Shinniesta

[swaledale]

I'm puzzled by this "we lack bite in midfield" view, IMO and it is only an opinion, midfield isn't the issue, yes Bielik would be an upgrade, but with Bird, Smith, Sibley and others midfield seems well catered for and its not as if we are leaking goals. We do lack a wee bit of creativity against a side that is solid in the centre, so for me its more being able to find a way through and create chances which we then take. Or perhaps thats what is meant by "bite"?

I think its unfair to judge Collins solely on goals, he does a lot of the hard work creating space by drawing defenders out of position and has had a few useful assists. Osula didn't help his cause today ether!!

Hopefully we will get a right back in, can't see that either on loan or a free agent that we will improve on our strikers, think we have done very well to recruit what we have with no fees paid.

Surely if we were going to recall Bielik, he would back now? The windows been open 2 days,

Ww are 4th guys! Who would have predicted that at the start of the season? Oh yes I did predict we would get in the playoffs!

[Geoff Parkstone]

Statistically, per the BBC website, Collins has zero assists this season, nil, none, nada.

[MadAmster]

I think we have seen the future over the past 2 games. Collins on the bench.

Against Cambridge, who played a weakened side due to injuries and lost 3 more defenders during the game, we had to fight to nick a 1-0 win.

For the Accy game there was no Collo as he'd picked up an injury in the week. Result? The most fluid attacking we've seen this season, we put 4 away and ought to have had more.

Despite all his work off the ball, IMO the side is more effective without Collo.

Osula? Came off the bench a couple of weeks ago and got himself booked inside a couple of minutes for a charge that was totally unncecessary. Yesterday, he was pulled over in their box twice in rapid succession. 2nd time one of their defenders straddled him and ensured he couldn't get up. He shouldn't have reacted and probably won't if the circumstances recur. Lesson learnt? I hope so but I'm far from sure about it.

[swaledale]

If the DET have reported Warne's comments correctly today in a comment about Knight being sold, he is reported as saying I can't spend the money if we sold him.

That would appear to answer the issue about whether Derby could finance a transfer if they sold a player. That seems a tad harsh, but if thats the agreed business plan then thats it.

[swaledale]

Statistically, per the BBC website, Collins has zero assists this season, nil, none, nada.

That appears to be the case looking at other stats websites.

[Geoff Parkstone]

Aye, but if we did sell Knight we could afford to bring Bielik back

[MadAmster]

Aye, but if we did sell Knight we could afford to bring Bielik back

... as if the medics aren't busy enough already

[swaledale]

Aye, but if we did sell Knight we could afford to bring Bielik back

We could bring Bielik back anyway, but that would be it. Knight might mean Bielik and 1 other player I guess, as Knight is on something approaching £4,700 a week.

When you multiply that by 52, thats £244k a year!! For a young player in league 1! No wonder clubs struggle to survive, crazy money for kicking a ball around at this level.

[swaledale]

I see another one of those academy players from the academy thats never produced a decent player Morgan Whittaker, has been doing rather well for Plymouth this season on loan from Swnasea, so well in fact he has been recalled to play in the Swans first team.

That might be a plus for us, as it may dent Plymouths promotion push to lose a player who has been knocking in the goals regularly.

[swaledale]

Also if the DET reporting of Warne's comments is accurate, he isn't looking for a midfielder, as he has plenty of options there, which woudl be increased if he gets a right back.

So that says Bielik isn't returning. Right back and wingers/wide midfielders seem to be Warne's stated targets.