Summer window

We got away with that last season because Roberts and Clarke were pretty much available for every game. We had Amad as a wide option too.
Now, our backups are Benette, Ba, Embleton and an 18yo kid from Spain. I'm worried what happens when the inevitable injuries hit

 

Everton apparently back tracking on letting cannon go for now

 

identical to the simms to us last January. Everton need replacements in order to let him go and may well not get them

 

Ideally we need to be signing players on a permanent deal (or at least a loan with no break clause). Simms' recall (which was justified by the point he secured for them at Chelsea) killed us, almost as much as Stewart's injury did

 

Seems to me a lot of people putting 2 and 2 together and getting 5. Just my opinion, but not based on just blind hope and optimism either.

There is no rift. That is language used to be emotive, journos like it for headlines, I dont fall for it. There will and should be disagreements, they are grown up experts in their fields who shouldnt be here if they dont have strong opinions. Like Mowbray says we should trust Harvey who does a brilliant job (dont forget they worked together before us). Mowbray knows the craic and he isnt throwing his toys out of the pram. He will be frustrated and setting expectations, as he should be, but he wont be ranting and raving.

This bringing up the Italian coach thing is way off. It was a non story in the summer, and even more so now. All Barnes did was pass on some of his own opinions because of a tweet he reas and it is back as some sort of reality. I understand why people say there is more to it, but I disagree. There was nothing whatsoever in the way Barnes spoke, or the words he used, that suggested he was doing anybodies bidding. It was simply him passing on his musings.

Is Mowbray more downbeat in interviews. Subtle if so. He has never been the life and soul. We lauded him for downplaying expectations all last season, now we seem to want to read into the same downplaying as he is fed up and about to walk. There is no balance to this.

Bottom line he wants a striker. He knows he isnt getting a finished article. He knows he has a say, but not the only say. He openly says the recruitment team have done a great job over the last few windows. He wants one now, rather than in 2 weeks, well so do I, but not if it means missing out on one in 2 weeks that is 20% better. This is where Mowbray needs to stay steady, seasons are not defined in 2 or 3 games, if we can get the better option next week rather than this week, we should be sensible. Mowbray himself has said in 6 or 7 weeks we could have Stewart back in the squad. Imagine, he could still play twice the number of games for us this season than he did last season. That, plus another striker or two, and by Christmas we will all be saying what a great summer we had. After all, a couple of weeks ago the club were the bees knees for getting some good early business done and holding firm on Clarke...

 

,
Posted on that above

 

Ba showed plenty last season to show he’s an asset, I wouldn’t be sending him on loan after a slow start to season.

Ridiculous, a lot of us were/are excited about him in the run up we’ve played 1 first team and effectively 1 reserve game.

I ****ing despair at people me like, waiting for the smallest crack to rip into players and the club.

We just need a striker. We can’t magic away Evans and Stewart’s wages while they ain’t playing.

 

someone needs to tell the club not cos the announcement was

the 18 year old striker has signed a 5 year
deal

 

I know what the announcement was. Doesn't mean he will be played throuh the middle as a main number 9. And when it comes, I bet he isn't.

 

Has anyone from the club come out and said what the aim for this season is? Last season was to establish ourselves in Championship and we over achieved with playoff place. This season it makes sense the aim is play off spot and assuming we don’t go up it will be for an automatic spot next season. That means if we stay on plan we are building a squad for premiership over next 2 campaigns. If you’re bringing in young prospects this is the year to do it, get them up to championship standard this season ready to push on next year. A couple of our big players will go at end of this season bringing in transfer funds, commercial deals will be renewed bringing in more income. Next close season we will have capacity to bring in more developed prospects with possibly higher potentials in the push for an automatic place. There are limits on how fast the club can be restructured both on playing side and commercially. It’s annoying as a fan as we want to just go all out for it now.

This explains for me the approach to Bath etc, minutes and experience are needed in the bank ready for next season. Explains TM frustration as his target will be to bring players on and not just pick the best team to win every game. All that said, we still need to win a few games on the way. Another CF is needed but I really don’t think we will spend big and will be young rather than the experienced head TM is reportedly after.

 

Amad last season smashed important goals in to cover our attacking weaknesses. The aspiration should be have both

 

At last someone talking sense.

 

Pretty sure i heard Speakman say the aim is automatic promotion.

 

Dack who has worked with Mowbray before and is 'his man'?

He's going to be gutted turning up to find that TM is about to quit / be sacked because we've lost the opening game of the season.

 

We certainly don’t seem to be building in that direction. To paraphrase Hansen with hopefully the same accuracy, you don’t win automatic promotion with kids.

 

Not at the moment no, see what the next few weeks brings then we can judge.

 

I don't think TM would quit because of Sunday's game and being knocked out by Crewe last night. Its the bigger picture....just look at the Wolves manager who left last night, before a ball is kicked.

 

Must have a lot more than 3 if you include untried and untested U18'S. Have we got rid of the u21 team as all buys ex Dac are u21. The biggest problem with this model to me is that they have excluded the main bulk of footballers ie 21 - 28 year olds, in the time the model has been talked about only roberts is in that age group

 

Dack is evidence that the model isn't set in stone. There's no way we'd have signed him otherwise. It must be more complicated than Mowbray not getting what he wants.

 

Nail on head mate.