Since Wilder left he has spent two years playing out of position or (for about 10 months) sitting on the sidelines recovering from a horrific ACL injury. I think a lot of people seem to forget that.
Austin finally restored him to the middle of the park where he belongs and we have started to see the best of him again.
His every move seems to be subject to scrutiny at the moment though and whenever he gets the ball you can sense half the West Stand holding their breath waiting to jump on his back for any outcome that is not a goal or a perfect delivery.
Prime example against Bury, he got down the right and hit a cross that initially looked long and the moaning had already started, only for it to arrive perfectly onto Crook’s head at the far post. A chance he wasted. In the same game, Hoskins got fouled on the edge of their box but not given a free kick. The bloke behind me bellowed “Fukking get back Hoskins!” as Bury launched a counter attack. He was playing at centre forward, pushing on the last man.
At the moment he is a target for abuse from a significant section but I feel it is unjustified.
His recent “end product” has been much better since being moved into the middle. On Saturday he created several chances for others of which all but one was wasted, as he did against Vale and at home to Bury.
Hoskins big negative is he has missed some great opportunities himself of course. However, they all have. Crooks, Williams, Van Veen and Powell have all missed a string of absolute sitters themselves. Even the ever reliable JJOT has been passing up golden chances that he would usually bury. Williams for example has a consistent record of scoring at a rate of about 1 in every 3.5 games over the last five or six years, at League 1 Level of higher. His finishing has been woeful this year. Why is Hoskins so frustrating or his end product repeatedly singled out for criticism when it is certainly no worse than any of those around him?
Positives
- he works his absolute b@llocks off
- he wins an unbelievable amount of headers relative to his size
- he has genuine pace and runs in behind to use it well when played centrally
- he can beat a player
- in spite of the criticism he still ALWAYS shows for and wants the ball
- the vast majority of our best attacking moments involve him
- he creates opportunities for himself and others on a consistent basis.
I’d play him through the middle every week. He’s now on his fourth manager since Wilder, all of who seem to rate him as a first name on the team sheet. Personally I completely agree, but he needs to be played through the middle.
Well I would'nt - as the right wing is probably perfect for him. Where your analysis lacks conviction is stating for a certainty that Hoskins needs to play down the middle. Except that DA and now KC dont appear to follow your 'advice'.