Miller11

Adarabioyo eventually signing is decent enough, but doesn’t go far enough to addressing our defensive frailties in my opinion. A proven no nonsense centre back still needed. A dominant leader who wins headers and we might do something this season. We also need Mowbray to wise up to Bennett not being a full back too. Still fully expect us to line up with the same back 4 that started against Rangers against Charlton. Which is utterly ludicrous. “It might take him a little while, a couple of weeks to get to grips with the team, but then he’ll be looking to force his way into the side.” - Mowbray on Adarabioyo. Hopefully it will be Lenihan’s place he is pushing for, because we need a centre back better at defending than anyone currently on the books to make this much talked about assault on the playoffs.

Today’s Mowbrayism - he’s on about Wharton: “At this moment he has lots of quality, his physicality is something that three years on from his debut is something he needs to grow in to and I’ve always said that centre halves, the last thing they develop is the ability to play against big, strong centre forward who can knock them about.” Might actually be right Tony... it’s took Mulgrew 33 years and that ability doesn’t seem to have developed yet. Fingers crossed for this season eh?

He’s already said ‘Listen, I’ve got no defence. We’ve conceded 69 goals, it’s not good enough. Defenders are coming’ So I don’t think saying ‘We want to strengthen the back four’ or ‘we want to sign a quality centre back’ should cause much of an issue

“But as I sit here today I’m relatively okay with it but we do need some defensive options that can compete with the players we’ve got.” No Tony. We need some defenders to dislodge and replace the likes of Mulgrew. The young lads can provide the numbers. We need quality.

So it could be much higher than £5 million?

Good point. This would make sense.

Sharpe seems to “break stories” soon after rumours start on twitter. Don’t know how good his connections are but this makes me cynical.

Couldn’t agree more. I’m desperate to be proved wrong, but I’d be surprised if we signed any defenders. Apart from maybe a backup loanee.

He went back to training late to get his rest. He is an absolute athlete. He has already appeared in other friendlies. Etc etc etc. If he’s not sat on the bench in place of Bennett against Charlton, I’ll hold my hands up... I’ll even bow to an effigy of Mowbray if you like. He will be though won’t he?

Recently? Their last game was over 3 weeks ago. So I doubt very much our fittest player needs wrapping in cotton wool. I know it’s difficult to fathom why, but Mowbray clearly wants to shoehorn in Bennett. I don’t understand why people would rather come up with nonsensical theories to defend silly decisions than question them.

No. Because Mowbray and Waggott lied through their teeth at the consultation meeting.

I think Mowbray thinks he knows what his best team is... but he clearly doesn’t!

Also, if I was Nyambe I’d be sat on that bench writing out a transfer request as we speak.

If that’s our first choice back 4 for the season we will be very lucky not to be relegated

I’m a big fan of Nyambe. I’d have him starting all day long... at right back. Unless Mowbray has figured out a way to coach him to be 4 inches taller, he won’t be cutting it at centre back alongside Lenihan who is also not good enough in the air. Seems we are putting a lot of faith in our new keeper scaring wingers from putting crosses in... maybe Raya should’ve opted for a Halloween mask instead of that boring black one when he bust his nose to help him on crosses.

Any more takers for the Venky’s won’t buy defenders theory?

Spot on. I think its that important it will decide whether we are pushing the playoffs or battling relegation.

That, along with the minutes from the fans forum and other bits and pieces make me think that some people within the club think developing players to sell on is a more effective way of gaining success than winning games. Trying a bigger version of the Crewe model.

No he hasn’t. I asked him on Twitter if he had any idea what the hold up was. Sharpe said he thought it might have been to do with a new contract from City but he has been told it wasn’t. I’d bet good money the dithering is coming from our end.

The key phrase in the post you quoted is thus far. Thus far we haven’t improved the defence at all. I’d say that alone makes any assumption that anything has been learnt from that horrific run is a bit of a stretch. Adarabioyo has been on the verge of signing for a week. Something odd going on there... as for other defenders, let’s hope the habit of 9 years is broken because we will struggle without them.

Maybe Mowbray doesn’t have any budget at all. Maybe there is micromanagement/interference going on to the extent that he has to speak to them about each and every signing the club make and get their ok. And maybe they make their decisions on a number of factors including which way the wind happens to be blowing at that particular moment in time.

Or the desire to be number one somewhere? A keeper with 2 full seasons under his belt wouldn’t see dripping to the bench as a decent career step, particularly if it’s apparent he could be first choice elsewhere. Selling Raya doesn’t have to result in a slight on either him or the club... however not replacing him with someone better would be stupid.

This Adarabioyo deal seems to be dragging ridiculously now. Wasn’t it last Thursday him and Lescott were at Brockhall? My big hope is that we are dragging our heels because we are near to finalising a deal for someone better, but I think I’m clutching at straws there.

Yeah, I was pretty pleased with Downing, though I think we might see more of him centrally or at full back. Another winger would still be nice... not that I can see us playing with two very often. Armstrong I’m sure will have one of the wide spots nailed down.

Yeah, I’d like to see a proper winger. Not a wide striker cutting in, someone who can cross a ball. If it’s a prem loanee I wouldn’t mind Andre Green. Not sure how much game time he will get with Villa since they got promoted.