Paul Mani

As I said, based on tonight’s display, Tavares is a much better footballer than Trav. The key for the remainder of the window is to sign enough players not to have to rely on Michalski, Montgomery and Tyjon. Could become the Wild West if we get bids for Sonny and Hyam too.

Just back from the match… Caught cold in the first five minutes. Montgomery for the first goals and Michalski for the second goal. Should’ve still won with the chances we had but we don’t have enough finishers. I was really impressed with Tavares and Miller. Tavares - Is mobile, athletic and very tidy on the ball. A proper ‘up and down’ number 8. Based on that performance, we won’t miss Trav. Miller - Solid, Mobile and full of character. Have a feeling he’s going to be some kind of cult hero! Henriksson - looked slightly off the pace but there’s definitely a player in there. Found space in between the lines and was dangerously. Wharton and Pickering played well. In honesty, my overriding feelings are that the young lads (Michalski, Montgomery and Tyjon) are 100% NOT ready. The other thing that was glaringly obvious is that we NEED forward reinforcementS. Not one, but two or three. My team for Brum: Toth Miller. Hyam. Wharton Pickering Taveres Sonny Henriksson. Cantwell. De neve Ohashi Michalski, Alebiosu, McLaughlin, Ribeiro, Travis, Buckley, Hedges, Kargbo, Gueye

Looking forwards to seeing the new lads and the young ones tonight. Particularly Tavares and Montgomery in midfield. Miller, Alebiosu, Mullarky Matthews, Tyjon, Kargbo from the start? Should be good.

I see Big Val confirmed that the cb signing isn’t needed because Miller covers RB and RCB…was obvious when we signed him and why I suggested. Also, gutted I didn’t say it but when I saw Cantwell was not playing this weekend it confirmed what I’ve been thinking, which is that he’s not gonna last. Other than the obvious exits (Buckley, Garrett etc) which I don’t expect to be replaced, I reckon Trav, Cantwell and Pears will also go, and be replaced, on top of the RAM. So, I reckon 4x more signings! I

In honesty, if I was offered a striker who was better than both Ohashi and Gueye, on a permenant deal then I’d absolutely snap your hand off. But there’s been absolute no suggestion that is is in any agenda.

Yes, and as reasonable as your rationale sounds in your head, it’s important to accept that VI / the club may see it differently. Based on what you’re saying and what the club are saying, I sit somewhere in the middle in that I would probably go with what we have in terms of strikers, but I would definitely get a couple of young forwards who could play across that attacking midfield 3. Thinking Harvey Elliot-esq!

Yeah, like I said. It depends what the manager thinks on this….i know that the coaching team love Leonard. Rated him in the Ash Phillips, Adam Wharton category a few years ago. So if they think he can stay fit then maybe they’re willing to give him a chance. I get your point on strikers but it works the other way too. If they are going to back Ohashi and Gueye to play and score the goals we need then who is going to come in on loan and wait for one of them to get injured just to sit on the bench? The whole point of players going out on loan is to play, right? Next point, do you really wanna piss one or both of your own established strikers by bringing in some kid on loan who takes game time in time to go back to their own club who reap the rewards? I don’t expect you to agree (I’ve learnt that lesson) but I’m just trying to provide another perspective. Maybe, just maybe they believe in Ohashi, Gueye, Leonard and Tyjon?

And what was it that I’ve been saying previously? As far as I can recall I haven’t stipulated how many I wanted. Just that I refuse to judge the ones we have signed as better or worse than we had before, until I’ve watched them play. I actually wouldn’t sign another striker, unless we sell, or loan BOTH Leonard and Tyjon. Because I genuinely believe that Ohashi and Gueye are good enough and should be given the chance. The loans I’d target would be young, wide forwards who can create and maybe get us 5-10 goals.

Haha - tbf, I just divided the positions as they are on the pitch. I think a few could play across those forward positions but it seems like they’ve identified two primary players per position. Hence why there’s only Ohashi and Gueye for the ST position. Because we only play with one striker. I still think with those three we’d be light once the inevitable injuries and suspensions hit. Need those three and a couple of quality loans for me…

Agreed - I think they’ve still got to have a couple of exciting forward loans in the pipeline to beef up squad depth. Pace would be great. Yes, I would tend to agree on both points but it does appear to be the plan. in terms of goals, I suppose we have to trust VI. He’s watching them play day in, day out and you don’t get the impression that he’s unhappy with the plan or hankering after another striker. I don’t see any reason why Ohashi and Gueye can’t get 25 between them. Meaning you’re looking for 40 from the other attacking players (looks short) and then a sprinkling from our midfield and defenders. But we look REALLY light on numbers for when injuries come along. Hopefully we will pad the squad out with a few loans at the end of the window.

FWIW I think the plan is to sign / have two senior or first team standard players for each position. Then back up with the academy where they have one ready: GK - Toth, Pears (Michalski) RB - Miller, Alebiosu (Montgomery) Lcb - Wharton, McLauchlan Rcb - Hyam, Carter LB - Ribeiro, Pickering DM - Sonny, Forshaw, (Montgomery) CM - Trav, Tavares AM - Cantwell, Henriksson (Tyjon) RAM - NEW, Hedges LAM - De Neve, Kargbo ST - Ohashi, Gueye, (Leonard) (Tyjon) Based on this, the only glaring need is RAM, which is aligned to what Rudy / VI are saying. The rest will come down to any sales and replacements. I reckon after the RAM, you’re looking at a loan to cover Carter, a keeper if / when Pears leaves, and Baradji if / when Trav leaves. Fully expect Buckley and probably Garrett to leave permanently, with the likes of Duru and Batty to go out on loan. Will likely be a question of which of the other academy grads they believe are good enough to play out of Pratt? Edmondson? Mularkey Matthews? Let’s see. Also - I personally like the idea of Myoshi, who would be a great addition, but I just don’t see it, unless it’s much cheaper than £2m. We wouldn’t drop that money on a 28yr old with no resell potential. I have no doubt, he’s ’on The list’ but it wouldn’t surprise me if the story has been leaked from his camp to flush out buyers. The only way I see it happening is for a much reduced fee. I’m also dubious about the way this has come out, because players we sign don’t tend to come out like this. We don’t seem to court them publicly, it usually goes from 0-100 fast.

Rudy and VI love him…

“Sister fisters” 🤣🤣🤣🤣 Literally just spat my brew out laughing at that! 🤣

This. 💯

Apologies mate. It wasn’t meant to be directed specifically at you. I just got the lot off my chest! 🤣

Really? I’ve seen plenty of posts insisting that we are weaker now. In spite of signing six players. Most of whom none of us (including myself) have seen play. At best that’s saying the players we’ve signed are no better than the ones who’ve left, at worst those posters are saying the players who’ve signed are shite. My point is, how could any of us know? It’s not even like the Danny Batth, Weiman, Cantwell etc situation last year where there would’ve been a number of fans who had watched those players and formed an opinion. We could be significantly worse off, or we could be significantly better off. Only time will tell.

I agree with all of this. Just can’t wait to see them in the flesh first.

It’s a great point… The number who are ‘concerned’ or blatantly claim were weaker now, simply because they’ve not seen the signings play is laughable. Listen, all of the players we’ve signed COULD be shit, but I’m not stupid enough to write anyone off until I’ve watched them play and the number of fully grown men willing to do so is truly bewildering! 🤷🏽‍♂️🤣

Honestly, god knows….i don’t wanna seem overly positive (never goes down well in here 🙈🤣) but I do think VI has an aire of ‘peak Mowbray’ about him where he doesn’t shout and scream, he doesn’t whinge and whine. But he gets what he wants… Only time will tell.

Yeah, because their decision making is SOOO logical and 2+2 is always 4. Who knows what they’re planning!? Genuinely.

Correct, he’s a right sided attacking midfielder. Hes not a winger, which confused me originally, but he is a perfect inverted forward. I actually agree that we need more attacking options. I’m just piecing together the thinking in these signings against the way VI wants to play. Its just my opinion.

Maybe VI has been promised a ‘Cantwell-esque’ marquee signing?

Hmmm…in fairness, the Cantwell signing was a similar ilk. Let’s see.

….for now. I think we’re keeping the Baradji deal warm to do if / when Trav goes. Mafoumbi is probably being hawked out to possible suitors to clear up that ESC spot. One thing that was interesting in the podcast was that Elliott suggested they might be building towards a marquee type signing in that forward / RW spot. He claimed it was his ideal scenario but I got the impression it may have been spoken about.