Pirlo: The Italian Phillips.

Before we begin today’s semi-rant, I want to address some unsavoury developments on the twitterverse over the weekend. I know full well that you shouldn’t read  too much into what the tiny minority of the keyboard warriors say, but I’ve found it particularly irksome in the wake of the game this week. The comments in question revolved around Jack Clarke, who was rushed to hospital after the game. The gist of them follow that because of spygate and the perception of Leeds being blatant cheats in any way possible, Clarke was simply feigning injury to buy more time to equalize. How  anyone can make that leap is beyond me, and is not only distasteful but plain wrong. People seriously need to find their moral compass, as it was clearly lost a long time ago. Nor does their logic hold up, unsurprisingly. The time he spent being treated simply carries over, that’s the point of adding on time at the end of a game. Some suggested the game should have continued because it was off the pitch. There are some heartless troglodytes around, its best they retire to their cave. As for Bielsa instigating this, his first thought after the game was to rush to the hospital after quickly finishing up media duties. Honestly, some people.

Apologies, back to the game. Last week, I did not bother bashing out a piece. It wasn’t just a serious case of abstaining due to the nature of the result (although it was a factor nonetheless), it was more the fact my brain decided to kick in and systematically wipe the game. I cannot remember the second half, I cannot remember their third goal, I cannot remember us even scoring. I have no intention of watching the game back, nor will I ever do. There is no need to revisit such haunting memories. All I know is that Norwich were better than us, while we offered very little, apart from a period in the first half where we had no cutting edge despite the possession. If people were beginning to feel the crunch before, they certainly were after that showing. So, after a week of how best to dispose of Adam Forshaw, we arrive at the Riverside, home of the mighty Yorkshire team of Middlesbrough. This has become a game that has somehow become more relevant the longer Leeds have lingered in the lower divisions. This probably has something to do with Garry Monk leaving and joining them  2 summers back, and even more to do with the embarrassing ‘boro T.V with its attacks towards the Leeds fan base. Perhaps it needs to shift its concept, as it currently stands as a comedy show that worryingly still tries to offer a nuanced analysis of the game pre and post match, somehow. We saw what happened the last time a team got beat by lower league opposition in the form of Stoke, who subsequently recorded their only win under Nathan Jones so far against us. No doubt then, that after the inquest after ‘boro’s debacle against Newport(something Christensen and Co can relate to), fans feared a classic, and all to common against Leeds, backlash. At least Mo Besic, who kicked our players to the ground at Elland Road earlier in the season, was part of the three players who told the fans where to stick it after their trip to Wales. If ‘boro were to win this game, and the one they had in hand, they would be a point behind Leeds. It was as clear a sign that Leeds had fallen miserably around the turn of the new year, and that this game was a must not lose

Leeds looked more fluid than they had done in the away games in the past month throughout the first half. There was a crispness to their passing, the intricacies on the wings seemed to be getting rewarded, only for poor deliveries into the box to render the moves pointless. Granted, there were still some erroneous balls being tossed into Bamford, who while taller than Roofe, was still not 10’ 5 like Aden Flint. Speaking of the BFG, he (un)fortunately showed that while he may be a good offensive threat for Pulis ball, he still isn’t a striker. He first got in front of Kiko, who must have been dreaming of days like this, and misdirected his header wide. A few minutes later, he contrived to miss a free header when arriving late in the box from an open play cross. Never mind Bielsa ball, Pulis ball was reinventing itself before our eyes. Unfortunately, the latter was the more dominant style in the first half, with them finding particular luck out wide, and exchanging some decent balls with Friend and Shotton on the overlap. Mikel, who must rank as one of the strangest signings ever made at this level, looked too good, unsurprisingly, in the middle of the park. How on earth Pulis cajoled him to rock up on Teeside with the prospect of bypassing him at every opportunity will remain one of those unresolved mysteries for the ages.  

The second half began in much the same light, with the sole difference being that Hernandez had come on to replace Clarke. With all the talk of wingers, incidentally it was the aptly named Lewis Wing, from a cross delivered by Friend, who put them ahead inside 2 minutes of the restart, a well taken goal from Hernandez napping on his defense duties. Kalvin wanted to take the blame afterwards, and i’ll duly oblige and blame him equally, in the name of fairness. Suddenly, the game reverted to the game we and i’m sure the ‘boro fans expected at the start. A wall of 10 men descended around Darren Randolph, and Leeds had to find the key. Pulis claimed that his team were tired after Newport, but I think that’s simple deflection from his defensive outlook failing to reap the benefits. Sure, on another day they could have eked out the win. One look at Leeds recent form should persuade him otherwise that they were there for the taking, and were second best until the change. I can’t grumble really. Leeds created a fair few opportunities thanks to the shift, the most glaring being Bamford missing from 2 yards after Janssons header had rebounded of the post. It seemed destined not to be, and even more so after Clarkes emergency in the 81st minute. To those who don’t accept it was 12 minutes of added time, Clarke was treated for 8 minutes, there were 6 subs (3 mins), and 1 more for general time wasting throughout the half. That’s 12, right? The drama with an 101 minute equaliser though is something to savour. I had been saying the entire half that Leeds would get a chance from a corner, seeing as though we had had enough of them. Sure enough, Cooper got free from Ayala, who was unsurprisingly trying to drag him down, and headed it back across for Philips, who powered it home. It felt like a winner, but it may well just keep our fragile hearts beating for another week.

If there was one thing this game proved, it was how much we need Forshaw in the middle of the park. There would be no chance of him rising in the last minute to equalise. Instead, he would be lurking on the edge for a longshot to slice wide. We would go home despondent, safe in the knowledge that we, the fans, were right. It was punishment for getting ahead of ourselves, and we had Adam to thank. Instead, we had Pirlo, who with his lack of flowing locks gracefully stooped to head home, and, being a Leeds fan, gave us the cruelest of medicine again, hope. We had been slowly weaned of it, but damn does it taste good. Oh, and the crippling anxiety and stress before and during a game. I might as well give it to Phillips, because feeling something is better than feeling nothing, as has been the case for many a year. Bamford needs to get fit, but his runs in behind are something different and perhaps a sign of things to come, if he can get his eye in before the end of things. Roofe can play in that attacking midfield role due to his dynamism and general workload. He may not score as much, but he isnt going to want to kill someone like he did last week. A quick note on ‘boro’, you will be there abouts come the end, but your lack of adventure may well kill you. You have good attacking players, and a finisher in Assombalonga, use him well, and you may even sneak into the top 2. Lets see what Pulis ball has to say about that. Up next then, Swansea, and the return of Daniel James. If he starts and god forbid score, then let the father help Luke Ayling, and the son help the Leeds board,and let the holy ghost keep us sane.

Goodwin and Byrne’s EFL Championship Predictions

After a weekend of Fa Cup action it is back to the league as we have 12 enticing encounters that Jack Goodwin and Sean Byrne are going to predict.

WIGAN VS QPR

Wigan have been on a dangerous slide down the division and they need results quickly or could be pulled into a relegation dogfight. I think they will win this one after good business in the window

GOODWIN PREDICTS 2-1

BYRNE PREDICTS 1-2

BIRMINGHAM VS NOTTINGHAM FOREST

Martin O’Neill got his first win on the weekend and they need results to get into the top six. The Blues had a very good result away at the Liberty Stadium and their determination and fight for the team was fantastic. They will equal each other out.

GOODWIN PREDICTS 1-1

BYRNE PREDICTS 1-3

BRENTFORD VS BLACKBURN

Tony Mowbray’s men are looking like they could be real contenders for the top six. They’ve done well to keep hold of Bradley Dack. Brentford have been on a decent run as of late.

GOODWIN PREDICTS 0-0

BYRNE PREDICTS 1-1

BRISTOL CITY VS SWANSEA

The Robins are the in form side at the moment and they will carry on that form with an impressive victory over the Swans

GOODWIN PREDICTS 3-1

BYRNE PREDICTS 2-1

HULL VS STOKE

Hull and Stoke were both shocked on the weekend as they were lacklustre and never got going. These looks set to be a highly entertaining game with lots of goals.

GOODWIN PREDICTS 2-2

BYRNE PREDICTS 0-2

IPSWICH VS SHEFFIELD WEDNESDAY

Both teams have made impressive additions in the window and have bolstered their defences. I still think Ipswich will survive but I don’t think the good form will begin here.

GOODWIN PREDICTS 1-2

BYRNE PREDICTS 1-2

MILLWALL VS ROTHERHAM

It was a great win in the Fa Cup but Neil Harris’ men cannot afford to get distracted as survival has to be a priority. Rotherham’s form has tailed off and they need to get results quickly.

GOODWIN PREDICTS 2-1

BYRNE PREDICTS 1-0

READING VS ASTON VILLA

I’m not convinced that the Royals are going to stay up this season and the result in midweek was not good enough. Saying that, they made some great signings in the window. Meanwhile, Villa are still lacking consistency.

GOODWIN PREDICTS 1-1

BYRNE PREDICTS 0-2

SHEFFIELD UNITED VS BOLTON

Sheffield United can not lose these type of games and they have to be like flat track bullies this weekend. Scott Hogan was a superb signing.

GOODWIN PREDICTS 3-1

BYRNE PREDICTS 3-0

WEST BROM VS MIDDLESBROUGH

This will be a strange game as they play totally opposite football. The Baggies still don’t convince me and I think Boro will still go up this season.

GOODWIN PREDICTS 1-2

BYRNE PREDICTS 0-2

LEEDS VS NORWICH

Big big game in the Championship this season. If Leeds win then they really look set for promotion. Norwich may crumble if they don’t get a result in this one.

GOODWIN PREDICTS 2-1

BYRNE PREDICTS 1-1

From 2 yards or 6 yards, Klich is scoring goals.

At half time on Saturday afternoon, a sensation of Deja Vu was afflicting the Leeds fan base. What was unfolding was an extra 45 minute rendition of the stodgy performance against Stoke, despite been royally canned by the critics. Thankfully, this was not to end up like another Shrek the musical. Think more Evita (and not just for the Argentinian links). It’s hard to imagine Bielsa being the kind of man to issue a ‘hairdryer treatment’ to his players at halftime, but something inspiring must have been said to rouse the sleeping troops. I’m not going to say that it was a terrific second half performance, because despite the dominance on the ball, there were few good chances created. However, it was enough to beat a team that on paper Leeds need to be beating, and much to the ire of the fans glued to the promotion 6 pointer across the country, it was done in the nick of time.

It’s a funny place, Rotherham. You would imagine that a team 4th bottom get regularly  brushed aside, yet instead the Millers possess one of the best home records around. Prioritising home wins for themselves in order to secure survival is the game plan, and they must have been licking their lips with Leeds on the horizon. Even with our shiny new Real Madrid keeper Kiko Casilla making his debut, there was no disguising the  look of a team in free fall having lost 4 out of the last 5 games. After Rotherham got out of the traps quicker, it seemed they were going to make sure the L column was looking even more unsightly. I actually missed the Ajayi goal in real time, so I can’t give a natural reaction to it thundering in the back of the net. I could be reasonable and say, that’s a well worked goal, and no keeper is ever reaching it. I am not though, and instead will say its just typical it happens when we are in a rut. Kick us while we are down why don’t you. Is this not what these anti-bullying hotlines are setup to deal with? In all honesty, we were bullied for 45 minutes. They forced us into playing on their terms, with us uncharacteristically trying to play longer balls over the top, obviously to not avail. We were sloppy in possession, too happy again to funnel it out wide, only for the final delivery to be poor, or simply to pass it back and eventually lose it. I was worried, Leeds fans were worried, Norwich fans were delighted. It seemed at that point we were regressing, and falling into a familiar pattern. There were many on the twitterverse who started reading the riot act, which was rather amusing. After all, we were still in the top 2.

Bielsa is a man who commands respect. He’s one of those teachers you may have had at school who you liked, and when you did something bad, like throw a glue stick at someone because they were mocking you for not knowing the atomic mass of manganese, would say they were disappointed in you. It made you feel that lovely emotion of guilt. What I’m trying to say, is that the players were the ones throwing things, but instead of glue, it was their seasons hard work. Bielsa simply pushed them in the right direction enough to emotionally destroy them without them even knowing into a passionate display to get things back on track. And boy were they inspired. They scored 2 goals, one a fluke and the other a last minute winner. Nothing more convincing than that. That’s not to say we did not deserve them. Rotherham are a very shot heavy team,  attempting them from all over the pitch. They were utterly shut down in the second half though, with Leeds high press negating any sort of rhythm when they finally got possession of the ball. The introduction of Tyler Roberts changed the game. Replacing the ineffective Clarke, he set about breaking the lines between the 2 banks of four around the box, and was rather effective at doing so. His positioning and movement was allowing for the overlapping runs to take place, and cut apart the defensive shape. If only this could have happened at Stoke.

The first goal fell rather fortuitously for Klich in the area to tap home from no distance at all. It meant he had finally scored for the first time since his infamous ‘Klich is scoring goals’ chant made its way on the hymn sheet. Roofe then forgot where he was standing, and misdirected a header when clean through on goal. Alioski then contrived to miss a one on one, snatching at the effort. It puzzles me why he was on their penalty spot though, seeing as though he was playing at left back. Bielsa ball at its finest I suppose. It was looking like it was one of those days. Then, out of the fog of pessimism, came a beacon of light, and Klich again scoring goals. This time, it was a lovely composed finish, stroked into the bottom left corner  from around the penalty spot. Rotherham then decided to toss some long balls and throws into the box, helped by an obscene amount of added time. Quick maths, if a referee puts up 4 minutes of added time, and our keeper wastes 30 seconds for a goal kick and gets booked in the process(and it’s not as if Rotherham were not wasting time as soon as they scored), where do the other 2 and a half minutes come from? We survived though, so that’s a middle finger up to the referee, who had a good game overall. All’s well that ends well even though it was miserable for a while.

It’s easy to just give the MOTM to Klich because he scored the two goals, but I don’t like giving it to players who simply scored. Granted, it did mean we won, but where’s the fun in having the easy choice. Instead, I’m going to give it to Casilla, who looked too good for this league. It was a baptism of fire, going from the serene conditions of Spain to Rotherham in a week. Apart from a few flaps, which Bailey does anyway, he was ultra positive in his distribution, always trying to get the team on the front foot. I liked that a lot. I also liked his save from Will Vaulks, who himself admitted to having no idea how he saved it. The simple answer Will, is that he played for Real Madrid. It was a magnificent one handed save to his right from 30 yards. I’m certain that Bailey would have let that in, especially with his ability to save long shots that dribble towards the goal. Therefore Kiko saved us in a crucial period of the game at 1-1. Now to stop Pukki and co.

I’m not sure how correct my gut is on this, but I can’t help but feel that the longer ‘spygate’ drags, the more it will somehow derail the season. Even if the players claim to be unaffected, how can they not be when everyone is talking about it. Let’s just hope the attention of the authorities is switched to something more serious, like someone getting knifed outside a stadium, or racist chanting from a reasonable section of a crowd. I’m getting carried away with myself though, so I’m going to paint my room pink for Norwich next week, apparently it does wonders for calming you down before a game.

Championship Team of the Week

Here’s our pick of the best XI from this weekend in the EFL Championship…

Goalkeeper: Bartosz Bialkowski

The 31 year old had a sensational game for the Tractor Boys, away at Aston Villa. Predictably, his goal was peppered with multiple shots and he made an incredible 11 saves in the game! It wasn’t enough to get anything from the game but it was a brilliant performance.

Right Back: Elliot Bennett

The Blackburn Rovers man was sublime in his performance as he was confident on the ball, and he successfully took the ball down the right hand side multiple times. Bennett was tenacious and he kept Kamil Grosicki quiet throughout the game.

Centre Back: Ben Davies

What a showing from Davies! Not only was he patient on the ball but he made one of the best clearances that I’ve seen in a long time. He put his head on the line as he stretched to keep the ball out. He was Man of the Match at the Bet365 Stadium.

Centre Back: Jack Rodwell

The former Man City man has been playing in an unfamiliar role in the centre of defence. His confidence on the ball, led to a clean sheet and he even got on the scoresheet as he fired past David Marshall.

Left Back: Joe Mattock

It was always going to be an enduring and tough day for the Millers. Mattock battled hard as he won all six of his aerial duels and he kept young Jack Clarke quiet all game. He didn’t deserve to be on the losing side this weekend.

Right Midfield: Matty Cash

A fantastic performance from Cash as he proved to the Forest fans that he deserves to be starting every single game. He scored the second goal at the City Ground and was a constant threat.

Centre Midfield: Mateusz Klich

Klich has really flourished under Bielsa this season and he scored the two important goals as the Whites returned from the New York Stadium with all three points. I would say, it was his best showing of the season.

Centre Midfield: Alan Browne

Arguably the most underrated player in the second division, was at it again this weekend. He opened the scoring at the Bet365 Stadium and he has become a goalscoring machine as of late. Furthermore, he put the defensive shift in as his tireless determination and effort led to a 2-0 victory for the Lilywhites.

Left Midfield: Joe Lolley

Martin O’Neill got his first victory for the Reds as Lolley opened the scoring with a confident finish. This was once again, another great performance and he has been on fire this season!

Striker: Billy Sharp

It really is sensational how Billy Sharp, a 32 year old, has scored 18 goals in 23 starts! It was once again an impressive performance at Carrow Road as he scored two goals and hit the woodwork with his other shot. He is a true Blade and not many players can still do it at his age.

Striker: Tammy Abraham

Tammy showed why he is the top scorer in the EFL Championship this weekend. It was a double for Abraham on Saturday as he peppered Bialkowski with shot after shot. If it wasn’t for the Pole playing out of his skin, then Abraham could’ve genuinely had seven goals! He definitely needs to be playing in the Premier League next season.

Do you agree with my picks? Who would you have in? Let us know in the comments and whilst your at it go and follow @thebigdivision on Twitter!

Goodwin Out

Why Birmingham could be riding the dark horse into the play-offs this season.

A few weeks ago now, I was asked who I thought would be the classic dark horse when it came to the play-off picture in the championship this season. Today, I will begin to attempt answering this question, starting with Birmingham. So let’s see if I can convince you that they are the team to watch (despite being in the midst of a 4 match winless streak…)

Squad Depth:

When Mr Monopoly man Harry Redknapp was in charge of signings the previous summer, they recruited well, and expensively. Not that anyone opposed the plan, with the last day of the season heroics keeping them up suggesting a few new names may be necessary to avoid the same fate. Harry glanced longingly at the recruitment success of Brentford and thought, I could do with some of their best players. So he did, snapping up Harlee Dean, Maxime Colin and Jota (for 6 million). He also brought in some other names, but they are not part of the success now, so i’ll leave them out. Jota especially is the creative spark needed for the team, as without him, they are a rather more functional outfit. The fact that Birmingham have 40% of their attacks down his side is no surprise, nor is the fact he has 6 assists this season. What i’m trying to get across is that this team, despite its struggles over the last few years, does have quality, it simply needed to be harnessed.

Defensive solidity:

Birmingham are not an adventurous team. They are happy to counter, and in order to be able to do this, they have to have a solid base from which to soak up the pressure from the opposition. Remember those Brentford players? Well, they are mainstays within the team, with Dean at centre back putting up some of the highest  aerial win success percentages in the league at 63%, and Colin performing equally as well at right back. Michael Morrison has been superb alongside Dean, and have formed a very dominant partnership. The star man though has been the addition of Kristian Pedersen at left back. His tireless runs and defensive nous have made him perhaps the standout left back in the league this season. The consistency in team selection has allowed them all to gel into a very robust and effective back line, who form the backbone for the team. On average, they only concede 1.1 goals per game, which is only bettered by Middlesbrough, Leeds, Sheffield United and Bristol City. If they maintain those numbers, they will be not far off.

Attacking devastation:

Now onto the glitz and glamour of the team. Playing as a classic little and large partnership, they have formed the best strike force in the league. Jutkiewicz ( the ‘duke) is a handful for defenders, with his strength and aerial dominance, winning on average 12.3 duels a game. He acts as a perfect foil for Adams, holding the ball up for him to run on to, which is crucial in the type of football Birmingham play. Both are willing runners in the channels as well, capable of holding it and waiting for runners to arrive. Adams, while good at this, is a more dynamic player who is good at making runs in behind and destroying defenders for pace. This means Birmingham can be safe in the knowledge that balls can be knocked on to him from Jutkiewicz  or simply played over the top for him to chase. All this does not give them the credit they deserve though, as they are good footballers that possess a very handy knack of finishing chances well. They have a combined 24 goals between them, with Adams notching 14 and Jutkiewicz 10. Staggeringly, the ‘duke’ also has 9 assists in only 24 games, meaning he has contributed nearly a goal or assist every game. While all eyes are on Adams from the bigger teams, the duke cannot go unnoticed. They need to be kept fit and firing if they stand any chance of the top 6.

The gaffer:

Garry (Gary with 2 rr’s, why?), Monk is a man who is experienced enough in this league now to know what needs to be done to achieve results. There are many parallels between his current team and the one he had at Leeds. Both had a set style, built to soak up pressure, and counter. He is a reactionary coach, happy to wait out the first half and work out how the opposition play, and alter accordingly at halftime. He has built a solid defense, with players capable of handling the balls that are put in the box from opposition players filtered wide due to the bodies he places in the middle of the park. The wingers, and especially fullbacks, are required to get forward often to overlap and get balls into the strikers, and in Jutkiewicz  they have the perfect man for the system. In a very similar vein to Chris Wood he has been taught the art of being a target man from James Beattie, meaning he is now adept at holding the ball up and finishing chances. The key to Monks tactical system is that they will always be hard to beat, and have enough talent to be able to hurt other teams, be it by set plays or open play. The fact they have the 5th joint best goal difference is testament to his ability to set up a team. It’s not pretty viewing at times, but it gets results. They are the second most direct team in the league, yet produce plenty of chances to justify the style. Lets just hope he’s learned how to not choke at the final hurdle.

St.Andrews:

Home form is crucial for any team going up. Well, home and away form, but if you can win the majority of your home games, away games are more of a free hit. Monk made Elland Road a fortress in his sole season in charge, and has done the same this season. Granted, many early results were draws, but we all know they deserved more out of them then they actually got. They have lost 2 games at St. Andrews all season, one of them coming in their last one vs ‘Boro. That’s the joint best record in the league. If they can continue to be impenetrable at home, then there is no reason they cannot pick up enough points needed in this tightest of leagues.

What can hold them back?

The big dark storm brewing over Birmingham at the moment can be pointed at Mr Redknapp, the destroyer of financial stability. The money he spent and the wages invested in his short spell have led to investigations by the authorities, so much so that they were not allowed to buy any players in the summer, yet bought Pederson in anyway, contravening the rules. All this has meant them having an possible points deduction, which will inevitably be confirmed the moment this article goes live. If they do, then its by by playoffs, hello relegation dogfight. On the personal front, they lack a creative midfield presence, and desperately need a bit more flair to help break down more solid outfits. They cannot rely on Lee Camp, who has been questionable throughout the season. More worryingly, is the gossip surrounding their key players, especially Adams, who is getting many inquiring glances from the premier league. If they do lose him, they may struggle to replicate the deadly strike force they have developed.

I hope that convinces someone that Birmingham may have what it takes to get into the play-offs. If there are any Birmingham fans who disagree with the piece, leave a comment down below, I’m interested to get a fan’s perspective on the issue. Until next time.

Goodwin and Byrne’s Championship Predictions

Jack Goodwin and Sean Byrne will go head to head in predicting this weekends games in the EFL Championship. Who are we tipping for victory?

Aston Villa vs Ipswich Town

Goodwin predicts: 2-2

Byrne predicts:1-1

Blackburn Rovers vs Hull City

Goodwin predicts: 2-1

Byrne predicts 1-2

Norwich City vs Sheffield United

Goodwin predicts: 1-1

Byrne predicts: 2-1

Nottingham Forest vs Wigan Athletic

Goodwin predicts: 2-0

Byrne predicts: 0-1

Rotherham vs Leeds United

Goodwin predicts: 2-3

Byrne predicts: 0-3

Stoke City vs Preston North End

Goodwin predicts: 1-3

Byrne predicts: 2-1

How the system works:

3 points for the correct score line

1 point if you predict the winner

Let us know in the comments below your predictions or get in touch via our twitter @thebigdivision.

Team Of The Season so far…

After some controversial additions to Jack Goodwin’s team of the season released yesterdayhttps://theseconddivisionblog.wordpress.com/2019/01/23/championship-team-of-the-season/ here are my thoughts on who deserves a starting place in the best 11 from the championship season so far…

Goalkeeper: Joe Lumley (QPR)

10 clean sheets from 24 games is an impressive stat for any ‘keeper, never mind one in a mid table side that has at times struggled for form this season. Averaging well over 3 saves per game Joe Lumley certainly has earned his QPR side some valuable points this season, and often doesn’t receive the recognition for this that he deserves. At just 23 years of age Lumley still has bags of potential in him, and could really be one to look out for as a potential future England number one.

Right back: Reece James (Wigan Athletic)

At just 19 years of age, Reece James’ understanding of the game has been admirable at times this season. Yes he may not be part of the strongest defence this season, and he is in no way the ‘perfect full back’ with the odd mistake at times, however he has certainly been one of the few bright sparks to come out of the Latic’s season so far, and for that deserves a place in this team.

Centre back: Liam Cooper (Leeds United)

There is plenty of competition for this place inside the Championship, however it would be harsh to exclude the captain of the table toppers. His commanding presence has played a massive role in helping Leeds to the top, and his passion for the club cannot be questioned. Cooper will be hoping to continue his fine form and help Leeds secure that exclusive Premier League promotion spot.

Centre back: Aden Flint (Middlesbrough)

It would be impossible to not include at least one Boro defender in this team. The best defensive record in the league is partly down to Pulis’ tactics, but Aden Flint’s performances also deserve credit, his experience of the game being used to full effect with the defensive style of play.

Left back: Jamal Lewis (Norwich City)

Whilst he may not be the textbook defender, his overlapping runs and support going forward is exciting to watch. Another youngster to be included in this team, Lewis has already asserted himself as one of the first names on the Norwich line up week in week out, and I am excited to see just how good he can become over time.

Right Midfielder: Jarrod Bowen (Hull City)

Hull City fans simply cannot praise this young lad enough for what he has contributed to their side this season, however may want to be keep his success quiet as it is rumoured Spurs have been sniffing about the Englishman. Definitely one of the best dribblers in the league, Bowen has also proved his goal scoring ability with 14 goals this season, which is 34% of the Tigers’ total goals scored in the Championship. Bowen will be hoping he can help find his side a play off place, and if recent form is anything to go off, they should be able to do so.

Centre Midfield: Bradley Dack (Blackburn Rovers)

A huge fans favourite, Bradley Dack hasn’t struggled to make that leap in class after being promoted with Rovers from League One last season. 10 goals already this season, Dack has proved any doubters wrong about if he was good enough for this division, and is without question the best player in the Rovers squad.

Centre Midfield: Oliver Norwood (Sheffield United)

A true warrior in the middle of the pitch, Norwood has gone from strength to strength with his displays this season. Whilst his name isn’t common on the scoresheet, Norwood has shown he isn’t afraid of a tackle and has become a true rock for the Blades in helping them climb the table this season.

Left Midfield: Pablo Hernandez

Before you all start typing abuse at me in the comments, I am fully aware Pablo Hernandez prefers to play on the right or in the centre, I just thought he undoubtedly deserved some sort of spot in this team. The most assists in the league despite missing out on 7 games, incredible vision and a key eye for goal, it would be silly for anyone to not acknowledge him within the team of the season (so far).

Striker: Teemu Pukki (Norwich City)

I am a massive fan when it comes to this Scandinavian finisher, and it’s evident to see why. Once he found his feet in the Championship, there was no looking back for him and Norwich fans should feel lucky to have such a determined and exceptional finisher in their side this season.

Striker: Tammy Abraham (Aston Villa)

Top goalscorer in the league, just 21 years of age and rejected a move to the top flight to help his current side Villa fight for promotion… Need I say anymore? Tammy is one of my favourite strikers to watch at the moment and I couldn’t be happier to see him flourish in the league, and in my opinion it’s only a matter of time before he is one of the top strikers in England.

Honourable mentions:

Dean Henderson (Sheffield United)

Pontus Jansson (Leeds United)

Callum Robinson (Preston North End)

Kemar Roofe (Leeds United)

No doubt there will be some disagreement with some of the selections, so please let us know in the comments below who you’d include in your team so far, or get in touch via our twitter @thebigdivision.

Championship Team of the season

We are just over midway through the season and with 2019 in full swing it’s time to look at who has made the Championship XI so far…

Goalkeeper: Niki Mäenpää

Mäenpää has been very impressive at Ashton Gate, following a move from Brighton in the summer. The Finnish international has started 23 of their matches and a 1-1 draw at Pride Park showed his credentials. He made a string of saves and he has proven that he is good enough to be a first team goalkeeper in England.

Right Back: Ryan Shotton

Shotton has been unlucky with injuries this season but when he has started he has been strong in standing up to fast wingers and his defensive contribution has led to Middlesbrough conceding the least amount of goals in the league. He rarely has been beaten in the air and he is an old school full back, in the sense that he concentrates on his defensive work rather than his attacking runs.

Centre Back: Liam Cooper

Marcelo Bielsa’s sides usually struggle in the defensive stage but Leeds United have flourished this season with the the commanding presence of their captain leading the way. Cooper can read the game very well and he has protected young Bailey Peacock-Farrell behind him.

Centre Back: Pontus Jansson

How could I leave the Swede out? Leeds United have the best defensive partnership in the league and it would’ve been criminal to leave him out. He is comfortable on the ball and he brings it out from the back. He never loses an aerial duel and he is a threat in the opposition box.

Left Back: Kristian Pedersen

The €2.5 Million signing has been a rock at the back for the Blues this season. His 6 foot 2 frame has led him to be dominant in the air and he is equally as good at intercepting the ball. He makes a contribution in the final third, with his tricky dribbling. Birmingham fans love the tenacity from him, making Pederson a perfect fit for the left-back role at St Andrews.

Right Midfield: Jarrod Bowen

The young Englishman has contributed to 17 goals this season and it is no surprise that Tottenham Hotspur are interested in his services. For the last two seasons he has been scoring week in week out and when he gets the opportunity he always finds the back of the net. He likes to dribble at opposition defences but he shows the discipline to help out at the back. He is a constant threat and he deserves a move to the Premier League.

Centre Midfield: Pablo Hernandez

Bielsa has got the best of the Spaniard and he has contributed to 17 goals in 20 starts this season. For a 33 year old, this is a sensational stat. He is a class above the Championship and he continually creates chances with pinpoint passes and a superb vision. His set piece delivery is outstanding and he shows many similarities to Kevin De Bruyne. Hernandez likes to cut inside and he has arguably been the best player in the Championship this season.

Centre Midfield: Oliver Norwood

Does Norwood have any weaknesses? Blades fans would argue he doesn’t after his performances this season. He continues to be patient on the ball and makes key passes. His long shots have tested keepers many times this season and his set pieces have been fantastic. Norwood enjoys his defensive side of the game and loves a tackle. He has been an essential player for Sheffield Utd this season. This impressive form has earned him a permanent move to Bramall Lane, in the current window.

Left Midfield: Joe Lolley

Nottingham Forest have enjoyed the qualities of Lolley so far. His skilful dribbling is useful as he likes to cut inside on the full back and create chances for Lewis Grabban. He isn’t afraid of getting stuck in and he will work hard for the team. He will be hoping that he can regain his place in Martin O’Neills side.

Striker: Lukas Jutkiewicz

In my opinion the Blues striker has been the best player in the Championship this season. People will look at the goals and see that his tally of 10 is not that impressive but it’s the runs of the ball, that open up the space for his teammates which are providing them with chances. More impressively, he has won an average of 12 aerial duels per game! He likes to flick the ball on to Che Adams and he is constantly seen in the opposition box defending set pieces. The Englishman is having his best season yet and he is a dream for Garry Monk.

Striker: Tammy Abraham

You only have to look across the road for the next best striker. The top goal scorer in the Championship this season has scored 17 goals in just 22 games. He is too good for the second division and he will want to lead Villa into the Premier League. He rejected a move to Wolves to stay with Aston Villa in the January transfer window but he has the credentials of being a Premier League striker. He can finish fantastically, dribble with pace and win balls in the air! What a player!

This was extremely difficult for me to choose and certain players are unlucky to miss out! Especially with the vast amount of strikers that have performed well this season. Matt Phillips, Jack Grealish, Mark Beevers, Callum Robinson, Alan Browne, Will Vaulks, Shaun Williams, Emiliano Buendia, Dwight Gayle, Ahmed Hegazi, Neal Maupay and Timm Klose were all very closely considered.

Let us know what you think in the comments below and whether you agree or disagree with the choices I have made. Whilst your at it, go and follow @thebigdivision on Twitter!

Goodwin Out

The day Leeds maintained Stokes infamous cliché.

Bad things happen to bad people. Or so they say. The torrent of debate on ‘spygate’ has perhaps been taken unkindly by our lord, and he had decreed that Leeds shall win no more. The whole footballing community were no doubt rejoicing at 5:00 on Saturday upon finding out cheating Leeds had lost on a cold Saturday afternoon to Stoke. To clarify, the reason we lost was because we could not spy, and nothing else, obviously.  It’s hard to not find the result problematic despite it being one game, because combining it with Leeds quality second half of season runs makes it hard to believe otherwise. On top of this, for the first time this season Leeds decided to set up a beam back at Elland Road, so 1,900 people, myself included, decided to partake. Unfortunately, the queue for the bar was infinitely long so much suffering was had during the game. On the showing of the game, it may be wise to end the initiative at one, because if this is a possible sign of jinx, then it needs to be stopped. Illegal streaming must therefore prevail (I do not endorse illegal streaming and in fact strongly condemn it, because Sky are superior and deserve all the money they can get for their high-quality content). 

Stoke were on a bad run, they sacked their manager, they still continued to lose games. Leeds arrived, Stoke won. It’s the way it goes. I do not know why people continue to tempt fate, because it inevitably fires back in our faces with double the pain and suffering. The worst thing is that Stoke were not even very impressive. It’s a fine line writing a piece as a Leeds fan and remaining impartial, but if Stoke fans suggest that was miles better than what they have been witnessing this season, then I really do feel for them. I’d have sent a care package sooner, with some lovely chocolates and infused candles to comfort them in their dark times. Gary Rowett was supposed to be a conservative manager, who could not set up his team to defend. Nathan Jones, a coach known for his attacking style of play, established a huge 11-man defence on the edge of their box, impregnable to all who attempted to pass through. Needless to say, it was not a pretty game, but satisfying if your team won. Leeds did not, so it was awful. Pulis ball gets a bad rep, but Jones ball was equally as offensive.  

Before you tuck into the detailed analysis of the game, just a disclaimer that writing about your team losing miserably means that many of the events of the game are deleted immediately from your memory and never brought up again. If you do not like the piece, think about how painful and distressing it was to write before you come for me with aggressive postcards.  

From the get go, it seemed the game was running at a lower speed, as if someone had a slight delay. It was not helped by both teams being content to misplace passes in the final third. Initially, there was plenty of space in the middle of the park to exploit, but Ayling contrived to lump balls over the top for Jack Clarke on the wing to chase. In fact, the entire team were trying to play high balls, mainly to Roofe, or fire them in like cannon balls to his feet, while surrounded by 3 meaty blokes at centre back. Surprisingly, this did not work one bit, and only hindered any flow the attack tried to build. Stoke played on the counter, playing long balls into the channels to Afobe and Campbell, and hoping to win fouls or corners. It was unpleasant, and effective. Moritz Bauer decided to audition for Clint Eastwood’s next film, acting like he had been shot perfectly and buying a foul. I feel more needs to be made of the flop, perhaps Leeds can lodge a complaint and get Stoke deducted points for not playing in the spirit of the game… Jansson was also booked for dissent after he had won the ball, something he loves to do, and I’m sure will continue to, to the detriment of the team. People seem to enjoy his passion, and I do not think there is something inherently wrong with it, it simply needs to be controlled. The problem is equating passion with idiocy in this case, because acting like a child will only get you punished. Bookings like that can cause issues later on in games, if you’re walking the hypothetical tightrope. What else happened? Stoke had a free kick saved, Leeds passed the ball a bit more, got in behind with Clarke, and realised there was no one to square it to. Forgettable.  

The second half, in contrast, was a half full of high drama and bad refereeing. I will not blame the referee for the defeat, although some decisions remained utterly baffling. Never mind Bauers showpiece, the lack of a penalty for Hernandez was debatable, and Jansson’s second yellow was just rubbish. With Afobe running through on goal, and naturally mis controlling the ball, Jansson slipped at the same second, and the ref, who was right behind, believed he punched the ball, whilst on the floor. He did not, and he should appeal the second yellow card and get it overturned. Before that though, Klich, who has regressed recently, decided to kindly head the ball back into our penalty box instead of clearing it, leaving a premier league player in Clucas to fire it home. A good finish, and an entirely avoidable goal. The fat lady might as well have started to warble at that point, as Stoke scuttled back to their penalty box and stayed there like hermit crabs. They were not for moving from their home. Leeds passed from side to side, and then crossed it to Roofe, who was marked by, you guessed it, 3 meaty blokes. In fairness, Shawcross et al had a solid game, and did well to maintain the defensive line. Leeds were passive though, utterly ineffective at slicing them apart. When Hernandez cannot find a bit of magic, we struggle, and will continue to if teams play like Stoke did. After 30 minutes of trying, Maclean decided to venture forward, putting in a ball for Joe Allen to tap in. Game over, and a game to wipe from the memory banks. Oh, Leeds did score with the last kick of the game, well isn’t that swell.  

Picking a man of the match would be too kind for the majority of players. An acquaintance of mine suggested Alioski, for running and trying. A reasonable suggestion, but I could put a hamster on a wheel and get the same end result. Klich is tempting, for at least contributing something, whether it was detrimental or not. Bailey made a few saves, congratulations, he did his job. Ayling definitely will never get a vote from me. Unless he decides not to play awful balls down the line, or shuffle inwards and not receive the ball back, because they know he will lose it. Someone utterly neutral needs to receive it, so I’m going for Jack Stevens, who did nothing right or wrong. Congratulations son. Stokes best player was in my eyes Etebo, who performed to the levels I’d have hoped to see from his world cup showings. He never gave our players a moment’s rest on the ball the entire game, and harried them into multiple errors. Looking forwards then, Stoke fans will enjoy sneaking into the playoffs, while Leeds can glance delightfully to next week for a date with Rotherham, without a man who wins most of the aerial balls in the team. Can we just move onto Norwich already, the nerves really are kicking in, and it is not going to get any better. If anyone wants to sponsor me for AA, let me know in a month. I’m going to smash all my plates in the house, I do not want to have anything to do with the potteries for a while.  Ciao.  

EFL Championship: What each team needs in the window

Where does your team need strengthening? Who do you need to sign and who will be the ideal signing?

Aston Villa:

Aston Villa need another centre back. There has been no issues scoring goals, but the defence is leaky with 43 goals conceded in just 27 games.

Who should they sign? – Ezri Konsa

A player that Dean Smith used to have at Griffin Park could be the ideal signing for Dean Smith. He likes his team to be comfortable with the ball at the back and the young 21 year-old centre back could protect the Villa backline. He could be expensive but the owner should be prepared to part with £15 Million to secure the services of Konsa.

Birmingham City:

The midfield needs a bit more creativity to link up with the impressive Che Adams and Lukas Jutkiewicz. Centre Midfield should be a priority.

Who they should sign? – Grant Leadbitter

Transfers have been very difficult due to the current transfer embargo. They will have to look to free transfers and the Middlesbrough captain is free to discuss terms with any other teams as his contract is running out in the summer. Birmingham should look to secure the services of the heavily experienced midfielder. He has only played one game this season and he could be crucial for the Blues.

Blackburn Rovers

Blackburn have taken to the Championship very well and they are outsiders for the Play-Offs. Even though Ryan Nyambe has been doing well, they could need cover at Right Back and a winger is a priority too. Mowbray was also without four central defenders for the Fa Cup replay with Newcastle.

Who they should sign? – Patrick Bauer

Blackburn should renew their interest in the Charlton Centre-Half. Charlton rejected a 500,000 bid in the summer from Rovers but the German has been comfortable this season and deserves the step up in divisions. Hal Robson-Kanu and Paddy McNair should also be potential targets to re-strengthen Rovers side.

Bolton Wanderers:

On-field matters have taken a back seat as the club continues to have all sorts of problems. It is hard to see many incomings coming in this window. A striker should be a priority as they are the lowest scorers in the league and they need a major injection of goals to stay up.

Who they should sign? – Gabby Agbonlahor

It has come to a desperate time at Bolton and they need goals to stay up. The 32 year old free agent could be the answer to those problems. He recently revealed that he had rejected offers from Championship clubs because he didn’t want to play against his beloved Villa but surely he needs to accept one soon or his career is just going to fizzle out. With Ken Anderson unlikely to spend any money on signings, they will have to turn to the free agents list and Agbonlahor looks like he could be a shrewd signing.

Brentford:

Maupay has been scoring goals for fun but he’s going to leave eventually and the Bees need a back up striker to help when he is out injured, suspended or sold.

Who they should sign? – Hany Mukhtar

Brentford usually look abroad for their signings and Mukhtar is a young attacking player. He can play Striker, Centre Attacking Midfield or even out wide. This season he is currently playing at Brøndby where he has contributed to 9 goals in 17 games the Danish Superliga.

Bristol City:

Bristol need to improve in their attacking options as they have only scored a meagre 34 goals in 27 games. If they want to get Play-Offs they will need a striker to score at least ten goals for them.

Who should they sign? – Josh Maja

Maja has been linked with a move to the Premier league but in my opinion this could be a bit too soon for the 20 year-old. He has scored 14 goals in 24 games for Sunderland in League One and he may be best suited to moving to one of the best young teams in the Championship. Lee Johnson has proven with Bobby Reid and Jonathan Kodija that he can develop and improve young strikers and I think this would be a good signing for all parties.

Derby County:

Derby haven’t kept enough clean sheets this season and they could look for a replacement for Richard Keogh. Elsewhere, they could do with more creativity in the middle of park.

Who they should sign? Reece Oxford

20 year-old Oxford is looking for a move away and Derby County could offer him a chance for first team football, possibly on a loan. He has previously played on loan with Reading and Borrusia Monchengladbach and it would be a good move for him and the Rams. Derby should also look to signing Lucas Piazon. He did very well with Fulham in this division and they could even sign him on a permanent and he isn’t much use to Chelsea.

Hull City:

The Tigers have been on a sensational run and they may need to bolster up front if they want to carry it on and become Play-Off contenders. Frazier Campbell has done well with 9 goals in 18 but he may need some competition as Chris Martin has failed to impress in his ten games for Hull City.

Who they should sign? – Shane Long

Shane Long’s last four goals have come under four different Southampton managers! This shows his lack of consistency but it also may be time for him to take a step down to the Championship. A move to his old team could be dangerous, as his rapid pace will frighten defences. Limited finances are an obstacle so this may have to be a temporary loan move.

Ipswich Town:

The team needs strengthening everywhere. They have been bottom of the league for the whole season and they have already started making reinforcements. Alan Judge, Collin Quaner, Will Keane, Callum Elder, James Collins and Simon Dawkins have been the signings they have made so far.

Who they should sign? – Liam Bridcutt

The Scottish international has struggled for game time with Nottingham Forest this season and could be open to a move away if a bid comes his way. The 29 year-old would be a great signing for the Blues.

Leeds United:

Kiko Casilla is reportedly close to signing and this would be a great signing for the Whites. Bailey Peacock-Farrell has done good enough but Leeds need a top keeper to stay consistently at top of the league. A new winger should be a priority.

Who they should sign? – Jefferson Montero

The Ecuadorian has struggled for regular game time and he is yet to start a game at the Liberty stadium. Bielsa is rumoured to be interested in signing Montero and this would be a great move as he is one of the fastest players in the league!

Middlesbrough:

Boro need an injection of pace and the loss of Adama Traore hampered their promotion chase.

Who they should sign? – Bojan

Bojan was frozen out of the Stoke City squad by Gary Rowett and Jones has opted not to select him as of yet. Bojan has attacking flair and Premier League quality. He is the ideal replacement for Braithwaite and he could lead them to automatic promotion.

Millwall:

The Lions need to improve out on the wing. The lack of a quality out and out winger has truly dampened Millwalls season.

Who they should sign? – Ben Marshall

Marshall was simply brilliant when he joined Millwall last season. He is now at Norwich and he isn’t getting any playing time. This would be an astute move from Neil Harris if he can acquire the services of Marshall.

Norwich:

Norwich have been impressive but have had to come from behind multiple times so improving their defensive resolve must be a priority if they want to return to the promised land.

Who they should sign? – Will Vaulks

Rotherham’s star player has been exceptional this season and he is playing fantastically week in, week out. He can score some great goals and is very quick at intercepting. At 25 years old he should be playing at a bigger team.

Nottingham Forest:

Lewis Grabban is Forest’s only option up front and if he gets injured the Reds could be lacking a goal scoring threat.

Who they should sign- Callum Robinson

He is currently injured but he was in the form of his life earlier in the season. He was scoring goals for fun and was one of the only bright sparks in the Preston team. PNE will not want to lose him but O’Neill was very fond of Robinson, when he was the manager of ROI. O’Neill could tempt him to the City Ground as they have big ambitions of Premier League football.

Preston North End:

PNE have made some very good signings from lower divisions so far but Neil has signalled his intent for more incomings. Darnell Fisher has been poor this season and Tom Clarke’s natural position is centre back so they should target a new right back.

Who they should sign- Tom James

The 22 year old nearly signed a deal with West Brom in the summer but they were unable to agree contract terms. James has been playing in the fourth division with Yeovil Town and Preston should target another young player. This is the typical PNE business model, they like to sign young players from lower league teams and they usually greatly improve them.

Queens Park Rangers:

Loan signings have helped but they are still a bit light on the goalscoring front and they possibly need to strengthen that is they want to reach the Play-Offs.

Who they should sign?- Nahki Wells

Wells on a permanent deal would be fantastic for the Hoops. He links with the midfield well and is a threat up front. Wells already plays for QPR but signing him on a permanent will be helpful.

Reading:

Reading have lacked cutting edge and confidence in the final third. An out and out winger should be beneficial and could keep them in the Championship.

Who they should sign? – Wenderson Galeno

Jose Gomes could use his links to bring the Rio Ave winger to the Madjeski Stadium. Galeno is currently on loan from Porto and he has been Rio Ave’s best player this season. He’s only 21 year old and could be a very good signing for a struggling Championship side.

Rotherham:

If Rotherham are to stay up, then they need another winger and defender in the window. It would be a miraculous achievement for them to stay up with the leagues weakest squad.

Who they should sign? – Callum Johnson

Zak Vyner has struggled at right back this season and the Millers could look to bring in young, Callum Johnson from Accrington Stanley. He has been rumoured with a switch to Preston North End but he would be more likely to start if he moved to Yorkshire instead.

Sheffield United:

The Blades have got themselves in a really promising position and they need to make sure they have quality in depth. Right wing back is possibly an area they could look to improve.

Who they should sign: Glen Johnson

This may be a very peculiar choice but I honestly believe Johnson has a lot left in his tank and he would be a decent acquisition for any Championship side. He will give Sheffield Utd some much needed experience and he will be able to guide the young players and make sure they stay in the form they are in. They need to avoid any extended winless runs if they want to secure the top two places.

Sheffield Wednesday:

The owner, Dejphon Chansiri has said that the club could be placed under a transfer embargo for the second time in less than a year, which will make transfer incomings extremely difficult. A new centre back would help though.

Who they should sign? – Philipp Wollscheid

Sheffield Wednesday will have to look at the free agents list and the German 29 year-old is currently without a club. After a move with Stoke, didn’t work out it could mean he could be apprehensive about returning to England but Wednesday need all they can get and he proved at Bayer Leverkusen that he is a good player when he wants to be.

Stoke City:

It’s all hands on deck at the Bet365 Stadium and things need to improve quickly. Nathan Jones has walked into a mess and his first two games have showed no sign of it stopping.

Who they should sign?- Tyler Adams

Cuco Martina has not been consistent so far this season and a replacement for him would be necessary. Tyler Adams has just joined German side, Red Bull Leipzig from New York Red Blues but it is unlikely he will start from the off. Adams is seen as one of the best young players in football today and he could be the player Stoke needs. A loan deal could benefit all parties. Trust me, the young 19 year old is something special.

Swansea City:

Swansea at times have lacked creativity this season and with teams in for James and Montero, they may have to start looking for replacements. Money is tight at the Liberty Stadium and Potter has not been given much to spend, if any!

Who they should sign? – CJ Hamilton

With the budget limited, Potter should look to the lower leagues. At Mansfield, CJ Hamilton is looking like a very promising asset and with age on his side, he would only improve under a manager as committed to youth like Potter is.

West Bromwich Albion:

Central Midfield needs a more youthful outlook as Chris Brunt, Gareth Barry and Jake Livermore are all 29 or above. West Brom should be an attractive side to sign for as they look ready for promotion.

Who they should sign?- Alan Browne

If the Baggies want an injection of pace, determination, skill and passion then look no further than Deepdale. Browne has consistently been Preston’s best player for the last two seasons and he certainly deserves the move up. However, I doubt PNE would be willing to part with him on the cheap. However, as I watch him most weeks, I really would vouch for Browne to get a move up but he could stick with Preston and become a hero for many seasons!

Wigan Athletic:

Dan Burn has just departed so Wigan need another centre half desperately. The signing of Pilkington was very clever and he could do very well at the DW stadium.

Who they should sign? – Jack Whatmough

Paul Cook should look to one of his former sides as he seeks defensive resoluteness. Rangers have reportedly been interested in signing him and he is known as one of the best young defenders in the English Football league. Although, in the last 24 hours he has just signed a contract extension, which may make it difficult for anyone to sign him.