Chris Herd

[peter w]

He has one good game and then gets gradually worse until he's dropped.

[supertom]

He has one good game and then gets gradually worse until he's dropped.

This for me. I'm not saying Herds particularly good by any stretch of the imagination, but I felt he managed something close to a consistency in 11-12 that KEA could only dream of. Herd for me that season was close to our player of the year for me (I thought he was more consistent than Ireland), because of his desire and determination. He at least will put himself about and remind you he's playing, where-as Karim has a tendency to just disappear in games completely which was particularly galling those countless times we got overrun in midfield.

Though the major issue for me aside from anything else is that we most definitely need better players than Sylla, KEA, Herd and arguably even Westwood. The midfield is shambolic.

[glasses]

I find it quite funny how in one thread (The World Cup one) there is a general bemoaning of the way we in this country champion 'passion' and 'grit' and 'determination' in our players, and how they will 'run all day' work hard for you, over technique and skill.

Yet here, in this thread, we are championing Chris Herd, who is such a limited footballer. He runs around a lot, puts himself about a bit, is 'athletic', but is that what we really want from a footballer playing for Villa?

KEA, who I think is slow, and I'm not really a fan of his, is much more of a footballer.

That's before you even get into Herd's off the field un-professionalism.

[peter w]

*nnnnnghghhhh*

don't......mention..........how many f's..............you'd like to see in professionalism....................


fair point though.

[glasses]

Changed :-)

[supertom]

I find it quite funny how in one thread (The World Cup one) there is a general bemoaning of the way we in this country champion 'passion' and 'grit' and 'determination' in our players, and how they will 'run all day' work hard for you, over technique and skill.

Yet here, in this thread, we are championing Chris Herd, who is such a limited footballer. He runs around a lot, puts himself about a bit, is 'athletic', but is that what we really want from a footballer playing for Villa?

KEA, who I think is slow, and I'm not really a fan of his, is much more of a footballer.

That's before you even get into Herd's off the field un-professionalism.

I'm not sure England had half the grit and determination of sides like the US and Costa Rica...though otherwise fair point.

I don't think anyone is particularly championing Chris Herd, merely pointing out that in our current squad, for better or worse, he's still probably good enough to get in our starting 11. Though Karim is technically better, the fact he'll hide in games makes him more often a weakness than a strength. I would say we're also more lacking in an up and at them defensive midfielder than we are kind of tidy in the middle player like Karim, particularly as we have Westwood who can do that.
In terms of someone who can sit in midfield, throw in a tackle and perhaps cover fullbacks, we've only really got Herd or Sylla. Sylla's probably going and is bobbins any way.

There's no denying though that we need to make more signings. Though I'd have Herd in ahead of Karim, by no means do I think Herdy is good enough at this level.

[hilts_coolerking]

I always had Herd on a par with Lichaj, that is to say willing and combative but not quite good enough for the Premier League.

[mattjpa]

I dont think Herd has ever had a fair crack at the first team. Hes always looked good when ive seen him. I will repeat my opinion I have voiced before...You could take most of the youngsters we have had though in the last 3-4years away from our distinctly average squad, give them the right coaching and experience at coming through in a team such as Southampton and they would flourish into much better players than they have here....

[UK Redsox]

I always had Herd on a par with Lichaj, that is to say willing and combative but not quite good enough for the Premier League.

As a right back I'd agree. However, Herd's ability to fill in at centre half and in midfield make him more valuable to the squad.

[MyDadIsBiggerThanYourDad]

I bet Roy Keane will be well pleased with the combative attributes of Chris Herd & will help utilise this asset for the benefit of the team. Chris Herd can be a big player for us & I have always believed that. Not quite sure where best to deploy him though because he is so versatile. We certainly need to toughen up in midfield though so why not play two holding midfield players namely Delph & Herd.

One thing is for certain, Herds versatility certainly gives you options at Right Back, Central Defence & Midfield.

It's gonna' be a big season for our club & I'm sure Chris will play his part.

[hilts_coolerking]

As a right back I'd agree. However, Herd's ability to fill in at centre half and in midfield make him more valuable to the squad.

That's a fair point.  As is often the case with those versatile players the issue becomes 'what is his best position?'  I suppose it's indicative of the conservatism of the English game that it generally needs to pigeonhole players into one role.

[Toronto Villa]

It's been so long since he played I've practically forgotten what he does. Either way he's a solid enough squad filler that will come in a bad so a job when needed.

[tomd2103]

I dont think Herd has ever had a fair crack at the first team. Hes always looked good when ive seen him. I will repeat my opinion I have voiced before...You could take most of the youngsters we have had though in the last 3-4years away from our distinctly average squad, give them the right coaching and experience at coming through in a team such as Southampton and they would flourish into much better players than they have here....

He played 20 times during the McLeish season. 

[supertom]

I dont think Herd has ever had a fair crack at the first team. Hes always looked good when ive seen him. I will repeat my opinion I have voiced before...You could take most of the youngsters we have had though in the last 3-4years away from our distinctly average squad, give them the right coaching and experience at coming through in a team such as Southampton and they would flourish into much better players than they have here....

He played 20 times during the McLeish season. 

And he did okay too to be fair to him. I thought he was regularly one of our better players. That might not be saying much of course.

[supertom]

I always had Herd on a par with Lichaj, that is to say willing and combative but not quite good enough for the Premier League.

There were times last season that I almost wished we had Lichaj back. I don't think he'd have done much worse than Lowton most games, Bacuna some games (defensively), and probably Luna most games.

I think in a few positions we've traded off "not quite good enough" for the Prem from our academy, with "way off" from lower leagues and cheap imports.