Even if he is a replacement for Reed, there's only any point if he is on a Reed level. The only reason we needed Reed was because he was better than everyone else, not because we were short in that area. Is Will Vaulks distinctly better than what we have?

Only recently turned 20. Watched all his goals on youtube, and he looks a decent player to me. It doesn't show his general game, of course. No idea what Sunderland would want, but mid promotion charge I doubt it would be too cheap unless they're in dire financial straits.

Newcastle is a pretty wild city on nights out from what I gather, think that would be a bad move. Agree any London club would probably be the death of his career. When he goes, he needs a manager who will keep him grounded.

If we don't intend to give him a run soon (and from the last two performances I can see why that'd be the case), he needs to either start playing for the reserves, or go on loan. I'd say to League One, as I can't see where he'd be guaranteed starts in this league right now. Can't see us swallowing our pride and loaning our 6-7 million pound man out though.

Hector is currently on loan at Sheff Weds. Amazingly, it's his 15th loan of his career! By contrast, the famous Loan Ranger, Todd Kane, just a year younger, is on his 8th I believe. Surely Hector wants to settle down at a club by now, so he could indeed be available in the summer. Not seen him play much, but he gets mentioned from time to time on here. Compared to most, I don't usually pay much attention to individual opposition players in our matches if I'm honest, but that Sheff Weds defence looked pretty porous against us.

Not sure why this one bothers you tbh. All it means is he is signed up to next season. I'm sure he will at least be adequate as back up next season. After that I expect we will part ways.

Sorry mate but just gonna have to say 'hogwash'. For a club like ours those figures are nothing. The Brereton ones are huge for us. Chapman has injury strifes, that's the only reason it's a gamble at all. Other players have put injury woes behind them (Graham and Mulgrew for starters), so those figures would be a risk, but a smaller one by far than spunking nearly all our budget on Brereton was. I'd go as far as to say has less chance of him moving on for a profit than not doing. Especially under Tony's system and approach to youngsters. He would likely offer something in cameos at least though, which can change games.

People keep forgetting this, but he is unlikely to be available on a free in the summer. Due to his age, if Boro offer him a new contract on the same or better terms, they will be owed compensation at tribunal.

It's only a massive gamble if it costs a massive amount. It won't. I'd be looking to try doing a deal in the range of about 200k if possible, with a sell on (I don't like doing them but Boro will insist). Then a 2 year deal with a 1 year extension option in the club's favour, on wages in the region of 2k p/w (though I've no idea what he is on at Boro). If those wages aren't enough I'd look to supplement it with a decent appearance fee. That wouldn't be a massive gamble, that'd be a good deal with a small risk. Brereton was a massive gamble.

Agreed but I can't find that. I do see Smallwood has averaged 0.7 key passes a game, and Travis 0.1 so far (probably skewed a bit by the sub appearances). Travis has played 1.3 long balls per game, and Smallwood 2.8, but again Travis' is probably more really due to the subs skewing it.

https://www.whoscored.com/Players/332839/Show/Ben-Brereton According to this, 356 mins. Also, I don't know how the strengths and weaknesses bit is put together, but it kinda sums up what you say about no stand out attributes... 'Player has no significant strengths'. Lists 5 weaknesses though including finishing, aerial duels and crossing. I'm wondering more than ever why we signed this lad for so much. Hope he comes good.

I want Travis to play ahead of Smallwood. But to put perspective on these stats...Travis' overall pass rate in the league this season is 82.3% in 2 starts and 5 sub appearances. Richie's is 75.1 in 23 starts and 2 sub's. Consider that Smallwood's stat is over a larger sample, there may not be tons in it after a run for Travis. Hopefully Lewis can keep it up though, been impressive. Him and Reed looks our best pairing, though if we use that we need a better right flank option than Benno (as much as I love the guy).

Travis had an excellent game. But zero gamesmanship was needed to get Livermore sent off for that. I think Travis could have pleaded Livermore's case for him and he still would have gone. It was a shocking moment of mindlessness.

Newcastle aren't all that big, just got a lot of fans. Spent quite a bit of time in this tier themselves. And it's only the 3rd round. Think you'd be sorely disappointed. It would take one of the big 6 to get a crowd approaching that, or a later round tie.

The other day the LT said the fee was around 6 million. I'm certain they've said 7 before, so they're not reporting it consistently ( withhold your shock please gentlemen).

There was a particularly disappointing moment from Brereton today, highlighted by Graham's work rate. Late in the game the West Brom defence passed it across their goal and then wide, and Graham chased it down with everything he had. It looked a lost cause to me and I was thinking don't even bother, but he put enough pressure on that they had to pass it back across the other way. Brereton got the chance to do the same thing immediately on the other side as a result, with Graham's example to follow. Except it was more likely to result in snatching the ball. He is younger, faster, hadn't been on the pitch long, and has to prove he is worthy of a place in the starting 11, unlike Graham. He barely broke stride and got nowhere near it. I know he can run a lot faster, I've seen it. It wasn't a key moment of the game but I was stunned to watch the lackadaisical manner of it. I have to question whether he really wants to be here. I suspect that, like a lot of fans, he is wondering whether this was the right move for him.

Really? Why on earth were you only expecting a yellow? Cos the ref was naff? If I saw it happen in a thousand game I'd be baffled if a single game didn't give a red. Wouldn't expect Fergie's manure to get away with that at Old Trafford.

Yes I meant to mention that in the original post but forgot, cheers. He has done it a few times, but those are the best examples. For me, if players are in form and making an impact, you give them a shot.

Danny Graham is quite clearly not past it. He is one of our best players. He is past his peak in terms of pace, but he is excellent at playing the lone striker role. However, I agree that the tactical approach of lumping long balls to him all game is inherently flawed. We aren't even good at long balls, Rodwell aside, so I fail to see why this is our preferred approach. Probably because we have no real wide outlets so we don't create the space that allows for decent play in the middle, as it becomes congested. How bad was Brereton's miss yesterday? I didn't see that bit but it sounded like he struck it about as well as that horrendous cross attempt against Norwich. I think the time to start Brereton was obviously after those two cameos in a row which earned a penalty in one and an assist in the other. Not getting his chance at that point seems to have dented his confidence and put more pressure on his shoulders.

As has been discussed before, this is basically an optical illusion. Forest were up for a permanent deal and not a loan. Buying him outright in the summer (which we ran out of time to do) would have had the same outcome. There'd have been no benefit to Forest to put a get out clause in, so they wouldn't have agreed to it. I would agree it is looking like a worryingly poor deal right now though, either way.

As much as you and I like Rothwell, he was the root cause of that goal. It was also extremely poor play. It opened up a lot of space for Leeds. It worried me a lot, immediately, not in hindsight. Williams being terrible doesn't detract from any of that.

Wasn't it Rothwell who made the awful pass which let Leeds in for the winner?

I'm glad I never played with you. Sounds like you want your teammates to...well, 'play' with you.

Oh thank fuck! I was nervous about this game until I read that post. Now I can relax knowing a positive result is assured. Thanks Mercer. Please don't show up in the thread during the match though, saying we have it in the bag etc.

Well yes, if we can convince Hanley to put Arma on his shoulder all day it will be like finally signing that massive striker we need. Probably not the most mobile though, and that shoulder will tire pretty quickly.