No, perhaps I wasn’t clear enough, but I was isolating some of the problem areas and finding a potential reasoning for inaction around each of them, which aligned with how I might tackle each, on their own. I’m not suggesting that we shouldn’t sign anyone, but I can see - for instance - why we aren’t just signing absolutely anybody at CB. If I was gonna hire someone because an area was weak, I’d want to make sure they can do the job and better than what I had, not just fill a gap for a couple of weeks. Similarly, I wouldn’t want to have a surplus, because it’s not a wise expenditure unless you can find the work for them. In a normal business, that’s growth, but I suppose in football, it’s rotation, which comes with its own issues. I can’t say either way on the younger players coming through at CM, I haven’t seen enough of them. Broughton and Tomasson will likely have a better perspective than either of us, so if they feel they’re not far away, they may be reluctant to spend there when elsewhere needs the funds. The point of the post was to shine a bit of light on the nuances around each, as we fans tend to look at the results, when the plan should anticipate wobbles. Not saying categorically that I’m right, but that’s where my thinking has been the past couple of days.

I deleted Twitter because my searches were embarrassing. Van Hecke sunderland brereton leave styles blackburn The list goes on. I find myself looking at the forum twice or so a day. The thread title is helpful. Easy to figure out that the new pages are just arguing/recriminations. More interestingly, I find myself in a weird conflict with myself about what to make of it all. Part of me is furious with the complexion of the squad after the two most recent defeats. Another part of me sees two centre backs out injured and makes me wonder, “would I hire new people that may become entirely surplus to requirements in a fortnight, if I was temporarily short-staffed?” It depends on the circumstances, but generally no. I’d make do. There are aspects of other positions that fall similarly. With Ben; do you replace an asset you’ve got for 9 months now or once it’s expired? I’d milk the existing asset and line up a replacement at that juncture, especially if finances are tight. In centre mid; If I had two juniors that were coming along nicely, I wouldn’t hire someone with a few years’ experience to come in above them stymie their progress and demotivate them. Here’s the most frustrating bit for me: I’m beginning to accept the fact that if anyone outside of my business were to question my decisions, I’d take it on board and politely invite them to jog on. I’ve often had to with shareholders and very rarely with a client. In a sense, this is what Broughton’s attitude is. As a football club, the dynamic between the club itself and the fans is so specific, so unique. Our investment is so much greater than the average customer, which is why we get so upset about it and I don’t think that’s wrong. But on functional business level, Broughton’s kind of doing the right thing by not saying anything and - at least I bloody well hope so - getting on with the task at hand. We have to assume (for now, at least) this is all in hand and that a version of the recruitment strategy - a successful end result, that is - will be implemented by the window’s close.

Consensus seems to be all three and none at the same time, which I think is roughly my position, also.

Can you not see the correlation between three games on three Saturdays with one midweek between and the final one an almighty struggle including players coming off with heat exhaustion and the subsequent effects on a largely unrotated - and in some positions makeshift - squad?

You can disagree but as much as one can’t say with any certainty it’s purely the lack of players, they can’t say with any certainty it’s any reason at all. Indeed, if you wanna look at it from one philosophical view point, you can’t with any certainty that we’re even bad. But this is the thing with subjectivity, it has tolerances based on the subject’s view/opinion.

Why are you so horny for this? You’ve said it twice.

Yeah, the point 100% is the lack of players. Less than 100% of a squad.

This is relegation stuff, it’s really poor. Opening to the half looked good, but it’s absolutely undeniable how off the standard some players are. Difficult to blame JDT, you can’t contest a season with 70% of a squad. I think he’s just trying to cope through this.

Attacking too wide, needs to be short and sharp, one and two-touch, between the lines and through, like we’ve scored previously. Phillips is becoming a liability, he’s not anywhere near ready for senior football.

I’m assuming we were much worse in the first half..? If not, a bunch of you need to have a word with yourselves.

Woke up after a nap (ill), so I’m not sure why but I’m gonna put myself through this.

Yeah, you’re right here. The problem we had was compounded by an effective and high press, so there were very few out balls at any point. Lots of passing around the back, then stretching the play before being pressed and losing the battles. The diagonals weren’t plausible for us because there was no height and little accuracy in the first place so nothing came off. . Ben’s tall-ish but not that aerial. Szmodics, Dolan and Vale cannot do anything aerially. I’m not sure if Vale can do much at all at this level, which is a shame. As a result we did play into their hands, lost the ball a lot in the middle and we’re constantly playing catch-up.

Pretty much exactly what you want to hear from him in this position.

Honest assessment with time to digest how shit we were in that final ten minutes: beaten in midfield, two on their three was never gonna go. major mistakes in starting Vale and Dolan, I don’t think we’ll see that again for a while, although you can forgive it based on how knackered players will have been. Trav worked very hard but was fighting a losing battle. Same goes for Ayala and it could have been far worse without him. Phillips isn’t the second coming, as it happens. If we’ve been sussed in the fourth game by Paul ‘Shoot’ Ince then we’re gonna need quite a few plans. It’s a learning experience and it gives JDT a lot of leverage in terms of getting Broughton to hurry up with signings. Not one to place blame with him as yet but if he doesn’t close deals this week, I will wonder what exactly he’s currently up to. A shocker, abject, embarrassing to some extent, but not by any stretch the end of the world. It only matters what we do on Saturday as a response.

Game over. We’ve offered nowt. Limit the damage, bollock them, learn the lessons, move on.

Absolutely MIA for the set pieces, which is unforgivable in a side that lacks height as this one does. As a centre back, you have to be a magnet for balls in the box.

If the Spurs DoF is watching, I don’t think he’ll be impressed by Phillips at all. Looks way off a starter level. Paul Ince has correctly identified that Reading can bully us and they’ve done that so well, you have to give credit to unsettling us and getting their supporters onside and behind them. We have to hope they’ve blown themselves out and come out second half with their foot off the gas, having to rely on their youth subs. Can’t be playing out from the back as we have, it’s not working. Pen them in and make them play long. Pepper their dodgy keeper. Vale off and immediately out on loan. I’d wait five or ten for any more changes.

This is an absolute travesty. We should be at least two down. Reading look like they have an answer for everything.

We ought to be keeping this kind of thing Privet.

Don’t ruin it!

Would love to share your optimism and I genuinely hope you’re right.

Gut says both will be gone quite soon, despite Lancs Live reports on Phillips. It’ll be a big shame if they go before 27th August that they don’t get an Ewood farewell.

I’d assume news of Spurs sealing Phillips means personal terms are agreed and the small matter of how much they can get away with paying for him is the only hurdle. It’s a done deal, basically. If he does leave, he’ll be straight into development squad and it’ll be a long slog to get out of that and into the first team. Eyes will be off him and I think he’ll cycle through his deal. He could end up doing well via L1 or Championship loans but would need to either smash a Premiership loan spell or leave to progress. Can’t really argue against money and the various additional perks clubs of Spurs’ level can provide (accommodation for him and family, car, various other furnishings) if they really want a youth player. Agent will be looking to increase the base salary value of their player, which is roughly their job. It’s not ideal but it’s how everything works. Premier League is essentially its own Super League now. No downwards solidarity payments of any note and rampant opportunism on youth players that become profit centres in their own right.

£15m is a good fee, but I don’t think they’ll let him go for that, even as all-cash. I think it will likely have to be £20m + add-ons. And honestly, fair enough. I appreciate the contract aspect weakens a negotiating position, but if someone wants to buy your absolute best asset from you and you can still make use of it, possibly to your enormous benefit, you keep the asset until your price is met. Especially so if you aren’t desperate for cash, which we apparently aren’t. It’s impossible to negotiate with someone who doesn’t want to negotiate, believe me I’ve tried. If you want something and they won’t negotiate, you either pay their price or you make do elsewhere. Too much cash in football to be getting shafted on our best asset, he’s easily a £20m player, even on less than a 12-month deal.

Hope the recovery work today has been effective, although if they had a day off after the effort yesterday, I wouldn’t begrudge them. A week’s rest and I’d be expecting a cricket score against Reading, but it’s tough work busting a gut in heat like that then doing another 90 minutes 75 hours later. If the next two are draws, I wouldn’t be too disappointed.