A lot of supporters, in various places, seem to think we desperately need additions. I was glad to see TM saying he is quite relaxed, and will only bring players in who are clearly ahead of the current-squad members in particular positions.
As we all know, that is pretty difficult in January - especially at sensible prices. The PL clubs seem to get most of the big business done quite early. For the rest of us it often comes down to the final day, when we pick at the scraps, or - in the case of desperate managers - spend silly money on moderate players.
Here is a run-down of those who could conceivably get in the match-day squad at the moment. Some are mentioned more than once, because of versatility.
GK: Raya, Leutwiler, Fisher.
RB: Nyambe, Travis, Bennett, Reed.
LB: Bell, Williams, (Jack Doyle).
CB: Lenihan, Mulgrew, Rodwell, Williams, Downing, Wharton, Grayson, (Platt, Magloire).
RM/RW: Bennett, Reed, Brereton, Rothwell, Conway.
LM/LW: Conway, Bennett, Rothwell, Gladwin, Armstrong.
CM(Defensive): Reed, Travis, Smallwood, Evans, Bennett, Davenport, Rodwell.
CM(Creative/Attacking): Rothwell, (Lyons).
No.10s: Dack, Armstrong, Brereton, Samuel, Butterworth.
No. 9s: Graham, Nuttall.
Earlier in the season, I was in favour of bringing in someone like Chapman, and I still think an out-and-out winger would be useful in the last half-hour. However, most of our attacks are set up by different routes, and TM has found ways round that problem.
Same thing with my previous call for back-up for Graham. Could Nuttall be the answer after all? I'm still not completely convinced, but I was quite impressed by his last two performances.
On the face of it, we could desperately do with a Tugay in the attacking midfield role, but - realistically - are we going to pick up someone decent in a January window? And again, Mowbray has fashioned a method of doing without such a player. He has used two holding midfielders (and we are especially strong in that position), employing various combinations of Armstrong, Bennett, Reed, Conway, Nuttall, Brereton, Rothwell (and Samuel) to then support our excellent front-two pairing of Dack and Graham.
Some fans don't like TM playing people "out of position", but I think it is more a question of him demanding versatility, given that Dack and Graham have nailed their spots.
A squad can always be improved, but are we "desperate" anywhere? I don't think so, although I wouldn't like to see Graham get injured. I never expected a challenge for promotion this year, anyway, and I can't see much realistic prospect of us finding another Dack or Reed in the next couple of weeks.
Has anyone else noticed that TM does not seem half as interested as most of our recent managers in looking abroad for players?
Perhaps I'm being under-ambitious. What does everyone else think?
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