I would say no. He was tremendous for us last season something that the sheer number of goals and assists are testament to however, in my opinion we appear to be managing very well without him.
We have have some good players out through injuries such as flash up top and as much work as he gets through he will have to work his way back into contention because our forward players are doing the business. Same all over the pitch imo so why would we need hutch back. That said he will find his feet at Bristol, I certainly hope so anyway as he’s earned his opportunity.
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Thanks for the considered viewpoint, @giglee
I asked the question because I wasn’t sure of my own feelings on Hutch’s return.
There are other examples: from memory, Liverpool did well without Ian Rush (didn’t they sign Barnes, Beardsley and Aldridge that summer?) but when it didn’t work out at Juventus, he came back (pretty sure that he and Aldridge played up top together when Harry Enfield and Chums created the two shell suited scousers (“Arr eh, calm down!”)
If I’m wrong I apologise: I’m not a Liverpool fan so might be misremembering.
Another example could be if Aston Villa were offered Jack Grealish. Most fans would agree that they’re a much better team now, but Grealish is still a terrific player and I think that most Villa fans would approve of a sentimental reunion, one day.
Like I say, hypothetical, but if we could steam roller the division, wouldn’t it be fun!
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For me, a definite no.
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My opinion @Sondek is that Bristol Rovers was not a great career choice. Granted, he got a good length contract, a pay rise and is playing in a good league; however, he’d be far better suited in a top half team (someone like Peterborough, for instance).
If their form continues, they might fire Matt Taylor and then it’s a lottery what will happen for Hutch (it might be a good thing, who knows!)
I agree that we’ve started really well, but if he was in the wilderness and we needed a January boost, I think that he’d be welcomed back by many. 
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100% yes. Would work very well in the side.
Will never happen, but to suggest Hutch was holding us back is bonkers to me.
He could have stopped as he was under contract, but decided to move onto pastures new, which is fair enough. We have moved on, I look forward to Hutch being the new Lalkovic 
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Depends on how you look at it.
This years team is a much better mix in midfield, and has a much better balance than last year, so did the sale of Hutch facilitate this transition - probably yes, although it’s not the fault of Hutch that we had issues around strikers, which meant he was our main goal threat.
Conversely, did the presence of Hutch last season mean that we had a midfield that relied on him to carry it, to our detriment, as it meant the hierarchy didn’t have the need to figuratively fill his boots?
I think Hutch is undoubtedly a talented player, but players of his ilk can hold a club like us back because we can’t surround him with players on his level, therefore he both becomes relied upon to create some magic, and he feels he has to try and do everything himself because he doesn’t trust the ability of those around him (we saw this on many occasions, often trying to cut in and take on 3 men rather than pass to a team mate in a better position). It also meant that if he went missing in games (which he did, and most players are guilty of that at one time or another), it became acutely noticeable because of how cruical he was to the way we played.
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Yeah I follow all of that - but I think all of those points are down to the manager and the squad of last season.
All hypothetical but I could see him slotting in nicely as one of the 8s in this system - quite easily in fact.
Imagine Hutch having both Gordon and Barrett as outlets wide, and having Allen or Dave/Macca underlapping as they do… with Earing, Albert or Jellis around him too.
Obviously all supposition and conjecture - but I think the criticism of him last season was mad.
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I think that’s the key for me, but not just the midfield.
Its so much better to be talking about all of the players for their positive contributions to good performances, rather than one player in an average side.
How many times already has it been more difficult to pick out an outstanding man of the match because there are so many more candidates.
Hutch was our best midfielder by a million light years last year so to suggest he suddenly isn’t better than stirk / lakin / jellis is just silly
He works as hard as any of them and is a better player scores more goals gets more assists
If he comes back his first name on the sheet simple and he will have better players around him
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Hutchinson was/is a good AM for league 2, but i think our midfield works better without him. We now have a midfield that works there socks off and are good both offensively and defensively Wish him all the luck at Bristol but i think he will end back in league 2 eventually.
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I agree we’re more balanced bit k do thing we miss a creative midfielder against teams harder to break down eg mk dons to say other players work harder than hutch now just is not true x
We’re more balanced, potentially harder working, but Hutch gave you that X factor that he could pull a pass or goal out of very little. He’d undoubtedly improve us if he bought into what this squad is about.
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Other players are more effective in there hard work
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Would we concede more goals though
Hutch worked very hard and got top scorer and assists last year … how could you be more effective ?
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Being more consistent and helping defensively
Ay?
Simple really Hutch was a sensational for 1 game 5 the other 4 he was poor clumsy and wasteful.
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He has nearly a goal or assist every other game lol what does he need to do be Messi !
He is statistically the most consistent player we have had in many years
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