joey_big_nose

I'm pretty hopeful we will make playoffs. Looking down the fixture list it's only Sheffield Utd and Burnley that look like games that we will be outmatched in. Every other game we've got a great shout to get points, and we have done a good job of that so far.

Agree with this. That said addition of Dack at number 10 should help us in that regard, he can find the right pass or arrive late for a cross. Other bit that needs solving is centreforward. Gallagher is at his best running around in lots of space. Getting on crosses in a packed box really isn't his thing. Or any of our alternatives like Vale or Markanday.... We need to sign someone whose can physically dominate the opposition centre halves. Haven't had that since Gestede and its a big miss.

Agree with all of that except signing a midfielder. If we sign an experienced player we will take a huge chunk of playing time away from our developing players. Assuming Morton keeps his place as looks likely it could mean Garrett, Wharton, Buckley all get virtually nothing for the rest of the season. Also not a sniff for Travis to re-establish himself. I think between the young players we will hit the required standard. Also Dack has improved a lot in terms of dropping in and making a three in midfield which is what is really needed.

Yeah... JDTs been pretty ruthless. Everyone apart from Kaminski, Hyam and Morton have been dropped at one time or another. Does feel a meritocracy though. Players previously frozen out who have performed well have come back and got regular starts (JRC, Dack, Garrett, Buckley). Only players who look a bit hard done by to me are Markanday and Adam Wharton. Both I would have thought would have more minutes by now and when they play they look decent... Must be some off the field stuff.

Weve got four pretty decent albeit young central midfielders who can be used interchangeably (Morton, Buckley, Garett, Adam Wharton). We only have one centreforward - Gallagher, who has also had a lot of injury issues. Id say the priority is going to be a number 9

Thought BBD was decent tbh. Caused them a few worries, created an amazing opportunity he then missed. Worry for me is Travis. Never seen a player regress so much at such a young age. Looks like hes going to end up being frozen out, after starting the season as captain and two cracking goals. Whats really concerning is not the passing so much - we know its not his strongest suit - but that he is well behind the pace of game. He used to be ahead of the game. Whats happened?!

Really good defensive performance so far while Norwich have been on top.... been impressed by Carter who seems to be a lot quicker than I remember. And Vale has looked a huge upgrade on Hirst. On balance of chances Norwich probably should be ahead, not us. But our defending of the box last ditch has been very good as always. Probably that's the big difference for me since JDT has come in, we defend in numbers really well. Pears has pulled out a great save too. Think essentially everyone has done okay except maybe Travis who is still struggling to keep up with the pace of the game, and then find a decent pass once he does get the ball. If we are making subs I would be tempted to bring Adam Wharton on for him.

Yup, absolutely phenomenal player. On his day could do things I've only really seen the likes of Thierry Henry do... that goal against Boro was ridiculous. Shame he was a nut case, as if he'd had his head screwed on he would have been one of the Premier League all time greats. Instead he bounced around, had periods of top class form (like he did with us) and then would sit out long periods on the bench.

We've got a dedicated director of football who has a staff and a background in bringing players in so I would be very surprised if we were not a bit more active than we have been in previous Januarys. But I suspect the players we will bring in will be folk very few have heard of. Loans from top league academies or some left field perm signings.

A big part of it was Mark Hughes. I don't think we would have got those players without him. Same with Souness bringing in Yorke and Cole. Big name former players always have a great pull factor for signings. Got one now in JDT, albeit from outside the country. Wonder if he will magic up something from his connections.

Lots of folk after an additional experienced central midfielder. I can't see the point in that personally unless we are getting someone who is real proven quality, and what are the chances of getting that? A Wharton, Buckley, Garrett, Morton, Travis have all performed well imo, and while there is always room for improvement I think they can do that from their own development. I am very aware that over the ten years in the Championship we have signed a lot of experienced midfielders, and none of them have really performed that much better than our current set of mids (maybe Johnson first season with us, but that's debatable. Holtby maybe), and lots of them a lot worse (Akpan, Evans, Murphy, Guthrie etc etc). People have mentioned Rothwell but he took a while to settle and be used effectively, and came as a raw signing from League 1 which is not really what people are saying we need. For me the only real show in town is how do we find someone who can score goals regularly, ideally as a proper number 9.

Yeah, full weeks rest before & after then a game a week till mid feb. Theres no 2/3 games a week for ages. So we may as well play first team for match sharpness as much as anything else.

Just done a bit of reading up... I haven't been following the Premier League much. Sounds like Everton are all over the show with no money and desperate for a striker, so selling Simms to buy a striker could be on the cards. That or just giving Simms a go in the Prem. Hmm...

Simms looks like an ideal fit to me. Proper target man, links up play, scored goals regularly where-ever he has gone. But I doubt he is coming here... why would Everton sell such a promising looking player for a relatively low amount of money? Would they really rate bringing in Diaz as worth letting go of a promising young player plus cash.

Very good article. For what it's worth I thought our long passing has been really good last couple of games. Morton, Buckley, Garett picking up the ball on the half turn and find a crossfield ball or through ball has been really effective. We should stick with it. Also I think Dack has done a better job of dropping in to help the midfield two also which has been crucial. We've got a great run of games in Jan now to try and put a bit of distance between us and 7th. Feb looks a bit tricky so we want to still be in a good position once we get there.

A bit harsh on BBD for me. Thought he took he ball well on the cross field pass multiple times and beat the full back, and it was his layoff that led to the goal. Generally had a good game. Also Gallagher was defensively superb as always, though thats hardly the main objective for a striker. Offensively he dod really struggle as per usual. If we could unearth our own Toney or Watkins - i.e. a proper centreforward who can score goals, thata would really help. Ot should be our number one priority in Jan.

Thought a really good performance that... We controlled the game well, defended excellently. Should have scored more. Cardiff were really limited in their opportunities. I know quite a few folk are jumping off the deep end at the minute, but apart from the absolute travesty at Preston and getting beat by a Burnley side who are the best team in the league, generally we are defending very well and picking up wins hence our league position over half a season in.

Forms dropped off hugely last couple of months, I doubt anyone will be paying a decent fee in Jan. It's beginning to get into that weird territory where by the end of the season if he continues to struggle we may end up having a chance to extend his contract as there is little interest. Can't see any top end Championship teams being interested at the moment let alone Premier League / La Liga. When you're hot you're hot, when you're not you're not. Needs a little 5 goal run to get himself back on the radar.

Lets have a look where we are in six games..

Yeah... I am a big fan of a lot of players in our team but Morton I do worry about. Very good set pieces, but his forward passing is a bit suspect and his decision making is sometimes poor, does have a habit of losing the balls in the wrong area. They are very very similar types of player and for me Buckley is the better. If we're going to stick with the 4231 I'd maybe look to give Morton a rest and try Wharton alongside Buckley. Will give us a left foot in there too. I suspect though from how relentlessly Morton has been included - even when looking a bit tired and out of form - it's a stipulation in the loan terms that he has to play most Championship games he is fit for. Getting the Premier League stars is a bit of a double edged sword.

Presided over a complete shitshow at Boro whereas JDT has us third atm, with only Watford who could leap over us. I don't think we will be making that change just yet...

Well thought we played pretty well all things considering, got screwed by the ref. I dont really see why getting in JDT and bringing in a new manager is going to suddenly improve anything. Lets see how the next six games go. Lots of winnable games. If we are plummeting down the table obviously we will all be sharpening the pitch forks and warming up the firebrands. I suspect however we will pick up a few wins in Jan.

Well Id definitely appeal it. If you asked a 100 people I think roughly 50 would say it should be a warning from the ref, and 50 a yellow card.

He had a really good first half and that is the harshest straight red I have ever seen. If the red card gets rescinded then he keeps his place for me.

Hes been really good value as a co-commentator. You can see why fans warm to him.