JamieUK

I watched North End's first half. They're benefiting from having an established (for this league anyway) manager who's had chance to build a style of play. It also helps that despite having a turnover of transfers not far off Rovers-level over the summer, of the 12 they've brought in 11 were UK based. They've spent far less yet their recruitment has been much better.

There's been 2 in the last 5 weeks or so. Glen's even posted one above your message 🤨

There was a tweet a few weeks ago - someone had asked EJ whether he was doing an interview with the club after the transfer window closed given the videos with the in house media team and Radio Lancs. Pretty sure his reply was along the lines of Suhail wouldn't allow it... Parallels with JDT "Ask Suhail" - start name checking, get banned(sacked).

I'd suggest the reason is they're still advertising this: https://jobs4football.com/job/loan-manager/ Tin pot – nobody in the role to push for moves, so we’re left with youngsters who are either too good or too old for the U21s and in need of men’s football experience, but they’ll be sat on the sidelines for the next four months.

They could've had Alfie Gilchrist for £1m or so just a few days ago 😕

add: Calling back the throw in in second half JW side when we were through only to give it to Rovers Getting in the way of one of our attackers again in the second half as were moving forward Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying he's cost us the game - the players have done that themselves but it was a pretty shite performance. That said, most are.

Still 4/5 short for me... Hopefully Morishita and Gudjohnsen make up 2 of those but still need a proper midfielder, CB and backup GK. Lack of talk re a centre midfielder makes me concerned they're now not replacing Buckley and have replaced Travis with a crock. We can't go through the next few months with the same options in the middle as today.

Can't say I agree with writing Harry Leonard off cos he was 'bullied' when he arrived on the scene - he was 19 ffs! I'd like to see him stay and given a chance, but it appears off field issues (not fitness) are going to put an end to that. The deal reportedly agreed this morning seemed a good one all round - hopefully it can be salvaged and with time for the club to bring in someone they will play. No point in him playing U21 football all season.

If they are replacing players that looked out of favour and with no way back, with signings to go into the team then I will give them credit. My expectation/fear is that given Buckley/Duru/Leonard/Pears haven’t been involved then they've not been counted as needing to be replaced. If they do then the squad quickly looks to have a chance: Toth, NEW, Young keeper Alebiosu, Miller, Hyam, Carter, McLoughlin, Wharton, Ribeiro, Pickering Tronstad, Taveres, Baradji, NEW, Forshaw, Montgomery NEW WINGER Kargbo, Henriksson, Cantwell, Tyjon, Hedges, De Neve Ohashi, Gueye, NEW If Gueye isn't fancied and he is shipped out, 2 strikers coming in that can compete with/are better than Ohashi then happy days. Of course we're reliant on players hitting the ground running and I still think we lack quality on the left but the squad potentially could be a lot better than expected given all the experienced departures. Over to you RG...

Travis, Britain, Batth, Wiemann, Dolan, etc are not snakes. They've been managed out. Good work from the club though because snakes fits the narrative it's the players/manager's fault and deflects the attention away from the shit show.

Just looked at some of the low value transfers in the division... Imagine a world where a club builds on progress and keeps their better players: Toth, Pears Brittain, NEW Batth, Hyam, Carter, Wharton Pickering, Ribeiro Travis, Tronstad, NEW, NEW Dolan, NEW Cantwell, Wiemann Kargbo, NEW Ohashi, Gueye, NEW, NEW Ryan Hardie comes in for £750k and any other striker from Emil Riis, Carlton Morris or Oli McBurnie on a free. Djeidi Gassama for one of the wing spots - £2m, Kwame Poku on a free for the other. Jeffrey Schlupp & John Swift on frees to cover midfield. I'd be confident of a top 4 finish with JE in charge. Instead we've spent around £4m (plus when the accounts are released no doubt we'll have one of the highest agent expenditures in the division) on mostly untested foreign imports. (Whilst bringing in roughly the same in sales let's not forget) For anyone saying 'but the wages'... Adam Wharton, Sammie Szmodics, David Raya, Sam Gallagher, Leo Wahlstedt, Niall Ennis, Thomas Kaminski, Ashley Phillips, etc, etc. £40m+ income over the past 2 years. Fuck knows where we'll be and what the squad will look like in another 12 months.

Alright Pasha... 😉

Saw much more from Leo Duru in less games last year than Montgomery has shown at the end of last season and this. He's also played more games at a higher level. Would rather have him around and loan KM for more experience. But, he's not 6 foot and can't cover 2 positions so less value...

6th August they updated the website to add the new performance guy. Lowe has remained on there since the end of season - never taken off and re-added.