He’ll likely play ahead of Garner now until the international break. If Garner is injured.
Three games to build some understanding with the others.
Looking forward to seeing how him develop.
Hayden Hackney
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Re: Hayden Hackney
Garner and Armstrong are too similar, the midfield doesn't work. I'd have Hackney ahead of Garner but obviously he'll come in for Armstrong.
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Re: Hayden Hackney
Until we sell Jimmy Gardner for 80 million in JanuaryShogun wrote: Sun Sep 06, 2026 8:08 pm Garner and Armstrong are too similar, the midfield doesn't work. I'd have Hackney ahead of Garner but obviously he'll come in for Armstrong.
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Re: Hayden Hackney
Kinda mad the Jimmy Garner slander here. He's clearly not fit, but he was one of, if not our best player last season. He's a really good player that's just short on fitness. Armstrong is a talented lad, and Hackney looked great today, but a fit Garner starts every game. The midfield is Garner + someone else.
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Re: Hayden Hackney
I don't dislike him but he’s probably one player we could sell for decent money in a position where we have a few other alternatives and would allow us to strengthen elsewhereSurax wrote: Sun Sep 06, 2026 11:41 pm Kinda mad the Jimmy Garner slander here. He's clearly not fit, but he was one of, if not our best player last season. He's a really good player that's just short on fitness. Armstrong is a talented lad, and Hackney looked great today, but a fit Garner starts every game. The midfield is Garner + someone else.
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Re: Hayden Hackney
I can appreciate what he brings to a team like us, but I don’t enjoy watching him as a player.
I prefer players like Armstrong, and Hackney. Players who like to open the game up in tight spaces and take risks. I love their technique where they seem to take the ball and pass it all in one action.
Garner stops the ball the majority of the time he receives it for example.
He’s gone up to a level I didn’t expect him to, but I’ve never enjoyed watching him play.
I prefer players like Armstrong, and Hackney. Players who like to open the game up in tight spaces and take risks. I love their technique where they seem to take the ball and pass it all in one action.
Garner stops the ball the majority of the time he receives it for example.
He’s gone up to a level I didn’t expect him to, but I’ve never enjoyed watching him play.
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Re: Hayden Hackney
He’s also the only one of those four midfielders that we’re talking about who actually defends, we fall apart without him IMO
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Re: Hayden Hackney
Norgaard can't get fit quick enough.
Feels like for the role we are asking Garner to play he's half of the player we need.
Hackney's first thought is get it out of his feet and either move forward with the ball or look to play for ball forward.
You then have the KDH conundrum in front of that. Good enough to play but not good enough to always play.
Rohl will come into the equation too with his long strides and ability to move forwards quickly.
Armstrong we still don't know what kind of player he'll turn out to be but he's a massive talent.
I don't know how all the pieces will end up working but I think Hackney needs to be a large part of it.
Feels like for the role we are asking Garner to play he's half of the player we need.
Hackney's first thought is get it out of his feet and either move forward with the ball or look to play for ball forward.
You then have the KDH conundrum in front of that. Good enough to play but not good enough to always play.
Rohl will come into the equation too with his long strides and ability to move forwards quickly.
Armstrong we still don't know what kind of player he'll turn out to be but he's a massive talent.
I don't know how all the pieces will end up working but I think Hackney needs to be a large part of it.
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Re: Hayden Hackney
Never been Garner's biggest fan, but like others he's surprised me with his improvement.
He's clearly not fit yet, and a few weeks behind all the other players in his fitness programme, which is a huge deal in the modern Prem. You look at the impact that no pre-season had on someone like Isak last year, and he never got going. Given that's the case, he's doing a decent job for the team in the circumstances, and I'm looking forward to when he does get upto speed to improve the balance of the midfield.
He's clearly not fit yet, and a few weeks behind all the other players in his fitness programme, which is a huge deal in the modern Prem. You look at the impact that no pre-season had on someone like Isak last year, and he never got going. Given that's the case, he's doing a decent job for the team in the circumstances, and I'm looking forward to when he does get upto speed to improve the balance of the midfield.
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Re: Hayden Hackney
I think what he’s improved at is being even more of a busybody.
Good to have and he starts every game for me, but if we can trade that in for 60m+ I’d be delighted.
Good to have and he starts every game for me, but if we can trade that in for 60m+ I’d be delighted.
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Re: Hayden Hackney
Getting some good reviews.
Haven’t seen the game unfortunately just highlights, did enjoy his part in both goals, looks very positive and looking to drive the ball into the box.
Can’t speak on the control stuff, he seems quite vertical and looking to get us going.
Haven’t seen the game unfortunately just highlights, did enjoy his part in both goals, looks very positive and looking to drive the ball into the box.
Can’t speak on the control stuff, he seems quite vertical and looking to get us going.
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Re: Hayden Hackney
Its passing through the lines in the centre of the pitch that we have been missing. You look at United and their best bits of play were moving the ball quickly through the middle of the pitch. Its what the best players do, and allows you to really get at the back 4.
The perfect goal for us with this team would be a Hackney pass through the lines to KDH, who sprays the ball out wide to Grealish. He puts in a cross for Barry who burys it. If only football was that easy. But thats the kind of thing this team should be working on, as we have the talent now in those areas.
The perfect goal for us with this team would be a Hackney pass through the lines to KDH, who sprays the ball out wide to Grealish. He puts in a cross for Barry who burys it. If only football was that easy. But thats the kind of thing this team should be working on, as we have the talent now in those areas.