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Not sure if this found its way onto the site last month. National League Cup highlights of the U21s 2-0 defeat to Brackley (also posted the lineup from the game below in case anyone needs to put names to numbers) The game with Rochdale this evening is being streamed live for free, 7pm kick off, stream from 6:45pm apparently

Saturday's bench looked stronger than most benches named last season. I have always been impressed by what little I have seen of Garner Hickman whom I think too many are writing off.

If anyone cannot make it, it looks like this (and all other games in this competition) is streamed free on the National Leagues youtube channel

Dolan fouled for the winning penalty.

I think this summer showed any wiff of a couple of million would have seen a player off, in their last year. I just don't think a bid came, teams were happy to wait for a free and we were worryingly happy to offer below the going rate for a championship contract.

He plays there for Australia But for me, (the team that Yak has given), that midfield would be too lightweight, especially against one of the top teams in the division and I wouldn't want to see Ohashi or Wharton as a wider forwards/centre backs respectively, where their lack of pace would be painfully exposed. both are good centrally however, the back 3/5 is a useful tool for seeing out games, and that for me is what it should be used for, not as a starting tactic when everyone is fit Ohashi looked wonderful at the start of last season coming off the bench for the last 20/30 minutes against tired legs. The arrival of Gudjohnsen hopefully allows that to happen again

I've thought for years that the squad lacked the moral fibre to finish in the play offs. We've spent a lot of time properly in contention over the last few years and then bottled it at the key times, so on the face of it a squad refresh ^ clearing out the characters who haven't quite got us there isn't a bad shout. Problem is this in Venky Rovers 2025. The clear out is nowt to do with having the best interests of the club, its cost cutting and/or lining the pockets of the filthy agents still involved behind the scenes. If its work for the next few months then I'll enjoy the ride but with the full expectation that it'll fall apart after January when nothing is invested and the squad is knackered.

I'd say on viewings so far we are weaker. The only player we've signed that I believe would get in last years starting 11 would be Gudjohnssen, and that is based purely on his Iceland games and the fact that we're so light at centre froward. From a lively cameo (in a dreadful game) and a start you'd maybe say Morisihito would interchange with Dolan. Other than that I don't think of the new players get in ahead of what we had last season. Alebiosu looks like he will be a solid and athletic right back, but he doesn't possess Britain's technical quality. Tavares, less said about him the better IMO, I've seen milk turn quicker. I'm 40 and would still be able to play sideways and backward 3 yard passes and jog alongside my opposing CM. De Neve, doesnt seem to be anywhere near the team. Baradji, there is a lot of hype about him being the man to galvanise midfield. When will he be ready, November? Miller, not a starter by the looks of it, as said before looks a walking red card to me. McLoughlin, solid enough but turned like an oil tanker for the sending off against Norwich. TGH - Stinks of being an extra body to cover the cracks of letting Travis go, can cover a few positions which could be a blessing. Although you know what they say about a jack of all trades.

it really depends i think we look weaker this year so far although there is a chance with morishta yuki and gudjohnsen there maybe more goals in the squad. Baradji could be a good un but need to get him fit whilst at the back the availability of carter and wharton is crucial. Toth in nets is a big step up. Whilst it looks like im being positive above there's far to many ifs or maybes and cb is going to be a big problem as the games come thick and fast imo.

There are definitely some promising arrivals, but the loss of so manuch Championship experience is worrying over the course of a season I said during the summer, and see no reason to change my mind, that if we are not involved in a relegation battle by the end of the season, then the scouting (incoming transfers) team have pulled off a minor miracle. At the same time, the team/people dealing with contract renewals have been shocking (I am aware that there is some overlap between who is involved in scouting/buying/contracts)

As you were fellas! Subs - Pears, Miller, McLauchlin, Pickering, Montgomery, TGH, Kargbo, Henriksson, Gudjohnsen Strong bench and leaves DeNeve and Gueye in the stands but could easily add those two back in and take out Christi and Henriksson?

I was calling him that a couple of months after he joined us 😂

I do think this could work well with a back 5 and with our squad, could be quite dominant, just when do back 5s ever work? We've 3 options LWB only 1 RWB? Unless Miller can play there.

Another shambolic disgrace that he was allowed to leave on a free. Yes he had his detractors and he's very hot and cold. But madness to let him go on a free

Tavares is a big weak link in this team. I'm not seeing what he will offer. Is he better off the ball than I'm seeing? As I'd put a youth player in ahead of what I've seen so far.. Would drop cantwell to cm personally to pull the strings (and cant be worse than tavares in a tackle) and get gudjohnson shoehorned in, he looks a player so far. Excited to see a full debut.

I would certainly say weaker. It wasnt the plan to lose so many key players and its easy to underestimate how good they were at this level. Signs on the new recruits are mixed as you would expect.

I never identified any "negative drag" from established players now gone. Travis bled blue and white, clear he loved the club,Brittain was our player of the season, Dolan was as enthusiastic in his last game as he was in his first and is now proving his critics wrong in Spain. And so on. The Club has sold a narrative of the need to chuck out the old and refresh to cover the fact that Venkys are no longer funding us to a degree where we can compete. We had good players well established in this League and that's what we should have built on.

We shouldn't have to wait for players to be up to speed. If you replace somebody then their replacement should be at the very minimum equal if not better. Last year we finished 7th. Anything lower than that can only be judged as a total failure. Since the club has absolutely no ambition to get promoted then it's all completely irrelevant. If the club isn't trying to get promoted then it has no reason to exist.

Far too early to be judging whether we are weaker or stronger. Let’s wait until all the new players are up to speed with the Championship. If we are top half come Xmas I think we can say that it’s been a decent transition considering the number of new players. Let’s not forget, we had some horrendous results and performances last season despite finishing 7th.

We finished 7th last season. I cannot conceive that this squad will finish as high as that. Hope to be proved wrong.

he must really miss Ewood!

There was a negative drag from some of rhe established players and that has been swept away. A much more negative drag has been in existence from the Venkys for 15 years. The established players, you talk about got new clubs at the same level or higher in Dolans case.. Let us see, where these new signings end up?

The penalty give away is Sunday league stuff. He wasn't even on the ball.... I had no idea La Liga was this poor. 9 mins in for those that want to see.

Dolan got an assist for the second goal in a 3-2 win. They went 2-0 up in 20 mins and looked to be cruising, but a pen for Mallorca and a red for español, just before half time, put the game back in the balance. It was all square on 75 but a late winner for the ten men, meant they won, despite playing the whole of the second half a man short.

No we are weaker. How much weaker will only be seen in time. If Wharton and Carter stay fit then the lack of a 4th cb doesn't matter so much. If tronstad isnt injured we arent having to test the depth in cm. If baradji is good and recovers quickly he could improve the team. We arent likely to finish above last seasons finish.