Just now, Colt Seavers said:

I know. Please God it's Evans, Smallwood or Bennett. 

As other posters have said, I don't think we'd miss Evans and Smallwood if they left. We've got quite a lot of cover in that area anyway. 

I'd be pretty pissed off if we sold Bennett though. He gives his all every game and he's very versatile. He'd be a massive miss. 

Just now, JacknOry said:

But is it worth what he will cost to find out? He is not exactly going to do a Rodwell and sign on minimal terms for a season.

Well that's up to Mowbray and above to decide. I'm a bit of a risk taker, so I'd be all over it for the potential upside, which lets not kid ourselves is huge. 

There's two factors we actually know nothing about. No one on here knows what his wage demands are. And no one really knows what Venky's are willing/able to afford in terms of running the club.

46 minutes ago, FGS5635 said:

Football is a funny game. If pep doesnt come to city then Hart would probably still be city and england #1

He'd also be well on pace to be englands most capped player as many thought he would be whilst firmly #1

And now here we are with some fans not happy we may or may not sign him.

Pep's desire for a different type of keeper really knocked his ego and confidence and he has lost his way.

The reward if you can rebuild that confidence is really high. We could have a really world class keeper on our hands

I've just said the same to someone today. The upside is massive. If he continues as is, he's probably no worse than what we had with Raya. Let's not forget, in between the mistakes this is a guy who's been playing at the top level basically his whole career. He's a good goalkeeper that has lost confidence.

I've always rated Adrian, so I'd be chuffed if we signed him. Good shot stopper and he's quite an imposing player. Shouldn't have any issues claiming crosses.

He was dropped for Hart when West Ham signed him, but he soon won his place back when they realised he was better. He's the one I'd be after out of the three.

Just now, AdamRochina said:

i feel for samuel tbh, worked his ass off over the summer after promotion, like in the gym every single day then gets injured, i would keep him for another season, play him in the cup games see if he has improved as i love the guys commitment

If he showed that sort of commitment on the pitch when he's been fit and played, you wouldn't have forgotten him.

We've outgrown him. Should be one of the players we're touting around.

31 minutes ago, philipl said:

All five are in net profit on transfer dealings.

Certainly helps. Going off that list though, it looks like they've strengthened despite the player sales. 

1 minute ago, JHRover said:

But how many of those other clubs have released their back up CBs, signed no defenders and ended up in February with no fit CBs at the club?

 

See the main point. Still plenty of time..

Just now, philipl said:

So only four clubs have net transfer expenditure.

Looking at those lists, supporters of at least ten clubs should be on suicide watch judging by the intemperate reactions on this thread. 

Looking through, you could argue that only the following clubs have properly strengthened so far. 3 weeks to go. Still plenty of time. 

Bristol City, Brentford, Forest, Stoke & Millwall.

Just now, alderson777 said:

I think i have worked out who this Jonny Hulme guy is on Twitter!

Yeah?

Just now, FGS5635 said:

I'd leave Mulgrew out just so he cant take corners. Drives me bonkers having our centre half whip corners in every game to a team full of midgets

Nice when they go in though!

Just now, bluebruce said:

It was. I don't recall exact numbers, but we won more total points in the games where Mulgrew didn't play than the ones where he did - and he played in something like twice as many games as he missed.

When you consider how many goals he scored, too...that's some seriously bad defending that went on in the games he played. Could be coincidence, but my eyes suggest it wasn't.

Just now, JacknOry said:

Thats why it makes no sense when people say we will miss his goals. Obviously not if he only scores in games we lose anyway.

Fair comments. I do remember seeing the post, but don't recall any of the stats from it. If we can bring in a defender who - on the whole - doesn't make silly mistakes and can largely keep the ball away from the back of the net, we'll improve. 

In terms of set pieces, I'm sure there'll be someone else on our books who can step up and take them. Surely Dack and Rothwell have the technique to be able to test the keeper from a dangerous position. 

Taking the popular opinion that Lenihan is our best defender (I agree by the way), what was our record like when both Mulgrew and Lenihan played?

I'm not questioning that we need to replace Mulgrew to kick on, but I'm not fully convinced he's completely done either. Just wondered whether there were any glaring stats suggesting we didn't improve as much as you'd expect when Lenihan came back from injury and it was in fact when Mulgrew was dropped for Williams that we started to improve. 

I appreciate I could look this up (although I don't have time), but I feel like someone might've done some analysis on this previously.

Just now, starscascade said:

Just noticed Marshall hasn't received a squad number at Norwich. Would you have him back? I quite liked him down the flank but we have so many midfielders now why would we?

I wouldn't touch him. Blew hot and cold far too often for me. If he was really that good of a winger, we wouldn't have had him playing RB. 

I'd much rather persist with the likes of Armstrong and Chapman, as their potential improvement would take them well above what Marshall was for us. Not forgetting players like Rothwell and Downing, who are better players than him anyway. 

Just now, Butty said:

I mean the only way it will be believable is if it’s someone who used too play for us, used too play for Middlesbrough or is simply born in the North East of England. The money we spent investing in this European scouting system is reaping the rewards!  

Jordan Rhodes trial. Ex player, ex Boro and Mowbray thought he seemed like a lovely lad on Norwich's bench last season. Wants to see him on the grass first. 

Just now, PeteJD13 said:

Totally agree with this if he goes elsewhere the club have only got themselves to blame 

Completely understandable though if they don't want to overspend on someone who is a nice to have, not a must have.

The whole Sam Gallagher saga is becoming a bit of a farce now. Sign him up or move on. We're not going to get him on the cheap. 

The White signing sounds very similar to the signing of Brad Lyons. Centre midfielder playing 'men's football' brought in to potentially affect the first team in a season or two. Stengthens our U23 team in the meantime or goes out on loan.

Did the U23's lose many midfielders in the summer to warrant this signing? 

40 minutes ago, Bigdoggsteel said:

Ya, was thinking he would cost more. He's got a nasty streak as well, which is good, as long as he doesn't go too mad! 

5 red cards last season. Would suggest he can't control himself.

Just now, Waggy76 said:

Brentford cannot compete with the above agreed , the demographic of football as changed to a southern based 2nd tier including clubs who once upon time were in the old 3rd Division South regularly ..

Just now, JacknOry said:

That might be because they are United, City and Liverpool.

Apologies to both, it was a bit of a half cocked message. They compete with similar teams to them (the likes of Arsenal, Chelsea, Spurs, etc), who have this London pull, and seem to do OK. 

I don't see why we shouldn't be competing with a similar team to us in terms of stature (Brentford) for foreign players. It's our scouting that's letting us down, not our location. Brentford's scouting is setting them apart in this league at the moment and they're reaping the rewards through the fees they've been receiving for the last couple of years.

Interestingly though, the one bit of scouting we seem to do well, is picking up youngsters in the North West who've seemingly fallen out of favour or not made it at the bigger Premier League clubs.

I don't particularly buy the 'London pull' comments. Man Utd, Man City and Liverpool do pretty well at drawing in foreign talent and we're in that catchment area when you consider where the players are going to live i.e. Cheshire, Manchester city centre, etc.

Of those listed I like the look of 4231 and 442 based on our personnel. To play with wing backs, I feel like they pretty much need to be your best players (or at least your fittest) and I have big doubts about Bell and Nyambe. 

Quite happy with the prospect of Adam, but he needs another couple of games in pre-season before we should even consider offering him a deal. If he can keep himself fit and perform as he apparently did in the Barrow 2nd half, I'd be happy enough. With Rodwell looking like he's gone, it's a pretty cheap replacement without weakening that part of the squad. 

On formations, I'd personally stick with 4231 and just look to improve the playing style. I probably wouldn't alter the line up you've suggested either. Adam to slot into the middle when we need to rotate or for injuries/suspensions. Williams 3rd choice centre back. Chapman and Armstrong competing for the wing positions, with Brereton and Nuttall challenging Graham for the front spot. 

I think we've got to trust that we've already sounded out potential replacements for Raya before we've agreed to any serious discussion with Brentford over his transfer.

If we've not signed a keeper within a week of him leaving, we're blagging it.

Just now, Swanson said:

Is Johnson a free transfer?

Yeah, which makes it even better.

Just now, Mattyblue said:

Think there was only about 2,000 people left in their seats that second half!

I was a bit hungover which doesn't help, but I could feel the cold in my bones at half time. I convinced myself that it would all be worth it if we won...

Edit. On that basis, Raya can do one. I'll pay for his taxi down to London.

Just now, Bigdoggsteel said:

                New keeper 

Nyambe Lenihan New CB  Bell

              Johnson Travis 

Rothwell     Dack      Downing 

                 Graham 

We are getting there I think. A good mix of experience and youth. Decent bench too. 

Looks a good team on paper. There's something about Bell I really don't like. He can look lazy on the ball and that led to errors last season. Have to admit that going forward, he does look dangerous. He carries the ball really well.