briansol

I doubt it. There is just so many promising young centre-backs at the club currently. Wharton, Carter and Magloire has already made their senior debuts and would be preferred in such a match. At U-23 you also has his partner Sam Barnes who is probably as talented. The great thing for Annesly playing international football is that it gives him experience against much better players and will help his progress. A loan to League 2 would do him a world of good. The biggest difference from U-23 football is the physical side, which I think he would benefit from. I've seen him on multiple occasions, and he is very much a cultured centre-back who can pick a pass(as someone mentioned). His biggest weaknes seems to be lacking pace a bit.

Well debt is obviously not a factor. Wouldn't make sense either. He should be judged by results according to the resources at his disposal. When we won promotion, Wigan and us blew the rest of the league financially and with wages, so that was expected and delivered. The two previous seasons has been adequate, with an adequate squad. This season is different for me. Now we have a squad that is play-off worthy and this season should expect play-off results. Unlike the previous seasons, our competition has been hit harder and we've been able to improve the squad. It's very much Mowbray's players, his style and his ambition on the line now.

If you are going to replace Mowbray, why would replace him with someone who has a worse win ratio for Wigan? Both manager got promotion in the same season and spent 2 seasons in the Championship with pretty much the same resources. Cook is not even a sideways step, the man is has managed 2 seasons in the Championship as his highest level and both were poor.

Yep, pretty much was Dack said himself last week I think. 10 months out, with no contact training nor practice games, it will take some time to get up to speed. Although I think Dack mentally is pretty fearless and confident, needubg less time than most to be mentally prepared to put the body on the line again.

Actually looking at the stats, Graham is rewriting history. He was not out the squad, but on the bench, and came on as a sub most games. He was also back in the starting elevent mid October. Dack was also sub on several of those occasions trying to get to match fitness as I recall. https://www.soccerbase.com/teams/team.sd?team_id=308&teamTabs=results

Good boy Danny, but maybe not so great on self-reflection. First he tells on being hard done by Mowbray in League One, where he started 2 games, and then was out of the squad untill November. Shortly after he tells about him and Dacky going out on the piss all the time and getting called into the gaffer's office 3 times before October. Might seem related

He changed the formation from the start of the second half. Went from a 4-3-3 to a 4-2-1-3. Evans was moved inside as a sitter with Johnson, and Buckley was pushed forward off the striker. Which was the same position that Chapman replaced him in. Not sure if you watched it on IFollow, but the commentators also mentioned the change.

Sure, I agree with that. I was just referring to the fear that Mowbray doesn't change formation, which he did in the game. DIdn't help much though, and Chapman was poor.

Very impressive with a young and weakened squad. The New signings for the senior squad will probably see a strong U23 lineups as many will be pushed down for match fitness.

Mowbray change it in second half. Buckley first, than Chapman played in the hole. Very much the Dack role.

Still a bit in shock after today. Thought we had a great window after Ayala, Kaminski and Douglas joined, then Turnbull came, and the most exciting one in Elliott. I never believed in a million years he was available nor that we afford him. Summary: Out: Graham (38 games / 4 goals), Samuel (15 games / 2 goals), Smallwood, Walton, Adebayaro, Leutwiler, Hart, Mulgrew, Fisher In: Kaminski, The Greek, Pears, Ayala, Douglas, Turnbull, Dolan, Elliott, (McBride). Transfer outlay probably 1-1.5 mill all together (depending on Elliott's loan fee) Except Adebayaro, nobody made an impact of note last season. Ayala replacing him with his leadership qualities should be as good or better. The rest should be a major upgrade on the ones that left. Considering Johnson, Rothwell, Hotlby, Williams looks better this year we are in such a far better shape than last season when we were close to play-offs. I even forgot Dack is returning. The last two seasons I've claimed we've a mid-table squad, now I'll say it's top six squad. Now Tony has the squad he wants and the style he wants, so it's up to him to bring it together.

The great thing with both him and Douglas, they are out of contract next summer. It's possible to pick them up on a free if they impress, while we're not stuck with they don't

Rich Sharpe says Wilson is a non-starter. Other reports claims a 3 mill(!) loan fee for the season, so can probably put that one to rest.

What are you talking about? 4 years ago our defence was Williams, Hoban and Greer starting 15th October 2016. Lenihan and Nyambe just started to get some game time. Nyambe and Lenihan are far better players now. Ayala and Douglas would be a massive improvement on that lot. Add Rankin-Costello as right back option instead of Jason Lowe, I think it's fair to say there is no comparison.

In fairness Belgium has a world-class keeper in Courtois, and Mignolet is quite good as well. Being number 3 behind them is not so bad.

Probably shite. He's played pretty good for the National team last years, but had a real stinker against a very good Winger. Didn't get much help either. But lack of match fitness clearly showed. Euro's came to early for our "golden" generation, but blew Romania away today 4-0, with a Haaland / Odegaard masterclass. Northern Irland up next, probably afraid of Haaland from last match.

You might have some luck pinging this account

Agreed. It's very clear cut. Even if the player wants out, the club can exercise the option and demand a fee accordingly.

Very good interview with the young greek up on IFollow. Speaks very good English. Seemed very mentally strong. Moved to Bulgaria as 16 year old where he couldn't speak the language and was viewed as an outsider. Had to become a man then he says, so very confident on settling in England. Already played over 80 games at top senior level in Bulgaria (they play a lot fewer games there a season). Seems we are in a lot better position at GK now with Kaminski and him.

I've suggested his name on a couple of occasions. First when he went to Amiens. He is certainly a step up from Bell and should be good Championship level. Don't think you find much better with our restricted finances. He's a well rounded full back and should be a lot better attacking wise than Bell. Norwegian International team are very much on the up now with a new generation of top European talent. Alessami is one of the experienced heads. Some very exciting players with Ajer(celtic), Berge(sheff u), elounossi (celtic), Odegaard (real Madrid), Haaland (Dortmund), Sorloth (RB Leipzig) and lastly Hauge Who AC Milan bought after he played them of the park in San Siro. Best generation in the history and all in their early 20s. Could be a real force for the next 10 years.

I watched him against City in the first game where he played behind the striker and the game just passed him by untill he got a well-taken goal. After that you could see his confidence improved. Was well impressed last night when he came on. Has a decent turn of pace, excellent finishing for his goals and played a couple of excellent passes to Brennan including the assist. I don't think he is nowhere ready for the first time yet, but he has potential certainly. Credit to the U23 recruitment who seem to recognize talent, bringing in him and Dolan shows they know potential. Butterworth (when fit) and Vale would probably better options for the senior squad. Both are quite dynamic and should suit our style. I also like Sam Burns as a forward, still 18. He is small, but built like Dack with pace and plays a bit like Dickov with pressuring defenders, tackling etc.

What a squad that was! Paul Robinson, Nyambe, Hanley, Shane Duffy, M Olsson, Ben Marshall, Evans, Cairney, Conway, Rhodes, Gestede, Josh King, Lenihan, Jack O'Connell (!), Mahoney, David Dunn, Raya, Incredible with that squad and Gestede/Rhodes with 20+ goals a piece could not reach the play-offs.

When we played Leicester in the friendly one of the commentators said Heskey often used to play centre back in training for fun. Said he was the best centre-back he'd seen and would've been world class in that position. Sounded a bit far-fetched at the time but given his skill set it kind of makes sense. I think Rio Ferdinand started out as a midfielder, but found his calling at centre-back.

The Huddersfield fans said the exact same thing when we bought him, coming of a 40 league goal season when they were promoted from League One. Played off Lee Novak as strike partner and lots of crosses for them I recall. Think he even scored 5 goals in one game. Exceptional finisher, with both feet and head as well. His weaknesses has been well covered but I agree with the sentiment that we should appreciate his time here. We had him at his peak, seemingly a very decent person, wish him all the best the for the future which is not back here.

I actually think our biggest problem would be teams that double up on the wings. Bournemouth did that at times, and it can be hard for our midfield 3 to cover the width. Sheff United and Leeds were very good at overloading the flanks which made it very difficult for us too defend. Fortunatly there aren't to many teams in the Championship with that quality left.