https://griffinpark.org/index.php?threads/mads-bidstrup.136772/ Some Brentford fans views on Bidstrup, interesting if there is any truth in that one. Extremely highly rated although based on minimal first team involvement so needed to be taken with a pinch of salt. We do need a central midfielder and it is difficult to get one on loan when he may well struggle to play regularly.

https://www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk/sport/19882509.blackburn-rovers-pushing-ahead-move-ryan-hedges-now/ Makes more sense now than in the summer.

Wouldnt mind moving away from such a successful formation whilst moving Buckley out of position, all to shoehorn in a new player again our of position?

I am not talking about that Hull game, he was dreadful but as you say, its hard to come to conclusions after such a long time out. My opinions are based on his whole senior career. When did he show plenty? Do you have examples? I dont remember loads of crosses being put in or attacking prowess shown. I am unsure from where this perception has come from that he is this dangerous, attack minded player.

I do think that Ayala has had a good season and has credit in the bank whilst waiting for a chance, so maybe Van Hecke could play on the right side.

One of those keepers was a kid from a European backwater who clearly isnt nearly ready for our first team. We did need another keeper, clearly familiarity (as it does regularly in football) helped Pears and he has undoubtedly been crap but he had played 20 odd games at Championship level so its not for example a Myles Anderson situation.

Even if we discard the doubts about the fitness of Rankin Costello, I think the jury is still out as to whether he is up to it at this level any time soon. A loan spell would be ideal but I am not sure that we are in a position to be losing bodies. He cant defend one on one so full back/wing back doesnt really suit him, but he lacks the pace and individuality I would suggest to play in attack.

I am just asking when you have seen evidence that Rankin Costello is a good attacking wing back. You question Nyambe's assist numbers, fair enough, but where is the evidence that Rankin Costello is a good attacking wing back, aside from a decent cross v Reading last season? I get that its your opinion, but are there examples that you can think of regarding his supposed attacking prowess. Thats putting to one side the fact that you are solely obsessing about the attacking side of being a wing back, never acknowledging the importance of being able to defend still, which Nyambe is very good at, proving as much in our good run of form, being out of the team with Rankin Costello covering in the only loss in that time.

I agree that it would be illogical (and potentially divisive) to only give a bonus to players who will be here next season. Its a reward for this season, not a bribe. But "genius?" Surely its just normal to have bonuses, every player in the Championship would benefit financially from a promotion im sure. When has Rankin Costello proved this? How many goals has he assisted? When did all of these deliveries take place?

You did once say that Venkys never refuse to sign a cheque as if it was gospel, a statement you couldnt possibly be qualified to make. No way is Rankin Costello better than Nyambe. Nyambe has limitations but for some reason the defensive side of being a wing back seems to have been forgotten, even acknowledging that is more attacking than being a full back. But where and how did Rankin Costello get a reputation as a good attacking wing back/full back? It seems to be assumed bur ive never really known why.

What is this budget belief based on? Why would he not wish to spend it?

So if we dont spend much, youll be assumjng that the budget was there and it was just Mowbray and Waggott being incompetent?

As good as Ayala is, we are assuming that Van Hecke avoids suspension at the same time. Plus if it was Ayala for Lenihan, it would require a switch as Ayala would need to be in the middle.

That would surely cause unnecessary divide within the squad. Bonuses are obviously commonplace im sure in every players contract so I dont get why ours are a story but the players should get rewarded for what they achieve relating to that season, not as a bribe. What about the loanees and players that contribute that have a contract for this season yet we choose not to retain them.

I wouldnt give him a 4 year deal because that would be crazy but that doesnt mean needing to question his morals and his motivation.

I think there is, either 37 or 39 games, I think 37.

Totaly unfair to imply that the underlying issue is Mowbray's motivation stemming from his contractual situation. There is an obsession with his touchline demeanour, he is restrained in general and obviously he is going to appear more snappy and downbeat when results arent going as well. This idea that a long deal leads him to just look after his mates etc rather than prioritising results is nonsensical.

It still makes no sense because the concession that any points in any game are merely a bonus leads to potentially loosening or indeed overturning any gap we may have over 3rd at that time, if indeed we are 2nd which is a huge if. We are 2nd in the league, therefore shouldn't go into any game feeling less than confident that we have a good chance of 3 points.

I certainly wouldn't "take a draw" at this stage, we should be going with the aim of 3 points. Every time we drop points, rivals will make ground. Every time we win, we will make ground on others. I really hope not, and I suspect that Mowbray wouldn't change a winning formula. We shouldn't try and shoehorn in Zeefuik in that way.

Burnley in advanced talks with not only Orsic but also Wout Weghorst who has an excellent goal record in the Bundesliga. It seems that Burnley are willing to go abroad following the success of the Cornet deal, and if they got those 2 they seemingly have very good calibre, Orsic really impressed me when I saw him v Spurs. Them 2, Cornet and McNeil could cause defences problems. As much as I of course want Burnley to go down, therefore I hope if they do sign that they are failures, there would be a bit of pleasure if they came in and outperformed Wood at Newcastle.

Teams going for automatic promotion do not have free hits. Every game is winnable and no drop points can or should be assumed in particular games, its not a mindset that I am comfortable with.

If he was to play as a central striker though, that would require us changing a very successful system for the benefit of an average player. I actually think that his current position somewhat suits him. He obviously isn't an out and out winger but as a central striker, his main weaknesses are highlighted; his poor hold up, his inability to bring others into play, his poor touch, his lack of strength considering his size etc. It is a compromise that works as much as having Gallagher in the team could.

If he hasn't in your opinion played enough football to warrant the development of an opinion, then that is fair enough but surely you would choose to look past anyone else who does share an opinion. I actually said "not THAT useful" which may seem a pedantic correction but it does make a difference. Truthfully, looking to Saturday if we are a goal down and Gallagher and Khadra are not offering much threat, I would still be incredibly reluctant to turn to Butterworth in that I think at this moment, he doesn't really impact on games, quality/threat wise he is well off either of those and indeed any of our attacking options, they are still on a poor performance more likely to come up with a goal and coupled with his fitness and work rate/off the ball issues, he can become a bit of a liability. You have taken my comments on other players out of context and to be honest I cannot remember your opinions on any of those 3 but I am guessing that you was consistent with all of them that they would get to the level that they got to as soon as they have. Chapman should also be let go and it may be believed internally that Butterworth is more useful than him but again this is an internet forum where we share OUR opinions rather than those of people within the club. I don't think either can significantly (if at all) contribute towards a Championship side gunning for promotion but if I had to choose one to have in reserve, I would opt for Chapman to be more likely to have an impact based on proving at senior level that he can impact games with goals and assists, and also as it makes more sense in that unless Burton take him back, he can't leave anyway. Taking a step back, I think it is everyone's best interests for Butterworth to leave the club in this window. I don't see him even when we are stretched offering much, and from his opinion after 2 years out and with the prospect of at best the occasional sub appearance, he really needs regular football. I personally think a clean break and a transfer with a high sell on to a League 1 or 2 club would be ideal for him, especially as his contract expires in the summer.

I really hate this continuous trend whereby if a player is criticised or not rated by someone, that rather than constructive responses, the first lines that people resort to is that they are negative or writing players off. I am just giving my opinion on what I have seen, some fair points made in paragraphs 2 and 3 but the first paragraph is not constructive and it is bordering on being purposely provocative IMO. I have never claimed to have perfect judgement on players, or indeed young players as you focus on. There are also young players that I do rate and have said as such that doesn't really fit the agenda that you are portraying, and indeed those that I have questioned, you seemingly are altering what I have said. Did I ever suggest to "give up" on Buckley, no I suggested that we should have loaned him out. I have also always maintained that with Buckley, a lot of it was more about what he was doing with the ball and not having the levels of impact that obviously he has this season (although that can and does need to still improve, he has a big weakness in terms of scoring/shooting but he now regularly plays dangerous passes/through balls more consistently and his ability to pinch the ball is key) rather than the obvious lack of physicality which is easier to work on and indeed many good attacking players are slight. I don't doubt that 2 years of injury problems have massively affected a key part of Butterworth's development, and that partially sculpts my opinion that perhaps a clean break is best for him as much as anything. It is difficult to rely on cameos and I totally get that, albeit I don't see much from those cameos or that one start that suggests he warrants further game time, and there is no excuse for a lack of application and effort as I perceived the other day, Why is his fitness so far away too? I don't feel that as an impact sub, that he can even maintain his energy for short cameos, and I think that aside from the odd bright spark, he seldom has much of an impact. Assuming we have no new attackers for the weekend, I would not be keen on bringing him on for either forward in an attempt to go for the game and I would suggest that Chapman is a better impact sub having at least shown (with more opportunity elsewhere) that he can score a goal or create a goal and change a game if we need another attacker. Beyond that, Brereton will be back for the game after, I would like to think that we get one or two more attackers in, then Dack is back soon after, Dolan too in a month, he gets absolutely nowhere near the squad. Best bet for me is line up a deal, permanent or loan, but only press the button when an attacker signs. If that does happen. Should I simply never judge or indeed comment on a player until he reaches x amount of game time/starts, and not have an opinion? And if I just constantly write players off, why bother even listening and debating with my opinions?

The bottom sentence isn't a good general rule, you could literally say that about anyone, no matter how poor they look, conversely more players will fizzle out. Butterworth always seems shattered almost instantly in his cameos, he was totally ineffective when he started and he is quite greedy, and doesn't work anywhere near hard enough. I am not sure that he is that useful either. He should be either loaned or even let go full time in this window.