Hayden Hackney.
Is there an underlying skepticism as to why Hackney hasn’t made the jump to the Premier League after being heavily linked for as long as three seasons? Video scout report to find out.
Hayden Hackney was close to joining fellow Championship side Ipswich Town in the summer for circa £20m + bonuses and sell ons and all that jazz. He’s been the heartbeat of Middlesbrough for a few seasons now and as a fellow sceptic myself despite watching a lot of him, I want to see if my pre determined thoughts of a live watch are accurate or if I’m seeing what I thought my biases were telling me how I think a midfielder should be played within his fixed role in the team.
Defensively:
I’d probably wager the reason clubs didn’t bite on the price tag, albeit fairly cheap in today’s market is because of his ability, or lack of off the ball. Consistently ball watches, weak in the tackle and not enough determination to get back to help out a teammate. That’s not to say he can’t do it because the energy is there once the ball is going forward, it’s more a mindset approach. I thought it was quite telling in both of the last two games vs QPR and Charlton — Hellberg later in the game took Hackney out of a central midfield position and moved him to the left and playing just off the striker. When the ball is in transition with space centrally, Hackney doesn’t show the same level of effort and runners easily bypass him or outmuscle him. In the Premier League with the game heading towards a more direct style of play, this won’t fly and he’ll need to improve massively in this regard. Again, It’s not to say he can’t do it but as he’s the best player for a second tier side, he won’t be afforded the same grace by players just as good if not better than him. There’s also a thought process that you can cover this weakness in his game by pushing him further forward and using his energy to press forward rather than have him in vulnerable positions centrally where second ball winning and tracking runners is essential. Some of the stuff he does is only a tad late, but when you’re in the best league in the world, that tad late can be the reason a goal is conceded. “You only got to fuck up once. Be a little slow, be a little late. Just once. And how you ain't gonna never be slow, never be late?” — below is Hackney switching off consistently in games.
Hayden Hackney vs Ipswich.
Lining up next to Alan Browne in midfield. Hackney had the bigger responsibility. He didn’t have a ‘set’ position, he floated between getting the ball deep and making up a back three, receiving the ball in advanced central areas and floating wide to play one twos. In the first half he’s much happier pressing when the Ipswich DM (Cajuste) had his back turned.
As I mentioned earlier, defensively he’s not the best at picking up runners or knowing where they are. He lost the Ipswich attacking midfielder who he was level with and then got caught ball watching as he peeled off behind him.
Hackney is more of a carry-to-pass midfielder rather than outright being one or the other. Whereas someone like Adam Wharton will immediately pass first time with pressure on him or not, Hackney will take as many touches and entice the opposition and then make the pass.
I understand why the consensus around Hackney is he’s a great passer, which I don’t necessarily agree with — I think he’s a smart passer that plays clever passes between the lines at small > medium range but is also capable of curved passes down the sides. His strength is more carrying and then passing rather than outright just passing.
Hayden Hackney vs Southampton.
Hackney was a bit more reserved in his role vs Southampton. Where against Ipswich he had more freedom to get forward, he was picking up the ball from the defenders almost every time rather than being slightly ahead to receive. But again like I’ve already highlighted regarding his passing ability, It’s not that expansive. He was playing very short passes into tight spaces again and looking to get the return to carry ahead.
His instincts majority of the time is to take off but if the opportunity isn’t there, his close control is good enough to keep him stable and recycle possession.
It’s not that Hackney can’t do it, because he has the ability to do so, but he’s not a consistent line breaking passer, he prefers those medium passes into central areas. They’re risky in their own right but he uses them as almost a bounce pass.
He loves the space on the flanks to pick up a pass where there’s space to do so. He’s a strong carrier and knows it, so takes full advantage when the opportunity is there to drive forward. My challenge for him is to do this more in central areas as that will take his game up a notch.
I think this passage of play perfectly encapsulates Hackney’s playstyle when looking to pass the ball. He puts others in better positions to do what they want offensively. Those medium passes into central areas are his bread and butter. Whilst FBref will say he’s one of, if not the most progressive midfielder in the Championship, It’s true by definition but he’s not that kind of passer. It’s more cute passes within the 10 yard definition.
Hayden Hackney vs Bristol City.
I wanted to look at different setups this season with Hackney in to see if there’s any difference in his play style with what he’s being asked to do, and truthfully there isn’t. Instincts still always take over regardless of the position of the map, it’s knowing how to control it and be productive with it. Vs Bristol City for example, their midfield flooded central areas and made the game very compact centrally and it completely nullified Hackney’s ability to drive with the ball.
It wouldn’t be a Hackney performance without him completely switching off and watching the ball and players run past him.
This is what I mean about instincts and what a player initially thinks of when it comes to space. Hackney wants to take off and does to an extent but there’s not enough room for him to keep going and plays a simple pass sideways.
Nypan recognises the space in the Bristol City midfield and Hackney plays the pass centrally. When the space opens up, he will play that, but players move for him rather than he moves the players with his passing, which is why he carries and utilises it that way.
Hackney at his best. Committing players with his carrying, looking for the one>two and then playing in his teammate who should take a better touch.
Hackney and his passes medium distance inwards or central areas.
Conclusion.
I think Hackney needs a lot of work defensively, especially on long balls with second balls and runners going into the penalty area. Also needs to slightly toughen up in the tackle. From the eye test to the data, 45% win rate at second tier level isn’t good enough, it has to be minimum 54% at a higher level, in my opinion for the trade off to be good enough. Given most teams play two centrally, I think Hackney would either have to be in a three man midfield off the ball or moved out wide. Because stylistically, I don’t think Hackney and Rogers are that dissimilar. Intelligent passers rather than outright line breakers, very good carries who take small touches and commit players before a pass. Hackney naturally likes to move wide and exploit the space that gets given up with defensive set ups these days not being as intense bar a few teams who are outliers. What helps him get away with it with Boro is his midfield partner is always a smart ball winner who compliments him well (Howson, Morris, Browne). You couldn’t have Hackney and Bruno in the same midfield, or Wharton and Hackney in the same midfield, but you could absolutely have Berge, Lukic and Hackney in midfield. He’s not particularly a late runner into the box either, he’s like I’ve said, carry, pass first and look to create rather than shoot. That’s not to say he can’t score because he’s got a clean shot from distance. He’s one of, if not the best player in the second tier of English football, but small details matter.
Super post, highlights strengths and weaknesses but also key areas for improvement 👍🏼
Great post, very informative. Good use of clips, too.