Neal

I'm not saying I'm content, we lost and had one shot on target, it isn't good enough. What I'm saying is I think there are players to work with to improve and that we're one or 2 decent signings away from being a decent side. I completely understand why people are pissed off, I am with the way the club is run and the lack of investment but make no mistake, this is a shit league with not that much quality in it and a few decent signings and organisation can take you a long way... As we proved last season. Our home form has always been something that's kept us from struggling, we need to start well on Saturday.

I'm as pessimistic as anyone but I don't think things are bad as being made out. Yesterday was 2 typical championship teams playing a very typical championship game with not much in it. I didn't think we looked a worse team than West Brom in the 2nd half, in fact I thought we looked better just didn't have enough in the final third. I'm seeing a lot of negativity on the new signings, based on what I saw... Alebiosu, Miller and Tavares will do fine and be very useful and hard to play against. The problem yesterday was the players who were here last season. Miller's throw in ability automatically picks Gueye ahead of Ohashi in my opinion, would be silly to waste Gueye's arial ability on his throw-ins. We all know we didn't create enough chances but I think it's a bit simplistic to assume that's down to the strikers and that we don't have enough up front. We didn't create hardly any chances, the midfielders didn't overload hardly, Travis or Tronstad didn't gamble to try and break the lines. The forwards can't score goals if you don't give them anything to attack or chase. Once we find some balance, have an outlet on the right with Kargbo on the left and perhaps sort selling Trav for a hungrier younger player, we could look like a decent side. Lots of if's and buts there of course but considering West Brom will be talking about pushing for playoffs I think if we bed in the new boys and make one or 2 decent signings we're no worse than them. Fine margins but I think I good signing or two will be the difference.

Won a few 1 on 1 duels, looks tall and athletic. Promising.

Massive? He probably cost about 250k. Set your expectations low.

I don't think anyone blames them for wanting out, fans just don't want to see half hearted performances because they don't want to be there anymore, whatever the reason might be. I think that's pretty fair.

I don't disagree. Like many though, they're obviously unsettled by the change in manager and behind the scenes goings on. Regardless of all that, you can only have players who are 100% playing, especially in CM.

To be honest, I'd seen enough today from both of them to know you can't have both of them in centre midfield all season if they're not both fully commited. If they're not 100% in it then they need fucking off ASAP and get someone in with more of a point to prove.

Based on his performance today, we're in it with him anyway.

I thought Alebiosu looked good tbh

Only signing "one more player"... Sounds like RWF and Trav out new one in.

Positives, I thought Alebiosu & Miller looked useful, that should be the right hand side instead of Ryan fucking Hedges. Miller has some throw on him. The imbalance when Kargbo came on was stunning. A left winger committing players and making things happen to the right hand side where Hedges literally offer jack shit. Kargbo's delivery wasn't great but he was in the game at least, making things happen. Negatives: I thought Trav & Tronstad were absolutely crap. Didn't control the game enough. If that's the level of performance we're to expect of Travis in his final year then get rid ASAP. Henriksson was well off it. It's early days for him of course so not going to be too harsh. Centre forwards didn't do enough. Other than that, fairly scrappy game I'm not sure either team deserved to win.

Mentioned him loads but surely if we've looked at Miyoshi, surely we'll have inquired about Koko Saito?

It's a fair point, we sold Szmodics at 29 for decent cash it just doesn't give us as much time to recoup it. He would literally have to smash it this season.

Harsh take which no doubt I'll get thumbs down bombed for... They're commodities, if we can get 3-4 million for a player who wants out that we will get nothing for in a year... No brainer. Also, let's cut the shit, we've never made the playoffs with him in all this time either. New(ish) manager, time to move on and get some new blood in, see what they can do. I'll be pissed off if they don't use the at least some of the cash to reinvest though.... And you know what these bastards are like.

If the Miyoshi deal has been taking this long I can't imagine it's likely to get done. 2 million for a 28 year old doesn't sound like the sort of business we do these days. Imagine there's been a lot of haggling over the structure of the deal and add-ons.

Forgive the questions, I don't have twitter/X... Has Nixon said it's done?

Where's the Miyoshi link coming from? Does he pass the ESC criteria?

Are we just in for him or is it supposed to be close to getting done? (afolyan)

Think its too early to be chucking around credit at Gestede. Proof is in the pudding with how the players perform. However, as I see it he needs to prove himself, be decisive and show leadership in contracts and recruitment. Set deadlines to Hyam, Tronstad and Trav for contract renewals, if they aren't going to sign then they need shipping out. We can't have weak leadership anymore, willing to let millions of pounds walk out the door for nothing when we don't have the budget to replace them. If you've recruited this guy (VI) and want to give him a fair chance then sell those not wanting to be here and let him build something this summer. No point waiting.

Fair question but if he hasn't it then begs the question if he's not in their long term plans, why not cash in?

We all know that. On your first part, my post was a guess at what was possibly/likely happening. He like many of them liked playing under Eustace. As it's a job like any other, you're going to want to work for the managers you enjoy working for. I don't think playing for Rovers has got anything to do with it tbh, he'll have seen all his mates get moves and will want to jump ship aswell probably. This is all guesswork of course but what I'm saying is him moving has an air of inevitability about it. If the discussions haven't progressed because he's going to join Derby in a year, sell now and have a better shot at replacing him. That's all I was saying, surely not hard to understand. I'd love him to re-sign but I know and you know that isn't going to happen.

Regarding Trav, I suspect he isn't going to sign a contract and is stringing us along to go to Derby on a bigger wage in a year under a gentleman's agreement. If so, get him sold now. I know he's the club captain, I know things are shit at the club but just take the money and get a few more bodies in the door. You can't have your captain not being 100% commited, players will pick up on it.

Henriksson and Miller for reasons I don't even fully understand are signings I feel really positive about. Mainly because they seem like the types that hate to get beat, are physical & aggressive. You definitely need characters like that in the championship.

Ryan Kent? (Just a guess)

I find it hard to believe a guy who got relegated in Switzerland is worth 1.5 million. Maybe I'm out of touch with current prices but...