Most liked posts in thread: Tolaji Bola Signs On Loan

T Bola is ok,

E Bola you need to watch out for

 

Another day - another loan. A sad reflection of our close reason recruitment, when it's only mid January and we've already had to bring another five in. All these loan signings reek of a short term, sticking plaster job.

 

This is a real make or break decision for Hughes.

We're about to play a top of the table side and three teams who could all overtake us if they beat us.

We've now got two left backs who have played very little this season. It's an obvious weakness and in the current diamond formation there is little support or cover for our full backs.

Let's hope he plays well but if he doesnt or if he gets injured then we're screwed because we are very short of left footed players who could even fill in there without being forced to change the formation to a back three.

This is a big gamble for me. And almost an unnecessary one but if it works then Hughes can take the credit.

It's clear to me, looking at the assists data that our lack of scoring is nothing to do with our full back - Foulds has 2, Halliday the most with 3.

At the moment Foulds has more assists than Chapman, Gilliead, Oliver, Eisa and Walker COMBINED.

I hope Hughes is similarly ruthless with his midfielders and forwards.

 

After a very dodgy opening 20 minutes against Stockport and mediocre remainder of a game, I thought after a nervy first five minutes, he looked excellent and seems to be able to deliver a ball accurately and consistently.

Problem of course he's one of a few with energy issues, as he hasn't played many 90 minutes.

But he's not looking a disastrous signing, so far.

 

Against Stockport he was poor. Very Poor. Yesterday he better, quite a bit better. Still a bit rusty but put himself about and looked a threat going forward.

 

In the diamond formation the wing backs are probably the most important and difficult positions on the field and I thought Bola played very well and looks like a good signing

 

Significant that Hughes likes the fact he's comfortable at wing back.

If the midfield diamond is to work, then it is essential that the full backs are just as comfortable in the middle of the park. I don't think Foulds is.

 

We need both!

 

Need a box to box midfield player now.

 

I thought as we approached the jan window that I had read we just needed the odd tweak. 5 in already doesn’t suggest an odd tweak. Still missing that grab the game by the scruff of the neck midfielder.

 

I wonder if his bantz name is Tom.

 

Great a left back when we need a centre midfielder

 

But if he does well we would then have stiff competition. Why not just do the due diligence first, decide on your targets and get them in permanently.

Isn't this why we've got the recruitment department? To identify signings rather than bringing in inexperienced players on loan and if they look decent battle it out with everyone else to sign them?

 

Hughes seems to be using the splatter gun aproch to signing random players, with little experience, and then having no idea what to do with them.

 

I'm sick of signing players that are
" Highly Rated " and hearing that we have
" Beaten Off " interest from other clubs.
What's wrong with signing players that are not very good and nobody else wants.

 

Thought he was a solid 7 today. If he gets better we might have a player on our hands.

 

I wasn't impressed with his performance at Stockport but maybe Hughes should have given the lad a few days training with the squad but with Foulds saying he wanted regular football and leaving for Harrogate I suppose Hughes has little choice. today I thought the kid looked comfortable in both his attacking role and defending

 

The subs cost us the game. Bringing them at at that time in the game needed experience to get hold of the ball and keep it. Not young heads who haven't got that experience.

 

But we didnt actually start dropping deeper until the subs came on, so that blows your theory right off the pitch. I get that Walker and East were probably bushed but had the subs been chosen better (both before the match and during) then we probably wouldn't have drawn.

Neither Chapman or Nevers made any contribution to stopping us dropping back. Stubbs would have helped at the back (maybe prevent the "overload") and Derbyshire or Oliver would have helped us keep the ball further up the pitch, something both the subs made failed badly at.

 

Cook put in a right shift on Saturday. Won a lot of aerial duels.