Current squad Keepers - Toth Pears Michalski RB - Brittain Alebiosu CB - Hyam Carter Wharton Mcloughlin LB - Pickering Ribeiro CM - Travis Tronstad Forshaw Montgomery Tavares RW - Hedges AM - Cantwell Tyjon LW - Kargbo De Neve CF - Gueye Ohashi Leonard

Another 3 would make it a 24 man squad wouldn't it? Unless I'm forgetting someone? Last year squad of 25 minus the 5 loanees, Weiman, Baath, Dolan and JRC.= 9 out. Wharton would come back into the squad after a year out, plus the 4 new signings. = 5 in. 3 new players would take it to 24.

I dont rate Cantwell at all but that accusation is probably slightly harsh.

Not sure why some people are saying we dont need another striker. Tyjon is obviously a completely unknown variable but if he doesn't particularly come off we're only an injury or loss of form to Ohashi or Gueye from being completely bereft up front. I think we need at least one and ideally two more strikers as well as obviously needing a decent right winger to replace Dolan. Whether we get them or not remains to be seen as obviously decent forward players tend to be the ones that cost the most money. When Woodrow and Dennis came in in January I thought that was at least then the right number of attacking options albeit they predictably turned out to be shite as for one thing they weren't even match fit.

I was fan of Dolan and yes I would offer that sort of contracts on those terms to keep him but hopefully we can fill that. I think goig forward he would be intergral part of our plans and team but if we lost Travis or Tronstad or Brittain that would be big hole. I don't think Dolan leaving is at the same level what evidence of the budget won't stretch? cos you aren't the amount of signings so making arguments up to suit it. bringing through 3 or 4 young players whilst having a 25/26 man squad and 2 players for every position and extra keeper, extra defender and total of 6 centre midfielders surely that is big enough squad? a

Olsen, Duru, Trialist off at half time. Houghton as gone right back, Grady-Macken playing centre back (!), Edmondson centre mid, someone I don’t know centre back with Grady-Macken

Maybe Ismael knew Batth and Weimann weren't staying despite being offered new contracts to stay here. Another 3 feel right. Centre back, right winger and I would prefer another striker but Ismael wants another centre midfielder. Its gives you 26 man squad and 2 players every position and 2 extra centre midfielders and extra centre back plus extra keeper. Isn't that big enough. He clearly feels he has enough up front and maybe he sees Ohashi, Gueye and Leonard as his 3 strikers. Zero evidence that the bid won't stretch and Ismael was straight to the point and very clear.

I think he definitely will become surplus to requirements. Theyve signed 2 midfielders, are intent on Xhaka and already have Neil, Rigg, Le Fee, even Alan Browne. But he will have had a pay increase upon promotion and also seems to have a lot of interest.

For some.

Good shout played 45mins for Sunderland last week came on for Ballard Not in today’s squad

This is him with the Venkys sponsorship instead of WR. David Dunn is in the crowd

It's funny isn't it. 'Stable' can sound a bit vanilla but in terms of cancer it can be so much more than that. Me staying stable through my last chemo cycles has enabled the liver team to agree to surgery to try to remove the lesions which are there. Thank God for being stable and fingers crossed you stay that way for the long -term @DeeCee

Any idea who the trialist is?

That’s unlucky

That looks about right apart from Wood is definitely on the right so Dlamini probably centre mid. “Trialist” has Venkys as his shirt sponsor

I would think you would have Wood wide & Farkas in the middle from that graphic but it sounds right apart from that. Houghton played centre back last match too (despite being a right back) as all the other "more senior" U21 CBs are in spain with the main squad

Don't know if he's right: https://x.com/RoversXtra/status/1949105025327718496

Thanks for that Curzon calling him "Broggan" but yep, he is up front

Watching Bolton v PNE on YouTube. I know PNE have brought in a lot of new players, but they're no great shakes. Can see them really struggling this year.

I took the kids to get autographs after the Wolves game last season. All signed autographs and had pictures with fans...apart from Cantwell. He was carrying his child, which definitely seemed like a deliberate ploy to avoid interacting with supporters.

I dont usually like the mentality of signing 1 player to play 2 positions. It doesnt solve the issue of not having enough players, that player cant play 2 positions at the same time. But considering we are signing at most 3 players. I wonder if someone like Triantis at Sunderland who we were linked with would be ideal. Not necessarily endorsing him as I havent seen very much of him, but someone similar. Hibs fans absolutely love him. Hes a midfielder who really impressed but I think he signed for Sunderland as a centre back, although I may be wrong. At centre back, Hyam is rightfully an automatic pick, obviously we have 2 on the left, so someone like Triantis could provide a 5th option if needed whilst also predominantly pushing/eventually replacing Travis or Tronstad. Might be out of range financially but more an example of that type of player to ensure that we can bring in at least 2 attackers. Rather than chasing someone with an injury.

I’m there and I’m not 100% sure who is playing for us. Couldn’t see anywhere to get a team sheet. For some reason we’re wearing last year’s away kit. Duru has looked a class above so far. Barrett, Dunn, Powell, Wood, Olsen the others I know in the starting lineup. I think it’s Boggan up front who has hit the post and looked sharp

He got 7 assists last season which was the highest in the squad. And that was in a poor personal season where he never really got over not having a full pre season, and in a squad that had no pace running in behind. He has always played either as a number 10 or from the left in his career.

Its a long season though, it feels different in pre season when basically everyone is fit. You need more bodies (and quality) to get through the whole slog of a season. And it doesnt have to "block pathways." A great example is Travis. We had a number of senior midfielders and he was on the fringes initially. He got his chance, took it and stayed in the team, never mind the squad.

Cheers for these posts Chaddy.