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would be a real statement going to Plymouth without Burns and Broadhead (plus a not fully fit Chaplin) and picking up 3 points.
Easier said than done, not many tougher grounds to visit and take 3 points in this league but I think it'll make the other 3 teams around us sit up and take note if we do.
After seeing, and not being surprised by European clubs monitoring Omari Hutchinson, I wonder what other young players we are keeping an eye on.
Rak-Sakyi was one who was mentioned a lot and I have a feeling he will be one we look to revisit in the summer if we remain in the Championship and if a loan deal for Hutchinson isn't possible.
An outside name, though it may be year or so too early is Shea Lacey. Talented lad for his age group, England youth international and a very similar style to Phil Foden on the eye, but a player McKenna will definitely know.
The loan and development with Omari has worked very well and big clubs will take note and trust us with their youngsters.
They're rare in this league because most teams look to play football and we've seen it a lot in the L1 days where teams are happier to go long, make it ugly, slow it down, stop/start games with no flow etc. Sometimes it needs more grit and determination to grind it out.
That is a typical Rotherham team following a game plan that they executed. We lacked control in the game, we couldn't play our own game because of the game they forced on us, but we hit them with a couple of goals that were of real quality that was the difference.
We got the job done. We won't be involved in another game like that this season. Take the points and move on to Saturday.
There's a really good run of fixtures - especially our home games after a tricky game against West Brom. I'm not sure what to expect points wise as I did think we'd beat Preston and most of the next 9 are mid table sides (like Preston), but the second half at Preston was a lot more positive and hopefully we can transfer that into our next run of games and pick up some momentum and regain form.
Some long away trips which could go against us on the day, but we will see.
*Under 21 - doesn't count towards squad number (do Slicker & Al-Hamadi count here?) ** Currently registered but surely one/both will be de-registered *** Long term injury / unlikely to feature
In my opinion, it's strong going into the second half of the season. Things looked ropey 10 days ago, but a strong finish to the window and we look in a good position.
It'll be interesting to see what happens with the pair over the next few days.
Am I right in saying Stevenage were interested in taking Baggott on loan last summer? Could they be in for him again? They're in the mix for play offs and you'd imagine he strengthens their push.
As for Humphreys, the only way he moves out on loan is if another left sided player comes in (Johnson/Bola?). It will be interesting to see who the club have in mind to let him go to if the dots connect.
When you score, you make the Ipswich sing Jezza on the wing, Jezza Jezza on the wing Everytime you're on the ball we know, it's gonna be a goal Our superstar from Ecuador
The transfer window in general has been a slow mover. Several clubs are fighting for a striker. We are clearly sticking within our FFP limits which benefits us for the long term.
The brutal truth in the end is we messed up in the summer, not January. The summer is when we needed to add to what we had but we didn't - for whatever reason.
We saw the other night that we've got good attacking options now - we won't struggle to score goals, we will just struggle without a vocal point who we can hit.
Let's see what happens but get behind whoever walks through the door - there aren't many options it seems.
Is there any chance this game could be brought forward to the Thursday night?
Or kick off time changed? Looking to make plans for that weekend involving the game but not sure if there's a possibility of it being moved to Thursday night.
Seems like the sad state Reading are in means they’re going to be an easy target. Sam Smith could be a short term solution for 6 months as a back up to a new first choice striker we bring in.
There's been some names popping about but for me, there's only 3 strikers that probably fit within budget that I'd be happy with if we got them.
Sam Gallagher - though my big concern is he's just returned from a long injury on Saturday Will Keane - who would be my first choice Kieffer Moore - hasn't played much football the last 6 months
All 3 fit the profile for the striker role. All 3 can do the same job as Hirst, maybe better.
There were several stand out performers last night and rightly so, but I thought Broadhead coming on really gave us that ball carrier out ball late on.
He reminds me so much of Tom Lawrence. Clever use of the ball, good strike on him but got the final pass in his locker.
A really good example of a player who wasn't fancied by fans or by McKenna when he first came in who has then got his head down and come on leaps and bound under the coaching from the management team - in particular Martyn Pert.
A really well deserved call up for Australia - pleased for him.
It'll be an interesting few days now with Baggott and Humphreys. I'm not sure if anything is in the pipeline regarding potential loan moves, but I'd like Baggott to stay around until January at least and Humphreys to go out on loan and get some decent minutes this season.
McKenna has said recently how Baggott is improving with the group in training and getting better day by day. Whilst keeping him would mean his minutes are limited until January, it might be best for his development. Come January, there could be a decent loan opportunity for him.
Humphreys for me is at a stage where he's down in the pecking order, not through lack of ability, but more inexperience. He improves quite a lot of L1 teams so the next few days will be interesting with him. A decent loan and next summer he could well be high up in the pecking order - a few players who are out of contract like Luongo, Evans, Ball & Aluko will most likely see at least 2 of them move on.
The way our full backs are required to play, having 3 with the quality that McKenna needs for his system provides good competition and depth this season - with Williams comfortable right or left. I don't think Clarke quite has the potential to play Premier League, but he's young enough to continue improving so that's not me writing him off, but I definitely think Davis will and Williams (who already has) will after taking a step back to go forwards again.
Which makes me think, are we recruiting/covering ourselves here for 12 months time with the signing of Williams? Leif Davis is taking to the Championship well and will no doubt have Premier League interest in 12 months time. It's important to have that contingency plan in place and I wonder if this is somewhere the club have identified now.