Halfway through the season

And exactly halfway in the table.

That's a pretty fair reflection of what we are - an absolutely average Championship team.

Are we happy with being a mid table team or does anyone think that a team that almost stayed up in the Premier League last season and has one more season of parachute payments available to it after this season should perhaps be performing somewhat better than they are doing.

I reckon that at the end of the season we'll be in a very similar position to where we are at the moment.

We certainly won't be relegated but unless there is a large turnover of playing staff who gel into a new team almost immediately I have to say that, having seen every game this season, there has been nothing to suggest that we can realistically challenge even for the play offs.

Important January if our season is not just going to drift into nothingness.

Problem is so many poor transfer windows a lot of money wasted on a very unbalanced squad.

We then replaced managers with another manager in the same mould.

I think people should be more positive. People underestimate how hard it is to get relegated to get from the premiership and then stay in the championship the next season. There are numerous teams in this decade who have been relegated from the Premiership and then got relegated again within a few seasons. We’ve avoided that once and we’re on track to avoid it again this season.

My second point brings me onto the new manager. Initially I was apprehensive about him but it’s been 7 games in and we’ve lost only once - and that was only by a one goal margin. 4 of the 7 we’ve played are (or were at the time) in the top 6, including impressive Leeds and Brentford sides. We’ve drawn 3 games - Leeds, Preston and Charlton. Charlton was the first game under the new manager, we were away and Leeds are in the best form in a long time, I would certainly have taken a point before the game and I most certainly would have taken a point if we were 2 or 3 goals down, and we did. We’ve also played Stoke and Barnsley and we picked up 6 points out of 6 from those two games.

In considering these are not Harris’ new players I would say that this is a good start - not a “bang average” start. Are we in the form of a bang average championship side? Yes. But most bang average championship sides have had their manager for at least one transfer market and a long period of time. We have had ours since mid-November. If we’re a bang average team now, what will we be like under players Harris chooses to sign?

I think people should be more positive. People underestimate how hard it is to get relegated to get from the premiership and then stay in the championship the next season. There are numerous teams in this decade who have been relegated from the Premiership and then got relegated again within a few seasons. We’ve avoided that once and we’re on track to avoid it again this season.

My second point brings me onto the new manager. Initially I was apprehensive about him but it’s been 7 games in and we’ve lost only once - and that was only by a one goal margin. 4 of the 7 we’ve played are (or were at the time) in the top 6, including impressive Leeds and Brentford sides. We’ve drawn 3 games - Leeds, Preston and Charlton. Charlton was the first game under the new manager, we were away and Leeds are in the best form in a long time, I would certainly have taken a point before the game and I most certainly would have taken a point if we were 2 or 3 goals down, and we did. We’ve also played Stoke and Barnsley and we picked up 6 points out of 6 from those two games.

In considering these are not Harris’ new players I would say that this is a good start - not a “bang average” start. Are we in the form of a bang average championship side? Yes. But most bang average championship sides have had their manager for at least one transfer market and a long period of time. We have had ours since mid-November. If we’re a bang average team now, what will we be like under players Harris chooses to sign?

That's why I said that this January is a vital one for the club. Harris has to show that he is capable of identifying and signing players who are capable of mounting a promotion challenge and so far he has not had the experience of doing that at Championship level. I really hope he's up to the job but one of the great unknowns is what backing he will get to change the team.

I think most would admit that change is necessary if we are going to improve from being the mid table also rans which we are at the moment.

Harris himself has said that he has got to sell before he can recruit - who on earth in our squad has any resale value? Are there any players in our squad who would be wanted by a Premier League team or top half Championship team? I can't see it myself therefore you are looking at teams who will struggle to afford the transfer fees and/or wages of a Josh Murphy, Gary Madine or even Omar Bogle.

I think it may prove a lot harder to shift a lot of the deadwood at the club than some may think limiting Harris's scope to change the squad very much over January.

I cannot remember when we last signed anybody decent during the January transfer window. Whittingham perhaps?

I think people should be more positive. People underestimate how hard it is to get relegated to get from the premiership and then stay in the championship the next season. There are numerous teams in this decade who have been relegated from the Premiership and then got relegated again within a few seasons. We’ve avoided that once and we’re on track to avoid it again this season.

My second point brings me onto the new manager. Initially I was apprehensive about him but it’s been 7 games in and we’ve lost only once - and that was only by a one goal margin. 4 of the 7 we’ve played are (or were at the time) in the top 6, including impressive Leeds and Brentford sides. We’ve drawn 3 games - Leeds, Preston and Charlton. Charlton was the first game under the new manager, we were away and Leeds are in the best form in a long time, I would certainly have taken a point before the game and I most certainly would have taken a point if we were 2 or 3 goals down, and we did. We’ve also played Stoke and Barnsley and we picked up 6 points out of 6 from those two games.

In considering these are not Harris’ new players I would say that this is a good start - not a “bang average” start. Are we in the form of a bang average championship side? Yes. But most bang average championship sides have had their manager for at least one transfer market and a long period of time. We have had ours since mid-November. If we’re a bang average team now, what will we be like under players Harris chooses to sign?

That's why I said that this January is a vital one for the club. Harris has to show that he is capable of identifying and signing players who are capable of mounting a promotion challenge and so far he has not had the experience of doing that at Championship level. I really hope he's up to the job but one of the great unknowns is what backing he will get to change the team.

I think most would admit that change is necessary if we are going to improve from being the mid table also rans which we are at the moment.

Harris himself has said that he has got to sell before he can recruit - who on earth in our squad has any resale value? Are there any players in our squad who would be wanted by a Premier League team or top half Championship team? I can't see it myself therefore you are looking at teams who will struggle to afford the transfer fees and/or wages of a Josh Murphy, Gary Madine or even Omar Bogle.

I think it may prove a lot harder to shift a lot of the deadwood at the club than some may think limiting Harris's scope to change the squad very much over January.

I cannot remember when we last signed anybody decent during the January transfer window. Whittingham perhaps?

I agree with all of that. January could potentially be massive for us, maybe it won’t change a huge amount this season but could be defining for next year.

But mind you, we’re 3 points off the play offs now so potentially January could still have a big impact on the rest of the season this year too

We'll finish top half. We don't look anywhere near top 6 even in a league that's poor this season.

And exactly halfway in the table.

That's a pretty fair reflection of what we are - an absolutely average Championship team.

Are we happy with being a mid table team or does anyone think that a team that almost stayed up in the Premier League last season and has one more season of parachute payments available to it after this season should perhaps be performing somewhat better than they are doing.

I reckon that at the end of the season we'll be in a very similar position to where we are at the moment.

We certainly won't be relegated but unless there is a large turnover of playing staff who gel into a new team almost immediately I have to say that, having seen every game this season, there has been nothing to suggest that we can realistically challenge even for the play offs.

Important January if our season is not just going to drift into nothingness.

we lost a lot of players in the summer...and replacements are always a gamble, some work some don't and some take a little time... the expectations here are sky high. too high..
this year is about what works, what doesn't and tweaking ,I really don't think we are miles away..and think Harris start is better than anyones crediting for..

We signed Frazier Campbell in January and his goals probably secured us that promotion.

We have had three clean sheets in Harris seven games compared to three in the previous 16. Small steps.

Morrison is no longer first name on team sheet and hopefully we can see a centre half partnership that isn't Morrison and Flint develop. Sir Neils intransigence on that was costly.

A play off place is completely attainable and if we can be where we are half way any improvement in form and results away from home will see us there. God knows how but it will

We signed Frazier Campbell in January and his goals probably secured us that promotion.

We have had three clean sheets in Harris seven games compared to three in the previous 16. Small steps.

Morrison is no longer first name on team sheet and hopefully we can see a centre half partnership that isn't Morrison and Flint develop. Sir Neils intransigence on that was costly.

A play off place is completely attainable and if we can be where we are half way any improvement in form and results away from home will see us there. God knows how but it will

Campbell is a good call - fair play to you and I agree that he really gave us the boost we needed to get over the line in that first promotion season.

We signed Frazier Campbell in January and his goals probably secured us that promotion.

We have had three clean sheets in Harris seven games compared to three in the previous 16. Small steps.

Morrison is no longer first name on team sheet and hopefully we can see a centre half partnership that isn't Morrison and Flint develop. Sir Neils intransigence on that was costly.

A play off place is completely attainable and if we can be where we are half way any improvement in form and results away from home will see us there. God knows how but it will

Morrison has been injured. and wins were being obtained on his return..i wouldn't write it in stone that he will not be 1st choice..
as for Campbell...that was a real push the boat out signing for us...don't see that happening again.

We signed Frazier Campbell in January and his goals probably secured us that promotion.

We have had three clean sheets in Harris seven games compared to three in the previous 16. Small steps.

Morrison is no longer first name on team sheet and hopefully we can see a centre half partnership that isn't Morrison and Flint develop. Sir Neils intransigence on that was costly.

A play off place is completely attainable and if we can be where we are half way any improvement in form and results away from home will see us there. God knows how but it will

Morrison has been injured. and wins were being obtained on his return..i wouldn't write it in stone that he will not be 1st choice..
as for Campbell...that was a real push the boat out signing for us...don't see that happening again.

Campbell wasn't big money but he'd been injured. £650k? It was a shrewd move as he was a good player in the Championship for sure.

We signed Frazier Campbell in January and his goals probably secured us that promotion.

We have had three clean sheets in Harris seven games compared to three in the previous 16. Small steps.

Morrison is no longer first name on team sheet and hopefully we can see a centre half partnership that isn't Morrison and Flint develop. Sir Neils intransigence on that was costly.

A play off place is completely attainable and if we can be where we are half way any improvement in form and results away from home will see us there. God knows how but it will

Morrison has been injured. and wins were being obtained on his return..i wouldn't write it in stone that he will not be 1st choice..
as for Campbell...that was a real push the boat out signing for us...don't see that happening again.

Campbell wasn't big money but he'd been injured. £650k? It was a shrewd move as he was a good player in the Championship for sure.

huge money mate. its not always about the transfer fees.
he was reluctant to go to Sunderland so had the 650k written in which gave him freedom to pick and choose and of course grab a big chunk of what would have been a more sensible fee as a signing on fee....did the same with us..