Hutton and Lennon - do they work?

[HodisGawd]

Ok, this is more a muse than anything else but I'm interested to hear what other people think.

Watching the second half of the Chelsea match in the east stand on Sunday I really got the feeling Hutton and Lennon, while playing well, didn't really have a very good understanding.

I thought both were good in the game individually but just didn't feel they were on the same wavelength as a pair working the wing.

For example, there were a few instances where Hutton (I'm not necessarily blaming him here) kept releasing the ball to Lennon at the wrong moment.

By this I mean not when he was taking off but a little bit early or a little late so by that time Lennon had stopped and was ready to start again (but was by then stationary).

It resulted in us not taking full advantage of a few really good position those two found themselves in.

We're only talking small margins here, but they're small margins I thought Corluka and Lennon when they played together last season managed to get spot on.

For me, there is something beautiful about the understanding Corluka and Lennon have. Corluka instinctively seems to know exactly when to release Lennon and it works, there's end product.

The problem however is that Hutton has been playing well and Corluka (except his last outing) hasn't.

What do you think?

 

[danielneeds]

Partnerships take time to build - with both their injury problems and Corluka being the previous incumbent, they are still a fledgling one.

I am sure it can work with time and endeavour.

 

[FITZ]

Hutton forces lennon inside more and often takes up the position Lennon would want to be in.

Chorluka allows Lennon to stay wide.

As mentionned and as shown in the Chelsea game the more they develop you'll see Hutton Driving inside the full back into the space opened by Lennon pushing wide.

 

[karennina]

Sounds about right, but Hutton's passing is getting markedly more assured and ambitious, and there's no basis for dropping him, so we'll have to hope the understanding can keep maturing.

 

[WhiteStripe]

Yes it does work, yes Lennon has looked good recently with Hutton. Yes Yes Yes. Move on. Nothing to see here.

 

[t79boy]

good thread i was going to start something similar
IMO like danielneeds has said its a newish partnership and therefore requires time to build understanding.
I think personally that they have the potential to be an outstanding partnership because Hutton loves to bomb forward and link with Lennon and Lennon helps hutton out defensively which he needs.
However i feel this is a very big test for Lennon as i think that hutton oftens occupies the space that lennon would do normally whilst going forward. In recent games i have NOT been impressed with Lennon's movement off the ball when Hutton has possesion. I hope Lennon accepts the challenge and becomes the better more versatile player that we all know he can be

 

[karennina]

Hutton forces lennon inside more and often takes up the position Lennon would want to be in.

Chorluka allows Lennon to stay wide.

As mentionned and as shown in the Chelsea game the more they develop you'll see Hutton Driving inside the full back into the space opened by Lennon pushing wide.

And Hutton's off balance, but powerful dribbling style does seem to cause teams danger when he comes inside. I hope we see more of this.

 

[Black]

Much better than Charlie and Lennon

 

[TheVoiceofReason]

I think people seem to overlook the fact that we have clear problems with our defence.

Most of the blame seems to get shifted on to BAE for some reason, yet many of our goals conceded recently have come from Hutton's side. He seems good enough on the attack but with him and Lennon on the right we have next to no cover at the back on that side.

Look at how Chelsea's defence worked- Their full backs were always in position. More often than not, our defence seems to consist of just two centrebacks. At least BAE and Bale work well together on the left.

Most of our conceded goals are due to bad positioning on the right side of the pitch.

 

[Damian99]

No, they are full time footballers.

 

[brett.spurs]

Hutton isn't smart enough to know when to release Lennon, he often delays or passes short and runs into the space Aaron wants to run into. Charlie and Lennon have a telepathic understanding.

 

[WhiteStripe]

Hutton isn't smart enough to know when to release Lennon, he often delays or passes short and runs into the space Aaron wants to run into. Charlie and Lennon have a telepathic understanding.

Hutton may not be the long term answer, but he is better than Corluka.

 

[LukaMotion]

They do seem to have a good partnership going at the minute, but i can't help but wonder if that is the result of teams over marking bale. In the last few games teams have tended to put up to three people marking bale, normally, their RB, one CB and a defensive midfielder who also drops and covers. This drags their whole team across effectively and has been the reason Lennon and Hutton have had space to move into on the right.

A couple of years ago i would have said the last thing i would want Lennon to be doing was moving inside. He used to be sooo good getting chalk on his boots and beating the defender but teams have wised up to that now and having this partnership with Hutton (and previously Kaboul) has made him change and develop his game.

Both players can now run the line and get a cross in, or cut inside and find a pass or shot, and that unpredictability, combined with having extra space, has been the reason both have shined recently.

 

[hellava_tough]

I think they're doing okay

I'd like to see Lennon be more confident and take his man on 90% of the time, because I believe he has the ability, but apart from that they're alright

Incidently, though, I rate Kaboul as our 1st choice RB in the future...if our injuries ever sort themselves out

 

[brett.spurs]

Hutton may not be the long term answer, but he is better than Corluka.

In your opinion.

 

[WhiteStripe]

In your opinion.

Oh of course, sorry, I forgot I need to put a caveat on each and every post I make. Hutton is better than Corluka*









*in my opinion.

 

[chrissivad]

Hutton isn't smart enough to know when to release Lennon, he often delays or passes short and runs into the space Aaron wants to run into. Charlie and Lennon have a telepathic understanding.

From what I have seen its Lennon thats not been smart enough to know what to do. Far too static the past few months.

If Lennon is just standing there, there isn't much you can do. Hit it long and hope that Lennon will run after it :shrug: and if he doesn't then Hutton just looks like he kicked the ball away.

Someone was saying Harry hasn't been happy with Lennon's work rate, and I can see why at times.

Lennon needs to cut in at times to give space for Hutton to over lap at times, just as Hutton needs to cut in at times to give Lennon space.

Understanding is a two way thing.
But im happy for Hutton to stay RB for now.

 

[t79boy]

From what I have seen its Lennon thats not been smart enough to know what to do. Far too static the past few months.

If Lennon is just standing there, there isn't much you can do. Hit it long and hope that Lennon will run after it :shrug: and if he doesn't then Hutton just looks like he kicked the ball away.

Someone was saying Harry hasn't been happy with Lennon's work rate, and I can see why at times.

Lennon needs to cut in at times to give space for Hutton to over lap at times, just as Hutton needs to cut in at times to give Lennon space.

Understanding is a two way thing.
But im happy for Hutton to stay RB for now.

This is what i was starting to say in my post :up:

 

[WhiteStripe]

From what I have seen its Lennon thats not been smart enough to know what to do. Far too static the past few months.

If Lennon is just standing there, there isn't much you can do. Hit it long and hope that Lennon will run after it :shrug: and if he doesn't then Hutton just looks like he kicked the ball away.

Someone was saying Harry hasn't been happy with Lennon's work rate, and I can see why at times.

Lennon needs to cut in at times to give space for Hutton to over lap at times, just as Hutton needs to cut in at times to give Lennon space.

Understanding is a two way thing.
But im happy for Hutton to stay RB for now.

The post in general is spot on, and the bit in bold being the main problem with Lennon at the start of the season.

In recent games however, Lennon has started working again. Before his injury last season, his workrate was role model, and he benifitted from being in the form of his career. For whatever reason, be it injury, fitness, complacency or a combination of all, his workrate at the beginning of the season simply wasn't there. No tracking back, no chasing lost causes.

In recent weeks, Lennon has started to work a lot harder, and he, the partnership with Hutton, and the team in general has benefited.

 

[chinaman]

Hutton forces lennon inside more and often takes up the position Lennon would want to be in.

Chorluka allows Lennon to stay wide.

As mentionned and as shown in the Chelsea game the more they develop you'll see Hutton Driving inside the full back into the space opened by Lennon pushing wide.

Agree absolutely with you. Forcing him inside would not give him enough space for his speedy runs unless it is a one on one break.