Ghost of Clough

I can't see Fornah being more than backup to Adams, and actually see us selling him. I'm going to make the assumption Warne will go with 343 next season, so Adams (if we sign him) would be partnered with a new signing who offers a bit of creativity. Thompson (if retained) and 2 other new signigns rotated in now and then. Sibley (if retained) mostly used as competition with Elder at LWB.

He's a #10 so would need to be paired with someoen like Collins (or Brown), and lately he's been played on the wing for the U21s, with Wheeldon and Fapetu used in the AM role instead. He needs to add consistency to his end product (ony 1 goal and 2 assists in 12 PL2 games since season), but he should have been allowed to build on his 1 goal and 1 assist during his only (brief) first team appearance for us.

Too many variables to say at this point. League determines how many, intended formation determines type of players and positions. With a healthy squad size of 23 and assuming we retain everyone who is under contract for next season, we are 10 players short. I could realistically see Wildsmith, Forsyth, Sibley, Adams, Thompson and Collins all having a role to play within the squad, even in the Championship. That's potentially just 4 players we need to repalce in the summer. However, I think we'll see 1 or 2 players who are under contract loaned out or sold.

See earlier post:

Due to the sales of Knight and Bird we will have received a bit of profit to balacne the books a bit - although the sale of Bielik will have actually cost us approximately £1m in accountign terms (book value at the start of the season was around £1.5m and reportedly sold him for £500k plus add-ons. I think the wage bill will have come down this season (as we were paying Bielik's wages last season but received the cash from Birmingham to supsidize the amount). For the full year, we're probably loking at a £8.5m loss for 22/23, and £4m loss for 23/24.

Since Shrewsbury are one of the most physical sides in the league, 3 at the back will remain. It'll also be good practice for Stevenage the following week. If Mendez-Laing is out, we'll habe limited attacking options - I expect us to start with a front 2 again, then bring Wilson and Thompson on to make a boxed midfield. My prediction for Warne's team: Vickers Nelson Bradley Cashin Ward Bird Adams Hourihane Elder Barkhuizen Collins Subs: Wildsmith, Nyambe, Sibley, Smith, Thompson, Wilson, Blackett-Taylor

Bolton's fixture congestion could be a problem. They arguably have the toughest final 6 games of the season - 3 teams battling for promotion (Portsmouth, Peterborough and Stevenage) as well as 2 sides giving it their all to atay up (Reading and Port Vale). The other is a tough away game at Bristol Rovers. Peterborough still in the EFL Trophy too. With their tiny squad, fatigue will likely hit at some point. They also have a very young squad and it wouldn't be the first time nerves get the better of them. I think it'll be close between the top 4. All may even end up between 90 and 95, but I'm doubtful anyone will get more than that.

The fact it wasn't even a yellow is disgusting (I cant remeber if a foul was given or not). Sibley also taken out just past halfway when breaking forward also went unpunished. Yet, Sibley taking 2 seconds to throw the ball in play after a Charlton sub was the worst offence of the three incidents.

Sometimes people just need a change of scenery and decide to move jobs, especially after the company they work for goes throigh a turbulent period and/or several of your closest colleagues have moved on. A pay increase may keep you happy for a while, but it wouldn't be long until you feel you need a change again. It's no different for a footballer.

What's your evidence for Bird's running stats?

Where does Blackett-Taylor fit in a 352?

Hardly obscure. It's comparing him with players who play in a similar position and putting him on a level playing field by ignoring set pieces. Why would you compare him with wingers and forwards like you have done? Why would you compare his output to those who take all the freekicks and corners? Even if you do want to include set-pieces, Bird is still up there in terms of stats. Passing isnt about quantity or proportion of backwards/sideways passing, otherwise Xavi would be considered the worst midfielder of all time - over an entire season he averaged 80% of passes going backwards/sideways, whislt Bird is somewhere around yhe 40-50% mark. The important stats from a passing perspective relate to chances created and 'second assists'.

1.97 now. Win the next one and we're back at 2.00

The league table if we pretend the first 3 games of the season didn't happen:

They could be in thr relegation spots before their next game - Port Vale need a win vs Leyton Orient and Reading need to beat Stevenage 5-0 for it to happen though. Port Vale would still have 2 extra games in hand on them too.

Bird now leads the list for open play assists out of all CMs in the league. Only Peterborough's Joel Randell has created more chances. "Only passes sideways and backwards".

I think we'll see a transition towards 343/3421. It's the only real way you get Blackett-Taylor, Mendez-Laing and one of Ward/Wilson in the side together. That would mean a back 3 of Nyambe, Nelson and Cashin backed up by Rooney (next season), Bradley and Forsyth. Ward, Wilson, Elder and Sibley our wing backs. If we make Adams permanent (which I expect will be the plan), Hourihane to leave at the end of his contract, and Bird's loan to end... Adams will be partnered with another new signing next season (for now it would be Bird). Thompson and another will be backups. We would also need 2 new wingers to compete with Blackett-Taylor and Mendez-Laing, as well as a couple new forwards (expect a new deal for Collins). When we signed Fornah, I saw nothing in his stats to set him apart from Smith. It's no surprise to me it isn't quite working as Warne had hoped. However, when I looked at Adams' he was averaging close to double Fornah's defensive output, albeit mostly at a lower level and having not played much for a couple of years. I just new he would make a difference. Then his interview... with an infectious personality like his, he's it just adds to the certainty of him being a good signing.

Under a decent contract and still in L1, I think we would have been pushing for £3m. I think a tribunal would have ruled at around £2m with sell-ons, and I reckon that's what we'll have arranged with Bristol.

Most away wins in the league too

Another soft yellow card. This time for Bird. Charlton have committed 3 or 4 fouls worse than that and got nothing

Surprised to see Barkhuizen come off

Wilson and Smith on for Ward and Hourihane to see the game out now. Unless Vickers is injured

Wigan down to 10 men but still 2-0 up vs Peterborough

Ref gave Sibley just 2 seconds to throw the ball in following the Chalton sub. Ridiculous decision by the ref