Wotherspoon.........is he the real deal?

[monktonharp]

I like the laddie, he does some good stuff but on Saturday he looked as if he does not concentrate for the 90 mins. and i've felt that about him on quite a few occasions. he's been in the first team for 2 seasons now, fair enough he's been shifted about for a wee while but I still think he can do a lot better and make himself into a great profesional if he were to concentrate fully in a game. he said himself last week that he wanted to contribute more re-scoring goals.well step up tae the plate Spoony, never saw any of your trademark shuffle/step over thingy stuff this week. get involved more and show us what you and we know you can do.

[DaveF]

He's a very good player but he has suffered greatly (IMO) with a combination of being moved all over the place, being played when out of form and also being a young kid in a team devoid of any confidence for a long spell.

He will come good - I'm in little doubt about that, and when the team is settled and playing well I think he'll have a role in it for years to come.

[Ed De Gramo]

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He's a very good player but he has suffered greatly (IMO) with a combination of being moved all over the place, being played when out of form and also being a young kid in a team devoid of any confidence for a long spell.

He will come good - I'm in little doubt about that, and when the team is settled and playing well I think he'll have a role in it for years to come.

This

[Wotherspiniesta]

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He's a very good player but he has suffered greatly (IMO) with a combination of being moved all over the place, being played when out of form and also being a young kid in a team devoid of any confidence for a long spell.

He will come good - I'm in little doubt about that, and when the team is settled and playing well I think he'll have a role in it for years to come.

He's a confidence player, once we start moving up the league we'll see the best of D.

[monktonharp]

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He's a confidence player, once we start moving up the league we'll see the best of D.

not arguing, just think he should be more confident of himself , concentrate more , which in turn will contribute more. he's young, but no longer considered a laddie,if he wants to cement his place. we already have lewis Stevenson, and look how it's turned out for him

[KWJ]

I think there's a great player in there but this season he seems to be committing a lot of silly fouls and mouthing to the ref.

[Lofarl]

Petrie will punt him soon enough

[monktonharp]

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Petrie will punt him soon enough

aye, there's a queue at the gate

[sesoim]

I think Wotherspoon is like Whittaker - he'll get better with good coaching and good players around him. I do worry that, because of how haphazardly we've been run as a football team since Mowbray left, a few of the youngsters we've had since haven't fulfilled their potential. But if we can get a few good signings in in the summer then hopefully a good mix of youth and experience will get the best out of them.

[truehibernian]

John Hughes' use of DW was nothing short of negligent IMHO and meant the lad suffered from a confidence crisis far to early in his career.

The boy had only ever known a midfield position, yet Hughes conspired to play him at right back, right midfield, left midfield and off the striker......all in a season. There was no consistency, Hughes never protected him, and to be honest, his form plummetted as well as others in the team.

Calderwood has only ever really played DW where he is best IMHO. Right mid/wing, cutting inside, taking men on. He is a young lad and will have good games and a fair share of bad. But he is never a right back in a million years. Just like Colin Nish is never a "player just behind the strikers in the hole", just as Benji was not a supporting striker again "behind, in the hole" as Hughes would often suggest. Just as Paul Hanlon is never a left back............

I think DW will be a great player for us, with the fans behind him, and in a team that is confident. Players like Palsson, Thornhill, Scott and Miller will only help his progress, and a manager who knows his stuff like Calderwood.

[truehibernian]

Oh and just like Danny Galbraith is never a left back either.....christ Hughes was pash

[Wotherspiniesta]

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aye, there's a queue at the gate

Is there any need to take the mick?

Wotherspoon's a good player. I'm sure if he became available plenty teams in the SPL would be interested.

[matty_f]

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I think Wotherspoon is like Whittaker - he'll get better with good coaching and good players around him. I do worry that, because of how haphazardly we've been run as a football team since Mowbray left, a few of the youngsters we've had since haven't fulfilled their potential. But if we can get a few good signings in in the summer then hopefully a good mix of youth and experience will get the best out of them.

I reckon Calderwood will improve Wotherspoon. We're already seeing better performances from the young players like Hanlon, Galbraith and Wotherspoon. Booth should also improve on what has been a great start, as well.

I don't know what Calderwood's record is like for bringing through young players, but he's certainly getting more out of these boys than Yogi was, IMHO.

[Riordans Boots]

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He's a very good player but he has suffered greatly (IMO) with a combination of being moved all over the place, being played when out of form and also being a young kid in a team devoid of any confidence for a long spell.

He will come good - I'm in little doubt about that, and when the team is settled and playing well I think he'll have a role in it for years to come.

[blackpoolhibs]

I think he's better at the minute at right back. He's doing a decent job further up, but apart from the odd time, he hardly goes past a player and whips a cross in. Great energy, and hopefully will keep improving. He's still the best option for us wide right, but he will have to improve, i'm sure he will, but he needs to keep improving to keep his place and for us as a team to improve too.

[RIP]

Using Saturday as an example he

1. Lacked the pace to go past his man
2. His crosses were poor
3. Discipline/attitude was childish and unprofessional
4. Positioning was a nightmare - he was meant to be marking their winger but was always caught inside with the winger 20 yards away

Don't get me wrong he's a trier but I always want every player to have a real strength in one particular area. Danny has pace, Ian has strength, Francis can head a ball. Hanlon's timing is the biz, Deek can shoot.

With D he needs to develop a strength - not just be a trier.

[jdships]

Now that Rankine has "left the building" was wonderong who the next candidate for the "treatment" would be
It just wouldn't be right for the two " untouchables" Murray and Riorden to be criticised - would it ? .

Give the lad a break .
He has great ability and will prosper under CC
He was 21 in January , part of a team who were lacking in confidence and leadership - the last thing he needs is to be the next "target" for a slagging .
Why not look for the real culprits if you want to go down this path which I personally see no point in .
Have an opinion by all means but some of the nonsense posted on here about certain players is bordering on the ridiculous

[DaveF]

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Using Saturday as an example he

1. Lacked the pace to go past his man
2. His crosses were poor
3. Discipline/attitude was childish and unprofessional
4. Positioning was a nightmare - he was meant to be marking their winger but was always caught inside with the winger 20 yards away

Don't get me wrong he's a trier but I always want every player to have a real strength in one particular area. Danny has pace, Ian has strength, Francis can head a ball. Hanlon's timing is the biz, Deek can shoot.

With D he needs to develop a strength - not just be a trier.

I think you are being incredbily harsh on Wotherspoon. You've slated him for his game on Saturday (as an example) yet then went on to back up your 'point' by highlighting mini examples of other players one of whom wasn't even involved on Saturday!

Yes, Danny has pace, but he has no aggression and often fails with final ball.

Ian has strength but not the legs anymore.

Francis can head a ball but was guilty for 2 of United's goal at Tannadice.

Deeks can shoot and can also disappear for an hour.

I'll give you Hanlon

Wotherspoon is lacking in a wee bit of confidence, that's all. Help him through it and he'll be a future Hibs star.

[jdships]

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I think you are being incredbily harsh on Wotherspoon. You've slated him for his game on Saturday (as an example) yet then went on to back up your 'point' by highlighting mini examples of other players one of whom wasn't even involved on Saturday!

Yes, Danny has pace, but he has no aggression and often fails with final ball.

Ian has strength but not the legs anymore.

Francis can head a ball but was guilty for 2 of United's goal at Tannadice.

Deeks can shoot and can also disappear for an hour.

I'll give you Hanlon

Wotherspoon is lacking in a wee bit of confidence, that's all. Help him through it and he'll be a future Hibs star.

[Pretty Boy]

Wotherspoon will come good.

At the moment i feel he still chooses the wrong option a lot of the time. He almost constantly cuts inside and narrows the game rather than trying to beat a man and whip a cross in despite generally having more success when he goes on the outside. He's also lacking an end product a lot of the time.

In saying that there is talent there and with a bit of confidence and a more settled role in the team i think he can develop into a decent player for us.

[Judas Iscariot]

I think he's overated..

Does 1 good thing then 7-8 shocking things..

Hope he comes good though..

[jdships]

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I think you are being incredbily harsh on Wotherspoon. You've slated him for his game on Saturday (as an example) yet then went on to back up your 'point' by highlighting mini examples of other players one of whom wasn't even involved on Saturday!

Yes, Danny has pace, but he has no aggression and often fails with final ball.

Ian has strength but not the legs anymore.

Francis can head a ball but was guilty for 2 of United's goal at Tannadice.

Deeks can shoot and can also disappear for an hour.

I'll give you Hanlon

Wotherspoon is lacking in a wee bit of confidence, that's all. Help him through it and he'll be a future Hibs star.

[RIP]

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I think you are being incredbily harsh on Wotherspoon. You've slated him for his game on Saturday (as an example) yet then went on to back up your 'point' by highlighting mini examples of other players one of whom wasn't even involved on Saturday!

Wotherspoon is lacking in a wee bit of confidence, that's all. Help him through it and he'll be a future Hibs star.

Firstly I didn't 'slate him' I assessed his performance from the last game. If I had thought he was mince I would have said so.

Neither did I 'back up my point' by listing other players. I merely pointed out their main contribution to the team and suggested I'm still to see a 'main strength' in D

Perhaps it's aggression? If so - I'd like to see it backed up by a more mature attitude, an end to conceding stupid fouls by dragging people back with his hands, an end to arguing with officials. The comparisons with Whitty are interesting - only Steven had a lot more maturity at that age

I like David's athleticism and energy but his positioning and football brain are currently lacking. His defending was woeful on Saturday and Towell was often left covering 2 men. Maybe being played in the same position each week will build up his understanding of the RM role

So I've cited some weaknesses - maybe others can cite more specific strengths?

[DaveF]

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Firstly I didn't 'slate him' I assessed his performance from the last game. If I had thought he was mince I would have said so.

Neither did I 'back up my point' by listing other players. I merely pointed out their main contribution to the team and suggested I'm still to see a 'main strength' in D

Perhaps it's aggression? If so - I'd like to see it backed up by a more mature attitude, an end to conceding stupid fouls by dragging people back with his hands, an end to arguing with officials. The comparisons with Whitty are interesting - only Steven had a lot more maturity at that age

I like David's athleticism and energy but his positioning and football brain are currently lacking. His defending was woeful on Saturday and Towell was often left covering 2 men. Maybe being played in the same position each week will build up his understanding of the RM role

So I've cited some weaknesses - maybe others can cite more specific strengths?

Good engine, great feet, excellent shooting ability and a willingness to get stuck in. When his confidence returns, I fully expect to see him taking on his men a lot more than he been doing of late.

I have no disagreement with his form being poor over the last few months and I hold Hughes entirely responsible for that. The laddie needed a break and it was clear for all to see but our ex manager.

I'm hoping Calderwood can give him back the spark and move him up to the next level in his own personal development as a pro.

[Bishop Hibee]

Fittest player in the team for starters. That's why CC rightly put him up front at the end.

Under Yogi, he virtually played two positions, right back and right midfield at the same time some games! Started his 1st team career off so well but had the stuffing knocked out of him by Yogi's incompetent team selection. He'll get better playing in front of a decent right back.

A good close season and playing alongside better players as CC continues to reshape the team and we'll see a more consistent Spoony I think.

[truehibernian]

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Firstly I didn't 'slate him' I assessed his performance from the last game. If I had thought he was mince I would have said so.

Neither did I 'back up my point' by listing other players. I merely pointed out their main contribution to the team and suggested I'm still to see a 'main strength' in D

Perhaps it's aggression? If so - I'd like to see it backed up by a more mature attitude, an end to conceding stupid fouls by dragging people back with his hands, an end to arguing with officials. The comparisons with Whitty are interesting - only Steven had a lot more maturity at that age

I like David's athleticism and energy but his positioning and football brain are currently lacking. His defending was woeful on Saturday and Towell was often left covering 2 men. Maybe being played in the same position each week will build up his understanding of the RM role

So I've cited some weaknesses - maybe others can cite more specific strengths?

Since our new midfield has been in place (v Utd) David nearly scored a wonderful solo effort against Dundee Utd, then scored a lovely goal v St Mirren and then provided the assist for Sodje with the flick on header. Three moments in three games which suggest when used correctly and not mucked around at right back, left mid, right wing, up front (sometimes in the one game by Hughes), DW is a good influence on the team and has ability.

CC is using him correctly and in a confident team DW will be a great asset. Those around him have definitely helped free up the workload a bit and allow him to concentrate on his game more.

Interesting you cite his defending ability on Saturday. I think Ian Murray, until told to at half time, didn't do Callum any favours first half by drifting inside and making the midfield congested and narrow. Not much came down DW and Towell's flank mainly due to DW holding his position IMHO. Again, second half, Kilmarnock were forced inside and forced to play narrow because DW, Murray, Palsson and Thornhill kept their shape better and had some width, thus denying Killie space on the wings.

Only my opinion obviously, but I think you are being unnecessarily harsh on DW.

[Beefster]

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Using Saturday as an example he

1. Lacked the pace to go past his man
2. His crosses were poor
3. Discipline/attitude was childish and unprofessional
4. Positioning was a nightmare - he was meant to be marking their winger but was always caught inside with the winger 20 yards away

Don't get me wrong he's a trier but I always want every player to have a real strength in one particular area. Danny has pace, Ian has strength, Francis can head a ball. Hanlon's timing is the biz, Deek can shoot.

With D he needs to develop a strength - not just be a trier.

And Wotherspoon is one of the few players we have who is capable of dribbling the ball past a man or two.

Is that not a strength? I think it is and think it's a more valuable attribute than most of those you mentioned.

[RyeSloan]

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Firstly I didn't 'slate him' I assessed his performance from the last game. If I had thought he was mince I would have said so.

Neither did I 'back up my point' by listing other players. I merely pointed out their main contribution to the team and suggested I'm still to see a 'main strength' in D

Perhaps it's aggression? If so - I'd like to see it backed up by a more mature attitude, an end to conceding stupid fouls by dragging people back with his hands, an end to arguing with officials. The comparisons with Whitty are interesting - only Steven had a lot more maturity at that age

I like David's athleticism and energy but his positioning and football brain are currently lacking. His defending was woeful on Saturday and Towell was often left covering 2 men. Maybe being played in the same position each week will build up his understanding of the RM role

So I've cited some weaknesses - maybe others can cite more specific strengths?

Wow. I rate Spoony as the best prospect we've seen since Scott Brown.

Along with the basic attributes of fitness and effort he is technically superb. I like his touch, his vision and his ability to run with the ball.

Sure he's not the finished article yet and he has a lot to learn but I think a lot of people (possible you included) underestimate just how hard it is to break into an SPL team and then perform week after week after week....many have tried and failed.

From what I have seen Spoony is a future internationalist and will spend most of his playing days at clubs larger than Hibs.

Finally some of the comments I read on Spoony remind me of the negative stuff you heard around Whittaker, Fletcher etc...some people seem to focus on the negatives to the cost of missing the bleedin' obvious that these players have genuine ability. In Spoony's case he has the physical attributes as well so I am pretty sure he will continue to improve and be another resounding success from our 'production line'.

[Gatecrasher]

its too early in his career to start doubting him, He did well at the start of last season and faded out, we have had a shocking team for the best part of a year (if not a full year) his potential will only grow as CC will buld a decent team to play with as well as he gains experience and confidence

[Gingertosser]

He was voted "Player of the Month" for February in the Edinburgh Suite on Saturday.

Admittedly there hasn't been many playerrs to choose from, but DW certainly never lacks in effort.

And (as mentioned before) hopefully this can give him a little confidence, and along with a run in a more settled midfield we can finally see the boy shine.