I’m astonished anyone thinks Markanday has anything about him. He’s rubbish.

I'm sure they do think that - the question is whether the opposition get an increase % performance higher than our players. It's impossible to answer but my eye test tells me that when we have a big game and a huge away followings we crumble. Games against Preston, Wrexham and Newcastle for me aren't comparable - PNE was a local derby in the first half of the season (which we lost), Wrexham we where favourite's and didn't crack but ultimately where playing a L2 team and all of the pressure was on the opposition for the Newcastle game. There's a reason playing at home is considered an advantage. The Sheff Weds players described it as a 'like a home game' and our Manager said 'a big away following has an impact but we won't use it as an excuse' (whatever that means). In my opinion there's absolutely no argument that in a potentially league-defining game giving the opposition 7K fans has a net-negative effect on our clearly poor-under-pressure players.

The former is my understanding.

Whilst I too think Markanday is rubbish, Gilsenan has a (back?) injury that will see him out for 4 weeks. I think Markanday is probably better than Gilsenan if Zak can't walk.

I wouldn't pick either of them in my Monday night 6 a side league.

I was told Koumetio is a bit of a running joke at Brockhall between the players and coaches. He's absolutely terrible and at this point is essentially here to be used for shape drills.

Get him in nets on Saturday.

LET Ratings: Pears - 3; Brittain - 6, Carter - 5, Hyam - 4, Wharton - 6, Pickering - 5; Tronstad - 4, JRC - 6; Szmodics - 7; Dolan - 5, Gallagher - 6. BRFCS Ratings: Pears - 1.2; Brittain - 3.3, Carter - 4.7, Hyam 2.7, Wharton 4.5, Pickering - 3.8; Tronstad - 4.4, JRC - 4.5 Szmodics - 6.1 Dolan - 3.5, Gallagher - 3.3

He can't think when the pressure is on him. He's in fight or flight at all times. The worst keeper I've seen for us.

It's not my job - thankfully - because its unenviable for whoever has to do it.

Priority List - Keeper: Pears & Leo both shown they're incapable at different periods. Leo will likely stay and develop as No2, can't see Pears ego letting him stay as No2. Sell Pears, buy a No1. RB: We only have one right back. Brittain needs competition. CB: Don't want either Koumetio or McFadz and we need five CBs in the squad. Carter, Hyam, NEW, Wharton, ORoirdon. LB: Pickering is our only left back. If possible I'd sign Christene, I think he's significantly better than Pickering. CM: Existing viable options are Tronstad, JRC, Buckley. Will Travis come back? Based on what we've seen it'll either be Tronstad or Travis, will Travis accept that? Will Buckley ever come good? I don't want: Fleck, Garrett or Ayari. That means I need at least one creative CM with another needed if Travis doesn't want to stay. Wide Players: Unlike others, I've been really impressed with Sigurdsson. He didn't have a pre-season and clearly signed for JDT who was subsequently forced out. I like Dolan, he can be frustrating but he's capable. Hedges is a very good player to keep within the squad. I make that three players and ideally want four. Hopefully Markanday is sold, he's shown glimpses but in the most part has been terrible. Strikers: Szmodics is obviously vital to our club. Gallagher should be sold in the summer - he has his positives but his contract is running out, he clearly wanted the Ipswich move and he's never achieved stats to back up what we paid for him initially nor his high contract. Telalovic and Vale need to be sold, frankly I'd be fine seeing both released on a free. I therefore think across signings, loans and promotions we need to fill the below, colour coded as 'green = must be experienced and permanent, yellow = could be a short term loan with a buy option, red = could be a young player either purchased or promoted'. No1 Keeper A CB that is fighting to be our third behind Carter and Hyam A right back that can push Brittain A left back that is better than Pickering A creative CM that is tall, strong and can create chances. A tackling CM in the mould of Tronstad if Travis leaves At least one wide forward who's at least as good as what we already have A first choice no9 striker to replace Gallagher A back up striker that is actually viable to replace Telalovic and Vale. That's 5 expensive, first choice purchases or free transfers. 3 top-flight loan players 1 cheap player - either a free transfer or internal promotion. Leaving the squad as: New Keeper, Wahlsted, 3rd Choice Keeper Brittain, New Carter, Hyam, New, Wharton, ORoirdon New, Pickering JRC, Tronstad, Buckley, Travis, New Sigurdsson, Dolan, Hedges, New Szmodics, New, New I make that 23 players, so we're allowed another two plus youth I believe? Youth can be: Leonard, Batty, Gent, Barnes, Gilsnan, Fyles, Eastham, Gamble, Finneran.

McGuire - minimum 2.5M Sibley - is U22 so will have a fee Millar - minimum 4M given successes at PNE Burrows - likely going up with Peterborough - captain? Dembele - like the idea, not sure 800K does it though Kamara - suspect first team at Norwich who have more money than us. I reckon your list, if at all possible, would be closer to 20M. Can't see us spending anything like that.

Because JRC has played his best football for us as a right back, Buckley has never quite managed to do what he teased he might and Garrett is not good enough.

Whilst all of this makes sense, our approach is certainly the easy route.

And unfortunately no matter how good willed it is, it won't happen because its far too ambitious for a man who's sole job is to deliver the bare minimum without rocking the boat.