Burnley knocked them out in Europe the other year before losing to Olympiakos.

If there is any truth in us already failing in 2 seperate defender signings, another thing aside from the chance of him being in Brighton's first team, unaffordable and/or attractive to richer clubs should he become available, why would he be so far down our list if he was a genuine target? Seems like wishful thinking.

I always got the impression that Mowbray was also very personable at these sorts of events, as he was at things like fans forums where he had people saying on here how great a guy he was. It is great that Tomasson is seemingly connecting with the fans but that can be acknowledged without making the previous manager out to be a monster. Even if it did end a bit sour with frustration from all sides.

My point was that surely he will only get further away from being match fit if he only plays cameos. He won't start but in my opinion, he should.

He wont sign a new deal so its hypothetical but if he did, why would his stock now be likely as high as it will ever go for us? He is 23 years old.

How do you know that Eustace is a good coach?

You mentioned rescueing, he didnt rescue Burnley, they went from 18th to 18th. Similar to the remarkable job Lampard did taking Everton from 16th to 16th.

No West Brom? They have done some excellent work in the transfer window and look far stronger than at least half of the teams you mention. Not sure on Luton, they have done some decent business but I think there are 6 teams better. Can see Birmingham really struggling, as likely as anyone to go down. Random managerial choice and poor squad.

I think he could have easily fitted into a pressing game plus he has the composure to capitalise when we do win the ball high up much more than anyone else.

Its obviously all dependant on how he comes back post injury, but if he is back to his old self, he is our best player so has to be part of plan A. Prior to injury, he certainly wasnt this immobile player that he is being painted as physically.

If we are just saying "leave it for the manager to decide" then you could say that about anything. Why bother with a messageboard if we are so dismissive of opinions that could differ from the manager? I dont think he will start but I would start him.

Based on last season, Jackson isnt the man to rescue anyone!

Hopefully they will crash and burn but as has been said, most relegated sides are towards the top of the division pushed by parachute payments, so pointing out the exceptions seems a little illogical. They like us have taken a calculated gamble on a manager recently managing abroad, and their recruitment on paper seems clever especially Twine and Cullen and has given their squad a freshness to go with the experience of Taylor, Lowton, Cork, Westwood, Rodriguez, Barnes and Brownhill, I feel we are lacking in terms of experience. I don't think they need to keep all of their remaining assets but if they can keep at least one of McNeil and Cornet and add a couple more they unfortunately look strong. Their big weakness could be 2 error prone keepers. It is a bog standard league with no stand out teams, them and Watford seem similar cases, young managers, uncertainty over a couple of players and their futures, some signings from abroad but plenty of quality for the level. Norwich I think have a bit less quality but are more settled with a more experienced manager. The top 6 will be mainly made up from most of them, West Brom, Sheff Utd and Boro who all themselves have weaknesses, and I am sure 1 or 2 teams will surprise that pack.

But what I am saying is that I am not convinced that 20/30 minute cameos will build him up. Surely now he has been training for a couple of weeks and has got 60 minutes under his belt, starting him at a point when all players are getting fully up to speed is the best way to go about it.

No way did we offer Davies 26k a week!

They have far too much quality to be anywhere near the bottom. The hope would be that they don't fulfil their potential under Kompany and their season fizzles away. I think a real weakness is that both keepers will chuck some in for the opposition I would suspect.

Brereton if he stays which he won't plays from the left anyway. So the question is whether Gallagher and Vale are enough for the central striking role, for me that would be a sure fire no. I would go for a central striker first and then replace Brereton with a left sider. But surely by giving him cameos, he won't be able to build up to start games like you suggest. If anything he will become rustier and rustier. He with his goal threat fitness permitting is absolutely key to our season. I would start him even if he can't last the full game.

Markanday too. Don't get me wrong, Bowler would be a very exciting addition, but I think across the front 4 that we are possibly least in need of a left footer for the right side. We are basing it on gossip but whether any bids have been put in or not, presumably with a huge price tag on his head, I can say with almost certainty that a 23 year old Chilean international forward coming off the back of scoring over 20 goals in the Championship would have plenty of interest if he was a free agent, and he would be in a really good personal situation. It would be a totally different proposition to convincing a side to spend big money on him. Bournemouth's policy of spending loads in the Championship then refusing to spend at all when they get into the Premier League is not sensible, it's very strange.

He is our biggest goal threat whereas a lot of our other attackers have yet to prove that they can score regularly, maybe Brereton aside. We have 5 subs so we can take him off without bother after an hour but that way its less a case of him catching up from the start. Point being that when Dolan played as a 9 and when Gallagher was wide, neither of which either player was stuck to rigidly, Mowbray was criticised. I was just wondering if people were worried that what they perceived as wrong tactical decisions could be repeated. I do wonder if the main attacking target should be a striker even now with Brereton often playing to the left. And then when he goes, bring in another left sider.

You dont know that he has a "lack of suitors." Even if we have had no firm bids, teams will know with a year on his deal, we are in a weak negotiating position that gets weeker as we move closer to the deadline. But even if we dont strike an agreement with anyone, as a free agent he will have lots of interest. I dont see Bowler happening anyway. But no concerns that Bowler is a player who plays in a position where we have 2 options already?

Of course, there are many factors to consider. When you dig deeper, it's more to do with the potential money and the fact that they feel that he perhaps doesn't suit a move to 433 especially with some exciting youngsters coming through. I just think that for 7 figures, a player who has really struggled at Championship level on 2 different occasions would be not the best way to spend the money. He didn't have a guaranteed starting spot all season last season which backs up doubts about him at Championship level. I found it interesting that they described him so commonly as inconsistent, his goal record specifically at League 1 level is very good for an attacking midfielder. He got 15 goals the season before last and 6 last season, including 7 braces. Not that it specifically matters but it could be that there are more games in which he was anonymous compared to when you look at his goal tally alone.

City for the Prem. The Championship is a difficult one, Norwich don't convince me quite as much as usual but I can't see an outstanding candidate, Watford are an interesting one depending on who they keep, (Sarr and Pedro) Boro are totally reliant on the strikers they get in and West Brom should be right up there. League 1, I don't fancy Sheff Weds under Darren Moore, maybe Peterborough for me there. Don't know enough about League 2 but with the big signings made Bradford should run away with it.

Wharton I would say is middle of the road on the ball, in general he is quite composed but I am not convinced that he is good enough on the ball to suit playing out from the back. I would definitely agree though regarding mistakes made, his form like many really declined towards the end of the season. I remember against Stoke at home I think and maybe v Blackpool too, my heart was constantly in my mouth and Kaminski made a few saves.

https://www.peterboroughtoday.co.uk/sport/football/peterborough-united/peterborough-united-fans-say-sell-sammie-szmodicsbut-only-if-the-price-is-right-3778005 Peterborough fans think they should sell Szmodics to us.