Top 2 in January - time to capitalise

[Ricky]

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.

Keeping Sharp and McGoldrick in good condition is vital. It might mean giving them the odd game off.

If we were to spend on young players Marcus Maddison would be a good one, and maybe James Justin (Luton) for wing back.

 

[sheffielder]

We can’t sign players to cover injuries as we don’t know where that injury may happen.

Ideally I want another lefty who can play cm or wb either as a starter or cover and and someone fast who can play upfront but good coming in from the wings too.

 

[Guesty]

Anyone seen that lad at Barnsley much? That Mowatt?

Looked awesome yesterday but maybe just a flash in the pan.

 

[Chali 2na]

Keeping Sharp and McGoldrick in good condition is vital. It might mean giving them the odd game off.

If we were to spend on young players Marcus Maddison would be a good one, and maybe James Justin (Luton) for wing back.

Definetly. Hopefully a combination of Clarke, Washington and Madine rotating with them can help carry the load.

As for Maddison, as much as I rate him as a player, I have my doubts as to whether he'd ever be good enough for the premier league (which has to be a long term consideration if we're investing that kind of money.)
He's also getting to the point where he can no longer be considered young.

The sort of young players that fit that mould are probably players like Maja, Bowen, Eze and even Che Adams - I can only see is investing that kind of money (>£10m) if we get to the PL.

 

[Kevincarterversion2.0]

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

Completely agree - we are in a fantastic position but the spat our owners have got themselves into will mean we won't be making a bit hitter type signing (to get us over the line). Whether or not that will cost us come May, only time will tell.

 

[LoughboroBlade]

Maybe look at RND, I doubt he'd be a worse option than Johnson who varies from terrible to not great.

The nature of the loan he’s on gives us a bit more flexibility there as I believe like we did with Smith we could recall him whenever and add him to the squad. Were Stevens to pick up a significant injury after the window shuts I’d expect exactly that to happen. Till that happens though, it’s beneficial he’s getting regular games with Barrow.

 

[Ricky]

Definetly. Hopefully a combination of Clarke, Washington and Madine rotating with them can help carry the load.

As for Maddison, as much as I rate him as a player, I have my doubts as to whether he'd ever be good enough for the premier league (which has to be a long term consideration if we're investing that kind of money.)
He's also getting to the point where he can no longer be considered young.

The sort of young players that fit that mould are probably players like Maja, Bowen, Eze and even Che Adams - I can only see is investing that kind of money (>£10m) if we get to the PL.

Being good enough for the PL wouldn't be a consideration for me right now. We're still more likely not to be in the PL next season and in any case, they could easily be sold, possibly for a profit.

As for Maddison, he's not that young but I think he's got plenty of improvement in him if he stepped up a level and was part of a good, well managed squad. Remember where Duffy was at his age... Morecambe I think, impressing me on the right wing in the play off games!

One player I'd love us to invest in is Callum Robinson. He's injured currently and Sean Maguire is back. It could reduce the asking price and it could be our only chance to sign him as a Championship club. He'll be fit again in a month, and could have a big impact towards the end of the season. Younger than Maddison too. I realise that's pure fantasy though, unfortunately.

 

[blade too long]

football stars are aligning

 

[Bill Johnson]

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.

This. 100%.

I see absolutely no way this club will keep Wilder and Knoll if we fail to go up this season AND the 2 bell ends in the boardroom don't resolve ownership with significant backing being made available.
IMO the only way we could expect Wilder to give it a third crack of the whip is with boardroom harmony AND a realistic budget for the task.

Either way this season will be defining for this club in a once in a generation way.

 

[blade too long]

This. 100%.

I see absolutely no way this club will keep Wilder and Knoll if we fail to go up this season AND the 2 bell ends in the boardroom don't resolve ownership with significant backing being made available.
IMO the only way we could expect Wilder to give it a third crack of the whip is with boardroom harmony AND a realistic budget for the task.

Either way this season will be defining for this club in a once in a generation way.

is that death knoll

 

[blade too long]

if we get to play offs we have improved
so progress is still upwards
all clubs change players , if we dont go up we will need obviously to improve a bit more, so will need more players anyhow

but lets see how it pans out
might lose players to bigger clubs if we win the title , they will be sought after , works both ways

 

[Bill Johnson]

if we get to play offs we have improved
so progress is still upwards
all clubs change players , if we dont go up we will need obviously to improve a bit more, so will need more players anyhow

but lets see how it pans out
might lose players to bigger clubs if we win the title , they will be sought after , works both ways

Wow.
Impressive deflection and denial of the watershed we are hurtling towards.

 

[snootyfenooty]

is that death knoll

No its the latest conspiracy theory - the grassy knill.

 

[blade too long]

Wow.
Impressive deflection and denial of the watershed we are hurtling towards.

I am averse to the 3 horses of the apocalypse view. I don't see impending doom in every scenario. Luckily the players dont seem to have a negative outlook

 

[Fanny magnet]

is that death knoll

Grassy

 

[Fanny magnet]

Ive said all season and I will Continue to ,if we finish top 6 it ranks as high an achievement as anything I've seen at bdtbl ,to finish top two would be the highest

If you'd have asked me after the west Brom game I would have said no chance, there were psychological issues holding the players back but that crazy minute against derby seemed to show them how to overcome that

They seem to have the belief of a promotion team and that's something you can't buy

 

[Bill Johnson]

I am averse to the 3 horses of the apocalypse view. I don't see impending doom in every scenario. Luckily the players dont seem to have a negative outlook

I respectfully suggest 're reading what I actually said and when it will become a reality.
None of this will impact unless we don't go up.

 

[blade too long]

I respectfully suggest 're reading what I actually said and when it will become a reality.
None of this will impact unless we don't go up.

Still not be that bleak . You forgot the suicide cult clicking into gear and the evil landlord foreclosing on the deeds

 

[Bill Johnson]

Still not be that bleak . You forgot the suicide cult clicking into gear and the evil landlord foreclosing on the deeds

I also forgot what a waste of time it is trying to have a serious conversation with sycophantic clapping seals.
Thanks for reminding me.

 

[South Bucks]

We don't need cover we need improvements.

Cover is if we want to stay in the Championship, improvements is if we want to get out of it.

 

[Fanny magnet]

We don't need cover we need improvements.

Cover is if we want to stay in the Championship, improvements is if we want to get out of it.

Who would you improve on ?
Bearing in mind we are 2nd in the league

 

[Kozzy_is_my_Dad]

Agree completely but would be amazed it if happened.

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

Now is the time, we may face years of mediocrity if we don't go up this time. We don't deserve to be up there in terms of what we've spent, can we stay the course? We do deserve to be up there on form alone though, but with form inevitably comes interest from other sides.

Don't go up, and we could lost our best players. Go up and we can dream big...

We have to speculate to accumulate.
But with the owners' dispute, it won't happen.

If only they could see sense...

 

[Pollingtonblade]

Now is the time, we may face years of mediocrity if we don't go up this time. We don't deserve to be up there in terms of what we've spent, can we stay the course? We do deserve to be up there on form alone though, but with form inevitably comes interest from other sides.

Don't go up, and we could lost our best players. Go up and we can dream big...

We have to speculate to accumulate.
But with the owners' dispute, it won't happen.

If only they could see sense...

Nowt wrong with the squad we’ve got to be fair.

 

[Fanny magnet]

Now is the time, we may face years of mediocrity if we don't go up this time. We don't deserve to be up there in terms of what we've spent, can we stay the course? We do deserve to be up there on form alone though, but with form inevitably comes interest from other sides.

Don't go up, and we could lost our best players. Go up and we can dream big...

We have to speculate to accumulate.
But with the owners' dispute, it won't happen.

If only they could see sense...

And if they weren't disputing ....they still wouldn't spend owt ,because they don't have owt

 

[Kozzy_is_my_Dad]

Nowt wrong with the squad we’ve got to be fair.

There isn't, you're right, but it's as Ricky says it's about ensuring that we don't sell ourselves short and live to regret it.

 

[Kozzy_is_my_Dad]

And if they weren't disputing ....they still wouldn't spend owt ,because they don't have owt

And the money to cover Madine's wages? Is that Magic?

Typical short sightedness from McCabe though, I guess. If his gamble pays off and we go up, he's gonna drag his heels even longer over the sale. When he has nowt left to back us.

 

[bartman]

Now is the time, we may face years of mediocrity if we don't go up this time. We don't deserve to be up there in terms of what we've spent, can we stay the course? We do deserve to be up there on form alone though, but with form inevitably comes interest from other sides.

Don't go up, and we could lost our best players. Go up and we can dream big...

We have to speculate to accumulate.
But with the owners' dispute, it won't happen.

If only they could see sense...

Who( or whst position)do you think,realistically would improve us enough to give us the the best chance of finishing top two.

 

[bartman]

And the money to cover Madine's wages? Is that Magic?

Typical short sightedness from McCabe though, I guess. If his gamble pays off and we go up, he's gonna drag his heels even longer over the sale. When he has nowt left to back us.

Why just McCabe ? Dowell and Madine wont have been cheap to bring in.

 

[Fanny magnet]

And the money to cover Madine's wages? Is that Magic?

Typical short sightedness from McCabe though, I guess. If his gamble pays off and we go up, he's gonna drag his heels even longer over the sale. When he has nowt left to back us.

You've lost me mate

 

[Kozzy_is_my_Dad]

You've lost me mate

How so?