Quote Originally Posted by Monaco_Totty View Post
Forshaw v Bate or Loanee - Age v Youth or experience rears it head again.

So if you are good enough you're old enough ?
Saying that can our team currently fit in a deep-playmaker like Bate.

Let's be honest & sensible Bate looks like a kid weight and height wise.
As part of England's U20 set up presently there are 4 x 18yr olds and
15 x 19yr olds and 2 x20yr olds and none of them are current PL regulars.

Reason for that folks.
Like the others kids physically & mentally he/they are not ready for the next step up.Tough
bringing kids through nowadays and problematic dilemmas as Bielsa was at pains to
explain at this weeks presser in detail.

But on the other hand Ross Barcley is a name popping up again for our possible Jan
shopping list.He's 27,back at Chelsea after a decent season on loan to Villa were he
formed a decent midfield with Jack Grearlish playing attacking midfield.
Yes or No or maybe ?
Don’t think Bate will be seen as the answer yet - would be unfair to put so much pressure on his shoulders - ideally, he will get experience through cameos when we are playing better.

Forshaw might be the answer but it’s still a big ask to get him playing at the top of his game when he has been out for so long. I think Shackleton is a much better option. Think the midfield v wolves may be Struijk Klich and a Shackleton with Dallas at LB.

Think loan with an option to buy may be the way to go in January if our form hasn’t picked up by then. My fear with that is they will take 6 weeks to be Bielsafied which could mean. We are in deeper trouble.

Just have to hope Ayling, Bamf, Firpo, Koch and Phillips are back ASAP and then stay fully fit.

I think defensively we miss Bamf an awful lot as he runs himself into the ground every game and is not afraid to challenge even where he may get hurt.