I want a RW that scares the crap out of the LB, not another defensive winger. You're on easy street when Hedges lines up across from you.

So you think we're stronger than when we had a 27 goal forward on our books? Fair enough.

Sadly it seems Pears is injured rather than on his way out.

Honestly it depends how much they're willing to risk on Wharton. Hyam, Wharton, McLoughlin, Carter - with (what looks like 3) Academy players backing them up is fine IF you think Wharton can hold up. As Ismael has repeatedly mentioned that Wharton has only played 4 weeks of football in a year and Carter picks up multiple injuries every season I suspect they're going to look for another CB.

I'd say he's a decent (but honestly not great) shot stopper - but the rest of his game just isn't professional standard. Positioning, handling, communication, distribution - just poor all round. I've no idea how he's carved out a professional career.

It's encouraging, but I wouldn't go overboard. This was Academy kids keen to impress v PL players getting minutes into their legs. If points / a place in the next round was on the line we'd have seen a different result. Nobody looked out of place today, but Everton clearly had another gear. Did Montgomery et al?

Having watched the game today the two glaring problems for me are starting RW and backup CM (assuming Tavares is actually any good). We can probably quite happily alternate DeNeves and Kargbo on the left (with Leonard / Ohashi et al rotating in there as the season goes on). On the right though you simply can't go into the season with Hedges as your starter - he offers nothing going forward (but yes I'll concede he works hard to protect his FB). At CM, especially playing this system, you're going to run into the same problem we had at around December last year - we're going to run Tronstad and Travis into the ground. We need two good backups - let's say Tavares is one and Forshaw / Montgomery (I doubt it to be honest) rotate as the 5th option. You need another good player in there who can start midweek without a second thought from the manager - whether that lad from the Swiss league is it I don't know. Buckley needs to be shipped out. Bonus points if you can also snag a striker who can run in behind.

As in before the transfer window closed, or literally 19 July 2024?

I don't want to put it all on Pears, cos we had other problems last year, but how many points did he cost us last year with his basic mistakes? We'd have been in the playoffs for sure. Hopefully Toth is a safe pair of hands going forward.

Absolute crock - has cost him a PL job I think.

Never gets old either. Red and black, green and gold, pink and black etc etc.

I think based on that display today, baring a rash of injuries, we'll be a dogged mid-table team. There's really no magic in attack that will turn that 1 point into 3 or rescue a point when you're losing. We're not as slow as we used to be though, which is a big plus.

Ask me again in November when several players are injured and we're playing away at Watford on a Tuesday night.

GK is Michalski - highly thought of. Went on loan to Bamber Bridge and City of Liverpool (who?!) last year. He's 18. #8 is Mullarkey-Matthews - who I know nothing about. Hasn't even played for the U21s yet. No idea how old he is, but he's a RB who went on loan to Bamber Bridge last season it seems.

No, but I was thinking "if he's running out for us this season we're in big trouble". Didn't say he couldn't develop into something, but he's miles off the standard right now.

He looks calm and composed - has drawn a foul and turned his man in the 20-30 minutes he's been on. There's something there for sure. The game has passed Montgomery by since he moved to CM, which is what I thought would happen considering his pedigree. #8 (the double barrelled named lad) is miles off the standard, sadly.

He's quicker than Ohashi.

Brought all three CBs on now and moved Montgomery to CM.

I think they said 8. Gueye, Kargbo, Pickering, Tyjon, GK (whatever he's called), CB, someone for Hedges (double barrel named lad maybe?) - which is 7. Edit - Montgomery. 8.

I mean there's a good chance he probably is...

Whisper it quietly, but Toth looks like a competent GK.

I'm not having that they're "a week behind". They've played as many games as we have.

I'll let you know when I've seen the new lad play. I like Brittain, but he's not a quick FB - nor is he a great defender. He gets exposed at times. Maybe the new lad offers us a different option?

He's a decent player - has a big mistake in him each game, but he's committed to the cause.

He might want workrate and pressing, but it completely neuters you when your CF doesn't win headers, hold the ball up or run in behind. We can't pass through everyone. Edit: Hedge is also a high work rate, pressing player - but he's shit at scoring or creating goals.