Field is part of Moore's plans, although they obviously have some doubts about him playing CM, but he is on the bench and should get his chance with a few injuries. I thought Harper might overtake him in the pecking order but that hasn't happened yet, maybe he will go back out at some point and will do if we can make a marquee midfield signing in Jan. Edwards has taken the bench place ahead of Leko who was only kept as insurance due to the thin nature of the squad and Sako's arrival should see him now loaned out when possible.
This is Burke's post and he is the conundrum......fatally overpriced purely on potential which is not his fault. However, a succession of managers including TP, GM, AP and now Darren Moore have not considered him good enough even for the bench. As a fan he seems to have everything you need; pace, strength, height, speed BUT maybe whatever it takes to make a top level professional? Oli just doesn't have it at the moment and may never (I'm guessing he is the same player now he was at 17??).
Playing Barnes shows that if you have got what it takes you will play.....but he sets a high bar. Roberts was not ready for the top division, but I think could have been an integral part of this squad....a real shame that Leeds came sniffing. Sawyers and Roofe? Needed to continue their development in lower league first team football and have taken the old fashioned route back towards the top, but would either really flourish in the PL?? not sure. Would you want to spend £5m + now on each?? not sure again. It does again though illustrate how much we over payed for Oli.