Yes I'm defending, but before anyone moans it's the usual suspects already twisting the knife in Floyd and saddle. One says bottles over 90% of challenges, not the strongest for sure, but that's ridiculous and the other unfit despite not seen him since last year and disastrous performances - remember how Allen was written off? He's younger and was his first season at this level, including the odd decent game and a few moments in others, chipping in with a few goals. He might not make it, but some wrote him off in L2 then in L1 before he stepped up.
I like the look of Eccles too, but 7 games is all he played incl some from the bench and was ok but no motm performances and is now injured too, it's a stretch to think him or Howley who hasn't yet performed at this level are miles ahead. Personally I'd have loaned him out to get some game time right now, but when the window closed Kelly and Eccles weren't an option so that left us very thin in there. If he could have got some game time in L1 then come back in Jan I'd have preferred it, but difficult to see a way in for him currently without the overhyped disparaging comments.