Probably not, certainly not than Gueye. Ohashi I would put ahead of him even though he hasnt been setting the world alight. I also think for Leonard's sake, he needs a loan to get regular game time. He certainly isnt ready for where we are supposedly aiming. Ideally, sign a good striker ASAP, maybe keep Leonard until the end of the window at which point Ohashi wont be far off, and loan him to League 1.

On the likes of Leonard and Buckley, its all well and good saying that the coaches said this and that if indeed they did say those exact words. But 3 points: - I totally get putting a lot of stock into what these people say, they are professionals and they have worked with them so they are much better placed than us. But equally they arent perfect. - they will at least subconsciously be biased. They will be more desperate than anyone to see players they coached and worked with succeed. - the most important part. These comments are outdated. They were making predictions based purely on academy football, where players are in a sanitised environment, developing at different speeds, without any evidence of first team football at that time. So many players do not follow the path that was expected of them, positively or negatively. Sometimes players especially physically might develop quicker than their peers so might stand out which levels out as they get older. They might struggle with the totally different demands of senior football. I personally think Leonard being very young still has a chance and is just not ready at the moment but might be especially after a loan. Im not saying hes rubbish by any means, there is something to work with. But he shouldnt be a primary part of a side with any ambition of being towards the top of the Championship and it would be unfair on him as much as anyone. Buckley needs a fresh start probably in League 1.

Theres no way that Buckley is a decent player putting in 75% effort. Im sure he is putting in more than that now. How highly rated he was as a kid is total conjecture but there are loads of players who are highly rated before theyve really emerged and do not go on to have anything like the career people may have thought. Standing out in young age groups doesnt equate to going on to having a career at the top. I think putting questions about his attitude aside, he isnt as talented as some people still seem to think. Maybe its his style (which maybe also increases perceptions about his lack of effort) that makes people think he better than he is. When you first see him he appears smooth on the ball. But he is too slow of thought, lending himself to being dispossed and he often resorts to fairly aimless lobs forward to no one in particular. He loves a lofted pass forward where even if it was accurate, its very difficult for an attacker to do anything with. He had a couple of good months in Mowbray's last season in a position where he was predominantly there to win the ball back, he wasnt receiving the ball in tight areas and his lack of goal threat during that period was not costly because it was during Brereton's purple patch. Since he has never really sustained any sort of form, he went on loan to a poor side and couldnt get a kick and 2 managers havent fancied him since.

I think hes left with little choice. He clearly hasnt wanted to use him but now he may have to with Baker having gone back, Travis injured and the best we could do in the market being Rudy's old mate signed from Plymouth's bench for "next to nothing." Hes a bit more old school and places a lot of importance it seems in a happy dressing room. I saw giving him captaincy for the cup games when we play a second string as a bit of a token gesture

Lots of evasion as ever.

I dont think hes ready now but even his biggest fan I dont think would describe him as generational. So you think hes a suitable first choice striker for a top 6 chasing side? Why do you want us to sign a striker if we have him plus Ohashi and Gueye as subs?

Its a hell of a statement to think that Leonard is expected to play in the Premier League and for England. Either way, if he gets lots of game time here before the end of the season, it doesnt suggest a club taking a top 6 push seriously.

Im not sure Bamford or Jed Wallace are generals that will take you to war. Good attacking players in their day but on the decline, and Bamford always injured including for the next month.

Yep, certainly not generational. Not deadly either or seeming like a natural finisher but does have good movement.

Buckley is different to Tronstad and Travis. The latter 2 are very good Championship midfielders. Buckley isnt Championship standard. Why didnt we sign a more energetic midfielder to cover Travis rather than one of Rudy's mates who is on the scrapheap?

So in the 4 games prior and any games after in which Travis or Tronstad miss out, we are weak with Buckley not good enough and Rudy getting his old mate to help out.

The problem is, people are saying whats te problem hes only cover as if he wil be 4th choice. Baker was third and he was solid cover. Now, Buckley has been promoted to 3rd in line, he isnt up to that and Travis is injured for a few weeks.

West Brom are no longer appointing Wicky after issues with his backroom team. Wonder if theyll come for Eustace.

They dont want to full stop. They hadnt been in the years prior.

Presumably with the unexpected nature of Baker leaving, we hadnt got together a list of 3-5 midfielders in half a week. If we had, I can only imagine the level of the others on that list. Corry Evans having left a short term contract in League 2? Jason Lowe?

"Good quick management" to sign Forshaw. Glowing report from Eustace, cost "next to nothing."

Eustace is as publically underwhelmed as youll see based on those quotes. At least Gestede did his old mate a favour.

I very much doubt that theyd sell him for that even considering his contract situation, with it being mid season and especially to us. And im not convinced we have a million to spend on a fee. Maja and Rhys Healey became your obsessions for a while. Maja's goals this season have come from nowhere really, his last few seasons bar a flurry in Ligue 2 havent suggested this was round the corner. Healey has done nothing.

None of the 3 are Championship standard strikers so its all much of a muchness.

It was, he missed the first half of the season injured. He then had a sticky loan spell at Stoke when he regained fitness in the second half of the season. As it was another summer of selling a big asset (Armstrong) and not reinvesting anything, it would have just been a loan anyway and he would have gone back in the summer.

Even so, Preston will want a reasonable fre especially considering its us and do you see us paying it? Maja would have been a loan but an issue was found in his medical.

He had a season prior to his injury where he scored loads and he was being linked with big money moves away. He doesnt look like he will get close to that sort of figure again and from when I have seen them hes not quite as sharp. He would be an improvement on our strikers but we wont pay the money so a non starter.

He has never really recovered from his serious injury and he isnt that quick although a clear upgrade on what we have. But as you say, we wouldnt get him for a twix and a curly wurly.

Definitely a game we need to be winning, Portsmouth are not a good team and at home its a huge opportunity we cant pass up after some bad form. Real issues in attack as we know, Leonard and Gueye arent Championship standard (the former hopefully will be in time) so I have reluctantly gone for Dolan. We need more from Cantwell. Midfield a issue too as to who to put next to Tronstad. Pears Brittain Hyam Batth Beck JRC Tronstad ACD Cantwell Weimann Dolan

I think someone who is quick who will run in behind. Allow us to play on the counter if needed, give us someone to press high up the pitch if needed and give Cantwell in particular an option to play passes through too rather than having everyone coming short. Gueye isnt very good full stop but I dont think a target man suits the rest of our players.