You're by no means the first to get tripped up by this, I got all sorts of confused when we signed our Tom Bloxham because I only knew about the other one. The Shrewsbury Bloxham was meant to be a good prospect at one point - 6'5 forward, always ended up going to decent teams on football manager so I was quite pleased when we'd signed him...

I agree, but now that the window is shut we have to make the squad work until at least Jan, if there isn't a decent freebee floating around it could be an option.

If the new left back is as good as he looked today honestly could Pickering be a left footed CB? I've always thought he might be better centrally where his lack of pace wont be as exposed

I kind of feel that if we score the ref will contrive to give someone a second yellow card for excessive celebration or something

I think I might have said that appointing the work experience kid as director of football was a very Venky's move...

There's not really a straightforward way of placing a bet that Cantwell gets announced within half an hour of the end of the window and then it turns up he actually hasn't signed because of an 'administrative error' is there? It's a bit too specific for the average bookies.

I mean that's been my take since we signed him to be honest

I'd like another forward in but if we aren't selling him perhaps Siggy could do a job as a striker in rotation with Gueye and Ohashi? His ball control and finishing are probably the best parts of his game, and his lack of tracking back wouldn't be so much of an issue. I'm sure he'd be a better 9 than Dolan.

I'd like another forward in but if we aren't selling him perhaps Siggy could do a job as a striker in rotation with Gueye and Ohashi? His ball control and finishing are probably the best parts of his game, and his lack of tracking back wouldn't be so much of an issue. I'm sure he'd be a better 9 than Dolan.

Our squad is still paper thin but with the expected incomings it does at least look like we might start the season with more than one player in every position and there was a point I was not sure we were going to clear that low, low bar

Interested in how the attacking 3 line up behind Gueye, I'd like to see Sigurdsson central but I'm guessing it's vale right Sigurdsson left?

I guess my counterpoint to that would be that we aren't winning the league cup and we only avoided relegation on the final day of the season so I would prioritise points on the board over cup games, but I do take the point. Again though, I do want us to win - I think maybe I didn't make that clear enough in my first post. I also want to see what whoever is second to Pears in the pecking order looks like in a real match, and I want to see Duru get a start here and not, idk, Leeds away because Britain and JRC get injured the week before. We have the luxury (!) of a strong attacking bench if things start to go Pears shaped.

I mean of course I want us to win the game, and play to win the game, but I want our whole squad to get minutes and I want our youngsters to develop because over the course of the whole season that's how we are going to win more games. If there is a game we can afford to give the younger players and those in need of fitness minutes it's this game, I'd rather risk a league cup game with a (potentially) weaker starting 11 than a league game. Our squad is small and we rely heavily on our youth team. I'm not sure why this is a ridiculous opinion.

I mean I don't think you deliberately throw it, but I'd be behind giving the kids and some of the fringe players the opportunity to show what they can do and not being overly bothered if that results in us losing... free hit and all that.

Also Re Sigurdsson, I do wonder whether part of the issue last year was that he knew he wasn't going to get ahead of Sammie in the pecking order for the no.10 slot - that being up for grabs may just give him a bit more motivation.

Not even just assists he is credited, he pulls defenders around and keeps them occupied and it will make space for players to run into. He'll make goals without touching the ball in the build up.

I have said it before but I think Gueyes main goal contributions will be that suddenly the three players behind him start picking up goals, rather than him scoring a ton himself. This is by no means a criticism.

I think we have more depth and variety in our forwards, which is reflected in having attacking options off the bench, the rest of the pitch not so much...

I think if carter is out you have to change the formation a bit and have Tronstad sitting deeper to operate at a aggressive third cb/midfield anchor in the centre to make it a back three when defending you can afford McFaz and Batth. He can push up when we have the ball. It does leave you a bit light in midfield though, maybe you play eg Buckley instead of Dolan through the centre and he can also drop a bit deeper if needed.

Established championship player, plenty of experience but still a good age going into the peak of his career, part of a promotion winning squad last season (not that he played much but still). Don't want to sell in a position we've already established we are light in. You'd have to say that any other club in the division would be asking £4-6m or so. Hull are probably offering £1.6m and we'll eventually sell at about £2.5m.

Our recent history is that when we lose our main scorer someone does step up - When Dack got injured Armstrong went from a hot and cold inside forward who wasn't really doing the business to banging the goals in, Armstrong leaving coincided with Brereton becoming Diaz, BBD Leaving opened the door for Szmodics to get a 30 goal season. In all cases there were plenty on here questioning whether those players were up to it beforehand. I think that overall the frontline as it is has more threat across the board than last season (other than Sammie, obviously), so whilst I'm not sure there is a 20+ goal player waiting to emerge I think we could have multiple players getting double figures for the first time in a while. The competition for the no.10 spot may spur someone on to really go for it and nail it down - be it Dolan or Sigurdsson or someone else. It seems a silly thing to say the day we sell our talismanic striker, but I'm still more concerned about bringing in a goalkeeper and a left back as top priorities, I think they will make more of a difference to our survival chances than another striker. Obviously I'd like one of each, and a couple more besides in an ideal world, but if we are talking priorities...

Big Loan as in Make or Break time, last chance saloon etc.

I think Markanday has been a bit screwed by circumstance in that I really don't think he's a winger - but in the no 10 spot (where I think he has the attributes to be better than some on here are giving him credit for) he's perpetually behind Sammie, Dolan, then probably Siggy and now Ohashi, so he just won't get the games there. I also think that he probably lacks the physical attributes to be very successful in the championship. I suspect that he'd tear up league one or two, and probably would have a pretty good career (even a top flight one) in eg. Spain, Portugal etc. Right here and now though, he's absolutely surplus and its not doing him or rovers any favours. Reminds me a bit of Ruben Rochina. Regarding Big Mak vs Gally, in recent seasons a fully fit Gally was averaging 7 or 8 goals, Gueye only needs to equal that and be on half the wages (and ideally stay fit) and he's an upgrade. I do suspect that he's the sort of player who's main goal contributions will be making space on the pitch for Wiemann, Ohashi, Dolan and Sigurdsson etc. though, but that said he already looks a decent threat from corners and free kicks.

you can only beat what's in front of you but still good to see the likes of Buckley, Siggy, Vale, Duru and the new lads putting in a decent showing. Maybe they are a bit more up for it than we thought.

How's Vale looking? Did he learn to run a bit in Scotland?