On Toth... For those thinking the manager isn't ruthless enough to drop Pears need to think again. After the Oxford game, Eustace was singing JRC's praises about his general play (goal aside I thought he was awful personally), next game against Blackpool, made a shocker of a mistake and was out of the team for Burnley. I can totally see Eustace saying something like... "Listen Aynsley, you've been good but I need clean sheets and I need us to be better defensively so I'm giving the new lad a go, it's nothing personal, I need you to be ready to go straight back in the team if he's not up to your standards". Professional football at this level is cut throat and having played at a decent standard personally, conversations like this are just part and parcel of it and you have to accept the competition like a man else things can turn to shit.

Strikes me as the sort of player who won't score for ages but then can bag a hat trick out of nowhere, then not score for a while again. All the while chipping in with assists. What will be really interesting is if ACD comes in with the pace we're all hoping for and is able to beat the full back... His cut backs and crosses will create chances and give him the service he hasn't really had yet. Our attacking mids don't often have the beating of the full backs and Gueye has been feeding off scraps really. So with players around him that can use him properly (which we haven't done yet) and get crosses in the box... He could surprise and bag a few.

Not sure if this has been pointed out but... Makhtar Gueye now has 3 assists in 4 games, that's as many as Sam Gallagher had IN THE WHOLE OF LAST SEASON.

My thoughts... Really proud of the lads to come away with a point with absolutely everything against them. I'm not going to go on like I'm celebrating a draw because we have more pride than that. I predicted a 1-1 draw on here I believe and happy to take it even though we were absolutely robbed. That goal could've changed everything and given us the momentum. That ref was the biggest c*nt I've experienced in a long time. He was absolutely desperate to give them a penalty and was twitching to blow his whistle for them on every occasion. No flow to the game at all, just stop start wanting to hear the sound of his own voice and make decisions instead of just letting tackles be tackles. Absolute dickhead. Really disappointed with Britain, he has to improve defensively and stop allowing crosses into the box. I'm a fan of his but he was poor both defensively and in possession. Could say the same for Carter too, sloppy in possession, got himself booked with an awful first touch. Beck had a rough start but grew into it. I thought he did a solid job in the 2nd half, did require Hedges to double up but it was a fair performance given he was thrown in at the deep end. Centre midfield didn't get hold of the game in the first half and I thought we stood off way too deep and gave them too much respect. Once we pressed higher they panicked and looked vulnerable. Feel it was a missed opportunity to not step on the gas and put them under some sustained pressure. As limited and sometimes frustrating he is, you can tell Travis has been a big miss for us, he was at it all game today, arguing, in people's ear, winding players up, just generally being an absolute w*nker and in games like this you really need that. Dolan worked unbelievably hard, he's frustrating but you can't fault his effort, Hedges exactly the same. Andy Weimann... What a signing & what a finish! Best Derby goal I've seen, shown buckets of experience for us so far, giving us goals from midfield, just a proper classy operator and looks to be a real pickup on a free. Many of you predicted how important he'd be and you've been proven right already. There's been a lot of discussion about the JDT performance and I have to agree with many saying we wouldn't have dug in like we did today under him. We'd have folded and comfortably lost that game no doubt. I'm starting to really like John Eustace, he's proactive on the touch line, gets his subs right at the right time with the right players. With many other of our managers I hardly agreed with when they where and who they were... Often too late. Today he showed plenty of passion, went toe to toe with Parker and put him in his place. We went down to 10, still put a striker on, didn't wave the white flag, kept us organised and threatening on the counter. I really respect his methods, he's happy to mix up the play, play out when there's space and hit the big man when there isn't. After finishing 19th last season, to start with 8 points from a possible 12 going into the international break is superb. It gives him a real chance of bedding in the new lads and pushing everyone to raise expectations. For all their huff and puff we had the better chances and deserved the point. We can have that lot later this season if we can keep it together and keep improving. Last thing, we make fun of their 6 fingers, did any notice the 4 fingers on show at one point? It gave me a bit of childish chuckle. 50 million spent was it? Every bit championship team... John Eustace blue and white army!

Absolutely fuckin robbed. Been 2nd best but but doesn't matter, should be in front. Hedges and Brittain been absolutely awful. Brittain can't stop a cross to save his life and needs dropping on his recent performances and I really rate him aswell. Get cosier Dubbery on for Hedges.

COYB!

Statement signing that... Big job for Eustace to take on and get him to deliver. Fair play to him as he obviously backs himself to do so.

Remember when Eustace said the squad isn't in need of major surgery?? All full team of signings later... 😂

A Germain and Hill away from a 9/10 window. 10/10 would have been Poku.

This is a fair point being overlooked by the fact that we sold Sam Gallagher, Szmodics and have loaned out quite a few... Only about 1.5 million spent and we were told there was a budget before any sales of those 2. The likes of Poku should have been signed given our sales.

What is Baker? CM? Can't say I'd ever even heard about him until we first got linked. Surely if Stoke are getting rid he must be shite? Looking at his career just seems like a journeyman.

Fixed it for you.

I'm not sure who he is and if he's any good but... Yeah, probably. My main concern is that we haven't sorted out the defence and focused way too much on the offensive side. Don't understand why you sign both Fadz and Batth when it would have been better to sign just 1 better CB.

Strikes me of a classic car type situation. Was once worth a fair whack, got knocked about a bit but has potential value if given a bit of TLC. Had a few different owners but they all gave up. What's Saido Berahino up to these days?

So many variables that will stop Cantwell from coming, take your pick and feel free to add more... Offers from other clubs, Swag changing his mind, the owners not answering the phone, us fucking up the application... Strangely, I'm not even that desperate for it to happen, it seems like a weird signing, a forced signing that's doomed to fail but I admire the ambition and determination behind the manager to take it on and make a player out of him again. If anything it's just a welcome distraction so I don't have to obsess over playing those creatures on Saturday.

Burnley in for Morgan Whittaker... Jesus

Who else doesn't believe Cantwell will get done? Once the realisation of how much it will cost in wages, Waggot will piss his pants.

Please don't

Owner who gives a shit.

No disrespect but I think most of us know that. There are probably a few that don't of course but at the end of the day it comes down to how much club A want the player from club B. Many over pay for what they're getting. I don't wish to turn this thread into another discussion but Liverpool are getting a potentially world class player for 11 million and it just highlights how much other clubs are paying for dross footballers.

11 million for Federico Chiesa whilst Tyler Morton has been linked to Leverkusen for 20 million... Twenty million pounds for Tyler feckin sideways and backwards Morton. Have I woken up in an alternative reality? Perhaps we did get a fair price for Szmods? I have no idea what are players worth anymore. Bonkers.

Oh surely but after Elliot, we have to throw our hat in the ring. They may just want to get him some minutes & keep him close to home till January.

On their end... I'm not one to be interested in loans but this one would be unreal. Would certainly sort out our pace issues. HIGHLY UNLIKELY but...

The pace & GK issues being sorted is the difference between this being considered a good, average or a bad window imo. Having a quick outlet could be really transformative and much needed legs for the likes of Gueye to find from long balls. I've said this many many times now but last night underlined it again... Our defence is shite. It mainly stems from Pears and Hyam. I'm desperate for someone to come in for that carthorse so we can get Hill. They're a decent GK & winger away from making this a good window but 0 faith they will get it done.