The merits (or otherwise) of Tom Hopper

[SUFCGoals]

He plays because not only on the pitch and behind the scenes is he a very positive influence, but his stats support what we see.
The cameras now installed at the ground and new training pitches that feed the stats along with stat vests they wear for training and games pick up every run, pass, hesder, assist, goal, distance, etc. It's unbelievable how much info is produced and can be analysed in different ways.

So we’re saying he’s an asset to the team?

 

[in the know]

So we’re saying he’s an asset to the team?

Yep. In a nutshell.

 

[londonblue]

Yep. In a nutshell.

Although that's good to hear, you don't really need stats to prove that. You can see it just by watching him play.

 

[bluesfansince1952]

Good player and definite asset. Some might agree with me that he is central to the way the Manager wants us to play. As long as his performance does not decline dramatically (at his age always a possibility) he will be with us for a while. It is hard to see KM wanting to discard him.

 

[GNH]

TH is clearly an asset to the team with his overall play and contributions across the pitch but he is not a goal scorer and that is something that he will struggle to do on a regular basis.

IF we can get those sort of players in around him then he will perform a valuable role, if we are expecting him to score the goals to fire us to promotion that isn't going to end well.

 

[thenobster]

sorry, not reading all the thread, but to single out one of our strikers when most of them seem to be of a similar trait, seems a little unfair.
From what I know, Hopper also adds to the defence during set pieces too?
Yes, we have scoring defenders, so why can't we have defending forwards... it's a team game, no?

 

[Blue Yonder]

We've got 18 retained players all with fans and detractors so not sure why Tom has been singled out for a thread of his own. He's a worker and had some decent games but suspect this is all about Wembley and a solid performance and win in that and this thread wouldn't exist. I wonder if Taylor, Ralph and maybe KAF are the retained players that would have the fewest critics. Gus, Taylor and Ralph are about the only ones that are on the 'first name on the team sheet' list. The rest are on rotation and pretty much of a muchness.

 

[B.B.The Legend Lives On.]

Billy Best for example, during his final spell at Northampton?.

When Billy Best rejoined Northampton Town in Sept. 1973 he actually played his first two season's of both 1973-74 & 1974-75 as a striker or whatever it was called back then. Then from 1975-76 through to season 1977-78 when he left the club played well over 100+ matches as a right sided centre-back alongside the massive figure of big Stuart Robertson. After leaving the Cobblers in the summer of 1978 Billy then joined Bedford Town being signed by the one and only Barry Fry. He was now a part-time player by then and alongside his former Cobblers team mate Graham Felton became a painter and decorater which was his proper job (his words not mine). Some 4 years later at the end of the 1981-82 season Bedford Town went into liquidation after some financial issues with the local brewery who owned the stadium. Billy then signed for Corby Town for the 1982-83 season before retiring at the tender age of almost 40 years young. While at both Bedford and Corby Town Billy nearly always played as a centre back making almost another 250 appearances in Non League football in that position.

 

[SeldomSeenShrimper]

Good in both boxes

 

[CrippsCorner]

sorry, not reading all the thread, but to single out one of our strikers when most of them seem to be of a similar trait, seems a little unfair.
From what I know, Hopper also adds to the defence during set pieces too?
Yes, we have scoring defenders, so why can't we have defending forwards... it's a team game, no?

We've got 18 retained players all with fans and detractors so not sure why Tom has been singled out for a thread of his own. He's a worker and had some decent games but suspect this is all about Wembley and a solid performance and win in that and this thread wouldn't exist. I wonder if Taylor, Ralph and maybe KAF are the retained players that would have the fewest critics. Gus, Taylor and Ralph are about the only ones that are on the 'first name on the team sheet' list. The rest are on rotation and pretty much of a muchness.

Bonne had his own thread too, before he managed to score a goal! Healthy discussion is okay I think (as long as it doesn't start getting personal)

 

[PIERS]

None of our strikers will do well with Miley and Hussin in the middle..
Equally we will struggle to get an early cross in …

 

[Up the Villa]

Apparently Hopper is brilliant in Football Manager, my friends son has Southend as his team & he has scored 51 goals in 38 matches!

 

[Tommy2holes]

League experience
Strong


Slow
Doesn't score enough goals
Wont ever be a top goal scorer