I honestly think the loss of Wharton in the last three games cannot be understated. When we get him back alongside Hyam we should be stronger at the back, however it’s the striker situation which is concerning. A proper number 9 is needed, hold the ball up and score goals. I really hope that’s top of the agenda as when Breo goes we will be woefully short and then expect a relegation battle.

We need five or six but in about a weeks time we will have Ayala, Wharton, Hyam, carter, Phillips- that’s five for two positions- we don’t need six CBs imo. I really want to see a proper number 9 up front, someone who can hold the ball up (Aka Graham) but also someone who can score goals. My gut says we will sign four before Thursday.

Ref was an absolute joke. we played with a 17 year old CB and JRC as a RB, get these players in before the deadline…top of the list should be a striker, not a wide forward, a bloody striker!

Hyam plays on the left side.

Caulker is a decent back up signing. Ayala/ Wharton first choice, Hyam back up, then Caulker and carter with Phillips included that’s not a bad six. Now if Caulker was being brought in as a first choice CB I would be worried…

Lenihan was also a decent championship CB but nothing more. Otherwise why go to Boro? Too rash in his tackling for my liking.

You said he has limitations on the ball, have you seen him play? I’ll be honest I haven’t. However someone sent an excellent link a few pages and it showed that he is in the top 5% of players in this league for progressive passes. based on what I have read he is not really a Lenihan style player. So with him Ayala, Wharton, Carter and Phillips we would have enough CBs. He is also comfortable in a back 3 another advantage.

Considering Coventry have been on a sharp rise at the top end of the table for the last year, he has played over 40 games in the last two years, this looks a smart signing. im going to guess his wages will be lower than what we offered Lenihan. However I’m going to agree with Jim, surely it would have been cheaper to keep Lenihan?

Not funny in the slightest.

I thought we lost 8 players in the summer, where did the 12 come from??

I honestly think that the market we operate in, it will be the last day and I expect our business to be down. It could be the difference in getting an extra player in so I can see the argument for it. I have faith in Gregg to get the right players in.

This window is vital, no doubt. however we have a new manager, a new DOF and a yet to arrive Head of recruitment. The test to see their effectiveness will be in my opinion, January and the summer. We are going to play a different style of football, currently with a lot of players who are uncomfortable playing that way- this will clearly take time. There needs to be a evolution of the players coming in and in my opinion selling BB is key, we need the finances from that sale- a scary but exciting ten days coming up.

United have bossed the game but what a shocker of a decision that was, clearly out of play

I was watching All or Nothing Arsenal yesterday and it made me reflect on a number of things. we are moving away from one style of football and playing something different. JDT has had weeks and this season will be a transitional one. We need players who are used to his style of play and that takes time and will take a couple of transfer windows. my biggest worry is left back and Pickering. The last few games it’s apparent that the opposition is targeting him and all he does is get the ball and play it backwards. Having seen him last year I can only think that this is a confidence issue because I do feel he is technically good enough to pass the ball to feet at pace. I am interested to see the reaction from the players but ideally need a couple of new signings in Before the United match.

Ref was dire and we should have had a pen at 1-0 down but shocking performance. The biggest issue tonight was massive gaps between defence- midfield-attack. for all the wide players we have, we need a Bowler type of player who has pace and can run past people. Big two weeks for us now. Give me 10th now and i would take it. We haven’t got the squad to last 46 games.

Reading have been everything we haven’t

Reading deserve to be 2-0 up, we have been so so poor

Take off Buckley and bring on Morten. He has been awful tonight

Pickering gets the ball close to the Reading corner, he passes it back into our half!

Best five mins we have seen from Reading in the last few seasons- commentators

Everything is slow and lethargic and those pointless passes in the left corner on our side

Pickering Is dire today. That side is getting torn apart

Hedges needs to come on

I used the word ‘disgusting’ because as someone who loves club, I feel this would be a betrayal- am I right in thinking he is a fan too? I am rarely annoyed but this story has vexed me so perhaps this explains the hyperbole in my language! if what lanc live is correct then he has done what I think anyone in his position should do, sign a deal, negotiate playing time and then by the time you get to 21 you will be in an ideal position to get a big club to sign you and more importantly play you. I also think with Ayala and Wharton plus another two centre halfs, he is 5th choice but will still play 10-15 games this season.