I don't ever recall McKenzie getting hyped, everybody on here thought he looked out of his depth, which he did and proved when he signed for an average League One club. Batty has improved season upon season, but Grant obviously doesn't rate him enough to give him a starting berth, which is a shame because at this level he could do very well.
The whinging that went on and I read when McKenzie was released by City fans was ridiculous. There were tonnes on twitter I remember. I don't think Grant's ever rated him much. I remember him not playing much at all in the first half of last season. He's an okay player, but nothing more. He certainly hasn't done anything to warrant a starting berth, we've got better players and clearly, we're going to keep adding imminently. You don't keep adding if you're happy with what we've got. Still have a feeling 2 more midfielders will be coming in, and imagine we'll probably loan out 4-5 too (Samuelson, Sheaf, C Jones, Greaves and Batty would be my guess) What I took out of Grant's interview was that he wants the option to play 2 deeper midfielders, so whoever is coming in must be able to play there as well as 8, that's why I think it's Barlaser. It's also where Batty plays.
It depends on how far we get in the cups which will mean more games. We probably won't progress from the EFL trophy group, we're already bottom and we need to beat Harrogate and Grimsby (we'll play a weaker team no doubt) - if Leicester and Grimsby get one more win they're through anyway. We start the FA Cup in the 1st round, so we've got a chance of progressing in that. We've got De Wijs, Burke, McLaughlin and Jones as the four first team centre halves, but we need cover and Greaves I think is the next in line. If he goes out on loan, it'll only be until January because our first choice pair don't have the best injury record. C Jones I'd loan out, ditto Sheaf and Samuelsen.
We should get through the EFL trophy, even if we change 11, it's a pretty strong team. I'd keep Festus around as I feel he needs to play a bit of academy football, he's played non-league so can handle the physicality but the 23s is miles more technical and it's important for him to be around the first team every day too. That gives us 5 and I think Smallwood can even play there at a push
Woodburn as suggested would be a very good signing. However, the only question mark I have is, if he is rated as highly as he appears to be, then Terry said we had an option to make it permanent at the end of the loan. Who Woodburn drop down to the Championship if we did get promoted, and would Ehab pay the money?
In talks, but didn't sign apparently, looks like he fancied going home (or his missus did, apparently she wanted to go back to Norway while he was with us).
Not necessarily, there can often be a signing on fee or significant agent fees for a player in demand, but many free agents are actually free.
Okay so there are still sometimes fees involved. Still think it's splitting hairs to criticise McCann for answering 'yes' to the ' fee agreed?' question in that context. There's plenty to criticise McCann and the club for but IMHO that's not one of them.
I doubt he sees it like that, he'll be playing in the Europa League, while we're playing away at Rochdale.
He'll still be ducking out of 50/50's and headers, Europa League or not, and waving to the crowd and kissing the badge.
They get a lot of our youth these days. Ben Clappison is also there and we seem to send them our youth keeper every year. Foulkes and Andrew went on loan there before.
Based on Klopp's comments about Woodburn, it doesn't sound like it's him that's joining today/tomorrow.
