I wish he’d have a more pragmatic and defensive approach. We’ve never been “organised” under TM in that way from where I sit. In my book, If he did have an approach like this, his fullbacks and wide players would be sat on posts for corners, not on the half way line to counter. When you exclude the graduates - it’s easy to point out the lack of investment in key areas. Thats because our team is mostly academy grads! A regular supporter of the U23s like yourself would’ve been seething had older expensive championship ready players come in, and forced the Lenihan’s, Travis’s or Nyambe’s to up sticks and move on. Equally - are those three ready to take up positions in a first XI intent on going up? One game is relevant too - when the question is asked again after one game.

I don’t know, why are you trying to trip me up? The point is, it’s not simple. I don’t know Norwich’s setup but I’d assume they had a recruitment system for talented managers too. Not like our “whoever’s agent gets to Pune first” setup.

Great example of a manager coming in who knows the league’s he wants to buy from.

If you’re going from nothing to a substantial setup, it would take 6 months alone to recruit staff. The expensive analysis setup that Southampton use came from years of investment and continuity above their management setup. Weve rebooted and cleared out 5 or 6 times in the last 10 years, and I can’t help but chuckle when others think that would be the solution to immediate improvement!

Aren’t we less than 2 years into a complete rebuild of the recruitment department? Surely will take years to get working properly? Preston also had to sell one of their best players this summer - something we’re yet to do since SW/TM came in.

Can’t argue with the last part. To pick another recent CB signing - as someone pointed out, Bielek went to Derby for nearly 10m from Arsenal. This is a lad who’s never played for Poland’s first team and he’s most recent loans are League one Charlton and Walsall. Its a daft market. I agree we should’ve done better but I think I accept a few of the reasons why we haven’t!

I didn’t say peanuts but there’s a big difference between our top and the league top, it’s a competitive market. I think too, transfers are done on a “tick box” approach - in my view Pontus Jansson would’ve been perfect, fee definitely, probably wage manageable (with a big promotion incentive). However - maybe he wanted to live in London? Im not trying to invent excuses, I’m just trying to point out there’s more to it than simply writing a list.

Hence why I said I wouldn’t be surprised if we splurged more cash on a 19 year old centre back this week. Plus again - just taking the figures ignores key details, one was 19 and the other openly stated in his interview “it’s not about money I took a cut to come here!” Perhaps that CB we wanted in a similar position at his club to Gallagher doesn't want to drop 10k* a week *an estimate before the fact police slide into my DMs

I wouldn’t assume we haven’t. I also wouldn’t assume he’s interested, since football is an incredibly short career - could see him easy making la liga, serie a, ligue 1, or Bundesliga team with a contract that would dwarf our “cap” His agent will be inundated. I’d love him back too, remember he likes our socks...!

As I said, I’d expect him to be an upgrade but proof is on the grass. It may be as easy as “here’s 5m, I’ll have a 6 foot 5 dominating Centreback please who fits our wage structure” in your view, but not my own!

Olsson recent international, just finished a 40/50k pw deal. Might be a slight discrepancy in what we would have to pay him compared to caddis..!

The brackets should’ve read sarcastically - irrespective of Saturday, I would say that our defence is marginally better than last season, Adarabioyo is an upgrade on Williams and Mulgrew IMO, or at least an attempt (since proof is on the grass not CV) Certainly an upgrade on Downing as stated. The upgrade enough to meet expectations? I’m not convinced, but I’m not convinced it’s as easy as “we should’ve spent the Gally money on a CB”..! I would say that we’ve far more options for 5atb now too - whilst that may send shudders up spines, I’m not against the idea that Nyambe and Lethal Derek would be better suited to wide centre back roles!

Or he doesn’t tell you his entire though process in public (probably, most definitely) and we’ve failed to get our targets so far (other than bright prospect centreback on loan from city, who’s most recent experience is finishing top 6 with WBA).. I personally think relegation predicting on this defence is an overly negative prediction. This especially when we’ve improved midfield and upfront.

Huddersfield crowd a lack of patience, which is probably to be expected after last season. They’ve also defended like idiots, which we can empathise with that frustration. Derby look a different class at the minute, however I can’t see Keogh getting away with defending so high all season.

I can add plenty of rationale to why we haven’t, ignore it all you want. It doesn’t help us improve our defence mind! One thing that does irk, it’s not as if we haven’t signed anyone. If you’d offered me for CB; Downing out, Adarabioyo in- I probably would’ve seen that as a minor upgrade. Problem is, the expectation of promotion would probably require further defensive enhancements.

Two absolute pearlers!

Cocu’s Debut - despite frustration at some aspects of modern “Sky footy”, I can always enjoy a live football game to some extent! Especially when we’ve played so horrifically bad at cricket...

Can I also add - we bought Duffy for “cheap” and he is a top flight centre back - plus the big let down on top - Jack O Connell, now a premier league player with sheff United after we let him go for peanuts!

Not forgetting we’ve had 2 championship level centre backs, a decent fullback, a goalkeeper and a few other decent defenders through the academy in the previous 8 or so seasons, so perhaps priority at times has been down to squad depth (going all the way down to u23/u18) as opposed a weird priority about strikers. For instance - on returning to the championship, didn’t we only have Danny G, Nuttall and Samuel? Most clubs / teams like to have 3 or 4 options in a hierarchy for each position.

Didn’t we do the same on potential last year?

If we spent 7m in the last few days on a 19 year old defender, I wouldn’t be that surprised.

Can see a lot happening late for many clubs. Really don’t enjoy the modern transfer window at all!

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/48914375

Firstly this is the transfer thread, not sure relevance to continuing the Mowbray out theme, Secondly - do you know Monk got potted for only buying players from a certain agent? Ironically, you’re correct - they’d be a great fit.(with the owners)

You don’t get to tell me how I feel above others viewpoints Neal, that’s the point of a forum. I just think (regardless of how long you’ve already felt this) its a poorly timed reaction and post, and as Paul said - a new low when coming into the forum post match (in terms of seeing content I can’t quite believe I’m reading). 5:28pm after the first game of the season. It’s just utterly mind boggling for me pal. If you’d included the caveat “it’s not the right time” it would’ve changed things considerably. I think the way you did the “if Charlton are relegation fodder what are we” probably sums up how we view football very differently.