👍🏼👍🏼

I agree, I think he’ll leave at the end of the season. Fwiw - I would offer him another year. Imo he is arguable the best defender in the league and I think he’d be a wonderful option next season to help Phillips breakthrough and play in and around his injuries. It might come down to finance… I for one feel better about going to Hull this weekend with Ayala in the team. Him, Hyam and Wharton is a formidable 3.

Just opinions mate. If you don’t like them then Scroll on…similarly if you’d prefer to watch a team every other week whilst spending the rest of your time doing whatever it is that you do and believe that your view on the ability of players and team is better than those of the people who are employed as professionals in the sport and work with the lads day in day out…then feel free crack on with that too 👍🏼

Just my opinion. I try to make it based on evidence and fact rather than fiction. Dacks fitness forms a part of the profile I mentioned. His ability to close down etc. If your opinion is that there’s some conspiracy theory or ‘bias’ then, cool. 👍🏼

Nuttall is a real shame. Guy has all the attributes and hopes were high for him. The main problem for him is his internal motivation….when he was breaking through and couldn’t stop scoring he had his why…he wanted to secure himself and family. His downturn in attitude and form came almost simultaneously with the new contract he signed where he obv thought he’d ‘made it’…things turned quickly afterwards and we got good money for him tbf.

There’s nothing cynical or biased about it. They record absolutely everything…they know where players are strong and where they aren’t and that helps them to form opinions on who is likely to be suitable and who isn’t….if anything my point proves, in the case of Ayala that even if your profile indicates a lack of fit, you can adapt and evolve into what they want. But bearing in mind it’s the managers neck on the block, it also has to be his decision on who he plays, right?

It’s not rocket science lads and Brereton isn’t some type of anomaly. When he signed he was 19, had represented England at a few youth levels and had tore Arsenal a new arse in an FA cup game. The potential was there…the problem was, he wasn’t ready and some fans (not all ) are VERY quick to write off young players. At the start of the season I asked a member of the current coaching team who they thought were the diamonds in our academy and the answer was instant…”Ash Phillips, Adam Wharton and Harry Leonard. We expect Phillips to be a £25m defender inside 12-18 months…he’s already got PL teams all over him” Incidentally, he also suggested that the two he was most worried about based on JDT’s expectations were Ayala and Dack as there was a suggestion inside the club that they might not fit….it seems the former has got over those worries, the latter not so much. The point I make is, ‘They’ know who are the better players etc. If you listen to the rumblings you can see who hasn’t had a chance. I haven’t seen enough of Vale but they obv see something in him. Fingers crossed they’re right…tbf they’re not often wrong these days on youth! 600+ and counting!

I wouldn’t be considering a formation change to one which affords us less defensive stability for two challenging but winnable away games. Keep the two central (Def & Mid) banks of three, focus on being well set up and two clean sheets - 4pts from Hull and Cov 🙌🏽

If Brittain and Hedges are out, as suspected… kaminski Hyam. Ayala. Wharton Travis Morton. Pickering Szmodics. Wharton Gallagher Brereton-Diaz Subs - Pears, Carter, Mola, Buckley, Garrett, Dolan, Vale Id probably move Trav dependant on the threat from them. So if they’re particularly strong in midfield and less so out wide then you could bring Trav into the middle for Wharton and play Buckley at RWB. Alternatively, if we thought they were dangerous in both areas then Carter could play RWB. I guess it will be the managers call based on what he sees. Hedges and Brittain will be a loss. They’re key players. But I think we’ve got enough… 1-2 Rovers - Vale off the bench and off the mark after signing his contract 💙

I did think about him resting Morton but I think the fact there’s a week until we play again and with Morton being the pivot (receiver off the cb’s) he’ll stay in…let’s see 🤷🏽‍♂️ Just one game for 5 yellows I think. Expect he’ll be back in. I did think about Pickering and suspect he might come back in but I love Hedges and Brittain… I went back and forth on this with my final rationale being….I don’t think Vale’s ready yet and if we never play Hirst then how do we know if he can be or not? Flip of a coin job really.

If Ayala is still out and everyone else is fit, I’d go… Kaminski Carter. Hyam. Wharton Brittain. Hedges Travis Morton A.Wharton Gally BBD Subs - Pears, Phillips, Pickering, Garrett, Szmodics, Dolan, Hirst Before anyone says…I’d have Dack in, but JDT won’t so there’s no point considering him.

I don’t think we play with a number 9 mate. Neither Gally or BBD have played as 9’s really either….more to the point the two you mentioned basically havent performed. Who would you take from my bench for Hirst?

He makes a good point Chaddy…who would you drop off my bench for Hirst or Vale? Are either of them more or less likely to get you a goal than Dolan, Dack or Szmodics?

I wanted to get Hedges back in as I think he’s been arguably our best player this season. I think he’s played well at Wb this season and he’s naturally left footed plus Pickering has played a lot of games recently so…. I take your point in respect of Hirst and Vale but I don’t think either are playing well and there’s questions as to whether they’re good enough full stop. I also think Dack, Dolan and Szmodics could play off either Gally or BBD.

Kaminski Carter Hyam Wharton Brittain Morton Hedges Buckley Wharton Gally BBD SUBS Pears, Phillips, Pickering, Garrett, Dack, Dolan, Szmodics

I thought he was brilliant in preseason - very similar to Travis in style. Not a silky as Wharton…but who knows? fwiw I’d play Buckley. He’s a top player who has a tough time of late and might benefit from a confidence boost.Him, Wharton and Trav are the future CM stronghold of our club imo.

Two very different cases and no one is ‘rotting in the reserves’. The manager has proven with the likes of SS that if you train well, listen to him and play well in the 21’s you’ll get a chance… Dack obv isn’t wanted, something he’s putting out there or not doing me thinks? Markanday is a young player who I’ve no doubt will get a chance when he’s ready and Dolans assists and goal contributions are probably the highest in the squad. I would say, other than Dack, who the manager isn’t having, the rest (Carter, Markanday, Buckley, Edun and Vale. Maybe even Leonard) will get ample opportunities to shine this season. Don’t forget…he also watches them train everyday too.

I wonder whether he’ll bring Buckley in from the cold, a three of Morton, Buckley and Adam Wharton is talented and exciting if not a little lightweight. Alternatively, he could bring in Garrett whose hard, combative style might end up impressing the manager and doing to Travis what Travis did to Smallwood! Oust him! No doubt, Trav has been poor this season, so…let’s see. Tuesday will be interesting. My gut tells me he’ll start Szmodics tbf.

Fantastic result…need to back it up with two home wins now and we’ll prob be top of the league!! Worth mentioning that Hyam and Brittain for combined around £2m to replace Lenihan and Nyambe feel like the deals of the century. They are light years ahead of the two who left. Every credit.

The two scenarios aren’t mutually exclusive. I think the focus is on the individuals and the improved options we have on the bench. So, Wharton and Phillips get 90 mins of football vs none or a 20 minute cameo and the first team gains Brittain and Szmodics, two experienced first team players who will be glad of a 20 minute cameo… win - win 👍🏼

💯 agree - from what I heard from the coaching team JDT Is VERY specific with what he wants. He doesn’t accept any deviation but is really likeable and fair.

I’m not sure mate. Historically and other than last season, Buckley has always played as an ‘8’ (like this season). Mowbray was protecting him a little playing him further forward. I just think he’s hit his first proper blip following a great season where he won Young Player Of The Year. He’s been poor and needed dropping but ultimately he’s a bloody brilliant player and I’m sure will return to form. Him and Wharton in full flow together will be something to look forwards to.

Young player of the year - 2021-22 🙈🤣 Awkward.

Ok, so firstly….the professionals can’t make anyone do anything. It usually comes down to money and Lenihan, Rothwell, Nyambe and Brereton have all been offered new deals. Them refusing to sign is nothing to do with the opinions of the professionals. Plus none of them (bar BBD) had a single club willing to pay anything for them and had to wait until they no longer commanded a fee. Nyambe completely bombed. Buckley was regarded by many to have been our best player along with BBD up until Jan. No one covered themselves in glory after that point. Of course football is all about opinions but honestly, if you don’t rate Buckley as a footballer I’m shocked. He’s got unbelievable ability. Him, Phillips and Wharton are the only players in our squad that I believe have the x-factor and the potential for long, PL careers. Including BBD and Dack.

Good summary, agree with the 5 points…Though, I’d change: - Morton into Successful - he’s a cracking player and has replaced one of Rothwell or Johnson as a first choice pick. (He’s a better footballer than both - which is saying something when A.Wharton is even better than him!! 👊🏼) - The title, ‘Unsuccessful’ to ‘Undecided’. Szmodics hasn’t been great but also hasn’t played nearly enough to be written off and Mola literally hasn’t kicked a ball for us. - Finally Id add Dack to additional options as he’d been unavailable for so long. Between the recruitment, emergence of top young talent and re-emergence of the likes of Hedges, Dack, Markanday and Carter I believe they’ve just about nailed it. Time will tell 👍🏼