: Mon Mar 16, 2009 4:50 pm
I still for the life of me can't understand why everyone abuses Platt for running sideways.
I'm far from Platt's biggest fan. In fact I just don't believe he's good enough for a top side (not that we seem to be one anymore).
But I do feel that people criticise him for stuff that he's not actually doing wrong. He gets abused every time he runs the ball back, no matter what he does. If he goes straight at the line, he gets abused for not being quick enough. If he takes his time looking for a gap, he gets abused for wasting yards. And when he runs sideways to try and find a gap in the line (which if he finds it, nobody seems to complain funnily enough), people abuse him for running the wrong way.
I also though it was harsh dropping him to the bench this week considering he was probably our best player at Wigan. Especially to accomodate the practically useless Sykes.
The lad really can't win no matter what he does these days. I didn't see many people complaining when Vaikona or the Paul brothers used to run sideways looking for a gap (and found it about as much as Platt does).
In saying that though, I don't think there's any harm at all in giving Hyde a game. It worked out ok when Reardon came in practically untested.
If they're not giving Hyde a game though and not recalling Halley, Platt is our better option. Paul Sykes proved yesterday that those calling for him to play fullback weren't necessarily right.