Hurst: Experienced Players Important
Monday, 1st Oct 2018 14:27

Blues boss Paul Hurst has stressed the importance of experienced senior players such as Luke Chambers and Jonas Knudsen, who have both started every match this season.

Hurst has fielded 25 players in the Championship, the most in the division along with Saturday's opponents Swansea - plus a 26th, Teddy Bishop, in the Carabao Cup - but Chambers and Knudsen have both been fixtures throughout.

“Their experience [has been important],” he said. “Luke’s obviously the captain as well and a big voice in the dressing room.

“We need that experience. I’ve spoken about change and I think people felt it was needed. I wanted to put my own stamp on the squad and try and change things, but at the same time those new lads need some help and guidance and those two certainly fit into that category along with Skusey and the keepers.”

Hurst says those players have an influence not just on the field but around the training ground, particularly skipper Chambers.

“I’m not sure I’d say the lads conduct themselves any differently from how I would have had my players in the past, not when they’re full-time certainly,” he added.

“But particularly again, in Luke’s case, when new players come through the door, he’s always on the scene and to the point of just showing people where things are, explaining how things work and speaking about the area.

“He’s been here some time now and that’s invaluable. Sometimes it’s nice to get that from staff and we obviously try to help, but when one of your team-mates is doing that as well, I think that always helps bed players in that little bit sooner.”

Hurst says Chambers will be fine for Tuesday’s game against Boro despite requiring treatment for a knock at Birmingham on Saturday.

“I think he almost had his knee fallen on by the opposition player but as far as I’m aware it’s a little bit of a bruise and it’s a bit sore but I think it’ll take more than that to keep him out of the game.”

Photo: TWTD

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Sixto6 added 14:34 - Oct 1 Very worrying if we have to rely on Chambo and Knudsen. Chambers was turned inside out on quiet a few times on Saturday and Jonas has offered very little going forward and pretty poor defensively too ! Sad times COYB
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Butcherboy added 14:37 - Oct 1 Ya think!!!!
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Michael101 added 14:42 - Oct 1 Mad Mick relief on them and look were he got
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Radlett_blue added 14:50 - Oct 1 If Hurst think's Knudsen is so important, why haven't we opened talks about a new deal for him?
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kpblues added 15:10 - Oct 1 Have to agree Sixto6. Chambo has put in some sterling performances this season but for me he gets caught too often. On Knudsen lots of the opposition attacks seem to come from our left side so I'm not sure he's a reliable defender. Was sort of hoping these two would be phased out this season.
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beornioblue added 15:19 - Oct 1 some of the first ones that should have gone
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rugbytomc added 15:21 - Oct 1 yep i also agree Sixto6 - we do need their experience but would be nice if we had players of equal experience but better ability. Shame as can't fault them for trying and showing passion, but we need better and we also need more experience in midfield as it's the same with Skuse - he does a job, but we so badly miss Huws
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Radlett_blue added 15:45 - Oct 1 Hmm guys - replacing our experienced Championship players with League 1 players has worked well so far, hasn't it?
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Henrietta_R_Hippo added 15:53 - Oct 1

Aye experience is indeed important! Hands down! And especially with a current predominantly ragtag & unproven squad like ours.

However 1) you Mr. Hurst should have signed 2-3 experienced players yourself , and of an IMPROVING and preferable also or a more passing skilled and especially more AGILE nature, on *permanent signings* early on in transfer window! ... and 2) It remains a rather indefensible mystery to me (and many other fans) as to why both aging & slowing Captain Calamity and SkuseMe had their contracts extended at a time when by all accounts incl. the owners' the former manager (who behave & spoke as if he absolutely had a serious "man crush" on both these players + Knudsy too!) already had at least 1Â½ foot out the door???!!!

Yes yes I know a good chunk of our fans rate them dearly and yes yes granted they both have a decent to good game "once in a while"... but hey! they are professional footballers in the 2 tier aren't they so that' sort of hmmm "inconsistency" is the very least that should be expected of them I believe! But imho them having a decent to good game "once in a while" is actually much more down to the LAWS OF PROBABILITY i.e. when you keep on running someone out there unconditionally -- who btw in this case on average are frankly no better than "mediocre... at best" in their OVERALL ON-THE-FIELD CONTRIBUTION to the team -- again and again, well what do you know? eventually and of course perfectly in accordance with *Probability* they will have themselves an occasional true monster of a game, just as that particular type of of mediocre defensive players will be anything from a latent liability to really cost us on other occasions!

Any which way, whether you as a fan rate them highly or not, just like under MM "Undroppable Proper Blokes" they 2 of them seemingly are yet again under Mr. Hurst... apparently alongside the imho also way too inconsistent & not yet contract extended Danish longthrower extraordinaire also!

Pilgrimblue added 16:23 - Oct 1 Is that why Hurst sold the best and kept the worst. He doesn't know what he's doing!!
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TimmyH added 16:29 - Oct 1 Because you've brought so many here inexperienced at this level Paul, not rocket science.
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ITFCsince73 added 16:30 - Oct 1 I said before a ball had been kicked. we needed our senior players to step up to the mark and perform, for us to stand any chance. clearly so far, those said players have been poor to average so far.
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therein61 added 17:20 - Oct 1

While not brilliant by any means Chambers has been hung out to dry by playing at right back for so long, and now selected at left centre back where he is continually wrong footed and turned at will if he was a bit quicker he could compensate in both positions but sadly he is not!! I admire his effort but it has clearly not worked out for him and the team credit to him for trying his best

runningout added 18:30 - Oct 1 think this experienced player stuff is very overrated in English football
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thundercat600 added 07:48 - Oct 2 So, how does he pick his team, it would seem by putting all of the players name into a hat and drawing them out. Strange but I do have this gut feeling that this will turn out ok in the end
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warktheline added 18:45 - Oct 2 Oh dear! Hurst you've shot yourself in BOTH feet! The ‘cozy gang' is thriving under new management ship ! Chambers next Town manager, hopefully on the plus side he'll hang up his boots!
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Skip73 added 09:03 - Oct 3 If experience is do important why did you seel most of out experienced players and replace them with the dross you signed? Idiot!!!
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