I actually think Drinkwater and Dann, on top of what they’ve kept should stay up under Dyche. Seen their fans moaning, even one about Derby having a better wage bill - but for all Dyche’s domestic and players he knows bias, I’d bet 2 chateau neuf du pape’s on him achieving their targets again!

It doesn’t have to be ear marked for attackers, for us not to spend money on defenders. To me this is a huge side effect of decline, change, upheaval and no squad building continuity. There is also the weighting between attacking / defensive graduates. We’ve had, have far more defenders than attackers, No8s, 9s, 10s and 11s! Complex business is developing a squad to challenge without simply spending lots of money and buying it ready made.

Gets away with it because the attacking at times has been arguably good. A noticeable pattern in his career. For me sacking managers is down to targets though. Nobody can argue he hasn’t had enough time to “make his bed” but I think he’s achieved basic targets up to this point, and thus if this year is top 6, and he is looking like failing that spectacular or worse, it would be perfect timing. He will have left us in a much better position than he took over!

It isn’t going to simply happen buying better players in one or two positions either. You say it yourself, you doubt Walton or Tosin will make a difference - both key players in (statistically by GC ratio) better defences last season. Both new additions for this season, albeit loans. As you say, we’ve seldom defended well in the two full seasons, and we’ve many of the same players featuring since before that, there is no magic wand for problems with philosophy. I get stick for saying it’s not simple but I am only saying what I think - I’m not convinced that team is as far away as many think, yet I’m also concerned the rationale behind our defensive woes fall deeper than playing staff. Hence I hope TM can prove many people wrong and hit the sort of run that will achieve what we need but I’m not convinced that solely stands on signing this new CB you speak of.

I’m more bothered about results than detailed explanations. Not a good start but after one game, and without seeing more - I’d be inclined to wait to see results before getting upset. Equally - I’d sooner see Tosins and Walton’s impact, or the most important thing in my view, the actual way we defend. Aka as in better organisation, more communication, better closing down, etc etc from some players we already have. We could have spent all the money in the world on defenders, but if the teams not setup correctly or motivated to actually want to defend - you’ll concede daft goals all day. That for me will be TMs undoing before long.

I think Nyambe has stalled in the previous two seasons to some extent in key areas, namely failed to cut individual errors out of his game and not build on technical skills like crossing and overlapping. I agree, Bennett has similar percentage of mistakes per appearances but I think its not as simple as a choice because they both have pro’s/con’s for that position. I think Nyambe is now seen more as a wide central option because he has the more defensive fundamentals and physical stuff. I know none of this stacks up with the simple “plays his favourites” stuff, but I only go off what I see or have seen. For example, I agree on Bell - he’s always looked to be seconds off the play, even if he has decent technical ability. My priority after replacing Raya and bringing in Tosin, would also be a new FB.

I think Tosin and Lenihan could be a real dominating force at the back personally.

I personally, once again, think it’s not quite that simple. Transfers come down to more than just cost and a team willing to pay, as you say the competition is so fierce for talent - intermediaries are paid huge sums to broker deals. I can’t recall a manager we’ve had not buying players he knows through working with or knowing, a few of Hughes old Wales pals, or Souness’s ex Liverpool signings didn’t hurt. I agree we’ve missed out on, or there’s plenty of opportunities if you’ve the right timing/conversation/funds. I just don’t think it’s as bad as you and others are making out.

I don’t think you’d need international scouting to see Sheffield Wednesdays bench. Equally, I’m not sure how you feel, but I don’t think you’d find many Rovers fans too enamoured with him either, especially after his spell here. If it’s anywhere near the 7m quoted leeds interest, I would’ve been annoyed had that been us. Finally - three Portuguese speaking players, from clubs recently at Forest, Wednesday... not exactly known for their shopping outside of agencies involved in their ownership... Reminds me of you being envious of Wigan earlier in the window.

Isn’t he 6 foot 9 or something too? I think Adarabioyo will turn out a decent acquisition over the season, the point with Bielek was showing how much some of the available players are, even without recent international or championship experience.

In terms of “installing Venus as chief scout”; https://uk.linkedin.com/in/stuart-harvey-a1021a93 The head of recruitment has been at Ewood longer than both.

I’m more used to debates when something more than a simple question comes back. It wasn’t just down to Farke either, let’s not forget Norwich at the time; a well supported, recently relegated and expensive squad. More to invest, more continuity in design, owners likely using a far better model. I feel like I’m always repeating myself, but it’s never simple or easy. We’ve a long way to claw back. There’s plenty of crossover TM out stuff, you must’ve ignored the thread JHR - admiring you on that! The “mental archaic all powerful manager system” is a way of putting it - I agree, I’d love a top class system above him, between the owners (or just new owners entirely). However I do think we’ve made massive strides in lots of ways since he rocked up. The overall recruitment and squad shaping, for me hasn’t been far off. Its not wrong to expect more though; @JHRover a CB that cost Derby (let’s say one of our main teams to usurp) nearly 10m? Hardly ever played championship football? Extremely competitive business is football.

I wish he’d have a more pragmatic and defensive approach. We’ve never been “organised” under TM in that way from where I sit. In my book, If he did have an approach like this, his fullbacks and wide players would be sat on posts for corners, not on the half way line to counter. When you exclude the graduates - it’s easy to point out the lack of investment in key areas. Thats because our team is mostly academy grads! A regular supporter of the U23s like yourself would’ve been seething had older expensive championship ready players come in, and forced the Lenihan’s, Travis’s or Nyambe’s to up sticks and move on. Equally - are those three ready to take up positions in a first XI intent on going up? One game is relevant too - when the question is asked again after one game.

I don’t know, why are you trying to trip me up? The point is, it’s not simple. I don’t know Norwich’s setup but I’d assume they had a recruitment system for talented managers too. Not like our “whoever’s agent gets to Pune first” setup.

Great example of a manager coming in who knows the league’s he wants to buy from.

If you’re going from nothing to a substantial setup, it would take 6 months alone to recruit staff. The expensive analysis setup that Southampton use came from years of investment and continuity above their management setup. Weve rebooted and cleared out 5 or 6 times in the last 10 years, and I can’t help but chuckle when others think that would be the solution to immediate improvement!

Aren’t we less than 2 years into a complete rebuild of the recruitment department? Surely will take years to get working properly? Preston also had to sell one of their best players this summer - something we’re yet to do since SW/TM came in.

Can’t argue with the last part. To pick another recent CB signing - as someone pointed out, Bielek went to Derby for nearly 10m from Arsenal. This is a lad who’s never played for Poland’s first team and he’s most recent loans are League one Charlton and Walsall. Its a daft market. I agree we should’ve done better but I think I accept a few of the reasons why we haven’t!

I didn’t say peanuts but there’s a big difference between our top and the league top, it’s a competitive market. I think too, transfers are done on a “tick box” approach - in my view Pontus Jansson would’ve been perfect, fee definitely, probably wage manageable (with a big promotion incentive). However - maybe he wanted to live in London? Im not trying to invent excuses, I’m just trying to point out there’s more to it than simply writing a list.

Hence why I said I wouldn’t be surprised if we splurged more cash on a 19 year old centre back this week. Plus again - just taking the figures ignores key details, one was 19 and the other openly stated in his interview “it’s not about money I took a cut to come here!” Perhaps that CB we wanted in a similar position at his club to Gallagher doesn't want to drop 10k* a week *an estimate before the fact police slide into my DMs

I wouldn’t assume we haven’t. I also wouldn’t assume he’s interested, since football is an incredibly short career - could see him easy making la liga, serie a, ligue 1, or Bundesliga team with a contract that would dwarf our “cap” His agent will be inundated. I’d love him back too, remember he likes our socks...!

As I said, I’d expect him to be an upgrade but proof is on the grass. It may be as easy as “here’s 5m, I’ll have a 6 foot 5 dominating Centreback please who fits our wage structure” in your view, but not my own!

Olsson recent international, just finished a 40/50k pw deal. Might be a slight discrepancy in what we would have to pay him compared to caddis..!

The brackets should’ve read sarcastically - irrespective of Saturday, I would say that our defence is marginally better than last season, Adarabioyo is an upgrade on Williams and Mulgrew IMO, or at least an attempt (since proof is on the grass not CV) Certainly an upgrade on Downing as stated. The upgrade enough to meet expectations? I’m not convinced, but I’m not convinced it’s as easy as “we should’ve spent the Gally money on a CB”..! I would say that we’ve far more options for 5atb now too - whilst that may send shudders up spines, I’m not against the idea that Nyambe and Lethal Derek would be better suited to wide centre back roles!

Or he doesn’t tell you his entire though process in public (probably, most definitely) and we’ve failed to get our targets so far (other than bright prospect centreback on loan from city, who’s most recent experience is finishing top 6 with WBA).. I personally think relegation predicting on this defence is an overly negative prediction. This especially when we’ve improved midfield and upfront.