I'm intrigued by the addition of Brownhill..

He has followed a similar path to Butterfield. Released by Man Utd as a young teen because he was 'too small', attacking midfielder who likes to shoot on sight, broke through at PNE as a very young lad, scored a few goals, highly rated, attracting Premier League interest. But then... the similarities end. Not sure what's happened to him but he's not featured in the league for them this season and wasn't in the side often towards the end of last season either. But he's only 20, so fingers crossed he comes here and smashes it up, we all adore him and convince him to sign permanently in the summer.


Got to be honest, I didn't really want more youngsters loaned in. I've not wanted any here, from day one, so I'm not going to pretend I'm now a big fan of them. This is number thirteen for the season. Not one of them has been what I'd call a roaring success. But I'm not sure there's owt to gain in whingeing about it, because the club are obviously massive fans of this strategy, basing your squad building on short term, very young/inexperienced kids on loan. I know some folk insist that the club didn't want this, and they wanted experienced lads instead, but they keep on signing young kids on loan, rather than playing our own young kids in some cases, so I can only go on what I'm seeing and hearing.


But arr, I actually know a bit about this lad and he's decent. So I sort of know what we're getting for once. But he's not defensive minded. I'd suggest he's less defensive than Hourihane in fact. But looking forward to seeing him play next weekend and beyond.


http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/manchester-united-wrecked-dreams---5166150

 

not another Dan Crowley is he Mr White ?

 

Sounds like more of a replacement for Hourihane than Pearson. If not can't see where he can fit in.

 

I hope not. I don't think so anyway, from what I've seen and heard of him. He's not a mere show pony, like Crowley was. He can play and graft. But in no way is he box to box, or a holding midfielder. He's an attacking midfielder.


I'll ask on the PNE forum, for their thoughts.

 

The one and only type of player our squad is blessed with in terms of both numbers and quality is attacking midfield players. We've got Hammill, Isgrove, Williams and Hourihane. I very much doubt there's another team in this league who can call on four players with their ability to go forward, beat the opposition, score and create goals. There's probably a fair few clubs in the division above that don't have that much quality. We've only got one forward, we've nobody at all in midfield who can protect the defence or put a tackle in, the defence itself is down to the bare bones, but as far as attacking midfield players go we're more than fine. Who do we sign? An attacking midfielder.

I'm losing the will to give a ****.

 

You heard LJ's interview today? He said we liked Drage (the Norwegian trialist) but didn't think he was worth bringing in because he was a number 10/winger and we're well covered in that area.

Then signs Brownhill. On loan. For a month.


I get the feeling we wanted Kilkenny, he/they said "**** that" but also added "but we've got this young 20 year old lad who weighs 9 stones and can't tackle" and boooom, LJ was sold on it.


(FAO: those at the club reading this - don't find this offensive, or negative.. it's fun/humour. Admittedly, **** fun/humour, but still, we need it right now because lord knows what the **** is going on anymore. Oh, and stop reading the BBS, it'll do you a mischief.)

 

"He's not a mere show pony"

James Bailey esqe Please not a midfielder like him!

Best wishes to the lad.

 

I get the feeling he's one of these 'too good to turn down' type loan signings. We weren't really after him, but he became available, was offered to us and he's 'too good to turn down'. The last such player was Crowley who, it turned out, wasn't even good enough to make the team. Such a luxury player is fine if you've got a balanced squad, no one else in on loan and you can afford to take a chance on potential who may work out but may not. Our squad is so threadbare we need every signing to count. We've got to sign the type of player we don't already have. We have attacking midfield players.

We're now up to 4 loans again. We can get just one more in to a match day squad. We're desperate for players all over the pitch (other than attacking midfield players) and if we can't sign them permanently this January transfer window, because they're not available or just won't come, then we'll have to bring them in on loan. But we're already using up our loan quota with players we don't ******* need. Just like we did in the summer. We've learnt nothing. It's ******* crazy. It's so ******* stupid and I'm at a loss as to how they can make the exact same mistakes again. ******* hell fire.

 

^^^This with effing bells on^^^

 

Well said Mr Jay!

 

Thought Brownhill was another one of your pseudonyms

 

Be fair mate, you did send Ben a letter on here a day or two ago, and you practically begged him to sign Josh Brownhill. Just own up to it. They've given you everything and still you're unhappy. I hope it snows in Shrewsbury, and the pubs are shut.





But yep. It's crazy innit. Defining madness again.

 

Up the Brown Hill to **** Street?

 

I always try to see the positives in any signings (don't always succeed), but this one is really puzzling. Hopefully, the lad can make a positive contribution and I'll certainly back him whilst he plays for us. It's difficult not to feel disappointed, though, with us picking up another two young lads (talented though they probably are) on short term loans.
They'll turn out to be brilliant for us now after my latest Victor Meldrew impersonation!

 

I've nothing against Josh or any of the youngsters we end up with on loan. I will support them as I do Sam Winnall. But you're right, as am I, Jay and others to find it another puzzling bit of business and for all the reasons already covered at length.

 

It appears to me that we've decided to give relegation our best shot this season.

I find no humour in the situation anymore. I literally cannot believe what goes on at Oakwell. Also, if LJ has to use loans then it's his choice which ones to go for, and this latest one is as bizarre as any. He might be a talented kid, but that's not what we need.

When will they ******* wake up and change the course of this stupid policy.

 

With bells on

 

Well, it'd be extremely difficult for anyone to claim the policy has been a successful one this season, so it's a bit puzzling for an old dinosaur like me to understand why it's being persisted with.

 

We've basically tossed off defending and keeping clean sheets. We are going to play an old school 235 formation with inside forwards and the works.

Viva la revolution!

 

Its a manager with a pair of balls and a sense of direction that we need Jay. Wasn't it Cryne that said something along the lines of its madness to keep repeating the mistakes that you have already made.