Loan extensions for Sidibé and Sandro agreed

Makes sense. Especially if the returning Kenny is not able to be registered.

Steve, I have to admit that it doesn't make sense to me and am a little more confused than I was before.

If Sidibé was signing until the end of next season, I could understand it but surely with the league position we are in, if the player is only being retained to the end of season, what's the point?

I would much rather Carlo and the board now focus on next season so that we come flying out of the blocks and now is the time to be framing who is going to be part of the inevitable rebuild.

I would much rather see some youth player get a chance.

Conor, we have no youth to give a chance to. Ryan Astley is more of a centre-back and the U23s have lacked a decent right-back so much they have used a right-winger at right-back.

If we didn't retain Sidibé for a month and Coleman got injured, then who's dropping in at right-back? Tom Davies? Mason Holgate?

Steve yes I would prefer to give Mason a go at right back in that scenario and give one of our promising centre halfs a chance.

If the intention of the manager is that Djibril is his number one right back next season then of course it makes sense but this announcement brings less clarity if anything.

What would be the purpose of playing someone if they are gone in a few weeks?

Conor, the purpose is to get as many points as we can and try to get into Europe.

I don't especially want Sidibe to stay next year but currently we have only Coleman who is able to play right back and Holgate is needed in the middle centre where we are also short of numbers.

If we had a young player of Gordon's calibre ready to have a go that may be different but we have no solid U23 right backs and it would be a huge step up to ask Branthwaite to play in the middle, whilst not ideal to shove Holgate to RB when doing so well at CB.

It's important for a number of reasons to finish the season as strongly as possible and with a lot of games in the next month we need a RB who can match or maybe excel Coleman's ability.

So Sam all season in every discussion I have seen you involved in you have rightfully ridiculed the strength of our squad and the multiple areas we are weak in.

Now you want to fight for a European place which had terrible effects on the last few manager's league form with Koeman losing his job and Martinez starting the decline. Europe would be a disaster for this squad next season not that it is remotely probable.

We have had a poor season and the results in the next few games won't alter it much in my view. There won't be much of a break and I feel Carlo would be wise to use this remaining time to make assessments going forward.

Next season we need to be mounting a challenge to the top six and that's where our focus in my opinion should be. Perhaps I am in the minority.

It's a small extension for 7 games and of no significant consequence financially. It makes sense to have cover when games are coming thick and fast. I want us to finish the season as strongly as possible so this short extension makes sense.

Europe or no Europe it's good for everyone's confidence if we remain solid and focused these next seven games.

Sidbe getting caught out of position may be because of others lose possession, but Ancelotti in taking no chances with this extention, needing time to thing it over , just in case Sidebe has a reckless streak.

Disappointed with this guy. He started off ok but deteriorated quite quickly. I wouldn’t buy him. I’d prefer the kid from Norwich- if Kenny isn’t deemed up to it.

Conor@6, it's a fair point and I don't think we do have great squad depth but I would always want us to be in Europe. Selfishly so that I can see us on TV but also in terms of our profile. If we are to attract the likes of Gabriel instead of say Salisu then I think showing that we on an upwards curve is essential.

Currently we are 4 points (with a game in hand) off 8th which could well mean Europe if City's ban is upheld.

I certainly wouldn't bet on us but its not impossible. Either way i'd like us try and finish the season as strongly as we can. Having two decent right backs may be necessary for that.

Thought for a moment it was for another season-long loan..

Regardless of what happens with Sidibe and Kenny, and the resurgence of Coleman, and the prospect of a new RB, it's anyones guess. It's interesting to see what's gonna happen.

No surprise. Carlo had clearly decided that Sidibe was the #1 right back before the virus shutdown -- he had chosen Coleman over Sidibe only once all season -- and despite Coleman's brilliance in the past two games, Sidibe is obviously important to Carlo's plan for the remainder of the season.

Coleman still our best right back in my opinion.

Sid is hopefully just to cover and offer a more defensive right midfield option which is sensible as we are still aiming for Europe, (cough, cough) no Cov-19 pun intended.

I don't think he's an important cog for next season otherwise we would have bought him.

Holgate learnt his trade at right back but he was always a centre back in the making and I want him to now fully focus on the centre back roll which he has excelled in.

Martinez was let go, the only other senior right back so it makes perfect sense.

To be honest I'd much rather see more rotation. We can use 5 subs, why aren't we when the midfield look exhausted, a simple lack of trust in available players I'm guessing.

This is just the formality of continuing a loan that was meant for an entire season. I expect that when, or if, the start of next season is determined then a decision will be made on which two from Coleman, Kenny and Sidibé are retained, I don't see that it will be all three.

The other side of the coin is to recall others on loan for either the Manager to assess them or to encourage them to make a permanent move rather than spending at least the off- and pre-season on Merseyside until their contracts end.

Conor,

I don't really get the logic. You want to forego Europe for next season, which now means finishing 8th or maybe lower, so next year we can aim to finish as high as 6th? With Europe at the end of it?

Are you banking on next season's "summer break" which includes European Championships to somehow afford our players extra rest? Or are you banking on a massive spending spree -- which seems unlikely given the new stadium and Covid-19?

The Koeman Euro struggle season you mentioned ending up with us finishing 8th. The same place we finished the next season with no Europe. So I don't see the point in settling for say 9th this year and hoping for 6th next year when we could say finish 7th this year and 8th next year? If we are not in the top 4, and in the Europa League, what difference does it make?

Shows how far you've fallen when an OP about you doesn't elicit a single mention of you in the thread.

So, in fairness to the boy:

Sandro.

James - Carlo turns to the right, looks puzzled, looks behind him, shrugs, next.