Tom Carroll - confirmed

[OCD]

He's only signed on loan. Not much lost if it doesn't work out. Rather that than spend big money on a permanent who then is never fit.

[villa `cross the mersey]

I see Tom Carroll is still out for the Sandwell match tomorrow .Who ever made the decision to bring him in knowing his injury record should be shot

Spot on Pooligan - we may have new owners but we are still making the same stupid mistakes - I read that Smith looks at the characteristics of potential signings - it would be a good idea to look at their injury records first  - same goes for Hause - clearly not fit so why waste our time? Maybe the new owners have shares in a private sports fitness clinic and Bodymoor Heath is now the UK centre of excellence

[ASHTONVILLA]

He's nearly 27, and only once has he managed a full season's worth of games.  For most of his career so far, he hasn't played more than 20 games a season.  He's either injured a lot, or isn't very good.

Or both

[colin69]

Thought he looked very decent when he came on and had a zip about him.

[Steve67]

Thought he looked very decent when he came on and had a zip about him.

I reckon we will play with a tighter five across the middle of the park next season.  More of a 4-2-3-1 than out and out wingers maybe.  Hopefully, Carroll fits in to that quite well.

[garyshawsknee]

I think so too, we will finally have full backs who can offer proper quality from wide areas....hopefully.

[paul_e]

I agree, that's how Smith has setup at Brentford and Walsall and is stops you being so reliant on crosses to create chances, having 2 traditional wingers means you end up with 1 player in the box far too often, bringing them 10-15 yards inside and working with them so they can go in or out is much more effective and means they can easily switch into a genuine front 3.

[andyh]

I can’t find a thread for him, so apologies for starting a new one.

Anyway, out for the rest of the season after having surgery on a hip problem.
Oh well, it solves our loanee numbers reaching their maximum.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/47811679

[Duncan Shaw]

Presumably he's gone back then......I had genuinely, and I really mean that, forgotten that we had signed him.

[Lastfootstamper]

There is one, you have to go quite far back to find it. I know because he crossed my mind last night, and I was going to bump it just to see if anyone knew where he's hiding.

[olaftab]

Shame for the lad. Let's hope he recovers strong for next season wherever he ends up playing.

[Towser]

Gone back to Swansea after hip operation

[Risso]

Oh well, no big loss.

[JUAN PABLO]

was never going to push any of our midfielders out at the moment Lothar whelan Matthäus , Andrés McGinn Iniesta and Lionel Grealish Messi .

[cdbearsfan]

It's a shame. He looked good when he came on against Derby. Admittedly it's easy to look good when you're four-nil up. Just another reason to hope to fuck that Grealish stays fit between now and the end of May.