Afolayan would be a big upgrade on Hedges, surely out of our league.

I agree, I think he'll be a useful player away from home where we need to keep shape, be disciplined in your position, and press the opposition. Also at home when you're protecting a lead. He won't be a player who creates many chances or opens teams up. He's the polar opposite of AK in many respects. AK is dynamic, explosive and can produce something out of nothing. But you wouldn't count on him to keep shape, track back, or do his defensive work. That's why he's not a starter yet imo.

I saw it too last night on X, wasn't from anyone reputable, I thought it was just an opinion rather than a link to be honest.

Mowbray consistently talked down Blackburn Rovers FC. It wasn't one defensive comment or an attempt to manage expectations. He genuinely thought he was bigger and better than us - and acted like we were a minnow in this division. Fuck that. We're a division too low, thanks to the owners. JDT was a breath of fresh air when he came in with the way he talked about the club - so was Eustace. That sour faced Moggie can take his lemon drizzle and shove it up his arse.

Ismael said after one of the games "sonny wants to stay this year"

Where have you seen this?

It seems the ones earmarked for development to sell are getting long contract but the caveat to this is no doubt their starting point wages here are low by British standards. At least there's a few here now beyond next summer though !

He also showed frustration in the summer when Armstrong was sold and he wanted to reinvest some of the proceeds but wasnt allowed. Across numerous interviews. I suggest people need to get a thicker skin if the odd defensive comment or the odd attempt to manage expectations (ill advised) still causes people to get angry at the mere mention of his name years later and have a strong dislike to him still. Or to create all the rubbish about him protecting his pension fund etc. He subsequently has easily found Championship work, even once just after his illness. He wasnt in a job well above his reputation, he had no reason to be so protective. Promotion would have been incredibly beneficial to him, he just wasnt capable.

I don't think anyone who has signed since last summer will ever sign new contracts either. The "plan" now will be to play them and hopefully develop them to sell 2 years into there 3 (+1) year deals. We're a one contract club now.

We desperately need this song translating, the gimme gimme song I've seen floating around is terrible.

Well said.

There may be individual circumstances but a total of 1 contract renewal (a player signed initially for 6 months then extended) asks big questions. And totally undermines anything we are supposed to be trying to build.

It's enough to make you weep.

Players can only be shipped out if they agree to be. Regarding Tronstad, haven't people on here said that he wants to stay for the last year of his contract and then move back to Norway - where I guess wages are rather lower- where his wife has already relocated to ?

If he turns out to as good as either of those 2 we have signed a £50 million player. I'd settle for better than Travis who hopefully isn't going but whom he seems likely to replace,

Yep, fair enough put like that.

You're not exactly "chucking them in" to start every week, you're hoping they're good enough to do a job for the odd game in case of emergency. As should be the case for any youngster in and around the squad. No point having them about if they aren't.

Think its too early to be chucking around credit at Gestede. Proof is in the pudding with how the players perform. However, as I see it he needs to prove himself, be decisive and show leadership in contracts and recruitment. Set deadlines to Hyam, Tronstad and Trav for contract renewals, if they aren't going to sign then they need shipping out. We can't have weak leadership anymore, willing to let millions of pounds walk out the door for nothing when we don't have the budget to replace them. If you've recruited this guy (VI) and want to give him a fair chance then sell those not wanting to be here and let him build something this summer. No point waiting.

Next resheduling.

I dont think you would want to be chucking in kids unless they stood out like Phillips. Although I agree it shouldnt be a priority.

Good to get another body ticked off. Elliiott Jackson seems to think he is seen as an attacking midfielder and that makes the most sense. Not some elaborate plan to shove him wide, and we already have options further back. We need cover/competition for Cantwell now Weimann has gone. Now the priority has to be to improve the forward line. Even if it means putting the remaining funds on a right winger which is most important and then loaning 1 or 2 more, including a striker. And we obviously still have a massive contract problem. When you are signing cheap punts from abroad its always a bit of a lottery. De Neve didnt pull up any trees at left back for a relegated Belgian side and they seem shocked that we came in, so you are hoping that a change in position might suit his attributes and he can push on. Alebiosu couldnt even get in that side but hopefully a good half season loan in Scotland is what he needed to push on. Tavares made a poor move to Porto having been highly rated at Leicester and just ended in their B Team barring an unsuccessful brief loan in the MLS. He wasnt a regular when he moved to Morinense but he clearly was highly rated 2 or 3 years ago so you are left hoping that he can push on and get back on track. I dont know why but compared to those 3, this one seems slightly different. He has only played 1 and a half seasons at any top level but his career seems to have been continiously on the up and fans of GAIS seem to unanimously love him. Miller also seems to be seen as a loss to Hibs fans. Talk about him being better as a right centre back is a concern, and obviously he is filling massive shoes and I dont expect him to be on par with Brittain. But theres enough to be hopeful that he can do a job at this level and also keep improving.

At a push we've got the 2 young lads at CB as well. 6 options.

I'm surprised they want another CB according to Elliot. I thought Miller might have been a "two in one" deal and cover both RB and CB. Agreed that winger and striker should be the priorities now.

Carter, Hyam, Wharton, McLoughlin and at a push Miller and Pickering can all play cb id rather have st and rw