That's why I said right now. If the January transfer window taught us anything it was that we need more goals. We don't have the luxury of waiting for someone to get good, we need as close to the finished article as possible. I like the idea of bringing in young players and developing them but Hirst should have been signed alongside someone with more experience/goals under his belt at this level. Big risk to rely on BBD's goals.

Haha, you got my typo. I meant Rod Stewart... Er, Ross Stewart.

Ross Stewart an adequate replacement for BBD? Discuss.

It reflects that some people on here are either not the full shilling, or just enjoying JDT's failings even if they aren't completely his. Especially when it was widely reported that we did want other players but couldn't get them over the line. Szmodics certainly wasn't his first choice.

If you can't see that you're being sold hyperbole then good luck to you.

Hirst doesn't look anywhere near the standard right now. Maybe it is a case of match fitness but for me there doesn't seem to be much there, not that that's helped by the rest of the team. Ross Stewart could be a good signing. Mowbray hates strikers so could happen.

Possibly, though he is a loanee and I can't see them paying £5m for him. I'm just saying that Hirst won't have been JDT's first choice for a striker considering his record and that there are plenty of players that are obviously better at this present time. He looks every bit a developmental player fitting the Venkys mould of making a profit a few years down the line like BBD or Gallagher, not a player to hang your hopes on hitting double figures... Which is what we needed right now. I'll be very surprised and disappointed if they don't spend on a striker in January.

I don't disagree that JDT backed the signing, but as his first choice striker? Do we really believe that? He was being hyperbolic because he didn't have anyone better lined up.

Thanks for confirming that GB said that.

Broughton said that, not JDT. There's no way that George Hirst, a 23 year old loanee without a goal to his name in the Championship was JDT's first choice.

When he's got a decent squad with the players capable of being a fluid front four? If anyone thinks that regularly having Dolan or Hirst as the foremost attacking player is the answer they are in for a world of disappointment. Maybe JDT is to blame for some of this, but I find it difficult to judge him with what he's inherited, injuries, and the clubs backwards dealings in the transfer window. Waggot and Broughton have to shoulder some of the blame for not recruiting sensibly. To go into another half season (after seeing what happened post January) without a good centre forward is bizarre.

I agree about the strange decisions to leave Smodics, A Wharton and Dack out, but Luton aside what you're saying is bonkers. We've had three first team defenders out for how many games? And we don't have one centre forward we can rely upon at the club.

England, Chile. If any proof was needed that Venkys don't follow the club, here it is. I'd be livid if I was paying a players wages and International teams dictated when we could and couldn't play them.

Sounds like a great model to follow.

Did they have any decent centre forwards in the squad beforehand? Cos we fecking don't.

It'll be interesting to see if Greg and co manage to bring in the players he needs. After the summer transfer window it's highly dubious. What kind of club goes into a transfer window with a healthy transfer budget and comes out without a quality centre forward?

He's been absolutely shit in every other game he's featured in so it's no surprise he's on the bench. And I'm one of his supporters. Hopefully he can regain his form.

It's not just that, the attack doesn't make any attempt to hold the ball up. They either get the ball forward and have a shot or lose it. Usually they lose it. No old head in midfield, and lacking a centre forward.

Millwall are absolutely dire. If we can't get a result against Millwall then it's time to give up.

He wasn't tested.

Bit harsh with the amount of minutes he's had. 120 of those minutes being excellent.

Yep that's great but it was identified that we needed more of a threat upfront, and GB brought in George Hirst. It's a shit project if you do your homework then don't hand it in.

Big mistake leaving Adam Wharton out, he would have bossed the midfield in the second half. We'd still struggle to score, which is as I imagine will happen in many games this season.

We've no striker and no one experienced in midfield. Not entirely unexpected.

BBD and Armstrong aren't great examples of what the club needs right now. I mean players who can come in and score goals from the off, not players to develop. Like Rhodes or Gestede.