We dont but if we cant offload Bell we have to pay him either way so it makes zero sense to just pay him off. People seem to be basing their analysis on Pickering on stats/data and videos in an absence of seeing much of him. Have you seen much of him?

Bennett leaving would make sense for everyone. For us, on the pitch he is well off the standard and will be on a senior wage. He does however deserve to leave with his head held high and with his pride intact having given everything for us and be should be able to make an impact and give crucial know how in League 1. Good luck if it happens.

Because we have to pay him regardless so he may aswell be available in case of injuries if we cant shift him. Pickering seems like he ticks lots of boxes but I will wait to see him play first. A lot of people seem excited solely on random stats and highlight compliations which is a dangerous game.

Does it? The expenditure would still be the same, it would make the decision to activate an extra year ridiculous, and if no one wants him even paying a fraction of his wage, we may aswell keep him.

We shouldnt do as Bell isnt up to it but I cant see anyone taking Bell.

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Im not sure that Brereton has come close to showing why we paid decent money for him, not the amount we paid. And he has made plenty of signings who have yet to fully convince, but 3 stand out. Kaminski has been one hell of a find, when something comes into his vicinity you expect him to deal with it convincingly and thats crucial. Dack and Armstrong are also stand out bits of business. The majority of his other permanent deals range from inconsistently frustrating to poor/underwhelming, including the 2 big ones in regards to value for money. One thing he has managed well in addition is the loan market I would say too, Adarabioyo, Reed, Elliott, Armstrong initially and hopefully Branthwaite.

Maybe he will stay there on loan for the season.

"But its all about results, 10 points from 4 games in which we have scored a paltry 5 goals but have conceded only 1 because we are finally seemingly building from the back, 3 clean sheets and we have match winners, Dack coming back, Elliott and of course our main man Armstrong." I presume you missed the above? Before a detailed defence of Armstrong and praise for various individuals. The performance was widely recognised to be poor, the tactics do keep changing without reaping rewards in attack in my opinion, but its about results which we are getting because the defence has stopped conceding goals.

Dreadful performance yet again, inconsistent shape, and a semblance of Mowbray just changing things regularly throwing enough shit hoping some will stick. But its all about results, 10 points from 4 games in which we have scored a paltry 5 goals but have conceded only 1 because we are finally seemingly building from the back, 3 clean sheets and we have match winners, Dack coming back, Elliott and of course our main man Armstrong. Some typical absolute nonsense about Armstrong. Any notion of a striker being overrated because of his goals is absolutely bizarre. He is not in his best form, but his drought is 3 in 11 I think. He has 18 goals, our next highest scorer is 4. Yet again, as he has done 2 or 3 times before, in games we have been dreadful in, he comes up with a late winner. When he comes short or goes wide, no one gets into the box. Performance wise, Douglas looks a different player, even if Pickering signs he cant come straight in, you cant drop Douglas. Both centre backs were excellent, especially Lenihan and Kaminski just brings an aura where he is safe, he deals with everything with minimal fuss. Travis was really poor, a lot of the time you wonder if it is rust or just the limitations in his game. The subs did make a difference, Dolan was bright and gives us something different even if there is rarely anything at the end of it and sometimes he doesnt seem to know where he is going, their full back didnt like him being against him and went off shortly after. Brereton and Rothwell were both really poor, the former looks back to his old self in recent weeks and Elliott is well off form too.

You speak as if being on the top scorer in the league is nothing. He needs to regain form but we shouldnt be so reliant on one player.

Reasonable without a shot on target?

If he was that bad youd have think Mowbray would have asked the owners for money and they would have bought Alexander Arnold. Apparently all you need to do is ask.

Look at that front 4. Armstrong has 16, Elliott, Brereton and Rothwell all have 3 each. Armstrong is not on form but the others need to get themselves into goalscoring positions. Armstrong was barely clinging onto a place in the side out wide. Since he has scored more than anyone in the league. He is a striker. We need Dack on, the other goalscorer we have. If Armstrong drifted wide as he did when he put in a superb cross Dack would have likely had the instinct and desire to get on the end of it.

Another terrible half. Armstrong not on form and we are solely reliant on him for a goal threat. When he links play or drifts wide no one else gets into the box and it isnt good enough, Brereton will never score goals with any regularity for that reason. Luton the better side. Dacks exclusion from the starting line up bizarre and this box midfield nonsense seldom if ever works.

I meant to start sorry.

Mowbray said that Holtby wasnt fully fit and he didnt want to start him, so no conspiracies there. Dont get why Dack isnt included.

The worry is, with Mowbrays lack of ruthlessness I could quite easily see all 3 being renewed.

Dack has to start surely.

Suggestion that Crewe might loan Pickering back for the season should he sign. Maybe that would reduce the price and be something that is forced due to already having 2 senior left backs. I would rather have him now if we sign him though. But ideas about just fobbing Crewe off with Bell are a non starter for many reasons.

Im not even sure it is about making a statement, we made a few statement wins v Derby, Wycombe, Coventry and Preston but ultimately have been undermined by inconsistency. The statement would be to win a few on the bounce.

Joke signing in a further neglect to our defence. How did he pass a medical if he is so brittle?

Bournemouth look absolutely awful tonight, Reading look brilliant under this manager. I do wonder if Bournemouth regret or are putting any pressure on Tindall, with the squad at his disposal you would expect them to be far closer to Norwich at the top.

No way do we get a fee for Evans, Wlliams or Bell. Evans is again injured, soon to return, but has 6 months to go, the obvious lazy link is Stoke but they have plenty already in that position. Williams' hamstring is "off the bone" according to Mowbray which will bring him to the expiry of his contract and no one seemed to want Bell last summer when he was on a free.