Hedges I cant remember heading a ball, barely if ever. That was just in response to the idea that he might be selected for his height. I think @Tyrone Shoelaces (sorry if ive got the wrong poster) summed up Hedges well by saying something along the lines of that he doesnt do enough often enough. He works hard and wont let you down in that regard but I just dont think he is effective enough or productive enough in the final third. I take your point on the window being closed and I felt that we needed (and seemingly tried to sign) more than one wide player with pace, ACD seems to have been signed in an attempt to help to rectify that. You mention my previous comments on not relying on untested kids, that related to assuming players are ready to step up before seeing them in a senior environment whilst not signing a player in that position. Thats because that player then has to essentially be ready immediately otherwise (like with Batty last season) you are left short. The reliance on ACD to be good enough has become more than I would like because we failed to get more than one of that type of player in the window. I eould have preferred a player tested at senior level too. But I am purely hoping that he can come in and provide more of a threat than Hedges who doesnt do enough for me. But my main grievance with your post is the idea that Hedges has become some sort of villain and people should have learnt a lesson. And then the comments about people moaning. He isnt a villain, and like with you and Pickering (like I said, I personally think Beck has appeared to be an upgrade although I think Pickering is solid and an intelligent player) its just a case where people perhaps see him as one of the weaker players of the team. It doesnt have to be made out to be a witchhunt, and people shouldnt refrain from sharing those opinions in case that player pleasantly surprises them and becomes key.

I dont think its anything to do with Title winning standards. Its not as if they are 3rd or 4th, finishing 8th and now being 12th with that squad and considering the resources spent on players Ten Hag specifically wanted is nowhere near good enough. And you wont find a team as poorly coached relative to the quality of players, where you cant see over 2 years in what they are even trying to do.

Me saying that you likeing criticising Hedges as him being portrayed as a villain isnt me saying you dont have the right to an opinion, im merely offering my opinion about your opinion. I dont think its a constructive argument to make out as if its some sort of scapegoating campaign, similar to your stuff about just wanting a moan. I dont understand how you criticising Pickering is any less portraying him as a villian? Not that should you be discouraged either from pointing out if you think hes a weak link, I feel fine with him at left back as much as Beck seems like an upgrade. So different players but surely similar in both pinpointing a weakest member of the team. (Well, Pears is IMO but I think he has more to point to in recent games to justify selection, although I wouldnt and dont trust him indefinitely) Yes Hedges is part of a team that has started well but I dont think that he individually has offered much. You speak about Cozier Duberry as if hes a young lad on work experience. I just would like to see him and Cantwell in the team who I would hope can give us more threat than bang average players like Hedges.

No one has been "so critical". And its nothing to do with expectations. People seem to be trying to figure out the type of player he is from limited minutes. I personally have seen enough to suggest that he is a bit different to the rest of the squad, we desperately need pace and I think he appears to be our quickest player. But I still am concerned that we dont have enough pace and am not sure exactly how quick he is. We dont need this portrayal of our fans giving a player a hard time.

People have lauded our transfers this summer and whilst it is too early to suggest that all are successes with some yet to feature much or even at all. We had the likes of Markanday and Garrett regularly featuring for us last season so their loans this season put into context how thin we were.

Van Nistelrooy finished 7 points behind 1st in his sole season in Holland. Won a domestic cup and the Dutch version of the Community Shield, went out of the play off round of the Champions League to Rangers and knocked out of the first knockout round of the Europa league. Would that solitary season get anyone considered for the United job without the playing career he had for them? A simple no. I would love to know the reasoning why Southgate would be considered a good choice. I cant get my head round the reasoning that previous managerial changes havent improved the fortunes, surely it depends on the individuals appointed. And if the logic was not to change because of it, then Ten Hag would just be kept until he retires. He has overseen not only a lack of progression but armed with loads of money spent on players he personally wanted, they have declined and finished 8th last season, and are now in the bottom half. There is still absolutely no sign of anything in terms of a well coached team or even clues on how he has set the team up with any sort of game plan. There is no logic offered up as to why Ten Hag IS the man to take them forward. I hope they stick with him as the decline is funny.

Tuchel and Enrique will significantly improve them. Southgate would be as hilarious as Ten Hag.

Definitely Cantwell, I would like to see Cozier Duberry given a run. Dolan probably from the left. Most difficult choice perhaps is up top, I would give Gueye a start midweek but Ohashi based on the first 7 games as a whole would be ahead due to his goals. Do we need this sort of drivel as if he has become some sort of unfair scapegoat/villain. And do we have to rate every single player equally? And withold all opinion in case that player pleasantly surprises us and becomes integral to the team? Every team will have a player in it whereby one or two players in particular are perhaps the weakest/the first areas of potential further improvement. Obviously hes not totally devoid of any ability to the point where he isnt capable of doing something good. But he doesnt offer enough to justify repeated selection especially with new signings in similar positions now getting closer to being fit to start games.

Of course players have so much power now more than ever. But there is no way that a competent manager wouldnt have this set of players playing more coherently, with more structure and with a plan and identity. Regarding the players personalities, Ten Hag has worked with a number at previous clubs. So he has experience in managing them as people.

Im not having that their current squad was only 8th best last season or 12th this. They look so disorganised, so lacking in a plan and so lacking an identity. Its not even as if hes been lumbered with players he didnt want, half of the signings have been players hes worked with before and big money signings too. History also says that they have never finished as low as 8th since Ferguson left, but they did last year. I want him to stay though, because its funny.

I dont understand the thinking that Ten Hag going wouldnt change a lot. This is his third season and his teams are as badly organised and setup as you will see. No one is any wiser as to what he is even trying to do with his setup. I hope they keep him.

I wouldnt start Cantwell on Wednesday but I would on Tuesday. And in the middle, he is our best player, he can make a third midfielder with his quality on the ball and some of the others are better off the ball, the position behind the striker is where you can get away with that a bit more.

He is certainly not a threat in the air. So if that is justifying his selection, its bizarre. A goal threat? He is living off one excellent goal a year ago, Aaron Mokoena once scored a screamer but he wasnt a goalscoring midfielder. Hedges has 7 goals in 79 appearances so he isnt a goal threat, he scores very occasionally. He does work hard, but not enough to warrant a place in an attacking position alone. Thats my issue, he doesnt do enough from an attacking sense. Its a game at a side who are in poor form and when we are doing well and are builtu on a defence that has conceded 2 in 5. Surely away from home with loads of space to run into and with an alternative in Hedges who has not really done anything in the last few games, it is a good opportunity to make a change.

Hes playing Premier League football on a higher wage. The fact that he might not play quite as many minutes or always in his favourite position doesnt mean that decision is in any way a case of the grass not being greener. He made the decision anyone would have made and the right one.

We dont create enough chances, I would agree. I have mentioned a few times that I am hopeful that once everyone is up to speed, that we figure out a better combination in the attacking areas. Cantwell is better than everyone else and has the ability to create. Hopefully Cozier Duberry's pace can help to create more chances.

Has he ever won a header? Offers loads? Such as? Tries hard, not much from an attacking sense. At left back, he got forward but I wouldnt say he did much productive. A shot into the side netting and one out for a throw in.

Flexibility seems the only reason why he is the "obvious choice." But surely more reason to keep him in reserve for such an eventuality. Coventry are struggling and we are away so could do with pace on the counter. Seems like the perfect place.

It very much is greener in this case. Probably a last chance at Premier League football, has started most of the games and already scored at the Etihad. And will be on a much higher wage. So yeah, the grass is greener than being the main man in a Championship squad.

Of course its important to work on finishing, but I do think that Ohashi is a naturally composed finisher whereas Gueye is technically poor in front of goal and will never be a natural finisher. Whereas Gueye offers more outside of goalscoring. As it stands now, I think I would be pleasantly surprised if Gueye gets to 10. Whereas I would be disappointed if Ohashi only gets 6 more.

Agree that Cozier- Duberry would be a better choice to offer pace. I also fear you are right that Eustace will go with Hedges. He seems to like him but hes not very good. Hopefully once our new signings get fit enough, Hedges will fall to a squad player with occasional cameos.

Why? What about him makes you so keen? Dolan I get, was good yesterday. Hedges wasn't and is so poor in attack.

Because Hedges isnt good enough. He doesnt do enough to justify repeated selection. Regarding the benchmark for Gueye and Ohashi, its hard to say, just that it shouldnt be the pitiful goals tally from our strikers last year. My point was simply that both have not played well in the last 2 games, so commenting on that is valid. And simply that its hard to figure out exactly how good they are at this level so far. The question marks on Gueye are around how many goals he is capable of scoring. The question marks about Ohashi are about his ineffectiveness aside from in front of goal where he seems really composed. If he somehow maintained his goals per minutes ratio or even got close to across 46 games, he would be right up there for the golden boot which would be incredible. I would like to see a minimum target of maybe 20 between them?

Would you personally start Hedges?

He certainly appears a lot quicker than Moran, and a different type of player.

Do you support City still or Rovers? I will ignore the implication that you are happy that someone is suffering from mental trauma.