Shinniesta

[swaledale]

Everton fans appear to be clamouring for Dobbin to be recalled. Personally I think it’d be better for both clubs if he stayed with us. Lots of promise but way off the top level at present...imo.

My point about Roberts is that he ISN’T playing, even at League one level, and that’s no use to Brighton...or us.

Your point about the number of loans we can ha be is a good one and one I admit I’d forgotten.

We’ll see.

I'm not sure they are! There has been utter bilge printed in the DET about fans being frustrated because Dobbin scored against Torquay, I mean obviously Lampard is under pressure from some fans on social media claiming Dobbin who is scoring in league 1 would be the answer for Everton in the prem!!

Roberts I take your point, Brighton could recall him and send him elsewhere on loan, but a lot of going out on loan is the experience of being part of the first team and understanding how it works. No club that loans a player can guarantee game time.

Its clear why Warne isn't picking him at the moment, the defence is just fine without him, I'm sure injuries, suspensions loss of form etc. will see him used as the season progresses, he is useful to us, as cover, surely you not expecting Warne to play him just because he is good and change a successful team? That would be strange.

[ramAnag]

I'm not sure they are! There has been utter bilge printed in the DET about fans being frustrated because Dobbin scored against Torquay, I mean obviously Lampard is under pressure from some fans on social media claiming Dobbin who is scoring in league 1 would be the answer for Everton in the prem!!

Roberts I take your point, Brighton could recall him and send him elsewhere on loan, but a lot of going out on loan is the experience of being part of the first team and understanding how it works. No club that loans a player can guarantee game time.

Its clear why Warne isn't picking him at the moment, the defence is just fine without him, I'm sure injuries, suspensions loss of form etc. will see him used as the season progresses, he is useful to us, as cover, surely you not expecting Warne to play him just because he is good and change a successful team? That would be strange.

Most of what is written in the DT is complete ‘bilge’ these days but I don’t use that source alone and we largely agree about Dobbin anyway.

The Roberts issue is different. Yes...the defence has been fine with Sibley at left back...but weaker elsewhere for the same reason.
Sibley provides both bite and an eye for goal. This is what we’ve been missing imo and Bolton was a perfect example...it’s all ‘ifs and maybes’ of course and we’ll never know what might have been. Warne obviously knows more than me but that’s my take.

Agree with you about Bielik. Fine player with great potential but a huge risk. Some players are just too injury prone to ever fulfill their potential and unfortunately, imo, he’s one of them. A fit Bielik would make a huge difference but he might last two or three games before breaking down again and we can’t afford that risk.

[Andy_Faber]

Roberts

It’s clear why Warne isn't picking him at the moment, the defence is just fine without him.

Yes it is and I feel a bit sorry for Roberts who I was impressed with. It’s a good sign that we have a bit of genuine competition in many places and a squad that is both clearly willing and also able (Smith, Knight, Sibley etc) to perform well out of position. Trusting what we have, with a bit of cover coming in, and IMO a better forward, is a good economic argument against Beilik I guess

[Geoff Parkstone]

I suspect it will either be very busy or a damp squib of a January. If we can't pay any fees (if indeed we do sell anyone) I don't see much action on loans until the last few days of the month. Thus imagine there could be wailing and gnashing of teeth at the inactivity by 20th January

[Geoff Parkstone]

We could maybe do some sort of player and cash deal for Bielik IF we could find a suitable counterparty for such a deal? So that way we don't spend on a player but got less cash on the sale?

The surprising thing is that we are almost a day into the window and Forest haven't spunked away any more funds that they don't have

[MadAmster]

Right back is one position I'm pretty certain we will fill this window then we can have Knight and Smith both available for midfield duty. Maybe 2 but probably 1 wide player as cover for NML/Barks/Dobbin. Possibly a striker. That would be it, I think, unless of course players leave in which case they would, hopefully, be replaced.

[Geoff Parkstone]

So in summary we all concur that we need a commanding midfielder with a bit of "bite". We cannot buy one, but we do have an expensive one on the books who is a bit of an injury risk that we can recall. So (1) find a cheap one in free agency - unlikely in a January window (Shinnie?) (2) get one in on loan who doesn't need a loan fee (3) bring Bielek back.

Option 3 makes other manoeuvres less easy but the defence is fine even with the bodges. Those bodges weaken midfield but Bielek covers that.

Striker in lieu of Collins is another need, or he has to up productivity. But these are more in the way of luxuries.

For me, bring Bielek back, maybe tinker with front/wide options and choose quality we already have over quantity. It's a risk, but everything's a risk - I just remember Bielek at Charlton tearing new arseholes for League 1 players a few years back. It worked then in an otherwise poor side.....

[ramAnag]

So in summary we all concur that we need a commanding midfielder with a bit of "bite". We cannot buy one, but we do have an expensive one on the books who is a bit of an injury risk that we can recall. So (1) find a cheap one in free agency - unlikely in a January window (Shinnie?) (2) get one in on loan who doesn't need a loan fee (3) bring Bielek back.

Option 3 makes other manoeuvres less easy but the defence is fine even with the bodges. Those bodges weaken midfield but Bielek covers that.

Striker in lieu of Collins is another need, or he has to up productivity. But these are more in the way of luxuries.

For me, bring Bielek back, maybe tinker with front/wide options and choose quality we already have over quantity. It's a risk, but everything's a risk - I just remember Bielek at Charlton tearing new arseholes for League 1 players a few years back. It worked then in an otherwise poor side.....

Good summary...even though I disagree with your conclusion. I share your approval of Bielik but tend to think rehiring an injury prone player who it has been reasonably suggested is on four times more than most of the rest of the team would damage us.

Not sure Collins is the problem so much as failing to play to his strengths.

Agree with Ramshank about trusting Warne in these situations. That’s why he was brought in...he knows what it takes.

[Ramshank72]

Even with Bielik back, I don't think we'd be troubling the top 2. I'd rather we got another couple of bodies in who offer a different threat, as we're totally reliant on Didzy and NML.
Totally trust PW, operating in these situations is exactly why we need someone with his experience and knowledge, something we've missed for many years.

[Geoff Parkstone]

It probably also depends on what our insurance arrangements are for Bielik eg was his whole contract insured when he signed / was it vided by administration or by Lian? No idea but those who make the decision will know