Quality on the bench - a question and answer....

I take the point from threads farther down about the quality available on the bench to change the pattern of the game. I think that, as the season progresses, change will come. Some of the fringe players will probably be loaned out, or transferred, if there are reasonable fees (expect loans!!!) and that should create the scope to bring in new players to challenge for starting places. Our problem will be the quality of the players we could bring in. I don't think Ritchie should be blamed too much about Mannone being so inexperienced. He did think he was signing Darren Ward and that would have been a better deal for us, but you can't control these things (bungs aside!)

I just think that something may still happen in January with regard to Hayes. I have a pal who scouts for Gordon Strachan at Celtic, who are very interested in Freddy Eastwood. I still think that an Eastwood move in January is highly likely, given the number of clubs after him (Celtic, Southampton, Sunderland, Derby etc) and this could trigger a move for Hayes to Southend and Constantine to us (actually I wouldn't mind Stephan Moore, rather than Constantine.

Expect changes, but it is a question of who we can afford to bring in. I reckon that what happens in January will have quite an impact on how the team develops over the next couple of years. Expect loanees, who may become permanent depending upon circumstances and expect knock-backs in the transfer market as usual.

 

January may be too late

We have known about the squad weakness since Burns jumped ship.

 

RE: Neil Warnock's 'Buy to Rent' policy....

Just thinking about possible loan deals. Warnock seems to have developed his own style of transfer market deal called 'buy to rent.' Sounds daft? Well, think Geoff Horsfield, whom he signed from Baggies and refused to play; think Luke Beckett who got the same treatment; now think Kazim-Richards, although he did start on Saturday. I just think he might be in to a loan deal for Kazim-Richards if Hayes does depart. I think he would be even better prospect than Constantine. Just a thought! Any other 'buy-to-rent' managers arounf?