DavidMailsTightPerm

If he continues his rate of improvement at his lockdown rate he will be worth more than £20m - but personally can't see him doing that. Though at the very least - if his current form continues he will be starting to justify his fee. I think people underestimate his current impact - he must be a nightmare to play against now he can actually hold up the ball. For a big man his dribbling skill is excellent, and he is surprisingly quick as well. Also his cross field balls have become a feature of our play. Given a continued run in the team - and injury free run - I can see him getting 10 to 15 goals - especially as his confidence continues to improve.

Which ever way you cut it - his starting position tends to be wide left (usually on the touch line). He is asked to track back to support the left back. I think, at the moment, part of his success holding the ball, is that he is against smaller full backs. As he continues to improve and build up his strength - I would hope he could start to play more as a traditional centre forward. As things stand - he is becoming one of our key players - especially for our current style of play. For me, an example of his improvement was a cross field ball in the last match that he played behind Elliott and into touch. What struck me at that point - was how rare this had become - as I had come to expect these (relatively difficult) cross field balls to find their man.

So we played him right wing when we should have played him left wing ?

It isn't just about Covid symptoms - you also have to isolate if somebody you came into contact comes down with it.

You must have even more fingers than a dingle then ?

Whichever inspiring manager you are thinking of - get him in charge of the NHS, if he can sort out CoVid in the dressing room and ACL injuries.

OK - surely the great managers you quote didn't have to compete against teams with a data analysis team ? Ayala - sometimes you have to gamble (especially when money tight) - look at Santa Cruz ! Downing - who knows the background - but sounds to be money related.

Whether they should have finished the chance or not - there are lots of top class strikers who have missed similar chances. Its not like they missed numerous chances either. I seem to remember Armstrong (top scorer in Championship) missing similar chances. On the night I thought Brereton played the better of two out of sorts strikers - but the service they got was poor. It is noticeable that our Premiership loanee was largely anonymous. At the end of the day - they looked like a fully fit team on a good undefeated run. We looked like a team short of numerous first team players, without a win in some time. What pleased me personally was the fight being shown - which gives hope for the future.

Do you mean the header where Wharton was challenging him so he didn't get a clear header ?

No we weren't - our defensive display deserved a point. People moan we don't defend well enough - then when we do they moan.

No yellow card again

Lack of Armstrong is meaning they can push up.

Especially considering elbow in Williams face and two deliberate trips not punished.

TM stretching it a bit

Key player for me is Rothwell. We all know Pears will start - and though I like your forward line it is likely Gallagher will start - if he does I hope for once it is as a centre forward and not out on the wide.

17 appearances in the Championship last season.

I make it 9 or 10 (depending if Rothwell back or not) - but agree appears inflated (unless of course more players out than released.

Nobody knows how fit he will be. By all accounts he is a true professional so will possibly have kept his fitness levels up. Don't know why deal wasn't agreed earlier. Would have been perfect cover for left back or midfield. I wonder if Covid issues have spooked the club, or just difficult to agree a deal.

I'll reserve judgement until we see him playing as a centre forward - but fear you are correct.

I partly agree with this. Yesterday was yet another match where if we had taken our chances the result may have been different - so though the defence is poor at the momennt, we also aren't taking our chances either. Watching the first goal - though Lenihan should have been stronger - if he had held their players shirt in the same way he would have given away a penalty. We have been extremely unlucky with injuries - especially COVID - yesterdays midfield could have included Johnson, Travis and Rothwell - you can't ignore that. BUT - it was extremely worrying how our heads dropped after their second goal. Up to now we have responded extremely well to falling behind in games - but the reaction was almost "here we go again". I can understand the players thinking that - as we have been unlucky at times with injuries, going behind in games we are largely dominating etc - but when they start to feel sorry for themselves we are in trouble

And who would you have played at left back ?

I must admit, never seen the Greek lad play. What are his main attributes that make him a better bet than Pears ?

Formation doesn't matter if our defenders continue to make school boy errors.

I suggest you watch the highlights on sky - it was going nowhere near the corner flag.

For one - he would have been 1 on 1 with their forward - so still likely to concede. Also - how many times have we critised keepers for staying on their line - in this case it would have been a straightforward collection by the keeper if not for Douglas's heel. I am not certain what is going on - but Pears seems to be getting a lot of stick from some on this MB - though we let in 4, not really certain what he could have done (also no one seems to mention his unbelievable reaction save from Williams). Give the lad a chance.