Top 2 in January - time to capitalise

[Bruce Wayne]

LWB now the biggest concern for cover,IMO. Then perhaps a CM to cover Fleck.

Maybe a CM to replace Fleck? Love Flecky but he's dropped off from his usual standard. A bit of competition in the box to box stakes wouldn't go amiss. He's probably the only player we don't have genuine back up for.

 

[Ricky]

Then perhaps a CM to cover Fleck.

That's another one. Fleck's not been at his best. If he could be at his best between now and May, I'd back us to go up. He could make all the difference.

So having some proper competition for him could help a lot. He's not had that since he's been here.

 

[Scooter_mcgavin]

Fleck doesn't seem to fit in the midfield 3 now norwood has gone in there. Norwood, seems to play a third centre half positionally at times...and he's more often than not looking to spread it out wide. The game seems to bypass fleck at the moment and I'm not sure how he can get more involved, without breaking from position.

 

[Ricky]

Fleck doesn't seem to fit in the midfield 3 now norwood has gone in there. Norwood, seems to play a third centre half positionally at times...and he's more often than not looking to spread it out wide. The game seems to bypass fleck at the moment and I'm not sure how he can get more involved, without breaking from position.

I think the absence of Coutts is the biggest factor behind Fleck's form. But it's no time to bring him back in.

I also think Fleck should be doing more regardless. That said, could it be a fitness issue? He doesn't seem to be at his best physically to me.

 

[S64 Blade]

Maybe a CM to replace Fleck? Love Flecky but he's dropped off from his usual standard. A bit of competition in the box to box stakes wouldn't go amiss. He's probably the only player we don't have genuine back up for.

Any realistic names there? I’m struggling to think of any.

 

[Scooter_mcgavin]

Realistic, within budget? We don't have any options unfortunately.

 

[Bruce Wayne]

Any realistic names there? I’m struggling to think of any.

Me too but that's why Wilder is in charge.

 

[Ricky]

Harrison Reed would be a good one to cover Fleck if he wasn't already on loan at Blackburn.

Lewis Baker too, but he's gone to Reading.

I wonder what Swift or Kelly would cost from Reading?

Joe Rothwell for Blackburn impressed me against us, and he's not a regular there.

The best way to get cover for Fleck might be by signing a young player from L1.

Or we could just offer Villa £15m for John McGinn....

 

[Nick Jansky]

It could be our last genuine chance of promotion for a very long time to come.

Why?

 

[Nick Jansky]

Wilder has said we aren’t signing anyone else.

No he hasn’t

 

[AdamSufc1997]

i can't see anyone else coming in unless we flog a few

 

[Rodley]

Wilder has said we aren’t signing anyone else.

We have to go over it again. It’s the rules.

 

[Rodley]

Harrison Reed would be a good one to cover Fleck if he wasn't already on loan at Blackburn.

Lewis Baker too, but he's gone to Reading.

I wonder what Swift or Kelly would cost from Reading?

Joe Rothwell for Blackburn impressed me against us, and he's not a regular there.

The best way to get cover for Fleck might be by signing a young player from L1.

Or we could just offer Villa £15m for John McGinn....

Baker was utter wank at Leeds.

 

[Nicolaus_Copernicus]

Baker was utter wank at Leeds.

.....as he was at Wednesday and Boro. It’s as if he can only play at a level below the championship.

 

[Danny_Blade]

Why?

Well I may be wrong but if we don't go up this season it will be really difficult to keep hold of some of our better players in the summer. It would be highly likely we'd receive bids for Jack O'Connell and John Fleck from lower Premier League clubs and/or even the 3 that come down could offer bigger wages than us and the appeal of going straight back up although its not guaranteed.

If the ownership problem isn't sorted out then I can see the budget for next season becoming very paltry. We already have a poor budget as everyone knows we're not one of the wealthiest Championship clubs, its only thanks to CW and AK being almost miracle workers despite the squad and (there's the poor budget again) they've had to work with since their arrival. OK our management are very shrewd and astute so they don't necessarily need millions and millions to be successful as they've proven but its still not ideal for them and it would be unfair to expect them to keep performing wonders season in season out!

Which lastly leads me on to the uncertainty of these two. Now I personally don't think they will leave anytime soon but there are a lot of other Blades that think they well could do, and we couldn't really blame them if they did. I'm sure both want to reach the Premier League with this club but if it becomes apparent to them that its unlikely to happen here then they may join a club that has got better credentials if they were to be approached of course.

 

[Roygbiv]

Wilder has said we aren’t signing anyone else.

He actually said we aren't in any rush to sign anyone but we have plans and targets that may come to fruition later in the window.

 

[Chali 2na]

Harrison Reed would be a good one to cover Fleck if he wasn't already on loan at Blackburn.

Lewis Baker too, but he's gone to Reading.

I wonder what Swift or Kelly would cost from Reading?

Joe Rothwell for Blackburn impressed me against us, and he's not a regular there.

The best way to get cover for Fleck might be by signing a young player from L1.

Or we could just offer Villa £15m for John McGinn....

Other than McGinn, I don't think any of those players would be able to cover Flecks role. (I'm a fan of Reed and Swift though)

 

[SUFC Handsworth]

We've signed two good players already. But now we're in this position, we have to use it to try and sign a very good player, or two. It's one hell of a rare position to be in and we don't want to be having any regrets about January at the end of the season. I hope the funding is there for Wilder should the right players become available.

"Mitrovic" within 20 posts

This is the exact time for the club to be having a realistic punt in January, it'll not happen though as we have a fourth rate board like we've always had that's why we always seriously punch under our weight. My money is on McCabe shipping someone out two minutes before the end of the JTW, I'm going take a punt here and say someone like Baldock.

 

[Hilly]

This is the exact time for the club to be having a realistic punt in January, it'll not happen though as we have a fourth rate board like we've always had that's why we always seriously punch under our weight. My money is on McCabe shipping someone out two minutes before the end of the JTW, I'm going take a punt here and say someone like Baldock.

Change the tune you boring twat.

 

[SUFC Guy]

Is there any player from league 1 or 2 that is really tearing it up? Realistically that's what we would be looking at. Who in their right mind would let a player go of that standard from the Champ or Prem? - Nobody, not even us

Think we will end up going with what we have and providing we stay injury free then we have a real good chance of top 2. Having said that, a play off spot in either 3rd or 4th would be fantastic.

UTMB

 

[west_yorks_blade]

I'm absolutely thrilled to bits with where we are and what Wilder has achieved with the assets at his disposal. Its fantastic at the moment.

That said, I agree with Ricky. The prize is so huge and it is within our grasp with some more sensible investment in the right areas. We may not have an opportunity like this again for a long time.

Its immensely frustrating that the owners are locked in this petty dispute right at the point in time where we need them to stand together to get us over the line.

 

[Iffy Onuora's Shiny Head]

If we were being greedy:
Left footed Centre back cover
Cover at LWB
Competition for Fleck
Pace up front as I can't see Washington getting much game time.

Realistically I think we will only get 1 of them and I'd say we need a left footed crainie because of how important JOC is to our style of play.

Not sure how many loans we can have in our team sheet. We had 4 on it yesterday

 

[Ricky]

Other than McGinn, I don't think any of those players would be able to cover Flecks role. (I'm a fan of Reed and Swift though)

He's a very rare player, not many would be able to replace him directly. It would probably be a case of signing someone similar and adjusting to account for the inevitable differences. The basic requirement being quality on the ball and a decent work rate. They'd have to be flexible enough to play on the left side too, but not necessarily left footed. I think Reed's a good shout for next season.

 

[Chali 2na]

He's a very rare player, not many would be able to replace him directly. It would probably be a case of signing someone similar and adjusting to account for the inevitable differences. The basic requirement being quality on the ball and a decent work rate. They'd have to be flexible enough to play on the left side too, but not necessarily left footed. I think Reed's a good shout for next season.

Absoloutely, he's going to be incredibly hard to replace.

I've not seen a great deal of Reed, looks neat and tidy going forward but not seen the same tenacity and work rate that Fleck has.

 

[S64 Blade]

Swift could be a good shout, especially as Reading look League One bound.

 

[Ricky]

Absoloutely, he's going to be incredibly hard to replace.

I've not seen a great deal of Reed, looks neat and tidy going forward but not seen the same tenacity and work rate that Fleck has.

He certainly doesn't seem like a lazy player to me. He can also play the Duffy role, and I think it would be quite important that any Fleck cover can play another position, as it's likely he'd barely play in Fleck's position.

 

[Chali 2na]

He certainly doesn't seem like a lazy player to me. He can also play the Duffy role, and I think it would be quite important that any Fleck cover can play another position, as it's likely he'd barely play in Fleck's position.

Yeah, I may have used the wrong words. I'm not trying to say he's lazy but he just didn't seem to have the same intensity or effectiveness to his defensive game as Fleck normally does.

You know much about him? You reckon Southampton are bothered about keeping him or not?

 

[Ricky]

Yeah, I may have used the wrong words. I'm not trying to say he's lazy but he just didn't seem to have the same intensity or effectiveness to his defensive game as Fleck normally does.

You know much about him? You reckon Southampton are bothered about keeping him or not?

I think they might sell. He probably lacks the physicality to get a game for them at that level.

 

[Chali 2na]

I think they might sell. He probably lacks the physicality to get a game for them at that level.

You're right then, probably one to keep tabs on.

Not sure we'll strengthen much further this window if I'm honest - I think we'd really struggle to improve the first 11 at this point - only defensive cover I can realistically see as a potential area to improve.

I'd love us to buy a couple of young players, with pace, in forward positions to be understudy to players like Sharp and Duffy but I can't see us spending the money needed to get someone that would improve the team.

Hopefully Dowell can cover Duffy and offer some energy, while McGoldrick and Sharp maintain their form and fitness long enough to get us up.

 

[LJBlade]

This is the exact time for the club to be having a realistic punt in January, it'll not happen though as we have a fourth rate board like we've always had that's why we always seriously punch under our weight. My money is on McCabe shipping someone out two minutes before the end of the JTW, I'm going take a punt here and say someone like Baldock.

I’ve probably said this before but if you aren’t happy with things why don’t you offer to put your money in and give it a go?