To be honest the issues with the squad have been years in the making right back to our second full season in the Championship. We let a stunningly promising (now Premiership) keeper leave to replace him with a very limited forward, which given the forward line has sod all investment since then and we have a promote from within policy over the last 3 years, makes it an even bigger clanger. Factor in the defenders are coming only came in on loan and we were shoving as many problems as we could down the line. The end of the last but one season we had a mass clear out of an admittedly bloated squad albeit the numbers out compared with in made us worryingly vulnerable to issues and light on numbers. Factor in Elliott wasn't replaced, nor our 20+ goal striker Armstrong, and you could see the problems rapidly adding up. At the end of last season letting 3 first teamers leave for nothing, does nothing to help our cause either in terms of numbers or funding replacements. In fact that was a master stroke to decimate an already depleted squad, and with Bereton seemingly not signing a new contract or going either, it seems the depletion without investment will continue. The reliance and loss of strong loans continued to haunt us as well as last seasons player of the year also bogged off leaving even bigger holes in the defence. If just finding the loan gems was the majority of the summer tasks that wouldn't be too bad but instead it's yet another crucial piece of the jigsaw on top of so many others. Of course there have been a few additions albeit an injury prone old centre back was never going to help the cause, and whilst there may be potential in the lad from Spurs, we cannot afford another 3 year slow burner/late developer like Bereton as gaps appear far, far more quickly. (Debatable if we could have afforded that then but now is a certainty not to.) Add all of this up and my word, we are struggling. We've half a squad to still fill. It's been a problem years in the making, and leaves a huge amount of work for a competent ownership to do, much less our lot.

They are financially up the creak so to speak without a paddle. Hugely over FFP and heading for sanctions unless they arrest that this year. Added to issues of an aging squad - well key players aging and a few who have deals running down. All in all its suboptimal conditions to adjust for FFP, hence why they haven't brought anyone.

To be fair losing 3 first teamers with zero income to replacement, a player of the season on loan, plus the fact we didn't replace the 2 best players from the year before (Elliott & Armstrong) - add all of that together and it's no wonder there will be a struggle. Last time we lost 2 very good championship centre backs with no Dosh for replacements it ended very badly for us. The squad is just as thin but imo at least the first 11 is better this time round.

It's not about the results though 😂 Tell you what if last year was for the taking this year the early evidence is it's being given away. Norwich have only managed to beat a seemingly relegation favourite (a former condenser), Burnley have an entirely new team and a novice manager who don't seem to have gelled yet, Swansea are relentlessly favouring style over substance. Very early days so not to get carried away but there doesn't seem any team to be scared of in this division.

Tough win against 12 men. Makes up for COVID & sickness bug this week. JDT is a magician. Getting a tune out of Gally, has us winning games, what a guy! This shows our need for squad depth but then we all knew - and Lord JDT himself said - we need more players.

I think that's one of my favourite interviews of all times. So refreshing, so encouraging to hear! Great stuff! Shame about the typo in the TM reference (It's spelt self interested) but my word we seem to have a manager with a bit of nous, ambition and who knows what he is doing. Is it really Rovers?

That's because the squad was knackered and battered from progressing well in 3 cup competitions. We didn't really have the squad for it but it was a heroic effort from them to do so.

Like all that JDT says. Centre back we are guaranteed to lose Ayala. Plus losses from last season there and it's vital we get someone in. So it is first priority. What I like too is he acknowledges we need strengthening all over. Once again we have one recognised RB. No proper cover for Travis. A bit too dependant on Bereton up top so plenty of work to do. Venkys should be backing him though given his fantastic start. They should realise it's their best opportunity to get back in the prem. Whether they will or not is a different question.

I bet it is! I got the distinct impression from the TM era it had all the intensity of a kick about on the beach on a lads holiday.

Smallwood's at Bradford too I think. If Carlsberg did managerial starts I doubt they could do any better than JDT.

Brilliant, just brilliant! Said before the game that Swansea were there for the taking but my word we did it in style. 2 games 2 wins 2 clean sheets and a healthy goal differ nice. What a cracking start.

Also wasn't Schofield just a coach not even assistant manager? They've gone for continuity but when the manager and assistant manager have gone plus some core players there's not much continuity there to keep!

Bit obvious of me to say so but I think they are looking like they are in a relegation battle. Add in to the issues you have mentioned the 2 lads they lost to Forest and you have a core ripped from the team with a rookie manager. There's some dross in this division so they may not go down but I think they will be there or thereabouts.

Swansea have just as many squad issues as us, if not more. Read they don't even have a recognised right back. Their tippy tappy style will play into JDTs pressing game as the new manager bounce continues. Expect Rovers to win this one 2-1.

So we are beginning to replace the losses from last season. My thoughts are as follows: Brittan - I liked Nayambe a lot and wonder if he will be as good defensively - which imo is first priority. That said he seems better suited to a wingback system which we may employ (?) and has championship experience. Most importantly a hole has been filled by someone who isn't a clear downgrade. Are we better off? Unsure. I suspect a very different RB with different strengths and weaknesses so it could go either way. Appears to be a positive first outing which is encouraging. A neutral/slightly positive signing. Morton - unsure why we have got him given Buckley and Travis. Seems more pressing needs. However if he is quality then he will improve the team and drive up standards. On one hand I feel there are way more pressing issues. On the other relying on Edun and youngsters for back up seems a bit thin so on reflection it might not be a bad move. The Peterborough lad - most excited by as he seems to be a player identified by JDT and for his system and style. Feels like in a better team he could really step up in the championship. Will add attacking threat which I feel is massively needed with Dack struggling for fitness, Armstrong and Elliott gone and Diaz maybe going/having one good season under him. Strong signing imo.

Didn't realise this. This is a tad discouraging.

Good post. The positive is there is still a way to go and you would like to think JDT is a tad more focussed on getting players for a formation and plan rather than just those who an be developed. That makes it not the panic stations it was under TM. I've a bit more trust (maybe misplaced) that players on loan from Liverpool and raiding the relegated sides isn't just laziness and habit from JDT and that the similarities are coincidence. If we get an overpriced player with Boro connections however I'll start to worry... The negative is, as you say, there is still a lot of work to do even just to stand still. We still haven't replaced Armstrong and Bereton will need replacing either now or in the summer, so you feel there is still a hell of a lot to do before the window closes. And it all depends on if he is backed. I'll believe it when I see it but you have to hope that the new structure gets us a few gems otherwise what's the point in it.

A single point in their favour although even then will concede only 2 of the 3. There's no way anyone would pay Gally what we are paying him based on his performance so really there can't be that much credit there. The other 2 are positives. Mind you the issue isn't just players not signing contracts (although that is a key part of it) it's the fact we allow them to walk for free, all at the same time meaning there are big holes in the squad and we need to replace them with no renumeration back in. If we were more organised we could/should have had this sorted a year/two years ago, and getting either reduced fees not allowing it to build up into one almighty car crash of players in needed. Problem is there is no forward planning whatsoever.

The man is a fraud. One basic utterly blindingly obvious principle is you will lose some of your core support - deaths, change in circumstances, etc., therefore you need to be working on increasing core support all the time to make up for the losses, never mind growing the support. Now if I can grasp that leading a small charity, how can he running a multi million pound business not see this? Only reason why not is if it's untoward reasons.

I can see your thinking - after all it's only been one good season (arguably half season.) That said given his talent and contract status he would be relatively cheap - if we only got £15 mill for Armstrong who had a longer track record of scoring in the championship I reckon Bereton would be below this - then they might well take a gamble.

I'm not making up facts at all. The point was that not getting points in the first few games - whether that's through substandard signings or lack of them - is problematic. I.e. we can't afford to write off these games. @Admiral Nelsenabsolutely get your point. It's probably both! I do wonder if there's an element of what you suggest though in expecting all these youngsters to fill the gaps? History, football throughout the ages, tells us some will make it and some won't. So banking on them, even for a few games is very dangerous. Anyway the point I'm trying to make (not as well as I thought!) is that every game counts and whilst we must get the right people in, there is a time factor and games that has to be considered.

Bit ironic given what we have added, no?

For those saying there is plenty of time, remember what happened under Coyle and (in effect) throwing away those first 5 games. The squad wasn't strengthened to the end of the window, we lost 4 or 5 and that was the difference maker. Sure there were plenty of opportunities to rectify it all the way through the season but what's done cannot be undone. I'd have thought after that not too distant debacle we wouldn't be so blase about getting signings in in decent time. Of course not all business would be done till the end of the window and of course it's vital to get the right people in rather than any old duffer. But we have also learnt under Venkys someone is better than no one and there are 4 first 11 places that needed filling plus squad players plus arguably Armstrong and Elliott. That we have only done one of these so far before the start of the season is pretty alarming. Added to which this is on top of any other business that may need to be done. If Bereton goes that's another striker needed. And we don't do deals quickly - goodness there's only so much time in the day under the most competent of outfits - so leaving it all to the last minute seems dangerous in the extreme.

The issue is we aren't just trying to replace 3 first teamers who we lost for nothing - a tricky challenge in itself - but also the loss of Armstrong and all the other loanees and squad players we haven't really replaced. Plus potentially Bereton. Obviously not every outgoing will need to be replaced but when you keep using a sticky plaster approach sooner or later it's going to cost you.

He's just as much chance of saving a shot over there. Is a return ticket really necessary?