Apologies for lack of content this week, I've missed the ability to write articles due to some very shoddy internet so I'll attempt a brief round-up of my views on what's gone on.
The let down
Firstly then, the deadline day failed to provide the players we all would have liked to have seen. Michael Johnson stayed at City and is now a part of their 25 man squad (unfortunately). Keith Southern it appears was a player Blackpool were willing to part with and we were after, but they were only willing to deal permanently in a bid to reduce their wage bill in a more definitive way. This was in fact the party line coming out of Elland Road, Simon Grayson stating we were only after "top" quality Premier League reserves only to be foiled by their current clubs holding out for permanent deals, which inevitably we can't afford at this time, such is the cost of quality in football.
What is encouraging though is Simon states we are in for the same players when the emergency loan window is open for business in the coming days. The next best alternative to the sale of their players is getting a fair old proportion of their wages covered by us so the club seem confident of strengthening with players that improve what we have and will go straight into the squad - rather than bringing players in who don't offer something new or better than what we currently have available.
Somewhat strangely, we brought in a loan keeper - David Gonzalez from Manchester City. The deal is an end of season loan, with a view to a permanent transfer. He has quality, impressing many teams as City's reserve team number one in the Premier League's reserve league. I can only think he's being eyed as a Higgs replacement for when his contract runs out in the summer.
Simon's way
In a similar way to what occurred last season, he has chosen to stick by the group of players that have served him and the club well during the first half of the season. We've not been stale, they haven't seemed tired, we haven't ever been played off the park (bar Cardiff) and what we have has impressed. The difference between having faith in the current crop and wanting to add to "kick on" (as Simon likes to constantly say) is very fine and hopefully this season Simon will get it right.
"I don't want to disrupt the squad too much," he said as recently as last week, "because these players have done well. It was never going to be about bringing in wholesale numbers." (YP)
With him planning to add in the emergency loan window, we'd have to wait 'till the end of February to be able to play any incoming players in a possible Play-off campaign. Frustrating to say the least, but if the reasons we heard for a lack of January action are true then we have no alternative. This could work terrifically - providing we can play through February and still keep in the top six, and in touch with 2nd if at all possible.
The clear out
A bonus from the window was the clear out of:
Alan Martin, Andy Hughes (nominal, Scunny), Fede Bessone (loan Charlton), Jason Crowe (mutual termination), Tom Elliott (mutual termination and happily, Neill Collins on a permanent transfer to Sheffield United. This offer was too good for the club according to Grayson, which suggest we've cut our losses on him nicely - more fool the Blades - who now have Shane Lowry and Collins in their back line...
The fans' reaction
Surprisingly, I've noticed a pretty measured response on the whole - we seem more accepting and realistic as of late and to be honest, I like that. This would all change though should Simon fail to improve us in the loan window, especially considering the wage budget trimming and Collins selling (hopefully offsetting the payment of mutual payoffs on all those terminations) that has just occurred we should have freed up a bit of leg room on the weekly wage budgets.
Whilst we're round and about where we are now and picking up draws and a few wins then we are going to be content on the whole, especially with the money floating about at Forest (signed Konchesky on loan as their latest flash of the cash), QPR (Ishmael Miller, Routledge etc), Cardiff (Keinan from Blackpool loan) and Leicester (too numerous to list but bloody hell they're spending it like water)...
I believe there is a new realisation that we cannot compete with these sides monetarily at this moment. We have hefty rent and a large wage bill to maintain. Forest's is around £6M ours is £9M apparently so for all their spending on names and fees our squad size and racking up of the cheaper quality available we still have a far greater wage bill to cover.
What we need to see
We need to see this quality that Simon and the club have been talking about. If we weren't moving for average players then we need the proof when we decide to loan any in the upcoming window. We need that midfielder we all crave - I like to call him the "better Kilkenny" as it doesn't even have to be an all action gritty player really, just someone who can do what Kilkenny does but also run, head and at least track. We also need either a right back or utility defender. We have no full time cover at right back, with Bruce and Bromby only able to "do a job". I think we'll have to make do with our current centre back's we've done the best we can and we need to improve as a defensive unit - the team as a whole - rather than just focusing on complaining at the two centre backs.
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