Wing Wizard Windy Miller

Any one else expecting Fisher to start with Kaminski 'bedding in' on the bench?

I just don't get this. We're at least 4 players shy of what everyone expected as a minimum 6 weeks ago. Eve of the season and now people are ok with that? Jeez.

No. Both required.

Basil? I'd have him back at full back now!

He did a bit last year to be fair. Put Morsy alongside him. Not many midfields would fancy taking on that pairing. Even weighed in with 3 goals and a few assists last year. Leader on the pitch as well. Don't think the dressing room would have any issues with him to be honest. *But all irrelevant because we won't sign him.

Morsy reminds me a bit of Andy Todd. Happy to put it about a bit and take one for the team. We need someone like that. Pantomime villain.

The players mentioned have been good but unobtainable. Question is, how far down the list of 'targets' will we have to go to get a signing?

Charles Charlie Charles.

Not sure I'd want to buy him. 30 next year. Good option for a loan or on a free but not a player to pay for.

Yes. And clearly the feeling 'in the game' is we aren't a club/squad capable of promotion.

Unless somebody appears out of nowhere today, we will start the season with our league one defence plus kids on the bench. Just as many on here predicted we would. So now the focus moves to the end of the window...

Why don't they just run any potential deal past Suhail first then? Doesn't seem rocket science to me ?‍♂️

I thought exactly the same earlier! I suppose it depends what our top salary level is. If it's £20k per week for the top 2 or 3 - fair enough. If it's £10-£12k it's like recruiting in Poundland at this level. I agree in principal with some sort of cap but how do you retain your higher value players who are already likely to be at the top of the cap? No wonder Dack is nowhere near a deal. I bet Nyambe also fancies his chances at a better deal elsewhere. We then lose assets. If we value Dack at £10 mil - but he wants £10k a week more than the salary cap (as he could get that when he's a free agent). Do we refuse and let him go for nothing. Or pay the extra 1.5 million or so to retain a valuable asset?

The whole policy makes no sense to me. It's like saying we could spend £4million on a player...but only if they come on £10k a week - which isn't commensurate with that kind of fee....so we don't sign anybody. No wonder we can't get any decent players through the door. Certainly not from the Prem or top half champ clubs. Surely there's ways of navigating the structure for a player on a free. Large signing on fee but lower wage etc.

The irony that we are now blaming agents for charging too much?‍♂️

Another 'never going to happen target.' Everyone knows Ayala's wage demands were way higher than we'd offer. More window dressing.

That's an excellent point. I'd say firstly if a manager doesn't believe he can get top 6 - he shouldn't be here. Secondly, if we just play kids from the start, we essentially become an academy development team. Time to play kids is end of season dead rubbers - we usually have a few. Get the point about loans -I'm not a fan of signing average players either. Surely all loans are evaluated for impact in January though?

So Bristol have basically filled all the positions that we'd like to....and all before the season starts. Clearly some sort of witchcraft or sorcery involved.

How do we know there is no urgency? 3 years ago.. Back 4 v Southend 2017 Nyambe, Lenihan, Mulgrew (c), Williams, All 4 players still at the club and 3 nailed on to start against Bournemouth. 18 months ago. "defenders are coming." It's a piss take to be honest.

Rovers started yesterday with a clear 4-5-1 defensive approach first 30 mins or so. We didn't high press and kept hitting aimless balls to Armstrong who won nothing. Then TM changed it to the 4-3-3 high press and suddenly we were much better and pretty much dominated the game from there. High press against Bournemouth will either catch them cold (championship wise) with no time on the ball or they'll have the quality to play through it. 4-5-1 will see us sit back, invite pressure and concede. I'd like to see us on the front foot from the off this season. Is TM brave enough though or will he change tactics again to try and outsmart the opposition?

Agreed. Thought he was good. Reminded me of Nzonzi.

Yes I enjoyed the commentary. Much better than the usual fare.

Buckley certainly has something. Problem with taking Johnson out is we lose a combative player (granted he only turns up every now and then). We need a bit of height and muscle in the team as we're going to have to cope with physical sides. As Chaddy pointed out, Buckley could play the Holtby deeper role. A powerful CB, a solid partner for Travis and a left back and we could be onto something.

I thought Williams did well today and I'm not a fan. Bell had another poor game though for me.