Crunchie for a start he's a different player than Skuse but if you rate Hyam as a better CM than Skuse then clearly you don't understand footy. Different league.

Ideally, with a defence that are more comfortable with the ball and a midfielder like Bishop who always makes himself available, Hyam will look better being able to break up play and do the easy thing.

With Skuse sitting deeper than Hyam (essentially, he's doing both jobs), it's putting uncessary pressure on Hyam to work the ball and that's not what he's good at.

He's still very young, had a nasty injury and certainly seems a 'confidence' player. Not ideal in a team that's getting a bit of stick already.

He'll do fine here.

Oh well Sun got it wrong about Gus taking over from Mick
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/36253489

It's now up to him to challenge for a regular place and maybe his injury has put him back. Still prepfer him to Douglas though! Like others he's been asked by MM to play out of position so is it any wonder he's lookked poor at times.With Luke along side Skuse and Douglas it was dire but hoping that Bish and McG will stop that and MM will only find room for one defensive midfielder!!

Good lad but not good enough for a promotion chasing championship team which we hopefully will be next season .

The shock on Hyam's face says it all.

I've always been a fan of Hyam, but since his injury he has been average at best. The other issue is we have Douglas and Skuse playing a defensive role. In all honesty only one from those three should start so in my opinion one should move on in the summer as we don't need three defence minded central midfielders.

Any news on Tommy Smith?

Good stuff. A good lad to have in the team and gives some steel to the midfield. I love Bish and I expect Andre will do well but you do need a bit of a mixture in midfield and Luke gives that.

Damn. Useless liability with zero creative ability spends too much time off the pitch injured or suspended and gives the team nothing in an attacking sense when on it. We should be using the wages to upgrade our dross not keeping below average league 1 level players.

And this "one of our own" rubbish means nothing !!!

I went to Northgate - Grammar. We finally got football brought in instead of rugby in my lower 6th. What a relief that was! No proper sports coaches there though, unlike today.

....... any thoughts that some would have had of reconsidering renewal of season tickets - will take a knock with this news.

A statement in itself that little, if anything, will change next season - with the said man in charge.

Sorry, local lad or not - spends too much time preening, and not enough time doing the right business - when did anyone see him pass a ball other than sideways or backwards ??

Simply - not good enough. Would have been pleased to see him move on, to be honest.

Sentiment counts for nothing - and indeed shouldn't.

....... would have been much happier with that news ref Tommy Smith.

Rock on Tommy - if the dinosaur doesn't want you - you have no worries in terms of a future within the game.

Not everyone can be a favourite - just ask Bart..... !!!

....... expecting minus's from the same old crew - nothing dopes, or will, change there either.

I wonder why ............ ???

........ should read 'does' ............ just drop the 'p'. For those who miss the obvious.

At his best he should be in the starting 11 . I have seen him play some cracking games for us , have also seen him sent off against brentford very stupidly, lets just hope we see more of the better part of luke. Just about earned a new contract imo.

Hasent earned it, and not the only one...

Currie10......my apologies....i was under the impression that a central midfielders role was to also help create and weigh in with a least the odd goal....and not just pass back to his Centre half or the person who has just passed it to him...both players are as bad as each other...I just happen to think hyam has a bit more about him...people on this board have been arguing the toss for years of who to pair with Skuse...well perhaps Skuse is the problem...if our midfield don't start creating and scoring goals we are going to be stuck in this division...Ramirez....Barton...knockheart...creative goal scoring midfielders....dozzell took a chance going into the box after 20 minutes of his debut and it paid off......Skuse isn't a bad player but he does not deserve to be undropable when he contributes nothing from an attacking point of view....but then again I know nothing about football cuz he does all the dirty work....what a load of ol tosh.

When you have the likes of McDonell, Benyu and Blanchfield coming through re.centre mid, and then the more so emergence of Bishop and now Dozzell with Skuse and Douglas how does Hyam or will Hyam fit???

Sorry sidtheswan, accidental down vote there. Damn phones!

Just a dour type, not going to do anything that will excite the fans
Just why does McCarthy insist on such types of uninventive players?
With his favoured line-up you've got 7 in defensive minded roles,

We only scored 53 goals in 46 games, yet conceded 51
So that just show how effective McCarthy's system has been this season
Dull, Dull, and Dull

I can see that we need some solidity in the midfield. But when did it become unimportant for ITFC to have central midfielders who can pass fairly accurately under pressure and make space for themselves?

Luke can you please get an Alice band for your Barnet fair next season if you have to keep pushing it away from your face during games it's surely a distraction ! And can we see more of the Luke Hyam from last season when you were outstanding at Wigan away or even better could you be converted to a right back

BlueKush. Glad this forum isn't just for people with short memories!

With Skuse and Douglas getting on a bit, it makes sense to have another DM in the squad.

I think he does a decent job of disrupting opposition build up play. Useful when we're defending a lead, Skuse is getting tired, or we're away at the league leaders perhaps.

Don't think he should be starting most games though. At least not paired with Skuse and/or Douglas.