(That long since we've had any, couldn't find the thread)

Alan Nixon: "Top Liverpool starlet Cameron Branagan will Ben allowed out on loan in Jan.

Bolton lead the race for the 20 year old midfielder"

Edited December 11, 20169 yr by Ratwhite

5 hours ago, Johnnyrotten said:

TBH looking at goals per appearance only increases the case for Iredale.  15 games, 3 goals (I underestimated with 2).  So he's scored 1 in 5 compared to 1 in 48 for the others.  I agree that doesn't take into account number of minutes, but we don't see that for any players on Wiki etc stats.

I only mention it to illustrate that going in Wiki to check a player's stats that we might sign doesn't tell half the story, we wouldn't entertain JDB on that basis, but we know what a good player he is.

(But 3 in 15 for Iredale isn't to be sniffed at and added to being left footed arguably adds to the case for him playing a bit more than he has).

Plenty of websites have goals per minute. 

Iredale has done well as you sat, but Bod's stats stand up iirc.

1 hour ago, Tonge moor green jacket said:

Plenty of websites have goals per minute. 

Iredale has done well as you sat, but Bod's stats stand up iirc.

Agreed, I was just giving some context to a series of comments yesterday about Ennis along the lines of "18 in 84" or whatever, nobody ever talks about minutes, its always games.  When Bod comes on in the 75th minute, that's another (goalless) appearance on his record the same as if he'd played the full 90, the minutes aren't generally quoted for obvious reasons.

 

7 hours ago, TrickyTrotter said:

 

Both 26 and neither good enough for where we’re going.

Playing devil's advocate...but we're only going to the championship if we're better than most or all of Derby, Peterboro, Pompey, Barnsley.  If 2 of those improve their squad even if its with players that aren't championship quality, they will probably stop us going up automatically if we also don't strengthen.  I'd rather get there first and worry about being good enough to finish above 3 other clubs in the summer.   

2 hours ago, woolli said:

I think we are desperate for a flexible centre back now. Forrester out for a month.

Absolutely this. We are skating on thin ice big time in central defence now.

22 minutes ago, paulhanley said:

Absolutely this. We are skating on thin ice big time in central defence now.

Down to just the 3 centre halves now ?

Defence was a worry before Forrester’s injury given seems like both Iredale and Williams are carrying knocks.  As mentioned elsewhere with Australia winning then Jones won’t be back anytime soon. I’m sure we’ll get cover in.

On a more positive note (admittedly not defensively) I see Guinea-Bissau have lost their first 2 games so we should have CMG back middle of next week.

40 minutes ago, Greg_BWFC said:

Down to just the 3 centre halves now ?

Can't think of anyone else who can play there in the current squad, no prospect of either Jones or Forrester back for some considerable time. He needs to make a move.

Ashworth has experience at centre-half, albeit at youth level

I wouldn't be pleased to see him start in a back three, but he might be able to do a job if we're desperate

5 minutes ago, paulhanley said:

Can't think of anyone else who can play there in the current squad, no prospect of either Jones or Forrester back for some considerable time. He needs to make a move.

What about the kid we just recalled from Fylde?

36 minutes ago, gonzo said:

What about the kid we just recalled from Fylde?

Khumbeni? Dunno. I thought he was a holding midfielder but others may know better than me.

 

12 minutes ago, paulhanley said:

Khumbeni? Dunno. I thought he was a holding midfielder but others may know better than me.

 

He is a midfielder. Scored a cracker in the pizza cup!

Talking of Khumbeni and his like, with Forrester being out, I'd actually try to get a holding midfielder capable of playing centre half on loan - MJ last season but a better version.

Helps out short term at the back and longer term in midfield

I think ashworth can definately cover LCB if needed, but we deffo need another. 

If we can get Ennis and another that can play CB I think that's fine for where the squad is at. Geth will be back at some point and Forrester is out Max 2 months. 

2 hours ago, Biggish Dave said:

Talking of Khumbeni and his like, with Forrester being out, I'd actually try to get a holding midfielder capable of playing centre half on loan - MJ last season but a better version.

Helps out short term at the back and longer term in midfield

Yeah, that, wing-back cover and a striker (Ennis presumably) and we're set

32 minutes ago, Arrested development said:

I think ashworth can definately cover LCB if needed, but we deffo need another. 

If we can get Ennis and another that can play CB I think that's fine for where the squad is at. Geth will be back at some point and Forrester is out Max 2 months. 

2 months = 16 games…

I think he will have to bring in a CB now we lose 1 more we are in serious shit.

I do agree, ideally we'd have 2 in as cover while we wait on Geth, Forrester and Johnston (Not sure he'll make it back this year) becoming available again.

But for my money, through injuries or not, I think we're now going to be starting our strongest and most balanced 3 in Toal, Santos, Iredale. It's just the issues that arise if one of them were to pick up a knock or worse, biggest weakness for me is needing another left footed option, really imbalances us on the ball without that option.

Luke Mbete available still....?

Evatt hinted himself the other day that a switch in transfer window priorities will be needed now. So many back to back games to come, more niggles or impact injuries will arise. FWIW I'm not so bothered about the Ennis situation, whatever we might think about each of them we do still have four fit strikers on the books plus CMG as back up from next week. Defensive numbers the big issue for us now

 

9 minutes ago, ianofcleveleys said:

Evatt hinted himself the other day that a switch in transfer window priorities will be needed now. So many back to back games to come, more niggles or impact injuries will arise. FWIW I'm not so bothered about the Ennis situation, whatever we might think about each of them we do still have four fit strikers on the books plus CMG as back up from next week. Defensive numbers the big issue for us now

 

Think the Ennis deal is more or less done I reckon he will switch from a midfielder to a defender now ?

3 minutes ago, Rizlar said:

Think the Ennis deal is more or less done I reckon he will switch from a midfielder to a defender now ?

If it is, fair enough, my Blackburn supporting mate has hardly been glowing about his time there but if he arrives fit and stays fit it may do him good and us if he gets back to what he was last season, at our level. 

I'd have thought so, back three cover now the main priority for sure

3 minutes ago, ianofcleveleys said:

If it is, fair enough, my Blackburn supporting mate has hardly been glowing about his time there but if he arrives fit and stays fit it may do him good and us if he gets back to what he was last season, at our level. 

I'd have thought so, back three cover now the main priority for sure

For me CMG is a waste of a place in our squad he just doesn’t fit our style of play if we could send him back then we could sign a midfielder who would fit our system. 

37 minutes ago, meanderson93 said:

I do agree, ideally we'd have 2 in as cover while we wait on Geth, Forrester and Johnston (Not sure he'll make it back this year) becoming available again.

But for my money, through injuries or not, I think we're now going to be starting our strongest and most balanced 3 in Toal, Santos, Iredale. It's just the issues that arise if one of them were to pick up a knock or worse, biggest weakness for me is needing another left footed option, really imbalances us on the ball without that option.

Luke Mbete available still....?

Mbete is in Holland and he can fucking stay there. Shite. 

 

Ashworth is the left footed cover for Williams and iredale. Plenty of left footers. 

1 minute ago, Arrested development said:

Mbete is in Holland and he can fucking stay there. Shite. 

 

Ashworth is the left footed cover for Williams and iredale. Plenty of left footers. 

Aye, Thomason is left footed as well, none of them are natural centre halves though.

A fit Ennis would be a good addition, doubt we would get a fit Ennis then what send him back come May

Sam Smith is looking to get out at Reading and that lad at Notts County would be a better call.

Not bothered if that deal does not get across the line but we certainly need another Centre back and Wing back who can play either side

27 minutes ago, Rizlar said:

For me CMG is a waste of a place in our squad he just doesn’t fit our style of play if we could send him back then we could sign a midfielder who would fit our system. 

Send him back where?