You ask that, but then you've cited factors that were present last season. You correctly show those areas haven't strengthened at this point, but I don't think this is the way to answer your question, as you've asked if we are stronger, not if we have fixed all our problems. The way to answer it is to first compare the players we have lost to the players we have gained. Obviously to a degree this is impossible and would be nearly every window, as they were mostly unknowns to us, and it's early. But so far I'd say: Kaminski looks better than Walton. The Greek kid sounds and looks higher calibre than the Canadian. Ayala, the most known quantity, is a better defender than Tosin, but less technically gifted. I'd call that one equal, maybe a slight win since conceding was our main problem, and Kaminski's distribution may make up for Tosin's loss to a degree. Dolan brings more to our attack, under the new system, than DG (at his end) was able to. Potentially a lot lot more, especially as DG wouldn't have suited this system the same, but we will see over time as with all of them. That's about as like-for-like as I can go with the 'replacements' (not that Dolan was meant to be one). I think in terms of players in for players gone, we are better off from what we can tell so far, but obviously that view could change over time. On top of that though, we are down Cunningham who only lasted a few games, Samuel for extra attacking cover, Downing who was a regular for us all season and some thought possibly our best player. And Smallwood and Hart who had become complete non-entities. There's been an argument that Downing slowed our play down, and I can see it, especially with the current approach. He was versatile though and a tidy, reliable player in a few roles. He's a miss for our squad options for sure, although JRC has replaced him and Bennett as the chief utility player. JRC doesn't have that experience though and will make youthful mistakes. We also had JRC last season... Which brings me onto my last point in answering that question. We have a very young squad and they're all a year older than they were last year. In theory this probably makes them better, since very few are passing their peak years yet. I reckon that compensates for the slight loss of squad depth after the new guys vs old guys comparison I started with. As well as new players potentially emerging from a very promising academy. The ones in the first team could be a bigger boon though - Travis' injury is a big blow mind. But we now have the possibility of a red-hot Arma all season instead of just the start of it. Dack stands to be injured for less of the season than last, but that's not guaranteed and regaining form could take time. Rothwell and the older head of Holtby are looking more like they've found their roles too, but it's early. Overall I do think our squad looks stronger in quality than last season. However, it probably has a bit less depth, which could be exposed by injuries. The system looks better, too. Frankly if we sign the left back and he's decent I'll be reasonably pleased with how we stand relative to last season, and hopeful of a playoff push as long as Arma stays fit, which you're right, could cripple us if he doesn't. It would have if it had happened in January last time too though. Could do with a quality loan til January to fill the Travis hole, mind, but finances may not allow.

Not talking about no discussion though Joe. Just no pointless aggression, no circular debates for 90 posts where neither side just accepts the other person simply isn't going to change their views, etc. I have the odd extended debate here like anyone does, but personally I tend to get bored long before it reaches the extents some posters regularly indulge in. But in particular, I'm talking about the way the two 'camps' (not that they're a unified movement or anything obviously, but you know what I mean) have to snipe at each other about whether they're being negative or positive. It would also be nice if more posters could, like I feel you do, see the negatives and positives in things instead of insisting on seeing it all as darkness or all as light. But that is really dreaming, as some people just have a mindset. I'm probably dreaming with either request, but still. It actually would be fine if it was as you described, just people discussing, but it isn't. Theres far too much tedious 'stop being negative' etc. Just bores me when it gets too pervasive, personally. This post won't change anything generally though, would be nice if some people thought about their approach though. And don't get me wrong, it's civil compared to many corners of the internet, but still. We all support the same club and want the same things.

I don't understand how half the conversations on here have to end up being about negativity versus positivity, and those two sides arguing incessantly to point score that everything is either a 'yay Tony/club management' or 'boo Tony/club management'. Dull as dish water tbh. How about people just express their opinion and not have to always charge others down for theirs? Then I woke up.

Christ, imagine getting to choose between those two as manager when you're in the bottom 3 with 0 points.

I was about to post pretty much the same (even how I'm not sure if anyone has mentioned it!). Considering a poster on here was saying that a couple of years ago he was lined up to go to Olympiakos for 700k euros.

That's what I want to hear. Plus if that's true, I also want to hear we have signed him. Then I'd be happy with this window, but would be nice to see us sneak a quality loan in too if the price is right.

I would. I don't have a PS, never have, but I've considered buying one pretty much just to play them. They look amazing, and the reviews back it up.

Thanks, that's helpful. Everton no longer seem to be willing to add any kind of sell on percent to the deal though, not even 10% of profit, without dropping their offer to just over 5 million!! Which is not only frustrating but changes the complexion of the deal. So it's good to know he doesn't seem to go anywhere. How far in is your save? Annoying that the game will shift the sale price so dramatically over a small add on. I've played around to test and they don't care if I'm asking 10 percent of profit or 30 percent of total, their up front cash offer drops from 10 million to exactly 4.8 million. Stuff like that robs the game of its authenticity at times.

He was already on 30k a week supposedly.

It's not the point whether they are Premier League class. Not in the slightest. You don't need to be Premier League class to go up. You don't even need a squad, or even team, full of promotion class, let alone Prem class. Lest we not forget, Corry Evans got promoted with Hull, as a regular I believe, and I wouldn't call him Prem or promotion quality. If he was the only contract out next summer, or say him and Bennett, I wouldn't bat an eyelid about it. But they're not. There are, as I already said and you may have read, too many players going out of contract next summer for us to feel relaxed. We absolutely do not have the resources to replace them all adequately at once. In that I include our finances, our youth team, and our slow approach recruitment system that has repeatedly proven it can't do large scale overhauls quickly. And again, we have existing gaps already before the contracts run down. We need to get a large chunk of those lads signed up or we will be facing a monumental task. The bare minimum for me would be Nyambe, JRC, and at least 2 from Rothwell, Holtby and Chapman. We can afford to let Williams go if the youth CBs look good enough and Ayala proves up to the task right up to season's end, but if Del plays well through the season I'd (can't believe I'm saying this) consider extending him too. Even then we are still absolutely going to need at least one, probably a couple of CMs to replace Evans, Johnson and Bennett (who offers an emergency cover), and probably somewhat on the cheap. Losing Mulgrew makes no difference though other than a welcome wage saving. This is before we consider the effect on team harmonics of a large exodus and influx, and the unknown (far as I've heard) effect of Brexit on future European business just as we seem to have got going with that. It's also nearly irrelevant whether we go up with contracted Championship level players. Prem riches see to that. Further, Championship level players who just won a promotion have increased stock in the market and we would likely find loans or sales for most of them. But if they sit around drawing a wage we will barely feel it at that point.

I don't know if that was rhetorical, but yes, you're correct.

I'm sure if I watch that video again I'll remember where I shoved my other reservations and give them some company.

Well you called it. Sickeningly low fee by the sounds of it.

https://www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk/sport/18772273.rovers-face-race-time-land-greece-u21-international/ LT caught up about half an hour ago (in terms of an article rather than tweets). In there it says he was in the last year of his deal, which, with covid too, probably explains why he won't have cost anything like the 700k he reportedly was going to last year. Says we will only find out if everything went through on time in the morning, which seems odd. Slightly worried that it says he has just 5 caps for Greece u21s. With how good he looked on that clip I'd have expected more. Wonder what the limits to his game are...he has Raya's reflexes, does he have his eccentricity?

He mentioned going to school with JohnGo in the podcast? I see the U23s and some senior players (Gally, Mulgrew) drew 2-2 with Huddersfield B in a friendly. I thought it was interesting from the article that Gally, even stepping down a level, was played on the right of a front three with Burns leading the line instead. It looks worryingly like this really is still TM's plan for Gallagher. Hope the new system suits it a bit better but I'm not expecting much.

Haven't Forest been embargoed before, about the same time we were? Wigan were docked for administration, which has been around for many years and always gets punished. Didn't Birmingham get some sort of punishment, or it's pending? They've definitely been tighter on it the last year or two. Ironic since covid will probably force them to back off on it again. Edit - a quick Google tells me Birmingham were embargoed a couple of years ago, but I was thinking of more recently they've been in some bother. Reading got a soft embargo last year. Notts Forest HAVE been embargoed before. So have Derby, Fulham, Bolton...I can't be bothered to google any more. I reckon the main factor is how good your lawyers are, how clever you were with your loopholes, and just a bit of getting lucky at the right time.

That sounds unlikely though? 1.5 mill up front maybe, with several million more guaranteed in instalments and then another 2 or so in 'maybes' if certain targets are hit. I find it highly improbable he is only guaranteed to cost 1.5 million.

Ah thanks Chaddy, that makes considerably more sense now. Stayed somewhere he could break into the first team in the next few years, good call.

The question definitely remains of why would this kid turn down Olympiakos due to wanting first team football, only to go on to sit on our bench? Better remuneration? Just changed his mind and decided he needs to get out of the Bulgarian leagues to move his career on? Told he would be second choice and get the cup games here but only third choice at Olympiakos? Been told by us that he will genuinely be neck-and-neck with Kaminski? Simply couldn't resist the lure of being coached by Ben Benson?

Just watched that highlight reel again and I know it's just a highlight reel but...I reckon when every one of our young prospect keepers sees that reel or watches him in training, they'll be straight on the phone to their agent asking them to find them a new club. Between him and Kaminski, doesn't look like another keeper is breaking through here for the next...oh, 14 years? ?

It's not about which ones are individually to be worried about losing though. It's about how many of them could be lost all at once if we don't sign a lot of people up to new contracts before then. Even with the saved wages, it would be a nightmare to expect our current slowly-slowly recruitment approach to replace them all, let alone fill the pre-existing gaps. Obviously we'll be fine to (and must) lose the likes of Fisher, Evans and Bennett, but I wouldn't want to lose most of the rest all at the same time. One or two of them ok.

And just like that, I took all my reservations and stuck them up my arse to die. Raya-like reflexes on a 6 ft 5 keeper who has found a way to sneak glue onto his gloves? Yes please.

Aye but still just a prospect. Whilst 68 apps for a keeper at 21, even in that league, is admirable, and he is probably a much better prospect than our others, I was kinda expecting someone with more experience, or at a higher/more comparable level but still young and able to improve. Someone in maybe the 23-26 category. This player seems (from the CV alone of course) like the sort that, if we already had him, we'd be looking to buy someone else with more experience so we can loan him out, like we have with Fisher. Fisher doesn't seem trusted at all to be the backup though, and rightly from what I've seen...he was crap in pre-season when given his big chance to impress, and I expect he will be gone next year when his contract expires. As has been said, I'm sure he's been well scouted and hopefully can be comfortably relied on for 3-4 months if Kaminski was to get a horror injury.

About half the team are due to be out of contract. Dack (will activate the 1 year extension on his though), Holtby, Rothwell, Mulgrew, Williams, Evans, Johnson, Bennett, JRC, Chapman, Nyambe. And Fisher, who we are buying another keeper just so he can go on loan. Obviously there are mixed opinions on several of those players, but however you slice it that would be a HUGE rebuilding job to replace most of those all at once. And we already still have gaps. And we know how well we do with large scale transfer business...

Is a 21 year old goalie from the Bulgarian league good enough to not just be another young goalkeeper rather than a first team goalkeeper though? Genuine question as I've no idea how good he is or isn't.