Should have bid for him in January when he was injured with just 6 months left to go on his contract. That's how canny operators work. Birmingham are flush with cash so they're overpaying him - when you factor in the Stansfield transfer they're going to run foul of the FFP rules eventually.

He was 17! He played 14 times for us, they were clearly desperate to integrate him into the squad.

I'll watch it later, but if he thinks 7 or 8 Academy players (not graduates [i.e. Travis, Wharton, Carter], players) will be part of the 25 man squad next season then we're going down.

You really think they wanted to go out and sign McFadzean and Batth? He'd have played A LOT if he'd have stayed. Spurs think so highly of him that they're playing an 18 year old CM at CB instead of him.

I wouldn't even say it was a shift of approach between JDT and Eustace - there simply weren't any First Team level Academy graduates coming through last year. You could argue MAYBE Duru (albeit he's now injured) could have been involved more, but that's a stretch. Batty has fallen below expectations (and they've just signed Ribeiro so clearly they don't plan for him to be around the squad next year either). Then you're looking at 16/17 year olds. Nobody in the older age groups has gone away on loan and set the world on fire and obviously Phillips and Finneran (the next two cabs off the rank) were stolen for peanuts from the crib. Carter, S. Wharton, Travis et al took years to develop - they weren't ready in their teens. A. Wharton was an anomoly.

Considering absolutely nothing sticks upfront when Ohashi is on, there's a place for Gueye in the side. I'd start him each and every week.

We need an incredible run of results to make the Playoffs now. It's not going to happen.

Which is worrying because he's utter dogshit.

You can't completely change your style of play upon promotion. Not without buying a new starting XI. Realistically you have to double down on what got you there and not wildly overspend, accepting that you're probably going to get relegated, but your club will be stronger as a result. The gulf is cavernous now.

I think it's very, very difficult to get recruitment right when everyone knows you're pretty much nailed on for relegation. You have to have some great scouts to find gems the other PL teams aren't aware of.

If we'd shown any signs of life post Christmas we'd be prepping for the playoffs now. That falls on the same heads it always does.

They've still miles ahead of everyone else in the Championship with that squad - granted they're massively out of form.

What a fucking terrible game of football this has been. Good lord.

Agree to disagree - he's out of position a lot and diving into challenges. He'll get taken to the cleaners against better players.

SKY commentators making excuses for Sheffield United. You love to see it. They've completely bottled the season - no if, buts or maybes.

I'm unconvinced that they have one.

Personally I think Moore is a handful at this level - I'd always play him. This Burnley defender they're all chanting the name of (Ste, or something?) has been out of position a few times and had to put in last ditch tackles. He'll get murdered in the Prem.

It's funny how Sheffield United have bottled it because Wilder is an unlikable man.

I'd love to know why Brownhill gets a free pass on a yellow card every game. Let's him have far more influence on the game than he should be able to when he's just allowed to disrupt an attack with a late / cynical foul and not be punished for it.

I'm indifferent at this point. Intentional sabotage, again.

There isn't a more frustrating club to support in world football. Forget the off the pitch nonsense - the fact that this lot bottle it every year is insane.

I wish Batth was 25 and under contract for the next 3 years. What a difference he's made.

Mowbray gonna Mowbray.

It's a weak league this year.

There's no point getting excited about Academy graduates any more. If they're any good they get poached for a pittance.