Paul Hayes - Our New Scapegoat?!

Domorules86

So is Paul Hayes the new Charlton Athletic scapegoat?!  I can't help but feel that the answer to some of you is yes.  Leaving the game on Saturday, I couldn't help but feel a deep frustration towards the jeers and boos Paul Hayes received from our own supporters, some of the ironic cheers when he got subbed were absolutely uncalled for.  OK, maybe he had a few lose touches and yes, should have done better with his touch when he was sent through, but there is a reason he is a League One player and I honestly believe that this guy has been nothing but top draw since he's joined.

I can't help but feel that some people don't just suffer from a short memory, but actually don't have a memory at all.  All we have to do is look to our first goal.  Who was it that brought down a difficult Michael Morrison header superbly, exchanged a couple of great passes with BWP, and got the assist?  Yup, you got it, Paul Hayes.  Who was the player who also got the assist for BWP's goal (albeit a great strike) on Monday against Wednesday?!  Oh wait, it was Paul Hayes again.  And this is not including the 2 goals he's already got for us this season and no doubt a number of other assists.

I would therefore just like to know what exactly has he done to deserve the mockery he received on Saturday?  If anyone could come up with a good explanation, I'd be very interested to know.

Oh, and lets not forget, the guy barely played last year!

gilbertfilbert

You're right.

The problem is that if, say, 5% of the general population are idiots (it may be higher

 :-(), the proportion in the average football crowd is at least double that.

EpsomAddick

Well said that man, Hayes is the link between midfield and the strikers we have been missing

Chunes

Weren't that bad was it? Got clapped when he was subbed. Few groans when he took that bad touch when he was through on goal but...

J BLOCK

Not a scape goat had a very poor second half saturday that's it.

carly burn

Unfortunately for Hayes, the average baboon brain football supporter just can't get their head around a non scoring striker.For every week he doesn't stick one away,regardless of the work he's put in,it's just not good enough.

Don't imagine BWP is giving him any jip though!

Dazzler21

Pretty sure Rhoys Wiggins is the new scapegoat.

nolly

he can become a charlton legend we have a history of non scoring strikers who go on to become legends

KBslittlesis

Bang on Nolly.
In my baboon brained opinion he's not the complete striker we need. What happens if BWP gets injured? We're already managing a knee issue so what if it gets worse? Can we rely on Hayes?
He frustrates the bejesus out of me as for all the assists he creates there are twice as many missed opportunities.
BUT I would never boo him & I clapped him off.
My main frustration is that I dont think he's better than Benno. I know Benno has a finger issue & I hope that's the only thing thats keeping him out.
Scapegoat? If that means I have a go at him when he puts in a lazy cross & doesnt bother going in for a tackle, then yes.

Choice

Hayes is quality at this level, his game isn't based around scoring loads of goals but as long as his providing them for others and chips in with a few here and there 

IMHO Benno is a League 2 striker and Hayes is technically a far better player and far more experienced at a higher level

Mortimerician

Always going to be the type of player that infuriates those that don't understand the finer points.  Runs deep, holds it up, covers our ever absent left winger.  We were 11 matches in before Benno got two goals and - I'm only guessing - not as many assists, along with virtually no hold-up game.

southamptonaddick

Pretty sure Rhoys Wiggins is the new scapegoat.

This

Friend Or Defoe

Sadly Hayes is the scapegoat and received a lot of abuse from the man behind me. I think the problem is he'll look to put BWP through rather than take it on himself and isn't a great finisher. Nice pass to set up BWP on Saturday, shame it wasn't infront of the Covered End mongos.

Friend Or Defoe

Pretty sure Rhoys Wiggins is the new scapegoat.

This

I haven't noticed this. Do you two sit on East or West?

CatAddick

Hayes is quality at this level, his game isn't based around scoring loads of goals but as long as his providing them for others and chips in with a few here and there 

IMHO Benno is a League 2 striker and Hayes is technically a far better player and far more experienced at a higher level

Agree.  Saturday he had poor touch throughout most of the second half but his positioning was superb - which is what made it frustrating.  Would the boo boys have complained if he hadn't been in position to play any of those misplaced balls?

As I keep saying to CatJnr, 50% of being a good footballer is getting in the right place to shoot/clear/save the ball - and Hayes has that ability in spades.

CAFCBourne

The guy is a very good footballer and if he had a finish he would be nowhere near us.

Very intelligent in his play drawing defenders out of position and i bet that BWP loves playing alongside him because he creates that space for him.

Always shows up for the ball and how people can be on anybodys back after our start i dont know what they expect.

 

roseandcrown

Yep some idiots near me onhis case. Can they really not see the work he does do? BWP must be loving playing with Hayes the amount of chances he will give him his year. thats 2 assits for BWP in the last 2 games.

The same fans where also stating Waggy is lazy which i think that is the last thing you can call him. Also the same fans that where getting on the teams back from keeping the ball and waiting ratehr than going for it.

Burton got similar stick from our fans who can not see past a stiker scoring goals.

DickVanDykesDiscoDog

Great post
Wonder how the Hayes doubters have failed to spot his 3 or 4 assists and couple of goals
Waggy is the scapegoat but will make way for Green shortly
If Wiggins loses his place to Evina then the idiots will have nobody else to blame (for us being 2nd !!!) other than Hayes

If anything the most hot and cold player this season has been Stephens
Great against Bournemouth then went missing until he scored on Sat

Dazzler21

Pretty sure Rhoys Wiggins is the new scapegoat.

This

I haven't noticed this. Do you two sit on East or West?

sadly I don't get to games much anymore but reading on the ratings thread seeing a defender get 5's on a clean sheet says to me 'scapegoat' people always need someone it's been Waggy, Hayes, Wiggins and Hamer so far.

I-SAW-POUSO-PLAY

Paul Hayes has been our best number 9 since Jason Euell - FACT

tangoflash

I am formally making myself avaliable to be this seasons scapegoat. From now on, any charlton player misses a shot or pass, fouls an opponent, is offside, looks lazy or any other henious crime commited on the pitch then feel free to blame me.

Instead of stripping them of any confidence, let's get right behind them and make them feel they can achieve anything and you'll be amazed how a bit of belief can give some players an extra 10 per cent to their games.

Macronate

Amazing we can have a scapegoat after such a poor start of 6 wins & 2 draws in League & Cup.

Really riled me Saturday, these people have no clue about football whatsoever.

AFKABartram

You know, it is possible to not rate a player without being branded as forming a scapegoat.

Jury is still out for me on Hayes. Been impressed with him a couple of times and distinctly unimpressed a couple of other times.

eaststandmike

Jury is still out for me on Hayes. Been impressed with him a couple of times and distinctly unimpressed a couple of other times.

The above sums it up for me, I will worry if BWP gets injured though because we do not have a replacement who can score goals.

dabos

I think he's been a little unfortunate that his best performances have come away from home.

A question to all those jeering him on Saturday - would you rather we have Pawel Abbott up front? If Hayes can get 12-14 goals this season that'll be decent. And that's the sort of total he's looking like getting at the moment given his start.

Floyd Montana

I am formally making myself avaliable to be this seasons scapegoat. From now on, any charlton player misses a shot or pass, fouls an opponent, is offside, looks lazy or any other henious crime commited on the pitch then feel free to blame me.

Instead of stripping them of any confidence, let's get right behind them and make them feel they can achieve anything and you'll be amazed how a bit of belief can give some players an extra 10 per cent to their games.

Where do you sit, Tango?
I'd like to co-ordinate the booing and will need a focus for the brain-dead

oohaahmortimer

charlton fans being over touchy cos people aren't saying everything and every player is perfect in la la charlton land

 

just cos a few people in the crowd voice disapproval/frustration at a poor touch/pass/shot or whatever doesn't mean the end of the world and we're looking to hang a player for his misdemeanours

 

 

ridiculous

LargeAddick

I think the problem is he'll look to put BWP through rather than take it on himself and isn't a great finisher.

This. Once in the second half he had the ball about thirty yards from goal, open space in front of him so could have taken it on five yards or so and had a shot but instead played a pass that wasn't really on. I'd much rather he had shot and missed, who knows it could have taken a deflection and gone in. Normally got a good first touch but it let him down second half. I didn't hear any booing just a few groans and I thought he got a warm round of applause when he went off. Forms an effective partnership with BWP and if he plays every game will score 12-15. As long as BWP stays fit we'll be ok, if not we will struggle.

Domorules86

Really interesting to read your views and is good to see that the majority of you aren't on his case.

As some of you have said, it's obvious to see that he lacks a bit of confidence in front of goal, but I have absolutely no doubt when I say that he is an intelligent footballer - His movement and vision especially, are first class in this division.

Like Tangoflash said, let's try and get behind the lad rather than jeering his every wrong doing.  We might then see a more conifdent man in front of goal who will no doubt get 10-15 goals + an absolute hatful of assists.

As for Benno being better than Hayes, absolutely no chance.  I've got nothing against Benson and am very pleased he's still at the club, but to say he'd do a better job in that number 9 role, I'd have to strongly disagree. He's a poacher and could only dream of having the eye for a pass that Hayes has.  That's no criticism of Benno though, just 2 completely different players.

 

MattD

Im not sure about him yet.

His footballing mind seems good, but ability with the ball im not so sure.

That lobbed pass down the left wing at the weekend was quality.

But his run through on there goal was terrible.

BigRedEvil

His role at Scunthorpe with Hooper was the same, Hooper got all the credit there as well, hopefully him and BWP will have the same end product and at the moment it's looking good.

Hayes will score 10 goals this season