I still think we are in real need of a second choice keeper. Maybe not the priority but something id hope they are looking at.

Kaminski Buckley Ayala Hyam Pickering Travis Morton Hedges Dack Brereton Dolan Subs: Pears, Phillips, Carter, Edun, Wharton, Markanday, Vale

I'm not necessarily sure JDTs style would suit a big target man like Dykes. He's probably better at holding the ball up than gally but he's less mobile and probably less of a goal threat. I'm quite keen on the idea of Hirst, but I'm not really sure why. I think it's how highly he was rated coming through that there might be a higher ceiling there.

What like he did last season? He barely got a goal or an assist last season when he was part of a back 5, I dont see any reason why that would change. He isn't good enough as a left back or as a left wing back and we should look to improve, and he can cover that position as 2nd choice. I also don't expect us to go with a back 5 either.

I can now see the logic in not getting another cm in the transfer window. You generally tell straight away when you've got a player on your hands and I really think we've got a player. Lovely left foot, read the game well and played on the front foot defensively. Much better than Buckley on the day and deserves a start midweek (I don't think he will though, think it'll be Travis and morton)

Depends. What I liked was that JDT saw that and made 2 changes. He took off the worst two players, moved dack into the number 10 slot, let Dolan start the press as the striker and we were a lot lot better. 2nd half we played the way I belive he wants us to play. JDT needs to learn some of these lessons very quickly, which players he can trust and who he can't. He was quite experimental today with his attacking line, he can't keep getting it that wrong.

If Phillips signed his contract I'd be happy with Ayala, Wharton, Hyam with Carter and Phillps developed as 4th and 5th choices. I think we have got to be looking at left back, neither edun or Pickering are up to it imo. If we could get a left sided brittain equivalent that would be my preference as next priority. So if we are limited to 3 signings then I'd look to get another attacking option that could immediately demand a place in the first xi, from the formation we've played most with it'd be someone to play on the right of the 4 with gally put back to the bench or moved up front.

Boro also had the privilege of being able to sell their second choice right back for around £15mil

Mowbray tried dack off the left early on in league 1 and it didn't quite work. Still think he's best as a 10. To get round the lack of energy you try pushing the wide forwards further up allowing him to drop deeper in the press with one of the cm's. We need to embrace Dack and what he can do, and find ways to negate his weakness aka his lack of mobility. Because at the end of the day that's what makes for effective teams.

This is the team for me. Morton deserves a start in cm. Markanday and dack earned a start. Gally through the middle and ditch the idea of a false 9. Phillips for Wharton if he isn't fit. A. Wharton on the bench.

At this moment in time it looks like a bad decision. He could cover Travis for 5-6 games this season. And we could put our efforts into improving other areas.

Kaminski JRC Phillips Pickering Batty Morton Wharton Markanday Dack Dolan Vale Subs: Pears, Ayala, Edun, Brittain, Buckley , Szmodics, Gallagher

I'd like to see morton in cm ahead of Buckley next Saturday. You could play Buckley or dack as a 10 over SS8.

Only thing I'm willing to give JDT stick for at this moment is for playing gally on the wing. We need reinforcements at the back desperately everybody can see it. We came into the season with 3 senior centre half's, 2 are currently out injured. A lad whose just turned 17 and Pickering are far from ideal and it is clearing impacting the way the team is performing. We've basically got holes in the first 11 (including left back, sorry Pickering isn't up to it) and We've got no depth either. Bradford away on Tuesday leaves us in a predicament as Phillips looks knackered and we shouldn't be risking Ayala so God knows what we'll do. Things need to get moving asap

Probably the first and last time I'll ever hear about this lad.

Kaminski Brittain Phillips Ayala Pickering Travis Morton Hedges Buckley Diaz Gallagher Subs: Pears, JRC, Edun, Wharton, Dack, Dolan, Markanday

I think with 5 subs we've got to look to play the strongest side available both here and at Sheffield utd on Saturday. Use the bench earlier to freshen things up or to 'rest' players, stick with the bulk of the winning team

I reckon he'd be up for something like that next year when his contract expires. He's played how many games in the last few seasons? The lad if he's smart should sit on his massive deal at united unless they want to pay him off. Then take a pay as you play deal next season.

According to lancs live Scott Wharton is a big doubt for todays game with a calf strain.

I see our current first choice cb pairing as Carter and Wharton. Ayala cannot be banked upon to play regularly this season, anything we get from is a bonus. And that cb partnership needs improving upon and Carter is injured. Phillips pathway being blocked shouldn't be considered until he signs his contract, the fact we are going for 2 suggests to me that he isn't signing. Van der berg makes sense on loan to an extent, he's likely an upgrade on Carter but with him playing cb and rb will block his progress. North end fans really rated him, but he played lost of his games as a right wing back or right of a back 3, I'm unsure of his reliability in a back 4. I'd prefer a permanent addition at cb tbh.

Brandon Williams at left back would be a coup.

Form what potter says it seems like Van Hecke himself wants to leave to make sure he's playing 1st team football and they are telling him to get his head down, be patient and be the 5th choice cb because they quite like him. 12 months to go on his deal, Brighton might decide to look elsewhere. Less of a chance but still a chance

Kaminski JRC Phillips Wharton Edun Garrett Morton Markanday Dack (c) Dolan Vale Subs: Pears, Harlock, Annesley, Wharton, Buckley, Hedges, Gallagher Wouldn't even risk Ayala on the bench. No point playing Pears for me we know he's terrible (although JDT might want to learn this out for himself). That makes 9 changes but on paper it should be strong enough to win. Big opportunity for 4 or 5 players to make an impression on the manager

I think I get the point your trying to make now. My answer to that hypothetical would be nothing.

My understanding was it is upto the club if they want to subsidise the players lower wage to facilitate a transfer. It's basically what United have to do with a lot of fringe players that sensible teams won't pay silly wages to. Player won't give up 100k a week for 40k a week elsewhere. Club has to pay them 50-60k a week to save 40k a week and some transfer fee. I've never heard of a fairly unwilling seller subsidising a players wage to make a move happen. Then surely it becomes the players choice if he wants to sell his talents for less money.