Welcome aboard, we have to trust Mick's judgement :)

I don't want to burst a bubble here but even though I am happy with the signing here I would prefer it if we signed a midfielder instead because that is where I believe we need to strengthen our squad :/

A 2-0 win and a new signing, so a rather good day! It sounds like Richardson is here with a clear view to a permanent move in the summer, so it's not just a short term loan.

I note that Richardson has played in midfield too, so he can perhaps give us options as well as right-back.

Don't know too much about him, but he adds to our defensive options so a good deal, welcome Frazer!

I'm thinking there will be other signings this week hopefully a midfielder with pace but very happy with today's events

In Mick I trust.

I can see smith being dropped with chambers at CB ... Harsh but chambers isn't a right back but I can't see him dropping him or his much favoured Berra.

Johnny Wark was fantastic at fourty....

Bluelady - rare I disagree with your posts, but can't see MM dropping Smith. I'm not sure Richardson will start. I would have said Berra was odds on to b dropped, before today. If anyone drops out it will be Chambers? MM stuck by Smith and kept in him in the team from day one. Remember, Smith was dropped by PJ for a poor performance. mick likes him!

From what I've seen of him he's a right-back who likes to get forward, so gives us a different option to Chambers.

I can't say i've seen him play since he left Leeds, but he adds competition for places in a position where we're light in numbers so it makes sense. I'm sure this is just as a back up for Chambers though. It'd be good to sign a couple of creative midfielders and maybe even another striker.

I would say this will prove to be a difficult decision for mick, with regards to who he will drop if anyone. Chambers isn't a right back, however mick knows he can't drop him, hence why he moved him out to right back. Richardson may well have to bide his time. He clearly wont drop berra, as he has accomodated him, by putting chambo out of position, wrongly in my opinion. But hey ho

I agree Bluelady - its a tough decision but i think you might be right. Berra hasn't put a foot wrong where as Tommy has amide a few little mistakes recently. This may see Chambers move back into the middle.

That said, we got our first clean sheet in a while so maybe that's enough to stave off breaking up the back four for a bit.

Has in not saying I think it's the right decision it's just one I can maybe see happening although not straight away.. He won't drop chambo he is his stand I captain and I can't see Edwards getting many more games.. -4 is funny!! Let's just see shall we :-)

Jas not has!!!! Predictive tx

Interesting discussion as to the back four to the end of the season. We have been lucky on 2 counts: 1. We have 4 really decent first team defenders in our starting XI; 2. They have missed very few games, so far, due to injury or suspension. Mick has/had to get reinforcements in though, if not he wouldn't be doing his job properly.
Chambers is a centre half who has done a good job at right back. Ultimately we want a better option in that position, one for whom it is a more natural position. I don't know enough about Richardson, but we would have to expect that he is coming here to play - otherwise he'd stay on the Boro bench while Hewitt would be on ours. Perhaps Mick is thinking of wingbacks witb 3 centre backs, but if not I'd like to see Chambers back at right side centre half & alongside him ... Berra.
Tommy is a very decent centre half for us, but I actually think Berra is the best defender we have at the moment. He has been a great signing & has a real quality about him. Smith/Chambers has been a good partnership before & perhaps could prove to be better than Chambers/Berra which I accept is untested, but I just couldn't justify dropping Berra. Have we considered that the higher number of clean sheets last season was not just down to 2 good centre haves working well together? Mick set the team up far more defencively, not to lose last year, while N'daw, Stearman & Henderson contributed greatly to it also.
Bottom line is we needed a genuine right back & we have to have at least 3 top centre haves & it is 'check' to both those requirements, so all is good there.

Dunno what all the fuss about berra is, he did well today and won his fair share of individual battles, but he is found wanting against pace and at times appears to be shaky. Today 1st half he made a headed clearance on the d of our box and headed it straight onto the chest of a reading attacker. Generally did well but to me isn't good enough to accomodate at the expense of playing chambers out of position. Also bearing in mind he is playing on his wrong side too.

What about a 5-3-2 formation, using cressie and Richardson as wing backs. Just a thought.

Going to be very interesting to see how MM accommodates his 3 central defenders, which 1 will sit on the bench? TS, LC or CB???? They can't all play, can they?

Wing back? Have you seen recent pics of him? Looks much older than 31 and a stone heavier than Leeds days. Definitely not a wing back! Mind you, Hunt looks at least 50 and he still seems fairly sprightly.

I agree with bluelady. Unfortunately I don't think Smith is up to it. Never understood why we are playing Chambo at RB. Hewitt would have been a better bet IMO. That said, totally understand why we let him go out on loan. Vaseli must have something about him too, having played at United and City. Richardson, is a solid signing.

SMS you dont think Smith is up to it? What are you putting on your cornflakes? Player of the year last season and only McGoldrick has been better this season. Solid as a rock!

Kid? He's 31.

More depth can only be a good thing. Hewitt can keep getting regular football at Gillingham and Richardson can provide the immediate competition to Chambers.

Still want to see a creative midfielder added to the squad although I feel in Hunt we've got a top class one already, he just need to get to peak fitness and start being a regular fixture in the side.

COYB

Lots of fans turned their mobiles & cameras on at about 70 minutes yesterday. Why was this ?

Obviously MM feels he needs this player but really feel Hewitt should come back instead of adding a loanee. Hopefully he'll do whats asked of him though and keep our hopes of the play offs alive