I've not managed to get to a recent game to see him play yet (have I missed much?!!) but get the feeling he could become our unsung lynchpin - just like Kish was for Brighton last season. Thoughts?
I have to say that in the league games he's played since the Stevenage loss he's done a good job for the team. On Saturday, Green had been bombing forward and we'd then lost possession. Green was turning around to track back but Hughes had already filled the gap and gestured for Green to stay up. Similarly when Morrison went on a little jaunt over the halfway line, Hughes dropped back next to Taylor.
Nothing sensational from Hughes but he does a job and lets other more creative players concentrate on doing theirs. And you really can't argue with the results since he's been doing that job.
He seems to be a man that does nothing spectacularly but he does all that is required of him very well in the midfield. Like him a lot, although not as a replacement at right back which I seem to remember him doing once and thought him too slow there (maybe it was early on and he was just finding his feet)
I'm sure Hughes knows his limitations, by doing the basics ie.giving 100% and covering other positions he's fast making himself an integral part of the team.
All previous statements sum him up really. No frills, no flair but a good sound football brain.
Talks a lot, runs a lot and always looking for a quick free kick or throw in.
I always remember my old school football team - we had one guy who could run a lot. No skill or flair but asa strong as an ox and would run through a brick wall if asked - In some respect Hughes reminds me of him. (note thats not meant in any way to be derogatory to Hughesy)
agreed ...i think hes a character that our management knew about so big ups to them
agreed he knows his limits , he brings his exp and professionalism to the team and you can tell he is pleased to be playing ..i noticed his little shuttle runs during breaks in play ..i may have typed this before but with green ,jacko and hollands around in midfield hughes can "carry the water for us" the way that Kish did for us in premiership reckon hes appreciated by his team mates and management
i am a big fan and i dt think he will ever go missing ...a potential stevens trait
All squads need this type of player even if they are not always in the starting line-up. As well as Kish, Matt Holland and Keith Jones were similar at different times and I know they divided opinions as well. I wouldn't put Hughes in Holland's league, but he did so much of the quiet tidying up in recent games.
Since Hughes has been in the team post Stevenage we look like stronger. Hughes involvement gives Hollands more chances to bomb forward and Hollands is scoring goals, I think with Stephens in the team Hollands feels that he has to give the attacking options to Stephens.
Not just when we brought him, but after the Preston game, many were wondering why CP had brought him in.
Good to see that he appears to have made another astute acquisition to go with the other 20 odd he picked up!
Some players often make others around them look good, i.e they create the conditions where others can play. It sounds like Hughesy might be one such - they rarely get much of the limelight, but what they bring to the team can be significant. I like the Kish comparison btw!
i didnt like him at first. he wud try to do flair skill and defence splitting passes. he seems to have cut tht out the past few games and is just doing the basics well... thats all u need from a holding midfielder. getting better every game.
Big fan of Hughes. Superb work rate, not the most technically gifted but he still can pass accurately. Makes errors but he reads the game so well, filling in when players drift out of position. His versatility is also a big positive.
my favorite aspect hughes has brought to the team recently, is his ability to calm down the team and keep possession. multiple times when the midfield seems hectic and the ball is bouncing around loosely, hughsey sends a simple backpass to hamer and keeps possession. i love it when he does that! he even does it from midfield sometimes if he has pressure on him... hughes looks the engine bit too
Every club needs a player like Andy Hughes or Kish, or Steve Gritt for older Addicks. A good team player and in his case he allows Holland to get forward a bit more.
In the last four league games we have won the lot scoring I think 19 goals in the process. Compared with the previous four games, well I think you can see what he brings to the team.
Kish would be in my top ten worst players to ever wear a charlton shirt.
You have got to be joking!
Hughes is doing the job of Kish but against far inferior players, that's not knocking Hughes just pointing out that Kish was one of the most underrated players of the last 10 years
The thing is he's really not a right back. There's a view obviously held by Powelly that he can 'play there' but his lack of mobility when faced with a pacy player is apparent. What he does brilliantly is suss out an opposition player's movement and get into the space he was heading for before him. That's a great help to a full back or winger tracking back. He also allows Hollands to get forward and provide goals more. He's got a good pass in him sometimes but too often he just spoons it out. As a team player he's really impressed me since Carlisle, even though I think his second half against Wycombe was poor. Very happy to have him
I have to hold my hands up and admit that I wrote him off as simply not good enough after the JPT game. His performance (at right back) that evening was abysmal. No apparent vision, no passing ability and no ball control. Shocking. This had followed another poor game in the Carling Cup against Preston.
When he was picked to replace Stephens against Carlisle, my heart sank, but he performed well and so did the team. Then I saw that he retained his place at Wycombe and Hartlepool and I still felt worried. I needn't have done. When his name was announced against Preston he got a rousing cheer and I have to admit, I felt reasonably happy about that too. We were awesome and Hughesy did his bit.
He's done his job quietly and efficiently in those four games and he doesn't look out of place. In fact, I'd go so far as to say his influence on the team has improved the team performances considerably (Is it his demeanour? His rallying cries? His versatility and ability to cover for pretty much anyone who fancies a foray up front? A combination of all these and more?) I don't know, but what I do know is that it looks like I was wrong to write him off. Of course, he's not suddenly become David Silva - he has limitations as all footballers do - but hellfire, that boy doesn't half graft for the team, and what he lacks in pace, flair or skill, he makes up for in sweat, selflessness and professionalism.
Well done Andy, keep it up and please accept my apologies.
Kish would be in my top ten worst players to ever wear a charlton shirt.
I'm sorry but that has to be the most ridiculous post I have ever read.
There is some strong competition but has to be well up there.
After all, Kishishev only played nearly 180 games in the Premier League for Charlton and nearly 90 times for Bulgaria - including the 1998 World Cup Finals and 1996 European Championships.
I could name you 10 worse players than Kishishev in the current squad.
Haha... that's a great post Ormsy. Kitchenchef, one of my favourite players in the 25 years I've been watching Charlton, will always divide opinion.
But that sentence says all that needs to be said. Ridiculous post Kevtherev - in my opinion, of course. Mendonca was the worst player I've ever in a Charlton shirt.
I watched Hughesy on Saturday and remarked to my old man that he did the simple things very well and he was very disciplined in his position. As has been said,he played the simple ball,sat in front of the back four and broke play up and it really is giving Hollands licence to roam upfield knowing that Hughes is doing his job. Very impressed with him at the weekend and its players like him that do the unglamourous jobs that very rarely get noticed.
Comments
Nothing sensational from Hughes but he does a job and lets other more creative players concentrate on doing theirs. And you really can't argue with the results since he's been doing that job.
Talks a lot, runs a lot and always looking for a quick free kick or throw in.
I always remember my old school football team - we had one guy who could run a lot. No skill or flair but asa strong as an ox and would run through a brick wall if asked - In some respect Hughes reminds me of him. (note thats not meant in any way to be derogatory to Hughesy)
agreed he knows his limits , he brings his exp and professionalism to the team and you can tell he is pleased to be playing ..i noticed his little shuttle runs during breaks in play ..i may have typed this before but with green ,jacko and hollands around in midfield hughes can "carry the water for us" the way that Kish did for us in premiership
reckon hes appreciated by his team mates and management
i am a big fan and i dt think he will ever go missing ...a potential stevens trait
Dont change it Chrissy FFS!
i didnt like him at first. he wud try to do flair skill and defence splitting passes. he seems to have cut tht out the past few games and is just doing the basics well... thats all u need from a holding midfielder. getting better every game.
Every club needs a player like Andy Hughes or Kish, or Steve Gritt for older Addicks. A good team player and in his case he allows Holland to get forward a bit more.
In the last four league games we have won the lot scoring I think 19 goals in the process. Compared with the previous four games, well I think you can see what he brings to the team.
I'm sorry but that has to be the most ridiculous post I have ever read.
There is some strong competition but has to be well up there.
After all, Kishishev only played nearly 180 games in the Premier League for Charlton and nearly 90 times for Bulgaria - including the 1998 World Cup Finals and 1996 European Championships.
I could name you 10 worse players than Kishishev in the current squad.
But that sentence says all that needs to be said. Ridiculous post Kevtherev - in my opinion, of course. Mendonca was the worst player I've ever in a Charlton shirt.
Either a wind up - or you don't understand how the game is played!