Ghost of Clough

Did Arsenal actually come out to say it was £100m, or was that just media speculation? I've looked on the Arsenal wesbite and on their signing announcement they didn't state a fee, and didn't even bother stating "undisclosed". Is that any different to Bird's sale and the £2m fee suggested?

I wonder if any games at the weekend will get postponed? Portsmouth away at Carlisle? Bolton away at Northampton?

How have we kept it "very quiet"? We announced the sale and loan back on Feb 1st... are you expecting the club to send reminders out?

I would actually prefer his midfield partner Nohan Kenneh. He'd be decent backup for Adams in the DM role. Came through at Leeds when Bielsa was there so is used to high intensity football, and has spent all season as the DM in Shresbury's 352. 1 year left on his contract at Hibs though. Still only 20. Another midfielder I'd chaee is Herbie Kane on a free (if Barnsley don't go up). Only 25, takes the majority of Barnsley's set pieces but is also their main creative threat from open play. 6 goals and 5 assists so far this season whilst playing as an 8 in their 352. He's arguable the best all round CM in the league.

The loan wouldn't officially end until May 31st

That's typically how these nominations are chosen tbf He was also the Whoscored player of the month, so must have been doing more than just putting the ball in the net.

I got the impression is with Harry Leonard (also at Blackburn). I know they were planning to loan him out, so something must have happened to change those plans.

Chris Martin is the real PotM - 5 goals in 4 games. Since I cant vote for him, Collins is the next best option (5 goals in 6 games). Bishop and Cole only scored 3 and the others had 4 goal contributions.

I confused myself somewhere. As you say, we host Bolton on the 16th, but Peterborough also host Portsmouth.

Depends if that's the loan fee or wage contribution (or both) - it's the equivalent to just under £12k per week

March 16th is a date for the diaries - Portsmouth vs Derby and Peterborough vs Bolton. March in general has a few big games: Portsmouth play 4 of the top 8 (Oxford, Blackpool, Peterborough and Barnsley), followed by us on April 1st. Bolton currently have 4 of the top 8 (Barnsley, Oxford, Derby and Stevenage) Peterborough have just Stevenage and Portmsmouth, whislt we have just Bolton and Blackpool (followed by Portsmotuh on April 1st) Blackpool could even be out of the Playoff race by the end of the month - Oxford, Peterborough and Bolton to play in a 5 game run which also includes plus Peterbroguh in the EFL Trophy. Their last 2 games were Stevenage and Bolton (in the EFL Trophy) so there squad will be pushed to the limit. However, we hope they'll take some important points off our rivals as they cling to the playoff dream. Bolton also still have 9 of the other 11 top half sides to play by the end ofthe season. Looking at who play who and when, my prediction is: 1st: Derby 2nd: Portsmouth 3rd: Peterborough 4th: Bolton

The typical stats sites have him down as playing in that position in every game he's placed since the start of December

There are always a few factors in these games: A number of the team have only stepped up from U18 football this season - Moloney only moving up to the U21 squad in the summer, with only a handful of U18 appearances in the last 2 seasons due to injury; Thompson, Perry, Allen, McAndrew and Wheeldon stepping up just before Christmas; and I think it was Gill's and Osong's first ever U21 game. This was only Bardell's 2nd game back from injury so will be a bit rusty. It looked like Fornah failed to impose himself on the game, which is what you should expect from a senior player stepping in. It was a team which has never played as an 11 before. In fact, there may have only been 7 or 8 or them on the field together at any point in the past. Buxton would have been a team built over several seasons, getting to know each other, and signings made to improve on weaknesses. It would have also been the first time an opposing set of fans have been heckling every decision they made Fapetu, Richards, Cox, KRobinson and Gough were missing from the more regular starters, as well as Brown, Evans and Moore who are out on loan As you say, "adult football is so so different to academy football", but that doesn't mean any indivdual player isn't ready to play at that level or higher. Highlights: https://www.dcfc.co.uk/news/2024/02/u21-derbyshire-senior-cup-match-highlights-buxton-1-1-derby-county-4-2-on-pens

54 minutes for Portsmouth and now injured for the rest of the season. This is why you avoid injury prone players 😅

The comparison was one I drew when we first signed Fornah - both being defensive mids who don't actually play as defensive mids and both have non-existant end product. Fornah would play on the right of a midfield 2 with less defensive responsibility or the right of a 3, similar to how we would use Smith. Fornah had 2 goals and 5 assists in his 94 games in English football prior to joining us. Smith had 3 goals and 10 assists in the 5 seasons before joining us (157 games). Fornah has statistically improved across the board on last season by about 10% - as he should as a player dropping down a division and yet to reach his peak. Last season, Fornah had made just 0.6 defensive actions and aerial wins per 90 more than Smith. Not much of an overall improvement, hence the "statisically similar" statement. However, Adams (at Forest Green) made 2.5 times as many actions than Fornah. I understand there is a step up between L2 and L2, as well as a risk regarding a player missing a full season and only sporadic appearances so far this season, his defensive stats in his 1 game for us (small sample size) match his Forest Green outputs.

Lost 4-2.

1-1 after 90 mins so straight to penalties

Gateshead losing so Brown gets half an hour tonight. Hopefully he impresses enough to earn a start at the weekend. He's had trouble breaking into a winning side, as is often the case.. "don't change a winning side".

Close to regaining the lead.

Peterborough's new winger signing (Olakigbe) sent off for a 2nd yellow. Poku still meant to be out for a few more games due to injury too

Allen on for Perry at half time. Hawkins on for Bardell just after the hour mark as he builds up his fitness after returning from injury. I'm guessing the back 4 now is: Moloney (RB), Bartley, Gill, and Hawkins (LB)

Does anyone know if we've scored yet? 😉 Edit: I cursed us.. 1-1

Statistically, Fornah was similar to Smith. Fornah also played as the '8' when at Reading, similar to Smith's role at most clubs he's been at. Warne commented that he expected Fornah to be more like what we've seen from Adams. Adams and Smith are very different players, so signing a player with similar attributes to Smith and expecting someone like Adams could be considered "poorly researched".

It'll be a good test for the lads to prove what level they're currently playing at and help them earn loan moves. For reference, Oseni is currently on loan to Rushall who are 4 points behind Buxton and he got 78 minutes at the weekend. The suspensions KRobinson and Fapetu picked up against Forest in PL2 won't apply to this fixture so both will be in the squad. It'll be interesting to see if we do put any first teamers in there for match fitness - Fornah and Smith in particular need minutes.