Robin
In Class D must obey the controller, hence my comment about requesting. You can't truly request anything except information from the A/G or AFIS at a small airfield, as they have no right to clear you or prevent you doing as you decide is proper!
In those cases you put, with a busy circuit I would join overhead, quiet I would join as convenient, but I have a fair amount of experience - overhead is generally safer if anyone is in doubt at an uncontrolled airfield.