[Transfer Gossip]

Out of them, Hull and Swansea (those two have actually been watching him), if it was any I'd say Hull have the biggest wallet and seem to be upwardly mobile again, though they've just added Billy Sharp to what they've already got

[Transfer Gossip]

1 hour ago, gonzo said:

Preston rumour being peddled this morning.

Have they even got any dough?

Wasn't aware of them being flush with cash though they did pay out around £3m total for two players pre-season. Suspect they'd be trying it on with bids around the £1m mark

[Where will we finish]

I'd sooner answer this question on 1st Feb, when I know what our squad looks like for the rest of the season.

Tough run of away games to come, as we are squad-wise 3rd or 4th, with some reinforcements could push for top 2. 

The 'stronger in 2nd half of season' thing I'm not so bought into, for me we faded through April last season and stumbled into the Barnsley games flat and jaded. The performances in those games showed it

[Transfer Gossip]

1 hour ago, little whitt said:

Wolvers paid a Million for him  

He must have had something 

He'd played at our level when he was same age as Luke Littler. If he keeps progressing as he is within our environment he'll be plenty good enough 

[Transfer Gossip]

41 minutes ago, Tonge moor green jacket said:

Could be a rush job to do that, and would we be able to get a suitable player at that point?

Personally, I think we will stick with what we have- I'm sure Matheson can do a reasonable job there, at least for a while.

I'd be confident (and I reckon Evatt would be) of Matheson filling in well enough in that scenario

[Your first (or kids) away]

Barnsley, April 1972, first full season of watching us (had started going part way through the previous season, although it was a grim one I'd got the bug). We lived in Rochdale at the time so not a bad trip over with my dad. We lost 0-1 but the Bovril and Wagon Wheel were good

[Burton (H)]

1 minute ago, gonzo said:

My old man was drivng on his way back yesterday with Pete and his good mate Roy, been going games together since we met him in Tenerife in 1991.

Roy had a heart attack in the car just after getting on motorway. They did CPR at Bolton North services but it was in vein, pronounced dead shortly after at Hospital.

Plenty off here will have seen him with my Dad in hotel, they are in there like clockwork every home game.

Another Wanderer gone and kind of puts everything into perspective.

Another Wanderer gone.

Must have been so traumatic for Dad and Pete

That's awful to hear about, sad news, must have been a nightmare experience for them 😢

[Burton (H)]

1 minute ago, Lostock Whites said:

For sure. I think the players should always be there to applaud and sing about, but also to criticise and give our opinion as supporters.

However there is a clear line when that criticism turns into abuse.

As for the atmosphere, completely understandable tbh, especially yesterday, I knew a few people around my seat who didn't even turn up because they were hungover.

In terms of our support, I can't remember it being this good ever at this level or in the Championship. Whether people turned up or not yesterday, to get 20,000 home fans with 100 away fans would've been unheard of just a few seasons ago.

Absolutely, and while Evatt might have commented post match yesterday that it was all a bit flat (from everyone, not just the fans) he's commented a few times this season on how good the atmosphere has been and has lifted the players (Blackpool, Derby, Peterborough). 

Klopp had a nibble at Liverpool supporters about upping the volume the other week so by no means a thing exclusive to us. 

My stepdaughter is a City ST holder and I sometimes go along with her. They often have games like ours yesterday, where the negativity of the opponents and patient fatiguing / dismantling of them hardly makes for a rip roaring occasion. It's the nature of modern football, the ball doesn't get put into the 'POMO' (as it used to be called) as quickly or as often

[Burton (H)]

20 minutes ago, Spider said:

Always had a decent signal at the stadium, you must all be on peasant networks.

You're right, I probably am! 🙄. Contract due for renewal shortly...

[Burton (H)]

It's abysmal anywhere on Middlebrook, nipping in McD's or Costa and getting on their wi-fi helps with the social media stuff but sending a text is nigh on impossible. Hard to believe they haven't got round to whacking a mast up somewhere on the site, unless I've missed it. I'm on Tesco (so O2 in essence)

[Burton (H)]

One of those typical Burton games, facing up to a 6-4-0 formation when we had the ball. We did things too slowly first half but still should have had at least two. 

Much better from the off second half, just a day in final third of dithering, picking wrong option, blazing efforts high and wide and, to be fair to them, having the on-target efforts bravely blocked or saved (their keeper very good). The number of fabulous balls across the 'corridor of uncertainty' that we didn't get a touch on was incredible. 

JDC got a bit of stick before Xmas for a couple of off days but was brilliant today. I'm in the pro-Vic camp, worked really hard again, but should have scored the one where he tried to round the keeper, didn't do it anywhere near quickly enough. 

Forrester showed what he's about, a really good defender with two good feet, balance and confidence on the ball. 

Jon Dadi showed his value when he came on, as Evatt clearly appreciated on the touchline

We should have had half a dozen and still aren't ruthless enough near goal but the points are in the bag and the return over the four holiday games has been tremendous, however they've been gained. 

[Fleetwood (A)]

I'm not so sure that it'll be as straightforward as looking to how we do against the other top 6 sides at the time, more about points we get against teams we find awkward to deal with, some of whom may be some way down the table. 

We've seen that this season with Wigan, Carlisle and Bristol R, there may be the odd other slip up against their like but equally a win or two against higher places sides whose set up might suit us

[Burton (H)]

Would like / expect to see Forrester in for Jones but on left and Toal switching to right. Forrester looks ok either right or left where Toal definitely looks more comfortable for me on right than left, had a great spell on right of back three last season 

[Fleetwood (A)]

Only seven in the mix, at halfway, for the six auto and play off places, can see it being two from the 5 quoted above for autos. Oxford and Stevenage will be happy to stay the course well enough to scrap it out for 6th.

Jan window activity amongst that top 5 will be interesting

[Transfer Gossip]

2 hours ago, Tonge moor green jacket said:

For me, I think it's the defensive aspect; and the work he does in that regard that has been the question.

Without doubt, he showed some signs of getting a grip of it and becoming a complete player but hasn't kicked on as yet. Lincoln game was a more encouraging one, more of that more consistently needed

[Transfer Gossip]

You would think that, regardless of whether he's currently a fixture in our side, there'd been whispers of interest from others who see him as just what they need. I hope he kicks on now, forces his way into the team and stays there regularly. I've always thought there was a really good player in him

[Lincoln City (A) Boxing Day]

1 minute ago, Mounts Kipper said:

I’m not his biggest fan but he does hold it up better than Bod, and is more of a physical presence and allows us some time to get players further up the pitch, sometimes we need those attributes. 

Vic was getting regular pelters a few weeks back but I've always thought him to be doing all right. Not a natural at anything, obviously some areas he could be more polished in but gives honest hard graft every game, forages for the ball and holds it up fairly well, does a lot of the pressing Evatt wants, links up well enough with Charles even if neither of them have a reliable first touch. 

[Lincoln City (A) Boxing Day]

In those wing back positions, Evatt would always argue that Williams and JDC are good at what he sees as priority in their positions, being good on the ball, getting forward, putting crosses in, popping up with a goal. He evidently doesn't place much store in the defensive aspects of the role, as neither of them are up to much and border on a liability against strong, physical wide men.

We're winning a lot more than we're losing (though we've arguably lost a couple too many at this stage) so Evatt will largely feel vindicated, whatever we think. 

[Leyton Orient (H)]

35 minutes ago, only1swanny said:

Think we need to revert back to victor starting and JDB coming on around 50/60 mins. His fresh kegs are rather productive at that point. 

We lost momentum when their keeper called for the "time out", that's something that needs stamping out, their bench were all up before the ref blew. 

That tactic is even more obvious now as keeper is the only one who doesn't have to go off for 30 secs after having the physio on. They were on about it on 5 Live yesterday 

[Leyton Orient (H)]

9 hours ago, Stig said:

If we add such a defensive midfielder we'd have to go 4 at the back, or else we'd be in our half tapping it round with Baxter all game

Assuming our regular back 3 are playing it could be a in-game option to stabilise us when we lose the plot as we did yesterday, where I'd have sacrificed Sheehan after an hour. Otherwise, assuming Evatt's never going to veer away from 3-5-2 it could be a solid base for Sheehan to be used further forward, where he can be every bit as effective as he is at the base. He is great there if sides don't press much and sit in, less so if they go with a front 3 and extra presser who bullies him. 

[Leyton Orient (H)]

2 minutes ago, Biggish Dave said:

Forrester is quality. Him in a 3 with George Johnston and Eoin Toal will be magnificent.

Yes, I'm aware who I'm leaving out but they would work imo

I'd like to see Evatt think about Forrester as a DM, to give extra protection to the back three against some of the better sides or within games if we need to shore it up and wrestle control back. Not the most physically imposing but good tackler, largely calm and confident on ball, passing it or carrying it forward. 

[Leyton Orient (H)]

14 minutes ago, Johnnyrotten said:

I thought their left winger looked quality in 2nd half.  Great assist for 1st and superb finish for 2nd.  Think he also put that wicked cross in 1st half that Toal made an amazing clearance from.

He certainly had a good left peg, took his goal very well. Lad on right wing didn't get into it all first half but was a real handful after the break, shredded Iredale a couple of times, was threatening to score his second till a superb tackle from Forrester

[Leyton Orient (H)]

1 hour ago, Tonge moor green jacket said:

I'm discounting Bristol Rovers, as we had a man sent off.

We also beat Stevenage 3-2.

Of course if you concede, then the win is harder.

However, I reckon today was a touch of complacency creeping in after the start- and as I said before, and Evatt has now stated, we didn't react well enough to their changes.

For that, I still feel he has to look at his own methods as well as that of the players.

Perhaps an example of where an experienced on head, off the bench, could be useful. As they saw with Pratley.

I was watching Evatt through that second half, was already getting frustrated before we gave them the first goal, seriously pissed off after the 2nd and right to the end. 

I can't believe he sent them out for 2nd half saying 'they've gone, just knock it about steadily and you'll be fine', says more about the naivety and lack of nouse still in the squad. 

It's never seemed to be something Evatt's seen as important but that second half might have made him think again about bringing a bit of midfield physicality, guile and experience in during Jan.

Not suggesting him by any means but Pratley showed the difference those qualities can make in games. We panic and lose control of games too easily when opposing teams, even modest ones, really get about us as they did with him organising, knocking folk about, using the ball sensibly. 

[Transfer Gossip]

1 hour ago, Rizlar said:

IE still hasn’t solved this left side problem whoever plays on the left as limitations Ned’s to bring somebody else in .

Until he has a change of mindset and priorities defending over attacking in his wing backs we'll keep getting what we have, nice passers and crossers that are easily taken on and dominated by opposing wide men. 

Neither Iredale or Williams inspire any confidence out of possession, JDC similar. 

[Bristol Rovers (H)]

7 minutes ago, gonzo said:

Hes the only player capable of something a bit different.

Or we just end up away Barnsley in play offs not scoring or creating till the polar ice caps melt.

Agreed, was brought in to give us 'carries' as was CMG. As Mounts says, frustrating with CMG not getting going, he might be good but we're at Xmas and we don't know yet .

Maghoma has shown some good signs, and we do need more who are prepared to shake up a defensive unit by breaking through their lines, end product just the nagging issue at minute.