Andrew3000

Could Paul explain the reasoning for dropping a goal keeper who hadn't really put a foot wrong for 18 months.  And what does he think that would do for said goal keepers confidence?

Taking some of the concerns being raised repeatedly by some quarters I’d ask what the thinking is behind our midfield set up. We don’t seem keen to play through midfield or control games, so what’s the thinking behind that? 

Yep, that's why it would now be lovely to be able to add a quality "no.10" like Posh have in Randall

I think a midfielder who can score goals and be creative and be very influential is the signing that would take us to another level
This is where I'd be spending our money , I really don't like how teams seem to go straight through a non existent centre midfield at times
but playing 3 rather than 2 in there would help a CM who could chip in with 8-10 goals a season would be brilliant 

Hourihane has that potential I’d push him as a 10 

Good signing, good positive bit of business by the club.
To sign one of the best wingers in the division is a state of intent.
Good to see.

Dejphon Chansiri, Alex Turner, Sid James, Walkley Owl, Carlton Palmer, Conehead John.  Stick the deal up yer arse. Looking forward to playing in a league one higher than you next season. Michael Smith will be useful to you in League 1.

I want to be excited but having read this thread the last hour I will be going to bed worrying that the EFL still have it in for us, Pearce is playing amortisation tricks again, we have a transfer signing pot with nothing in it, and Dom Dietrich is sleeping rough tonight. This forum is exhausting at times.

Worst kept secret of January. 
He looks like a good signing! Should take some pressure off NML in particular and keep us going to glorious, glorious 2nd place.

Looks to be an upgrade on Wane’s collection of wide players. Can we now have cover for Collins and a tackler in midfield ?

This could be one to watch 👀 

he would have certainly added more pace to the squad - maybe a deal we go back to in Jan

Most exciting signing we’ve had in yonks and the forum descends into Economics Weekly.
Welcome Corey - you’re a ram now. Enjoy!

Dom just said he can play against Charlton.

Scrolled back through the thread and can’t see this has been shared yet, Leigh Curtis’ response when asked about the delay earlier today;
And this one on the same thread;
 

Do you think Charlton have taken our Head of PR in part exchange?

Oh I feel like a kid on Christmas Eve waiting to unwrap a new toy
But instead of Lego it’s a grown man that I can send abuse to on social media 

I must admit, I breathe a huge sigh of relief when that’s the case!!

The last one interested me. A few snippets from his LinkedIn page...
Whilst studying, shadowing different departments of League One Club Oxford United FC as an informal intern, before starting a formal internship as a Recruitment Analyst/Scout under the supervision of Head of Recruitment Mark Thomas.
Coaching staff at Croatian 1. HNL team NK Osijek as their Performance and Opposition Analyst. 
Derby County FC as First Team Scout, focusing on live and video scouting.
Since September 2023, additionally working for Rayo Vallecano as the Assistant Coach for their Juvenil C (U17) to gain practical experience for the upcoming UEFA-C exam.

31Vickers: 7 Good game. 2 full-length saves  & snuffed out the 1 v 1.
2Wilson: 7 Slotted in well and did the defensive work well. Distributed well. Consequently muted his attacking play. 
35Nelson: 7.5 Solidity personified. A thumping headed chance was straight at their keeper. 
6Cashin: 6 Was beaten for pace 3x by Taylor which is unusual to see. Picked up a half-mark for clearing off the line.
20Elder: 6.5 Probably his best game yet after his Burton nightmare. Looked a sharper more solid version of himself. Some nice long passes.
7Barkhuizen: 6 Posed some threat but marshalled by their defence. 
16Thompson: 6 Brought industrial energy in the final quarter without finding a foothold to exploit.
8Bird: 7.5 Weaved away constantly in the engine room in a crowded space. 
4Hourihane: 6 A little off the pace of the game & couldn’t quite deliver the killer ball. 
11Méndez-Laing: 7 Early threats when he powered through but thereafter well marshalled. 
17Sibley 6 Good early game cross which found Nelson’s forehead.
19John-Jules 6 Would like to see him step-up and link up with Collins more. He needs to take a lead not play 2nd & 3rd fiddle. 
9Collins: 6.5 A couple of half-chances in the box but a game of feeding off scraps.
Credit to Imps who put in a huge effort to thwart Derby, and actually had the far better chances in a game that Derby bossed possession wise. A draw was a fair outcome. We need another option to draw upon via the open window as the sticky pitches become energy-sapping and we move into the 2nd part of the season. We are set fair but not convincingly top 2 quality yet. 

Isn't TJJ the option, more athletic, better touch? Just not 100% fit yet, and when Waghorn and Washington are fit, aren't they different?
And if Collins got injured we would need a replacement, or rotate to keep them both fresh, although I believe Smith is more of a brute and better in the air to be able to Bully the defenders anyway.

Take your point mate, but perhaps we're looking to do both? I think that overall, Smith probably brings a little more to the table than Collo and while I'm delighted at the latter's form this season, we'd be in deep doodoo if he got injured.
Also, won't CBT give us a pace dimension upfront too, albeit from the flanks? It's still the midfield that has me slightly concerned tbh.

I guess, but it would be pointless us signing a different kind of striker (especially on loan) when the team isn't set up to make use of them.
If the aim is just to get out of this league at all costs I can't really think of any better option.

31Vickers - 7.0 - Really good shift from Josh. I'd still prefer Joe as first choice, but perhaps these games will benefit us and keep Joe keen.
2Wilson - 7.0 - Played well again I thought. He's far better defensively than often assumed.  
35Nelson - 7.5 The pick at the back, where he looked back in prime form. He's such a solid signing. 
6Cashin - 6.0 - Is he carrying a niggle? He looked to be struggling almost from the outset. Entitled to a bad game though, given his imperious form this season and that goal line clearance earned him a probably generous 6.0. 
20Elder - 7.0 - Is he settling down? Again looked rusty early, but he looked a lot better later in the game and I think the minutes will serve him well. 
7Barkhuizen - 6.5 - Difficult season for Tom, but he's shown that a return to his best in imminent in recent games. Industrious again today.
16Thompson - 6.5 - An unselfish grafter, Liam must be close to full fitness now. Could he start in MF to provide us with much needed legs?
8Bird - 7.0 - Thought Max was decent today, but in a midfield 2 against a pacy attack, it's difficult to shine.  
4Hourihane - 6.0 - Leggy and off it today after showing better consistency in recent weeks. Hopefully just a blip, but midfield remains a query for me. 
11Méndez-Laing - 6.5 -  Willing as always but not at his best today. CBT to provide cover and / or additional attacking threat is a big deal, as teams seem to be doubling up on Nate. 
17Sibley - 6.0 - Didn't really notice him that much during the game and it's becoming frustrating that we can't get the best, or even close to it, out of the lad. I had high hopes for him this season, but I don't see him getting enough games where he wants to play to prosper. 
19John-Jules - 7.0 - Added something, but not enough. I still think there's plenty in the locker though.
9Collins - 6.0 - A rare off day, he worked hard as always, but was ineffective. I suspect he'll be getting minus scores from one 'supporter' on here.
WarneWatch - Feel for him a little as he's just got the team playing and now absences and injuries seem to be undoing our previously staunch defence. I do think we could have reacted quicker to their threat, but I suspect he'll feel the players have let him down a bit today. He's probably counting the minutes until Ryan Nyambe returns.