Effort and determination is a minimum requirement, Bennett would give us that and he isnt good enough. He wasnt excellent as a winger, I was happy with his application and think he seems physically more robust than say Buckley but would expect something going forward if he is to become a regular. He obviously gets a little more leeway being on his first start in professional football but I am not going to just baselessly say that he was "excellent" although I dont think any of our team was yesterday. He didnt let anyone down though. The chance is there for him to cement a place, the alternatives of Gallagher and Bennett have repeatedly proven to be not up to the task so I'd be happy to see him and Chapman get plenty of game time, especially in Rothwells absence.

Totally different situation. Aston Villa had only appointed their new manager in October, so it made sense for their general consistent performance to improve once the manager had settled in, we dont have that so a consistent increase in point accumulation would be somewhat unexpected. Add to this, Villa werent hit by the same injury problems, Dack is a huge blow for example, whereas they still had Abraham banging in the goals. Throw in Evans, Cunningham, Rothwell and Holtby and we are struggling. And crucially, to rectify their main issue, they made a huge signing in the January window of Tyrone Mings, as well as signing Kourtney Hause.

Are they? Especially accounting for the injuries and considering the lack of signings?

One or two? He has made far more mistakes than that, the one yesterday brings him closer to double figures I would suggest. Brilliant save at the end though. He plugged away and you cant fault his determination but he didnt do anything from an attacking persepctive, and as a winger who offers nothing going forward, I think its difficult to judge such a performance as anything above ok, certainly not remarkable or excellent. He seems physically capable, but I would like to see something from an attacking perspective next time he plays.

To be fair, the fact that its from Alan Nixon means that we can write that one off. He looked good v Everton though. We needed players right away. The window has sadly quashed any flicker of a top 6 hope.

Surely Owen Coyle could have argued that things could have been worse as we were 23rd werent we when he was sacked? Feeble response. Lambert is a crap manager who talks the talk and has excuses but cant back it up. Did just as bad a job as Hurst last season.

Why do you hate Hull?

To the question of why not, I think that an extensive injury list to important players, a lack of necessary recruitment to cover both injured and pre-existing weak areas, never being in the play offs all season and a significant points gap with an additional 3 teams between us and the play offs is a pretty conclusive set of reasons! I did also see a stat the other day that showed that in terms of current League positions, our remaining fixture list is the toughest in the League.

Definitely should be on the bench over the likes of Samuel and Brereton and considered wide before Gallagher and Bennett. Would be between the 2 for that spot. Obviously Rankin Costello deserves perhaps more leeway as it was his full debut but I was a little underwhelmed, he plugged away but didnt offer anything from an attacking sense. As you say though, deserves another go.

I always find the sentence "willing to play anywhere" a bit of a curious one to be honest. Basically every player would play "anywhere" if the alternative was not at all, ultimately the main reason that he is considered here there and everywhere is because he is not particularly good in his actual position. He played half of League 1 out wide and even there he didnt impress.

With Holtby out I would revert to 442 next week and play Graham with Armstrong. Theres a real issue out wide still, where I would reluctantly move Downing out of the middle and on to the left, with Johnson coming in. The dilemma then comes on the right, it would be between Rankin Costello and Chapman and certainly neither Gallagher nor Bennett. I would be tempted to go for the latter, JRC didnt pose any threat today and Chapman has a bit more pace to offset the ageing Downing on the other side.

Lucky to get a point from our one bit of quality, a great one two instigated ans finished by an otherwise out of sorts Travis. Walton really really poor with the goal but excellent save from Gestede. Gallagher again totally ineffective and in general we appear impotent in terms of attacking quality.

No clear cut chances created by us and plenty of technical incompetence on both sides.

What an utterly horrible first half of football, devoid of any quality at all. No attacking threat whatsoever.

True but that is very much an anomoly at the moment. Fingers crossed though.

Glad that Rankin Costello starts but not seeing that many goals in the team. Dont get how Gallagher can start again on the wing, we can have Samuel and Brereton (as well as Graham who actually is useful) on the bench and Chapman doesnt make the squad.

Absolutely no chance. Weve never been in the top 6 and I think its very, very difficult to justify how we can this season. Lacking in too many areas and showed a lack of ambition and competence in the January window not adding to the squad. Throw in 2 or 3 key injuries and I suspect it wont be far off last seasons finish. Armstrong is on a hot streak but are him and Holtby even going to get Dack and Graham levels of goals? With Rothwell (who hadnt got a goal or assist until Tuesday anyway) out we arent going to have that shortfall covered out wide. Gallagher will continue to plod on there, Bennett is useless, Rankin Costello and Chapman are untested and as a result we dont know if they can step up, will they be given enough chance? Almost certainly not. Armstrong and Downing are needed elsewhere. We also have little alternative (Id play Williams or Downing) but to plod on with Bell who is awful. Even in positions where we are strong ie our first 2 centre backs we are paper thin beyond that.

How would players know that? Or even staff? Mowbray has always been really hesistant to sign players unless they are the "right fit" partially blinded by loyalty to various players, he was seeking depth which is concerning considering Gallagher seems to be being moulded into a full time useless winger, Bell is a regular again and Bennett is never far from the team. You throw in some dreadful past recruitment and self proclaimed poor negotiating skills and whilst there is scope that he is covering for the owners to save his job rather than moaning, hes clearly a big factor in our struggles to develop the team as much as we should be doing in the transfer market. A lack of signings at an identical point to last season suggests that theres not quite enough ambition and belief to really push for the top 6. That being said, Venkys are blatantly disinterested and it is a baseless assumption to believe that they are dying to fund us to promotion but simply cant due to FFP. So they take plenty of blame too.

I do look forward to watching Bennett and Gallagher trudge up the wing doing absolutely nothing for the near future.

The whole transfer window fabricated excitement is a bit sick inducing if we are being honest. Jim White and his tie, the Lancashire Telegraph running a whole day of regurgitated titbits in a live commentary, people stalking footballers social media, clubs uploading cryptic videos about players that are already obviously joining rather than just announcing them, supposed ITK's getting their kicks releasing "information" without naming the player and getting people worked up into a frenzy. As you say, it never looked remotely likely that we would sign anyone.

Nothing happening. No one can be surprised, no signs of ambition or competency and the token gesture of a speculative and unrealistic last minute loan deal will do nothing to suffice.

Would you consider the window a total failuree if no one comes in?

Savage was all action, getting in peoples faces, aggressive, Andrews was nothing like that.

Have you seen him play much?

Atsu is a poor player, seen him numerous times for Newcastle and his end product is non existent. That being said, everything screams of a window that will almost certainly and inevitably end with the usual script and platitudes but no one in.