I can understand why people are upset at the moment, and indeed upset with some players more than others. However, I'm not entirely sure what Gallagher's done to have to put up with the kind of vitriol he's getting at present.
Massive ironic cheers when he was substituted. Ok, he was having a bad game and his corners were very poor, but he generally looks to me like one of the more interested players on the pitch, which is more than could be said for several others on Saturday. Also, despite him being rather hit and miss, he has been one of the few players who's known where the net is in recent weeks.
I also understand from the football forum last night that Hayley Gallagher has received, for want of a better term, hate mail. If this is true then it is absolutely shameful. How on earth we can expect players to want to play for us or come to our club while this is happening, I don't know.
Paul Gallagher
posted on 17/1/12
He has been poor recently but so have most of the others. Utter disgrace if some boneheads think its O K to abuse his wife on twitter ect.
posted on 17/1/12
Hate mail is shocking and should not be tolerated
Gallagher has the art of looking dissinterested off to a tee,many fans out there see a shirker who doesn't give 100%,pulls out of tackles and only seems to happy when he has the ball at his feet at a set piece.
To me it would be more beneficial having someone who runs arounds tackles,sends over crosses and gives his all rather than a bit part player.
Someone called him the "Beckham of the championship " last week on twitter,not stopped laughing yet
posted on 17/1/12
The is no excuse with regard to what you have mentioned in the last paragraph. I'm assuming it relates to messages on twitter, unfortunately this seems to happen to plenty of 'celebrities' on there.
I don't doubt Gallagher's effort, in fact I think the criticism that 'players aren't trying enough' is often a blanket comment used perhaps unfairly when teams are underperforming. I think 99% of the players put in 100% effort, for me, they just don't have enough ideas at time.
I believe Gallagher has scored one goal in open play during the last ten games, so IMO, his goal threat isn't enough to justify a place in the team.
If the rules of football were similar to our American neighbour's version, he would simply be someone you would bring on as a special player for free kicks.
There are several faults in Gallagher's game for me, but I don't want to lay in to him, as other players have several inconsistencies also.
However, the one thing I become more and more frustrated with, is the way he pulls out of challenges on a regular basis. And on several occassions, this has ultimately resulted in us conceding a goal.
Whilst there may be other members of the squad who have weaknesses which affect our game equally, I feel a footballer pulling out of challenges is something a large percentage of fans cannot abide.
posted on 17/1/12
The problem with playing Gally is that he's essential a 5 minutes per game man - good for corners, the odd dramatic goal and set pieces. If he's struggling in any of those areas he looks truely bad.
It's not in his natural game to track back, he can't tackle and is poor in the air. With the teams' present form he makes for an easy target when things go wrong (not including the hate mail thing obviously).
Having said that, I like the player, he's technically gifted and I'd keep him but as a bench warming impact player only and give his starting place to a player who may lack in Gallys' jiggery-pokery skills on the ball but who would work hard, track back and get stuck in.
posted on 17/1/12
Keep_the_faith has it spot on for me.
Too much of a luxury player for me and his 5% contribution doesn't warrant a starting place in a team supposedly challenging for promotion.
Having said that, no player deserves personal insults whether whilst playing or via the Internet. That sort of behaviour is not welcome and could never be justified.
posted on 17/1/12
.........oh, and he's setting himself up for a mighty fall when he eventually misses one of those strangely taken penalties too!
posted on 17/1/12
The problem with Gallagher is he’s not quick enough to be a winger, doesn’t tackle well enough to be a midfielder and doesn’t hold the ball up well enough to be a striker. He is, however, one of the few players in our squad who is capable of one moment of creativity that can change a game.
I can understand a manager’s desire to play him, particularly from our current squad; but we need a player who can hit a dead ball, whilst still being useful in other areas of play. He’s a luxury player as others have stated.
“.........oh, and he's setting himself up for a mighty fall when he eventually misses one of those strangely taken penalties too!”
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I guess it’s symptomatic of being a Leicester fan that we should criticise his “potential to miss a penalty” – before he’s actually missed one!
Oh .... and the hate mail thing is a disgrace, but that’s probably worth a thread on its own.
posted on 17/1/12
"I guess it’s symptomatic of being a Leicester fan that we should criticise his “potential to miss a penalty” – before he’s actually missed one!"
Spot on Joby - get it? "spot on"?
posted on 17/1/12
He's had a good game tonight to be fair to the lad.
I think the problem we have is we have too many luxury players.
When the midfield is King - Wellens - Gally + A.N Other, you've arguably got 3 luxury players there.
If you have 2 hard working CM's such as Danns + New signing, suddenly Gallagher can be afforded a place. Personally, I'd rather have Gally than King.