Today Simon Grayson has done what most of the fans have been urging to do for weeks, and has warned his underperforming squad that if necessary the will bring in some new faces on loan to replace them.
Twice already this season the boss has told his players that they need to improve, especially after the diabolical performances against Barnsley and Preston, but his patience seems to have run out after Tuesday night’s defeat at home to Leicester. He has told the Yorkshire Post today that if need be he will look to the transfer market to add to his already sizeable squad.
"I've tried to be loyal to players and work on things with them but we're always on the look-out for better players to take the club forward. We're always looking to improve the squad. I'm not shouting from the rooftops about what we can achieve or saying we'll be top of the division and walking away from everyone else. But you want players at the club who are consistent with their performances and at this moment in time we're not getting that from them."
At the start of the season Grayson kept faith with most of the squad who earned promotion from League One, but warned them he would be ruthless with those who felt short of the Championship's standard. After the Leicester defeat Grayson said "Collectively, we were poor and to lose the game 2-1 was probably a relief because it could have been worse based on how well Leicester played and how poor we were." The performance could well result in Alex Bruce being recalled to the side, and it was a surprise he was left out when he was available, having served his one-match ban on Saturday.
The problems go right across the defence, and our poor defending has led to an inconsistency that has undermined our season. Grayson is not going to let the situation continue without trying to change it, although some of his recent signings have proved to be part of the problem. Collins was signed permanently during the summer yet hasn’t inspired confidence, Bessone has repeatedly caught out of position at left back and when Faye came in to protect the back four he has looked completely unfit and well off the pace.
Grayson has been working hard for the last month to correct our defensive failings, and while he waits for Kisnorbo and Parker to return from injury he seems certain to dip into the loan market again for a solution to the problem. Maybe it’s time to look for players from the Premiership, rather than making do with cast-offs from other clubs in the same division.