One major signing off having a decent team at this level.

[Harry's Game]

That signing is a powerful goal scoring centre forward who has a decent turn of pace and can hold the ball up.

Of course finding one of those is the tricky thing, oh to unearth another Brian Deane somewhere!

Baxter is looking better each week in that role behind the forward, we just need to find that forward.

Porter tries his hardest but let's face it he is 90% useless! it's says something when he gets a round of applause for simply controlling the ball and laying it off and not letting it bounce off him like a big lamp post as happens on most occasions.

 

[sitwell]

Utter bollocks

 

[JohnDenver]

Given a purely binary choice, I'd rather we invested in a quick wide man or attacking fullback than buy a striker just for the sake of replacing Porter.

 

[Silent Blade]

A new midfield general captain please

 

[Harry's Game]

Given a purely binary choice, I'd rather we invested in a quick wide man or attacking fullback than buy a striker just for the sake of replacing Porter.

We need a Goalscorer, we won't get away with one nil every week it's like playing Russian Roulette, if we are going to play Baxter we have to play one upfront at the moment it has to be Porter and he just isn't good enough.

 

[Blade]

Our central midfield is as bad as ive ever seen. We need someone who is prepared to put a tackle in and someone who is prepared to ask for the ball and carry it forward. Under clough progress will be slow and steady and I'm happy enough with that. First job in january is to pay up doyle and fuck him off. Today in the first half it took him 40 minutes to play a forward pass to one of our players and he made one tackle although that was more intercepting after their player took a bad touch. He was very lucky to stay on the pitch after the foul where the ref bizarrely spoke to Collins and then denying a clear goalscoring opportunity in the 2nd half. The problem being that is par for the course rather than a bad game. Flynn and murphy did ok today but they bossed the centre of the pitch for large parts and it's the same most weeks. Having said all that I'd say well done to Clough for slowly turning things around and have faith until proven otherwise that he will get round to improving our weak areas.

 

[MBoreman]

We're already a decent team at this level, in fact if we swapped Doyle for McGinn I could see that side and bench going up next year.

 

[Deadbat]

Have to agree with above. We don't have a genuine ball winner who can dominate but equally no one who can play a pass forward/split a side open (a la McDonald could do at times). McGinn is best footballer of those there but he lacks fitness, pace and aggression. Doyle is well Doyle and Coady still looks like someone making his debut every game to me and takes an age to make decisions or play the most simple pass. He needs to sop worrying and start doing things on instinct more for me.

We are crying out for a player in the middle of the park and a top notch centre forward. I think that whilst the defence has weaknesses as does the wide man; get these 2 players and we could improve quite a bit.

 

[Paulus]

we also need a centre half with a bit of pace to give us some options.

 

[blade too long]

Think if we have any ambition , which has been intimated Id expect , more than just like , 3/4 half decent championship ability players , or really good youngsters, moving in through 2014s first 31 days , of course some will be waving farewell to BDTBL , and some will get a cheery wave back , but the squad is 20% short of being top 6 in this god forsaken league and that needs adressing. Ive no doubt Nigel will have a plan , some may not come off , but he seems thorough in his planning and I expect it to get even better .We are still coming up short in goals from open play and that involves several positions

 

[Hodgyman]

I think that we are struggling without McGinn in the middle as we do not have another player who can receive a ball with his back to the opposition goal and turn round and go or pass it forward since the departure of McDonald. This makes us have to play the ball back to our defenders. Our only surge forward of note through midfield today was Harry's which created a promising attack.

 

[Reedy1889]

Personally i think we already have that midfielder capable of providing the incisive through balls and providing moments of quality it's just for whatever reason it hasn't worked out as of yet and the man i'm talking about is..

Florent Cuvelier.

Probably could do with a month or so elsewhere to build his confidence and fitness back up to the standard needed

 

[dublin 10 blade]

Was talking to a Derby fan at East Midlands airport last night , and he couldn't understand why they had sacked Clough , he's happy we're they are but knows its cloughs team , was saying anybody who fucks around will be gone , though any young players that shows promise will be given every encouragement to develop ,Baxter Flynn Coady . Murphy perhaps ? was I the only one who thought our bench was very strong yesterday , looking at Swindon yesterday showed me how badly our last manager had us playing , they were fucking awful at times , I know we're not world beaters but there around the playoffs for ffs , nice to see us being harder to break down and defend as a team as well , looking forward to what the future holds as a good young team is there if given stability and a good transfer policy . UTB .

 

[alcoblade]

When you can make an argument for Chris Porter starting every week, you don't have to look far to see where your problems lie.

We could strengthen everywhere, but if you struggle to score goals then you struggle. A top forward can go a long way to compensate for dross elsewhere.

UTB

 

[Pinchy]

Our central midfield is as bad as ive ever seen

Did you not see The Maestro and Elpiton (as he then was) under the 'management' of Semi-Pro? Even Quinn hated it.

That aside, we've had a lot lot worse. I remember a game at Plymouth where our central midfield was Paul Casey and Phil Jones - quite dreadful. I also saw Denis Longhorn. He made Mrs. Doyle look like Platini.

 

[Houso]

We're certainly not as bad as some would have us.

After all, a couple of weeks ago Baxter was fat and worthless; and lo and behold, we've now seen he can actually improve under a new manager. Shocking eh?

Perhaps that same courtesy should be offered to Cuvelier too? With that in mind, I tend to agree that we're very close to a promotion chasing side.

One striker, and as most have mentioned, a new central midfielder please. Just the one will do though.

 

[Sheff de party]

We're already a decent team at this level, in fact if we swapped Doyle for McGinn I could see that side and bench going up next year.

I can only assume you didn't go yesterday. That's as bad as I have ever seen us play in the first half. We could barely string 2 passes together and we're not even good enough to lump it up front.

If we'd played a team that even vaguely tested us at the back, we'd have got battered.

 

[Sheff de party]

[quote="[/quote]

One major signing? Is that signing ''a new midfield?" (I'm counting Baxter as a striker for yesterday)

 

[MBoreman]

I can only assume you didn't go yesterday. That's as bad as I have ever seen us play in the first half. We could barely string 2 passes together and we're not even good enough to lump it up front.

If we'd played a team that even vaguely tested us at the back, we'd have got battered.

I did go and thought it was a decent performance. Flynn, Murphy and Baxter all did well as did some others.

 

[super_pig]

I also saw Denis Longhorn. He made Mrs. Doyle look like Platini.

Denis Longhorn.. 'kin 'ell. yeah i saw him too.. personally i think we need two players but i think given time for Coady and Cuvalier to get theirselves settled and Miller to return then we might not actually need anyone.. every team in the world is 'three players from being a top team'

 

[grafikhaus]

Denis Longhorn.. 'kin 'ell. yeah i saw him too.. personally i think we need two players but i think given time for Coady and Cuvalier to get theirselves settled and Miller to return then we might not actually need anyone.. every team in the world is 'three players from being a top team'

But won't Coady be gone in January?

Although an improvement on Saturday (not difficult), I think this 'One major signing...' is pie in the sky. A half-decent team would have destroyed Swindon (or us, come to that) and we need quality all over the park. Relying on Miller is dangerous.

Leon Clark from Coventry would be a good start.

 

[JohnDenver]

After all, a couple of weeks ago Baxter was fat and worthless;

He's still fat.

 

[yorkshirecoast]

We are 3 or 4 players short of a decent League 1 team. A goalscorer, quick central defender and creative midfielder top the list.

 

[Grecian2000]

I almost agree with the OP.

One player, in EVERY department, might have us challenging next season.

We're still an attacking right back, a CM and a CF away from being competitive in my view.

Porter isn't the Devil incarnate but he is not good enough. Doyle is not Adolph Hitlers long lost grand child but he is not good enough. McMahon is not Pol Pot's nephew but he is not good enough.
Those would be my first choice replacements in Jan, with better players than Collins, Flynn and a new LB my Summer wish list.

I'm really looking forward to the window, for a change, as whoever leaves won't be missed and whoever comes in must be 2/1 on to be better than the bloke he's replacing.

 

[Racy]

That signing is a powerful goal scoring centre forward who has a decent turn of pace and can hold the ball up.

Of course finding one of those is the tricky thing, oh to unearth another Brian Deane somewhere!

Baxter is looking better each week in that role behind the forward, we just need to find that forward.

Porter tries his hardest but let's face it he is 90% useless! it's says something when he gets a round of applause for simply controlling the ball and laying it off and not letting it bounce off him like a big lamp post as happens on most occasions.

Since Porter has returned from Chesterfield I think he,s done well and doing simply what the manager is asking off him.
I like many others on here have given him stick but you cant fault his attitude and application and he,s pretty good at what he does.
Clough has revitalised the squad and i even find myself even cutting Flynn a bit of slack so lets not look at who we can bring in and focus on the next few games six points out of the next two.

 

[grafikhaus]

With all the managerial changes at Brentford, I'd love to see United take a punt on Clayton Donaldson.

 

[Fiery Blade]

We are still a long way from being a decent side:
a pair of decent full backs (White is not the answer and McMahon is a car crash waiting to happen) a Centre Back (to challenge or replace Collins) a winger that can beat a full back and cross the ball, a striker that can score goals and a captain that can replace Doyle.
Flynn, Coady and McGinn are not consistent, Murphy still has a lot to prove, Miller is a long way from his best and Baxter is a stone too heavy. Porter whilst a 100% trier is just not good enough (can't believe the number of easy chances he has spurned this season) - perhaps fourth division or Scottish League. Lappin has developed into a steady player that can do several jobs on the field and his dead ball kicking is probably the best in the club at present but I cannot see him commanding a regular place even surrounded by the dross we have in the squad. Cuvelier, who knows but he can't be pulling many trees up in training as Mr Clough deemed fit not to select him or even giving him a run out from the bench !
Saturday was a good win but far away from being a polished or commanding victory !
Some on here have very short memories - we are where we are in the league due to the intransigence of Weir and the dross he assembled as a squad - Weir has gone but the dregs are still at the club !
Mr Clough has still much to do in the JTW if he is to make the side capable of getting promotion !!

 

[mattbianco1]

With all the managerial changes at Brentford, I'd love to see United take a punt on Clayton Donaldson.

You mean the Clayton Donaldson that has played all 20 games this season for Brentford and scored 10 goals. The same Brentford that are 3rd in the league?

Why would he join us and why would they sell him?

 

[Racy]

We are still a long way from being a decent side:
a pair of decent full backs (White is not the answer and McMahon is a car crash waiting to happen) a Centre Back (to challenge or replace Collins) a winger that can beat a full back and cross the ball, a striker that can score goals and a captain that can replace Doyle.
Flynn, Coady and McGinn are not consistent, Murphy still has a lot to prove, Miller is a long way from his best and Baxter is a stone too heavy. Porter whilst a 100% trier is just not good enough (can't believe the number of easy chances he has spurned this season) - perhaps fourth division or Scottish League. Lappin has developed into a steady player that can do several jobs on the field and his dead ball kicking is probably the best in the club at present but I cannot see him commanding a regular place even surrounded by the dross we have in the squad. Cuvelier, who knows but he can't be pulling many trees up in training as Mr Clough deemed fit not to select him or even giving him a run out from the bench !
Saturday was a good win but far away from being a polished or commanding victory !
Some on here have very short memories - we are where we are in the league due to the intransigence of Weir and the dross he assembled as a squad - Weir has gone but the dregs are still at the club !
Mr Clough has still much to do in the JTW if he is to make the side capable of getting promotion !!

You,re not saying saying that we've still got a chance of promotion this season - no chance!
Clough will bring in 3 players in maximum in the JTW he do'sent yield under fan or media pressure.

 

[Fiery Blade]

You,re not saying saying that we've still got a chance of promotion this season - no chance!
Clough will bring in 3 players in maximum in the JTW he do'sent yield under fan or media pressure.

No chance of promotion this year !! I was alluding to the fact that Mr Clough can assemble a team over the rest of the season to clamber out of the relegation dogfight and hopefully stabilise to give him the opportunity to form a cohesive unit to be in position to make a challenge next year for perhaps an automatic spot !