The fat little ref has been absolutely shite here

Speaking of which. Anybody know when JRC is due to be back. I know he suffered a set back. Personally I'm not a fan of him playing right back. And also wary of rushing him back. But when it's between him, a slow centre back or Buckley playing there it's an easy choice to make

All I see is Chilean flags and chillies

Surprises me how little stick Johnson got for the goal. He was awful. So static, no pressure and just allowed Chair to have a pop. There were moments where we were in the game. However when both Travis and Edun were taken out of midfield we were always going to get over run. Especially when 2 of the 3 in there included the child like Clarkson and the past it, immobile, overweight Johnson.

It depends. He is riding one hell of a wave. And he is looking good at the moment. He's confident and direct. However he does lack technique at times. The bubble could burst. I hope it doesn't. But if it did, then we are actually his level. I think it depends on how long the wave lasts. If it continues until the end of the season he will be off. If he begins to stutter in the new year then I could see interest in him going cold. At club level at least.

I don't think he'll come either. But saying he's had his chance is a bit silly. He's not from here, he's looking at what the best option for his career would be. Like it or not our stock as a club isn't as high as it once was. Obafemi ticks all the boxes in terms of the type of player a club of our stature would be looking to bring in. So all I'm saying is for you to be so steadfast against the signing is a bit silly. As it's not completely beyond the realms of possibilities that we hit deadline day and the better options he'd hoped for don't materialise. By keeping the door ajar to him until deadline day (somebody said 10am) it doesn't mean we can't chase other options. Yes we wouldn't be his first choice, but if he has ambitions, which it seems he does, he is going to have to perform. Win, win.

Lowe has always played wide. Watched a lot of him playing for Portsmouth. It was only really last year he played more centrally. He is miles better than the other Pompey winger Ronan Curtis who we've been linked too in the past. He is though very lackadaisical. He can look lazy at times but he's got a bit of pace, can beat a man and would chip in with a few goals. He's a decent player. My main reservation is that he's probably at his peak. We'll be paying decent money for him surely. And there would be little sell on value. If the right player is out there I'd rather opt for someone with a little more potential and a few years younger.

I don't think it will happen but on the off chance the Obafemi deal really go through it is going to take some hell of a climb down from you Chaddy. It's a bit strange to be so steadfast in not wanting a player here. For what it's worth whoever is in charge of negotiations for us should treat the deal like Hughes did with Bellamy. Pop a reasonable release clause in his contract to tempt him into signing (£10 - 15million?). If he proves his worth he'll be off with an enhanced reputation and it's win, win. I'd love to see him here as from the bits I've seen of him he is significantly more talented then all the other players we've been linked too. And without rose tinted glasses, I totally see why he'd have initial doubts in signing for us and be biding his time to look at other offers.

Though I'm unsure on the quality of the players rumoured I'm starting to feel encouraged by the fact we are looking at permanent deals for a number of positions and not only loan deals. I really hope Kehdra is a backup if a permanent deal for another player falls through

Admittedly this is based on about 30 minutes of football but he looked class against Derby when he came on earlier in the season. I'd be very happy with him. I've a feeling we're looking at players who are cheaper than what he'd come for though.

If he signed I'd be judging him purely based on how he performs for us, however I do know what you mean. I'd be hoping anybody we did sign from the Scottish Leagues had significantly more assists, goals, or be at a younger age than 26. Still rather we brought Hedges in than Kehdra on loan though.

With Van Hecke and Edun it could suggest that a switch to wing backs could become plan A. Positive to that would hopefully mean that's where the width would come from and our 6ft wingers would play more central. There is maybe too much logic in that for it to come to pass though.

So the only two cash signings we've made thus far in the last two transfer windows are both left backs.... He might be a decent player. And I'm pleased to see permanent signings rather than loans. But it again strikes me that there is no serious planning to our transfer business.

If that did prove to be the case hopefully we don't go and get put trousers pulled down by whacking a massive 40% sell on clause in there this time

I saw a couple of Crewe games last year simply to check Pickering out. That and some online clips so I'd say no. I'm not in a position to judge. My comment was based on the limited amount I've seen of him. Wide forward, shoots with both feet, runs at players. Like Arma though he looks to me like he more knocks it past someone to make space for a shot, rather than, dropping a shoulder, changes of pace, Rothwell style. Which like Armw when wide can result in blind alleys, especially if an opposition defender backs off has a bit of intelligence and doesn't overly commit. Those are the similarities I've seen in snippets but I've not seen enough to form an opinion on whether he'd have the potential to develop further, or switch positions. To be honest there's a decent wedge of guesswork and assumptions in the above. And I'm only really commenting on him based on the fact his mum has suddenly had a social media splurge and followed a couple of accounts.

Dale doesn't look a bad player in the snippets online. Hints of Arma's style prior to moving centrally. His stats suggest to me though that he's a player who could disappear for long periods. Obviously it is very easy to cherry pick the best bits for a compilation video. Rumours of 500k bids as he only has a year remaining on his contract, plus apparently he is unhappy at the club holding out for more money whilst paying him very low wages. For that price he'd represent a good gamble in my eyes. I'd far prefer that than spanking the same kind of money for a player on loan. Big question is though. Is he an Arma replacement in Mowbrays eyes or a calculated gamble on an up and coming player. If its the latter and there are other more established incomings I'm all for it. The former and it is clear where our level now is financially.

Tell that to our full backs. Our players were a long way up the pitch. Standing like statues. Worst of both worlds. Positional play was gung-ho whilst the style was gung-slow

Personally I'm pleased Obafemi being a no go has been announced now. Better than playing delusions right up until deadline day. No excuses now. New targets to be pursued with a greater intensity. Not that I have any great confidence in this happening

Put me down for Qpr 19/10/21

At the same time, although yes we have conceded in all our games this season it has only been by one goal. Endless possession leads us to over committing players forwards and we looked so vulnerable. Goals from set pieces have seen us take points in games because we're not having to score 3 goals to win.

Takes some doing to face up to your own troubles privately, let alone publicly. Good to have you back.

If there were some way of totting up the cumulative wages of that group when with us in comparison to what they will be on now I'm sure the contrast would be enormous, truly highlighting the financial mismanagement of the current regime.

From the bits I've seen online he looks like a tidy passer who most importantly looks like he tries to always play the ball forwards. By the looks of things though he is going to need to have a telepathic reading of the game and a great first touch as he looks absolutely tiny. You can be that small as a footballer, but you have to be very, very good. That's my biggest worry. No way of telling until he's had a run of games though

My view is a very cynical view but my concern is the amount of time remaining on Mowbrays contract. I firmly believe he thought he could get us promoted last year. Spent every penny we had on a hugely inflated squad to the point whereby we were right on the edge of Ffp. So much so that it seemed there was no money even for extensions. Now we have a little cash and flex from the Arma sale. Mowbray has 1 year remaining on his contract. What is more important to him. Seeing us scrapping against relegation with a thin squad but assets tied down to long term contracts. Or bringing a number of players some temporary, some permanent and us finishing around midtable. If he leaves at the end of his contract there is clearly one option which benefits him and his reputation, but harms the club.

Another year loan would do Magloire and Carter some good. I wouldn't mind loaning in a centre half so long as they were decent quality. We can essentially tell our two going out on loan there is a spot available for next season. Let them fight it out. Who can put in the best performance in league 1. Bit of incentive and hopefully we see them step up. Centre halves of Lenihan, Ayala, Wharton and a top quality loan should be enough to see us through. There was negligence last year but the Wharton injury completely screwed us over. Ayala was predicted though.