Day 202

I spent the day in quiet jubilation at yesterday’s five-star victory. I think we’ve really announced ourselves as frontrunners with that win, even though Mansfield lead the league (with our game in hand scheduled to be played out in ten days).

Toumani Diagouraga arrived for a five-month loan spell. He’s a fantastic player who can add a bit of steel to the midfield. He gives us great depth, too, as I now have four top-draw central midfielders to call on (along with three class wingers, three quality strikers, three great keepers, and a good spread across the defence).

Diagouraga will have to earn his place in the team, behind current midfield pairing Woods and Birchall. Woods has been a revelation since his arrival, and Birchall seems to be settling in well. I could possibly move Birchall out to the right wing, but Laurent did well last time out and Shuker’s about to return from injury (plus new boy winger Benjamin Laurant plays there).

Goalkeeper Joe Anyon is a day or two from resuming full training. I’m all set to try to sell him before the end of the January transfer window. We could use the money, and the cut to the wage bill (he’s the fifth highest earner in the team, at £950 a week).