I think your summary of those positions will be a common one. When you see it like that it really does highlight the neglect. Where we are weak, we are very weak. One left back, an average right winger and one who doesnt look up to it etc. Where we don't look as weak, we are unhealthily reliant on players who have not proven themselves at anything like Championship level. Central midfield, if Wharton can not sustain his levels over a schedule he has never seen before, we look very, very thin. In net, unless the newbie makes the step up instantly, we are stuck with Pears. And its similar relying on a young striker from the German fourth tier and/or a striker from League 1 made of glass. Same with a winger from the Swedish League.

The key issue with direct comparisons to last year is that last seasons squad was the smallest in the league, it wasn't big enough. We slipped away in last couple of months, again.

When you look at the squad listing on the website, you see how light we are. There is now an expectation on players with minimal senior experience (Telalovic, Garrett, Markanday, Leonard, Batty, even Wharton) featuring very regularly which is a huge ask of players who haven't experienced the 2 game a week intense schedule of Championship football.

Attaching blame to Pears for yesterday is totally justified, he made a big mistake for the second, an even bigger mistake for the third and made other errors that went unpunished. Obviously there has to be some context. Was he the only problem, the only poor player or the sole reason we lost? Obviously not. Hes simply not that good. Hes not awful, hes a decent number 2. He isnt as good as Kaminski, that doesnt imply that Kaminski or indeed anyone is perfect, and ultimately we dont know about the new keeper. But as our biggest summer purchase, knowing over a lengthy spell that Pears is not a top half/play off aspiring Championship regular standard, he is worth a go. Also, we obviously cant expect from individuals more than 100%. But we should expect more from our club than merely players who give their all. Our motto is not merely labore. Hedges is a decent squad player, but as with in other positions, failings at the top mean he likely will play the majority of games.

No reason not to expect a play off place. Well expect for: An even thinner squad than last seasons which was the smallest in the league. A squad with 28 year old Ryan Hedges as the oldest head, highlighting a lack of experience to the frustration of the manager. Addressing the lack of goals last season by losing the man who scored twice that of anyone else, and being so financially restricted that we have turned to a young lad playing in the German fourth tier and a freebie from Plymouth made of glass.

Theyve also obviously been signed under the restriction of having buttons to spend and with experience and anyone wanting reasonable wages off the agenda. So best available under those restrictions and a significant improvement dont necessarily fall in line.

Says the person who thinks that Venkys are top 10% owners and that smashing a League 2 reserve side puts Tomasson above managers that had us top 6 in the Premier League and/or won a trophy here.

In an ideal world, Telalovic or Ennis and Sigurdsson will be able to start although I suspect not on either. Hedges, Moran and Szmodics will equate to neat and tidy passing up until a certain point but no punch in attack. Travis needs to stay in, we need his leadership and his energy and he has been our best player this season. Hopefully Rankin Costello is also fit and the inclusion of the new keeper is obviously critical. Ideally: Wahlstedt Rankin Costello Carter Hyam Pickering Travis Wharton Moran Szmodics Sigurdsson Ennis With Telalovic starting if Ennis isnt fit enough. Sadly, I expect Pears in net, Gallagher up top, Hedges for Sigurdsson who with Ennis will still not be fit enough to take part. Telalovic at a push on the bench.

The goal at Millwall split people as to whether Pears took any blame, obviously Pickering didn't deal with it but those of us questioning Pears also pointed to the fact that indecision between him and the defence had happened a few times in the weeks before albeit never leading to a goal, but often unnecessary and dangerous set pieces deep in our half. He has a big weakness in communication with his defence when the ball goes in behind. His spill for the second actually was a second one in 5/10 minutes albeit the first luckily only led to a corner. The only reason anyone said he was on par/better than Kaminski was to echo the choice of the manager.

They did go on to open sale, but I am sure that most were bought before that point.

Id take the Glazers here any day.

@superniko

Yeah. The interview is on Rovers TV, the quote is from the Lancashire Telegraph.

Hyam is ill. “I don’t know the reason for that, it could be because it has been a very busy week with a lot of travelling and sitting on the bus with air conditioning.”

Why are Sky interviewing De Zerbi at half time? Get in the bin.

I think Moran would be much better in his natural central attacking role, but he can't because of Szmodics. He looks technically good and linked up well without looking like the type to really cause Plymouth problems. The 2 wide men and Szmodics were all neat and tidy but things fell down in the final third. We needed someone in the window with a bit more pace and flair but what with Venkys pulling the rug from under us, its a case of take what you can borrow. Lots of tidy players but as defenders you wouldn't fear playing them. I find a few selections a little strange, or at least common themes running. Tronstad was a long term target, was hooked on the hour mark on the opening day and (I think) hasn't played a league minute since, even Garrett has moved ahead and put it this way, he doesn't make 100 appearances for Vitesse in 3 years. You look at Markanday, edged out Hedges early doors with the latter unfit, scored one in the league and one the other day, now he can't make a 9 man bench. Now I think he leaves a lot to be desired but Bloxham is clearly miles further off Championship football. Buckley likewise, some players don't seem to fit.

Why does one of our new signings who has only played/spectated at Harrogate avoid this list?

Embarassing defeat. Can play all the pretty passing in the world but nothing in the attacking third due to a lack of quality. Full of slow, tidy players in attack who dont offer a threat. Tomasson has not been backed by the owners, you saw that not only by the team but also the bench. That being said, if he doesn't chuck in the new keeper over the clown that is Pears next time, thats on him. Needs to also chuck in the new striker and if fit, Sigurdsson. Salt in the wounds with the lack of experience seeing Hyam off at half time.

Neat and tidy yet as to be expected, rubbish in the final third. Woeful miss by Hedges. Not much to turn to on the bench either.

Indeed, we might stroll to victory not needing to change a thing. Or more likely, whether chasing the game or to manage it, we will need the bench and there is not much there.

Weak bench for a Championship game. Hill, Rankin Costello, Ennis, Telalovic and Sigurdsson to return but we wont have a clean bill of health most weeks.

I think people somewhat understate comparisons between this and last seasons squad. Firstly, we shouldnt really compare to last season in that like the season before, we fell off a cliff as the end approached. Lack of experience and also using the least players in the league caught up with us. But take Hill, I've seen people compare to Phillips. He has replaced Phillips AND Ayala who played 20 odd games. So we are one player down there and also a hell of a lot of experience lost, replaced with exactly the profile age wise that Broughton said he didnt want to do. Similar with Tronstad. Yes he may be an upgrade on Morton but he is now replacing Morton and Buckley in a shrinking squad. Moran is essentially replacing Dack, again experience replaced by a kid, hopefully he can contribute more although Dack did score a few important goals. Two of the most eye catching additions are Sigurdsson and Wahlstedt but they are obviously replacing our 2 biggest losses. Brereton is not a loss in some peoples eyes but he scored double the goals of anyone else, Sigurdsson will do well to get close. Kaminski was an excellent Championship keeper, the pair have gone on to bigger and better things so again, big shoes to fill. The one area we look deeper is up front with Ennis and Telalovic added and only Vale lost. But there is a lot of expectation in them and one is forever injured and has never played at this level and the other was playing 4th tier football in Germany so its a huge ask.

Wahlstedt Rankin Costello Carter Hyam Pickering Travis Wharton Moran Szmodics Sigurdsson Ennis

So what rating would people give the summer window out of 10, of course allowing for the limited exposure to the 4 foreign signings? I think in net, that makes sense in regards to the model, albeit Pears shouldnt be first choice. Player sold, player with decent credentials brought in. Defensively, I think we are short. We only have 3 full backs so not only are we light, but we reduce/remove any scope to move Rankin Costello. At centre back, we needed experience, we signed a highly rated loanee, hopefully he will do well but he isnt what we need. So not good there. In midfield, Tronstad gives us experience albeit a slow start. Buckley leaving means we have 3 main options and Garrett pushing. We have gone from being strong there to looking thin again, needlessly. In attacking midfield, Sigurdsson and Moran are exciting additions. We have lost our top scorer from this area though, a blow people underestimate. We also lack a quick winger and behind them 2, Szmodics and Hedges, minimal quality. Up top, we have made a couple of gambles, needs must. The lad today is hopefully an uncut gem although will need to adapt having been playing in the German 4th league. Ennis I like the look of but no use sat on a physio bed. I think the calls were for experience, Tomasson kept mentioning it, and Broughton kept mentioning it, he said we have to maintain the average age and that we cant bring in 21 year olds to replace the likes of Ayala and Dack. Well, we did, so thats a failing that is out of Broughton's control 3 or 4 out of 10 for me.

Is he better than Ayala though? Phillips was 5th choice, we havent replaced him.