From memory, it wasn't his ability people questioned, but the principal of not wanting to be Chelsea's blooding ground for young players.

I think there may come a day when this is seen as the "steal of the window". I have yet to speak to a Watford supporter who isn't gutted that he left. Hughes is the sort of bread and butter, unspectacular "glue" player that really good clubs rely on; the sort who doesn't get the headlines and you only notice when he's not there. But then, boy do you notice him. Think Martin Hinshelwood if you're a long-term Palace fan.

As for Sissoko, I'd much rather have Hughes personally. Sissoko had a ten-minute spectacular period before signing for Spurs for a huge wedge and has done relatively little since to live up to the fee. He's the sort who's absolutely dominant when motivated and could be world-class if he had a mindset like Ronaldo but he doesn't and he isn't. He's motivated for a month or two once every couple of years. With Hughes, you get 80% of Sissoko's ability 100% of the time. With Sissoko, you get 60% of Sissoko's ability 40% of the time. The only place Sissoko is better than Hughes is on paper.

Yes, that was the case for some , but without trawling past pages, to prove the point, there were more than a few , that expressed a not impressed view. Some on the basis of his performance against us at Selhurst park. Some on the basis of he hadn’t saved W. Brom, from relegation. Some thought his yellow card record was a reason to not have him.

Edited by Putitout (02 Sep 2021 10.43am)