If the former is the answer to any of our problems, then as I suspect, we're in for a very long season.

Jesus wept, we are pitiful. Defending like school-kids, can't pass, creating zip all. I'd say we're in a spot of bother this season unless we suddenly - after months and months of struggling to do so - bring in 5 or so quality players. Quality, not Szmodics quality. Very concerning that he's the best they can come up with. Edit: I wrote that at 2-0. Fucking embarrassing. AGAIN.

This is becoming concerning now. Quite literally haven't had a sniff in 1.5 games now. Creativity looks shot, as does everything else since we took to the pitch against Reading.

Harsh picking on one player, but it's a little concerning that this bloke was the best our recruitment team could come up with.

We're saying the same every week. What betting we're talking about the January transfer window as soon as September comes around?

1-0. Here we go. I'm expecting another 2 or 3 here.

You won't need to wait long! JDT needs to sort this out. Terrible yet again. Are we doing team meetings in the pub since pre-Reading?

Quite clear the club are failing JDT right now. An injury today and JRC is our only defensive option to bring on from the bench. What betting I'm saying the same thing come Stoke next weekend?

I think we all know if he's on song, Khadra will terrorise Pickering. Could do with Ayala or Trav letting him know they're there early doors. Think most people look back at his time here favourably?

We are rolling the dice big time with our inability to bring in a centre half. The only 'defensive' option on the bench is JRC. It's criminal really and we've known about Wharton's injury for well over a week now.

Don’t get me wrong - I’d go and pick up JPVH myself from Brighton, but if we hope to bring in the Liverpool lad too, I’m very intrigued to see how we’d keep all four centre half’s happy - not to mention Phillips too when we’re trying to tie him down to a new deal. Ayala is due a couple months out around the new year - of course - but when fit he’s got to be the first name on the team sheet.

Thanks for answering for me! Chaddy another Champ club could sign Mbappe and you’d say he may not fit our style of play.

I know they’re not ripping up trees yet but Boro signing another forward. That’ll be him, Forss and Hoppe they’ve brought in this summer.

Perhaps the craziest fee of the summer yet...Forest signing Gibbs-White in a deal which could eventually reach 44.5 million. Yes, the decimal point is in the correct spot.

Of course. Still doesn’t excuse our slow recruitment. ‘Healthy budget’ to spend remember.

One things for sure; their Bosnian centre half will put on an absolute masterclass.

That lot signing another player today - Macedonian winger. Pull your bloody finger out Gregg/Waggott/Suhail.

Dear God. JDT needs to rip this lot a f*cking new one after this. One of the worst performances in recent memory.

Very easy to pick on particular players after a shit show of a performance, but we simply must bring in a new left back as Pickering has now been terrible for nigh on 6-7 months. We seriously need to get busy. LB, 2 CBs, minimum one CM, CF all needed. Hopefully tonight pushes us into urgent action.

This is the pits. Get the fecking cheque book out!!!

ONLY silver lining from that half is it surely proves to JDT that we cannot get by with some of these younger lads. They are not good enough and that half proved it - and then some. Let's steal a point, and then sign some fecking players!!!

Jesus wept, what on earth has happened?! Set pieces were always going to worry me against the bigger teams. Save for Ayala and a 17-year old, we have no height nor much physicality.

Their GK by all accounts had an absolute stinker at the weekend with the majority of their fans gutted he's starting. Hopefully JDT is encouraging the lads to shoot on sight early doors tonight.

Can’t be cheap at all do to though! Assume Stoke are ‘going for it’ this season with him and Gayle up top.

How are Stoke signing Liam Delap on loan? I thought he’d be off to a lower PL club - Southampton had huge bids for him rejected recently. Not long after signing Dwight Gale too.