We have one hell of a strong squad, don't we?

How good must our squad be that I had forgotten about Donacien completely?!

JD, please forgive me (cries a little)

WOOF!

I am very glad to hear that Davis is training again. It sounded like a nasty injury and I was worried because he has been such a good player for us since he signed. However, with Williams playing well there is no need to risk him.

This update is very good news indeed.

Everyone's back, fear us Blackburn Rovers

Walton will be back ready for when Vac gets his 5th yellow

Walton and Leif news is both unexpected and a huge lift. Having said that, 2 really tough away games and 2 clean sheets, without really being troubled, suggests it will be a surprise to change it for either....tho sounds like Walton is a couple of weeks away anyway.

Such speedy recoveries and what a contrast to the injury farce under McCarthy; makes you wonder if players were nobbling themselves to not have to play that dreadful form of 'football'?!

Everyone who has come into the side this season, whether as starter or sub, has fitted in seamlessly which is testament to KM’s outstanding coaching ability. Now with the squad approaching full fitness he is going to have to perform equally outstanding man management skills. Yes, there will obviously be more injuries along the way as well as suspensions but I do not envy his task in telling any of his players that they are not starting in any particular game.
Fortunately we do seem to have an attitude of ‘one for all and all for one’ where players are all supportive of each other and there are no overpowering egos, so credit due to Mark Ashton and his team for sounding out and recruiting young men who have such a positive attitude

O’man ,we must not overlook the joint decision making concept adopted by seemingly everyone top down in ensuring there is ( KM’s word!) unity of choice and action .
The solid groundwork was put in yonks ago ,and KM looks for certain qualities and character ,from which path there is very unlikely to be any deviation whilst he and this Management team stay together .
ITFC is at last resurgent ; but it’s not profitable to compare with McCarthy’s days as he was severely restricted in what he could or was allowed to do ,by a totally restrictive budget and lack of foresight .
K M and M A are superb , outstanding AND backed by knowledgeable committed owners determined on progress — aren’t we just the luckiest of supporters ?
COYB

Eh?

When a different goalkeeper comes in to the team it takes time for the defence to win their confidence and understanding and apart from the Leeds game Hladky has very much done that and i think he was probably let down by what was in front of him. Christian Walton is the number one keeper and deep down McKenna will think that but i don't think he will be rushing to bring him back in. Davis is far and away the best left back at the club and has adjusted to the pace of the championship with no problems. The right back position is not quite as strong and at the start of the season Clarke was my first choice but he has wobbled a bit at championship level and there's not much to choose between him and Donacian. Williams is improving slightly every game and ive got a feeling he might grab the right back position.

@Linkboy - Williams is far superior to Clarke and JD. Any other team in the Championship he would be nailed on to start. Donacian will be 4th choice now and Clarke needs to keep busy else Williams will be in and would be hard to shift out again.

Will be interesting to see the line up, Hirst,FL, or Scarlet. Taylor or Mass or possibly Humphreys (unlikely)
Watching how all the players react to him in the bench video on ITFCTV everyone is in with KM totally. On the stats FL should start up front but who knows who will play.

Against Southampton, who are a relegated Premier League club who were 2nd favourites for promotion before the season started, with ten of millions to spend between player sales & parachute payments, & some top strikers at this level on the pitch, our starting XI did not include, arguably, our 4 best players, and we still won the game, away from home, keeping a clean sheet.
Christain Walton - our highest earner (before AT arrived anyway) who we signed from a Premier club, who was excellent in our run to automatic promotion & should have been in the L1 team of the season.
Leif Davis - he was in the L1 team of the season, has an unbelievable engine, gets more assists than most forwards in the league, and will be playing Premier League football next season, even if we don't manage to make it. As good as Cresswell & Mings were for us.
Nathan Broadhead - one of the cleverest, trickiest & skillful players we have had in years, loved by everyone. Can create a chance out of nothing, has a knack for scoring at a key moment when we look to be out of ideas, & links brilliantly with other clever players around him.
Alex Tuanzebe - he hasn't come to sit on the bench & given that he will have to have agreed to a much reduced wage, will be keen to prove he is worth the premier league contract he previously earned for his next deal. Fully fit & playing regularly, he is one of the best defenders in the league, if not the best.
All of them SHOULD get straight into the team when available, but their 'replacements' have done so well, there is no guarantee that they will, so they may need to wait for injuries or suspensions. Hladky, Burgess, Williams & Hutchinson were all great again on Tuesday night, and even more encouragingly, each one of that 4 has looked better & more confident with each game they have played (bar Leeds).
It won't all be plain sailing ahead, but that's a great position to be in after 7 games, and closing in on a fully fit squad.

* yes I know Chaplin was our player of the season & scored 26 goals, but I do say 'arguably' & the positive point I am making works better if you just go along with it.

Dinjarin yes potentially Williams is better than Clarke and Donacian but reputations count for nothing in football otherwise he would have been straight into the team.