Good day and welcome back to Gijon. We made a promising start to the season last week, though it did show signs of unravelling as the squad got used to my ways.

I have a feeling this fixture will go this way 9 times out of 10. I think we’ll take 4-1 after being 3-0 down after 18 minutes.

The stats tell a different story but afficionados will not be surprised to hear probably 18 of those shots came after we were 4-1 down.

An entertaining game at Zaragoza as we threatened to blow a two goal lead. New signing Macon gets the winner – who is he, I hear you cry?

So, this lad was signed by the B Team, which means in other words the AI was not impressed with being served Bernie Slaven and Kerry Dixon and went out and actively sought replacements. I think he looks like he would be really quite good, you know how much stock I put in Off the ball, Pace and shooting in my forwards. He has made an instant impact.

Maybe this is something resembling form? Valladolid can’t handle the heat.

Tenerife lead 2-0 and my earlier doubts are back again. Young Chuchi and Kaiku steal a draw. Los Entertainers?

Defeat at Valencia is not unexpected, really.

The thing is, when we get going, we’re quite good. We can’t defend at all though and a late rush of goals puts some gloss on this win. Even the Micker scores as Compostela are hit for 6.

Obviously we’re back to being dreadful against Espanyol.

Do not adjust your screen. This really happened! 4-0 up at half time against the mighty Real Madrid, I don’t know where this performance came from. If only we could be this good every week.

The correct thing to do is then to go and lose to Oviedo. Relegation threatened Oviedo.

More trouble at home this time as we go 4-0 down to Sociedad. It’s our last match before a short break for Santy. Good.

Santa does bring the transfer window and what a way to open the mad month as Bilbao bid £9m for Nikiforov. No thanks.

The girl from Brave plays out a dreadful draw.

Finally a good result again as Mallorca are given a good pasting.

That brings us to exactly half way through the season and we are 11th. Only 5 points off 4th though, so all is not lost.

There’s not many players interested in actually signing for us so we’ll take a chance on Marco Caputi. He’s ok but crucially can play right wing back.

0-0 with Deportivo. It’s unlike us to keep clean sheets.

Kaiku is the star away at Salamanca. He blows hot and cold.

Avelino is moved on for £900k. Yet another defensive midfielder we just don’t need.

This lad doesn’t get a sniff either so the offers come rolling in once he is listed.

So long.

Deadline day arrives. Hames White no doubt as his yellow tie on.

Realistically we aren’t going to change the squad in a day but it’s worth making some plans for the summer. There’s obviously a few who I have grown to tolerate, others who will do for now and some who I’m sick of but don’t have adequate replacements. I’ll probably start with those.

In goal, obviously the plan is to develop Veiga. Developing a keeper is so hard on this game because if they’re not up to scratch they concede absolutely everything. Ideally, we can sneak into Europe next season and he can play more.

Nikiforov is the jewel in the crown, I hope we can keep hold of him. Alongside Lucic they should be a partnership for a while. Young Sergio is a Spanish Under 21 International and is very much an option.

The defensive midfield trio, even if two of them are wingbacks, are always a problem. Luckily, Caputi is a good pick up and can fill two of the positions, most likely on the right, with ex-Spanish International Bango in the middle. He wants to leave for a bigger club and Rodrigao is more than adequate cover. The left side should be sorted by Lauchlan in the long term, but he’s but a boy.

Central midfield, Cano isn’t really that good and I feel I can do better there. Emmers and Heidenstrom have already moved though so it’ll be a case of keeping an eye on the Icelandic regen for the summer. Nobody of any note is keen on signing.

The forward positions are actually not massively concerning. Bakayoko is solid, Kaiku has potential (Nick gave me his word), Tomas I feel has more to offer and Tcheresev hasn’t been bad. We’ll figure that out.

I am happy to cash in on this lad. He’s not performed and the money will be helpful.

Billy Mac is another steady pair of hands to have about the place.

Alex Martin is one for the future, sorry Partick.

I’m taking a punt on slow Dag. For £170k, he’ll either do well or be at the B Team next season.

It’s an awful result here. Celta have 8 points. Well 9 now.

This is a decent showing but decent is nothing at this stage.

All in all, we end the update in 10th. The European places can be interfered with if we can just win a couple of games on the spin but that is proving tricky. As usual, goals are not the problem. Conceding the most goals in the top half undoubtedly is.

With that, I’ll sign off for another week. This is going to be a challenge but we’re up for the task. Toodles for now.