game and not used to the pressure. Willis and Rod compliment one another well and we can play a higher line with McDonald going for the high balls and Willis using his pace to mop up.

 

[pusbccfc]

We did against Mansfield.

I changed it almost immediately.

 

[Greggs]

Makes no sense replacing Hyam. Odd logic to replace a man in form with an error prone player. Sends the wrong message too. No player should simply stroll back into the side.

 

[rupert_bear]

You play your best players and Willis is better than Hyam.

 

[Grendel]

He will play

 

[Otis]

Bit of a dilemma ahead of Saturday following last night's strong defensive display. Should Willis come straight back into the side or not?

No dilemma to be had for me. You play your best team. Willis straight back in.

Every game is different, so the 'don't change a winning team' notion is a bit of a myth.

Willis back in.

As someone said already, Hyam is 4th choice.

 

[fatso]

Hyam took his chance and deserves to keep the shirt.
If you drop him, your sending the wrong message out to the fringe players and the youngsters.

 

[ccfcricoh]

Difficult one - i would play Hyam but can see why you'd play Willis.

We just need to score 3 goals and then it shouldn't matter too much who one of our centre backs is

 

[SlowerThanPlatt]

Would keep Hyam in.

Only change I would make is Reid for Shipley

 

[Dimi_Konstantflapalot]

I'd put Willis back in, Hyam has played very well but is 4th choice for a reason, is still learning his game and not used to the pressure. Willis and Rod compliment one another well and we can play a higher line with McDonald going for the high balls and Willis using his pace to mop up.

Willis' pace is the crucial thing here. Hyam is a really good backup/4th choice centre half for this level, but Willis is the better player. Robins isn't stupid and I'm sure has the man-management skills to explain the reasoning behind team selection to the players to prevent any 'toys out the pram' scenarios.

12 massive games left, have to play our best team as far as possible in each one.

 

[no_loyalty]

Would keep Hyam in.

Only change I would make is Reid for Shipley

Good shout bringing Reid in, Shipley might be out injured anyway.

 

[eastwoodsdustman]

Keep Hyam in. He and Rod kept the Wycombe hoofball under wraps and Lincoln will be more of the same. Dont think Willis can handle to Hoof as well as Hyam and Davies can.

 

[speedie87]

Didn’t they score from free kick then hyam came on for kelly at Mansfield?

 

[fernandopartridge]

Bit of a dilemma ahead of Saturday following last night's strong defensive display. Should Willis come straight back into the side or not?

No, his sending off was down to his own mistake. I'd stick with the back 4 from last night, particularly as they dealt well with Akinfenwa and will be up against similar again

 

[Esoterica]

Keep Hyam in. He and Rod kept the Wycombe hoofball under wraps and Lincoln will be more of the same. Dont think Willis can handle to Hoof as well as Hyam and Davies can.

They play 2 very different types of hoofball. Wycombe go long to Akinfenwa, often diagonal balls, always with 2 or 3 players running beyond him anticipating his flick ons. Rhead is much more of a target man, holding the ball up and bringing his wide players into play and then getting into the box. I think Lincoln will be a game for tight marking at the back so I'd let Hyam keep the shirt, he lacks height or a really physical presence but his positional play and awareness has looked good in the last 2 games, whereas Willis is prone to the occasional wander.

Think it's irrelevant anyway - Willis, Doyle and McNulty are Robins' absolute bankers to start when fit.

 

[oucho]

Bit of a dilemma ahead of Saturday following last night's strong defensive display. Should Willis come straight back into the side or not?

Hyam for me. Willis is over-rated IMO. Hyam has looked very decent by all accounts when he has featured. Give him a chance.

 

[steve cooper]

We did against Mansfield.

If I remember correctly Hyam came on for Kelly in 22nd minute when we were already 1-0 down
Edit: just read your post again, got confused by the post above

 

[Earlsdon_Skyblue1]

Tough one, and I don't the answer. I can see both sides of the argument, so I'll probably leave it to Robins.

What a nice problem to have though.

 

[Brighton Sky Blue]

They play 2 very different types of hoofball. Wycombe go long to Akinfenwa, often diagonal balls, always with 2 or 3 players running beyond him anticipating his flick ons. Rhead is much more of a target man, holding the ball up and bringing his wide players into play and then getting into the box. I think Lincoln will be a game for tight marking at the back so I'd let Hyam keep the shirt, he lacks height or a really physical presence but his positional play and awareness has looked good in the last 2 games, whereas Willis is prone to the occasional wander.

Think it's irrelevant anyway - Willis, Doyle and McNulty are Robins' absolute bankers to start when fit.

True, but I'd argue form matters more than personal preferences. Not to say Willis has played particularly badly, but we seem to have defended in a more 'streetwise' fashion with him out of the side. He should have to earn his spot back imo.

 

[Brighton Sky Blue]

Tough one, and I don't the answer. I can see both sides of the argument, so I'll probably leave it to Robins.

What a nice problem to have though.

Absolutely, look forward to seeing who he picks.

 

[Londonccfcfan]

Willis walks into the team.

 

[Grendel]

Absolutely, look forward to seeing who he picks.

He will pick Willis -he’s his number one centre half. He gets a fair portion of stick but he’s the longest serving player, doesn’t hide and despite errors in his game at this level he’s more than capable.

 

[Adge]

Mmm not sure, wasn’t it Willis who was day dreaming down at Lincoln for Rhead to score? I’d stick with Hyam, if it ain’t broke and all that.

 

[Gibbo]

I changed it almost immediately.

ricocheted free kick tho

 

[johnwillomagic]

I'd keep same defence that kept clean sheet last night and have Willis on the bench gives him a bit of a rest too he has played a lot of games.