We haven't got Hayden back yet and may well not have his loan resumed before Saturday, though if we do I'm sure he'll play.
It is strong in most places, just not in one of the most important positions on the pitch - up front. Goals win games, we don't score enough. You could argue for another centre half too due to the injuries we have had in the first half of the season. If Dawson had played, I'm sure we wouldn't have lost at home to Derby.
With the Fulham deal going Pete Tong he has not actually left us. SB said as much to Burnsy post game Friday. If Dawson had played you could add Rotherham and PNE to Derby. ++++++# Reports suggest that Blackman rejected the Wendies as he wants PL football guaranteed come May. What an arrogant twat and Derby are welcome to him. The Wendies have dodged a bullet with that one. imo. We have enough attitude with Akpom.
Still not going to plan for Newcastle - Alexandre Lacazette has rejected a move to Newcastle United after Lyon accepted a £22m bid for the striker.
Is it arrogance, or is it confidence that he wants to test himself at the highest level? He's simply joined the club he feels are best placed to give him PL football next season. On current league position he's right.
Glasgow Rangers signing Josh Windass and Crooks should help them get back to the SPL. It will be interesting to see how well Josh does in a better league. Bad news for Accrington though both on and off the pitch. +++++++++++++ Patrick Bamford wont be leaving Chelsea this window. Guus Hiddink wants to see what he has got after a chat with Ray Wilkins. Nottingham Forest the latest club to be linked with Nick Powell from MU. Bournemouth lead the race for QPR defender Steven Caulker. (SC is on for 3 successive relegations if he picks wrongly ) Spurs and Everton are set to lose out to Roma in the race to sign Fulham striker Moussa Dembele. Real Madrid to bid £100m for Eden Hazard from Chelsea. On current form he is barely worth 100p Chelsea flop Falcao is being strongly linked again with MLS side Columbus Crew.
Liverpool have confirmed the signing of midfielder Marko Grujic from Red Star Belgrade, though he'll remain with them on loan until the end of this season.
True to a point, however he would get more starts with the Wendies and they look to have a great chance of a play off berth. Can see Derby crashing and burning again. Hope so and then see the fire sales in the summer. I bet the FL will be taking a keen interest in Derby's FFP situation. Derby = **** or bust to me.
Not sure you could class them as panic buying , I would more look at it that there both in great positions and are adding to what they have to get them over the line whilst we keep faith with our underperforming players
He looked rather fed up sat on the bench @ TWS game. However, no way will Derby allow him to join any championship club that rival Derby. IF MEGA IF it is the case then Derby may well be a club with problems at the wrong time. twt.
Chris Martin is there best striker and if a rift has occurred between him and Derby then that is not good news. I don't see Blackman in the Martin class ability wise and most of Blackmans goals have been scored in the first 3 months of the season. Yes he scored a cracker here but that was more down to bad marking on our part during the build up.
There's very few teams that have scored more than us in the Championship. As for the defence, we have been unlucky with injuries. Most teams would be happy with a squad that includes 4 good Championship quality (at least) Centre halves! Funnily enough, many of the criticisms on this Forum have been about a perceived lack of creativity in our midfield. Unless anyone leaves, I don't see a need for any significant changes.
Irememberwaggy, seems to have forgotten a lot! Our squad has lost Hayden (supposed cover player) and Akpom has proven to be way off the mark; so we need a striker and a defensive midfielder as a minimum. The jury has to be out on Diomande, so prudence would demand a new striker - or two! We should be ripping this league, but an injury here, a pet-lip there and all of a sudden Bruce does not have enough round pegs for is round holes. If Bruce wasn't such a negative Pratt, constantly talking us down, always seeing trouble ahead (cue song), then the players just might have some belief - do you think Elmo has the same belief he had last year?
Sunderland about to sign Bayern Munich defender Jan Kirchhoff for £1m. He is a free agent in the summer. TWS manager Steve Evans says the club still hope to hang onto wanted duo Sam Byram(Everton linked) and Lewis Cook(wanted by Bournemouth) in this window.
Upfront we've only really got Hernandez. Akpom (bloody auto correct) is young and unreliable and Diomande is an unknown quantity. Look at the firepower Derby have? They are at the other extreme, but a minimum of one other striker would help enormously. It's our weakest area so if we can move on a few players and make way in the squad for a decent striker, then we're laughing. Aluko, Elmo, Huddlestone could all leave. 2 of those we could even get a fee for, pointless having players in the last 6 months of contracts that are tying up funds and blocking a first team place. Aluko let go on a free Elmo sell Snodgrass to play in the vacant role. Huddlestone sell he's on the bench mostly at present. Reinvest that wage saving and income on a centre forward that would surely generate/save a few million at least.