Surely links should be put in both topics?

That theory only works if the 2 are the same ability and age. Fry is only 24.

We won't because it would take money, ambition and proactivity. But I would like to see us bid for Dael Fry who may have fallen down the pecking order at Boro.

It's not a slight on him He clearly isn't ready in general at his tender age and in the last 2 games he has really, really struggled and in the second game, we had to try and overcompensate by changing the formation and making the team even more dysfunctional. He is also nowhere near ready physically for the grind of consecutive first team games, he had to play 3 games in 7 days and it took only the most random defensive partnership that I can ever recall to give him a break last night, and even then he had to come on, I don't think he has ever if I recall finished the full game in any of his starts due to physically struggling and flogging him again on Saturday wouldn't be fair on the player as much as anything. Tomasson has even said that this shouldn't be happening with Phillips and also seemingly grows more and more frustrated with each interview regarding the lack of incomings, we are so stretched it is untrue. The constant narrative is that we want 2 defenders in which case, why isn't one over the line whilst we wait for Van Den Berg? I am not convinced that Van Hecke is a live target but if our 2 defensive targets are both loanees, I don't think that is wise in itself. I am unconvinced that much more will be spent nor that everything is being done above Tomasson to get deals done.

If Phillips starts again on Saturday then it really is unacceptable.

Van Hecke is starting for Brighton tonight in the cup.

I think he has just got a bad injury.

I wouldn't get too worried about FFP, potential room to exploit, changes in rules etc That has never been the primary limiting factor for Venkys not spending more. That is evident by their refusal to totally relay the pitch as was expected and promised.

It would be correct to sell Brereton now because you cant let him run his contract down. The logical next step especially with Brereton being the second striker sold for big money in 12 months. The next logical part is to spend a good chunk of that 30m combined on a proper striker. Someone like Adebajo, Riis or Tyrese Campbell, at least some those will likely be unrealistic but a 8-10m striker because aside from an unfancied Dack, there are very few goals left. That wont happen, it will probably be 2 or 3 loans between now and next week, and then the window will close and the usual suspects will either defend Venkys by assuming a big budget was there and it was incompetence that stopped it being spent and/or saying it is best not to waste money on players that dont fit the bill.

I wasn't convinced by him in either of those games either and I am still to be 100% convinced that where he is playing now suits him positionally.

If they are that rigid in their price of him, which is ultimately conjecture and nobody knows for sure, then they are idiots. Well we know they are, but it is reiterated.

Certainly not doubting his part in a lack of players so far. But this instance will hinge more on the money available for a replacement, so down to Venkys. Based on last summer, time to worry.

Individual stats like that are so limited. Buckley has not convinced in central midfield this season in a deeper role and has never controlled games at any point. Plus I wouldn't have McClean!

If they are the benchmark of any new addition, then we really aren't aiming high.

Stoke have started the season very poorly and again their manager is under pressure, at home, a game we have to be looking to win. That being said, they have a good set of strikers in Gayle, Delap, Brown and Campbell so we need help ideally from above Tomasson but sadly that doesn't seem forthcoming so we need at least one of Wharton and Carter to return to prevent Phillips having to be played again and massively increasing the chances of a goal or two going past Kaminski. I would ideally go: Kaminski Brittain Ayala Wharton Pickering Travis Morton Markanday Dack Hedges Brereton Subs: Pears, Carter, Gallagher, Dolan, Szmodics, Buckley, Rankin Costello Assuming Wharton is out, put Carter in and Phillips on the bench, if he still isn't ready and no one comes in, its time for panic. If Hedges isn't fit, Gallagher in and Brereton out wide left.

Good to see us win, I can never get my head around anyone suggesting otherwise. A handful of extra games maximum arent terminal to league chances, it can if necessary be an opportunity to rotate and give youngsters/squad players some sharpness, it improves confidence and momentum and it can lead to some excitement dependant on the draw, which assuming we finish mid table more often that not is not otherwise abundant. Havent seen the game so cant comment on individual performances but positives include Dack scoring again and he has to start over Szmodics at the weekend, and also Markanday scoring and catching the eye. We have attacking players who struggle to impact games more often than not so I hope that Markanday is a big player for us this season.

In the last 2 games we were uncompetitive due to the fact that we had to use a 17 year old who is clearly not ready for the standard and also physically nowhere near ready to play 3 full games in a week. Of course the chances are that we wouldnt have picked up 6 points but people seem unconcerned that we werent competitive. Im not sure that the 3 we have signed have hit the ground running either, a mixed bag at this very early stage.

Why are you so active in this thread if all judgement is to be withheld until the end of the window?

Why do you regularly ask journalists questions about transfers if seemingly what people say is so irrelevant?

The mental gymnastics on show to remove Venkys of blame and responsibility regarding a lack of transfers is crazy. Fictional unspent budgets allow them to seem like they have done their bit I guess. As is the common dismissive nature many have towards the lack of speed regarding transfers. You can't compare to last season @Finlay McKenna because we hadn't started the summer quite as bare as we are now and we didn't have a couple of injuries in a position whereby we have already lost 2 players. In the last 2 games, we have had to flog a 17 year old kid who is miles away from being ready so we are not far from forfeiting games without being competitive. You can't afford to just dismiss 6 points like we essentially have. That being said, it is at times not genuine dismissiveness when some of those same people harass journalists for any gossip! Van Den Berg is on the bench tonight so no deal seems imminent.

He had that slight setback in pre season but tomorrow will likely be his second start and hopefully as a pre cursor to a start at the weekend. So far, our attacking this season has been lacking spark and creativity and talk of the fluidity and high intensity has been nowhere to be seen, with our wins very much based on structure and organisation. So the idea that he doesnt fit in doesnt really apply. Even if it means that he can only last 60/65 minutes in his first league start, the alternative is him becoming rustier still by only playing cameos.

There seems to be too much focus on development and not enough on actually getting results now for me, the sole, primary focus is not just development. You have to find a balance but going with what we got would be too far Phillips has really struggled in these last 2 games and we have not been competitive with such fragility, not to mention that he seemingly cannot physically cope with back to back games. Van Den Berg isn't the ideal choice in that he is a loanee but he has come off the back of a very impressive 18 months playing well for Preston. You need 4 centre backs of whom you can have some reasonable confidence can play the position effectively because it isn't as we have seen this week a position where you can make do. There is also the potential of playing 3 centre backs, added to the fact that both Van Den Berg and Carter can play at right back ahead of Rankin Costello who isn't good enough, plus with only being able to name 7 subs yet you can bring on 5, a versatile defensive option within the squad is really important. The likelihood of the main 4 all being fit all season especially as one is Ayala is minimal so the focus on keeping players happy is lessened.

"Inverted forays."

I would not oppose to a new left back but Pickering certainly isnt woeful. He was very steady in the first 3 games and has been no worse than Brittain in the last 2.

Surely a striker prior to a Brereton sale is what we need before a wide man. Even if anyone thinks that Gallagher would score regularly as a 9 which to me is a big stretch, unless Brereton is moved there are no real alternatives, Vale is miles away and otherwise its more false 9s There seems to be even less cohesion in attack than before with Gallagher on the right and players like Hedges and Szmodics playing most centrally. I would agree about reservations over Edun and Rankin Costello (chuck Pears in too) even as squad members and Phillips isnt ready either. I get to an extent maybe not needing 2 CB's but surely you wouldnt advocate getting 0, unless Van Den Berg is assumed?