As for Hughes being unhappy like any professional footballer he should be if he is not playing. He like Hayes has put in a shift and for the most part performed well. His manager however appears to prefer both his central midfield players to provide an attacking threat.
Ironic then that the games we played with Hughes in midfield we scored 22 goals in 7 games (and conceded only 3), by far our best attacking spell of the season. Not saying that Hughes was solely responsible for that, there are of course many other factors. But surely not pure coincidence either.
agreed, perhaps it's a question of balance with Jackson out for a while
I think we will sign a midfielder in January regardless of whether Russell stays or not and it will be our main and possibly only signing. I expect Gleeson from MKD to arrive.
Why Gleeson ?
Because it follows our plan of signing the best of the division and those young and good enough to go on. He fits the new Charlton bill perfectly.
I don't know how good this Gleeson fellow is or isn't , i hope that the gravy train of quality that has been flowing this way continues in January, to get us where we need to be.
So with Jackson in the team, we score an extra 0.867 goals per game (but also conceed an extra 0.017) which would statistically mean we would've likely have turned those two draws (every 17 in 20 draws, infact) into wins had Jackson been on the pitch. (Just playing with numbers here, I know it's not that simple so don't slate me...)
Won't be too dischuffed if he signs. Still need a creative centre mid but Russell off the bench in last twenty to stiffen up midfield on a difficult away trip wouldnt be a bad thing.
Comments
With Hughes in centre midfield - P7, W7, F22, A3
Without Hughes in centre midfield - P19, W10, D6, L3 F30, A19
That's 3.14 goals scored/game with him and 1.57 without and 0.42 goals conceded/game with him and 1 without.
http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/11719/7887526/