Ally Robertson: A new West Brom owner and January signings on the Christmas wish list

If he could get a player or two in he feels he needs, especially to cover the many injuries we have, then that would be ideal. But as ever we never know with the finances.

It has been reported that the club’s takeover is moving forward in the right direction and that is great news, so long as it gets over the line, and can bring us some positivity in the new year.

Such a situation doesn’t really help players, they will be reading in the press about everything going on upstairs, it can put players off a little bit.

If we can recover some bodies in the new year and get on a little run of positive results that will put us in a really good place.

We’ve got a real mix of games over the festive period, interesting away fixtures at Middlesbrough and Swansea with Norwich and Leeds at home to come between. The two visiting opposition are tricky.

We’ve not been able to field a team that has been familiar and consistent for how many games now? We’ve had too many injuries, especially at the front end of the pitch. This isn’t Carlos rotating out of choice, his hand has been forced. The head coach has done really well over the last 10 or 12 games.

A few weeks ago I wrote that if we could stick in the top six after a long run of difficult fixtures then we can stay there for the season, and we’re still there battling. Let’s keep it going and eventually get to a strong run where we can win four, five or six on the spin.

The week we had sums the Championship up!

If we could have beaten Stoke last Sunday it would have moved us right back in behind Leeds and Southampton.

I’m happy because I’m seeing a team still trying to play football and create chances. We had a lot of shots and chances against Stoke, many of them late in the game. As long as we keep trying to make things happen then we’ve got a chance to stay where we want be.

No way Lynden Gooch tried to score with his cross but Stoke very often seem to manage to nick something like that against us.

Their goalkeeper has had a great game at The Hawthorns and on another day we possibly score three or four for all three points. I want to see us start well in games, it gives us the best chance then. Earlier in the season we just let things happen. We’re a good side when we go ahead in games.

I’d have liked to see us take six points from up at Sunderland and Rotherham. I know Sunderland are up there but having just sacked Tony Mowbray I thought we had a little chance but the way they reacted went against us.

Overall, after we didn’t have the best first 10 or so games of the season, I think if we can manage a top-six finish then it would be a fantastic effort. We’re fifth at the moment and have been for a while and top six is still our aim. We’d have all taken where we are now at the start of the season. It’s a strong Championship this year.

Leicester, Leeds and Southampton, who came down, are clearly the strong boys. Look at Ipswich too, coming up from League One, it shows the quality below. But after that it’s so tight and any side there can beat anybody. If you lose three games you’d drop six or seven places, winning three and it really cements your place.

Meanwhile, I’d like to wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a peaceful new year.