Anyone think...

[BillyStubbsTears]

...that our strikers wouldn't score in the Championship?

Steve Howard's just scored at Hillsborough. That's Steve Howard, the 36 year old lump who was on the bench when we arseholed Hartlepool a few weeks back.

[Belle-Vue-Ghost]

We'll be fine in there Billy. Especially if we can find a striker with a decent turn of pace to play alongside Chris Brown

[EpsTheMightyReds]

Agree, think a smaller striker / poacher with pace will work great with Browny. Also believe Paynter and Hume would be pretty ineffective in the Championship.

[mushRTID]

I thought Paddy Madden looked good last night but could we afford him?

[DonnyOsmond]

We'll get that Sharp lad on loan.

[PDX_Rover]

I expect Madden to go to a bigger club. As for Hume and Paynter - rubbish that they will not be good enough for the Championship - deserve a chance before judging them.

[ponte_ricky]

Personally think billy paynter will be alright hes got a good eye for goal. Dont think hume has the quality really but his work rate is second to none. Its a tough one

[EpsTheMightyReds]

PDX - we're all entitled to our opinion. As much as I like Humey and think he did a great job this season, I personally believe his value has been in harassing the opposition defence and forcing them deep and to give away posession. Having watched Barnsley 4 or 5 times this season and, like many others, the odd Championship game on Sky - Humey will struggle to have the same effect on Championship defences.  The defences I have seen are very mobile and comfortable on the ball, usually having at least one or two midfield playmakers who make themselves available, Humey would be a bit of an irritant to the better teams (that's probably 16 of them), he may still be effective against the poorer teams.
I remember playing Bolton in our first season at the Keepmoat, it was like boys against men. I think many games next season could be the same unless we strengthen the squad with pace and physical strength. Even Browny will struggle to be as effective as he's been this season, every game for him will be a battle (I believe, if we keep him fit, that he can win many of these battles)
Don't get me wrong, both Paynter and Hume could have a part to play as squad players / subs but that's about it. I know some will read these comments as critical, I don't intend them to be - I just hope the powers that be recognise that League 1 this year was pretty poor and that it is a massive step up to the Championship. There's no time for sentiment, our better players will have to be at their best week in week out to stand any chance of success, the average players will have to be culled to make room for more quality.

[BillyStubbsTears]

Eps

That Bolton game told a different lesson to me. We were comprehensively out-muscled - Wilson in particular who was simply mullered in two midfield challenges that led directly to two goals.

We won't regularly be out-muscled next season. Whether we have the nous to do more than just simple try to win attritional battles is more the question.