Lets take the Dack from prior to his injury, as I have acknowledged that the big variable is whether he returns to his old self. He did after the first injury and was thriving before he did the other knee What was wrong with his work rate? Was the old Dack lacking athleticism to the point that it was a major problem? Does a team have to be built around him, it was a lazy assumption based on the Graham days but does long ball necessarily suit a player like him? How have you concluded having seen one game under Tomasson and based on the Dack of old that he won't fit in? If athleticism is the sole focus, lets just get athletes in. We've got a bloody good player, an entertainer and a goal scorer if he we can get him right, which as I said is the main question. It's not as if he was immobile and couldn't press even if he perhaps wont have the same energy levels as some of other options, but it doesn't mean that he can't fit into the team, even if the likes of Dolan and Szmodics are swarming around more than Dack whereas Dack scores more goals than the likes of those 2. Even if he has declined, it surely won't be his work rate that falls. We play a formation that includes a player in his natural position, rather than trying to stick him elsewhere, surely he plays in his actual position?

Lots of assumptions that Dack cannot fit the way that you have suggested that Tomasson wants to play. Is this based on Paul Mani who also said that Ayala (potential man of the match on Saturday) was really struggling too? Just a case of chinese whispers. Is this based on Dack not coming on during Saturdays game, when we was already winning, and potentially having a bit of a sulk because he wants to play? Seems like the general "Dack is finished" narrative that is being written at the moment is very premature. Why are you so keen to downplay the potential suitability for Dack in our team? Prior to his injury, I would definitely suggest that he could play in a pressing team, it wasn't Dack's shortcomings that led to us playing direct, it was elsewhere in the team. It's all about how well he has recovered. But never lose focus of the fact that the most important thing for a player in his position is goals and assists! Even if pressing is not his main talent, we have lots of energy in the final third but how much composure? Surely they can compliment If we needed a goal and made those 4 changes, we would be mad. Its a nonsense argument. Just because people wanted signings in prior to the season, that removes their right to be critical when appropriate of any doubts they may have about the individuals that have signed? If anything, a regular argument for those defending an up to now lack of recruitment has been that we want the right players, as if anyone suggested otherwise! But surely those people more than anyone would be critical of any new signings, considering they for weeks and weeks proclaimed that only improvements to the first team would be required?

The reiterated message throughout the window so far has been (often based on an illogical quality v speed debate) that we must wait to ensure that we get players that don't just fill out the squad and instead sign first team starters. The question is, do we think so far that we are starting to do that? I am not so sure obviously acknowledging that we are just judging on the individuals prior to joining. Brittain for example is a sure fire starter but we had no Championship standard right backs left at the club, but either way, we have signed a guaranteed starter. Morton on the other hand I suspect wouldn't start if everyone was fit. Szmodics is in between, I think if everyone is fit, anyone will struggle to displace Dack so again it might be a case of finding a role for Szmodics around that. Lets see how we replace Van Hecke and Lenihan, a huge ask, and then potentially Brereton. So much rests on the goalscoring front, we can talk about pressing and flexibility until we are blue in the face but we need a regular source of goals. Either here or elsewhere, the likes of Gallagher, Dolan, Hedges and Szmodics have proven that they can chip in with single figures but if any gets double figures, it would be a step up for them. Expecting them (and Markanday and Vale who are less proven) to all share that goalscoring mantle would be unrealistic. So that leaves 2 potential sources. Brereton will go and it is of critical importance that we sign a proper striker that can get us a reasonable tally of goals. Also a lot is dependant on Dack and whether he returns to a good level. If either/both of the above are sorted then having lots of energetic, pressing options chipping in beside that could get us plenty of goals. Expecting them to take on the mantle without a fit Dack and/or a Brereton replacement could lead to struggles.

He was easily our best player. If he is anything like the old one (the million dollar question) then he still is. He wasnt lazy and he was quick enough to keep up and regularly contribute. Im guessing you watched Hertha Berlin regularly as no one could surely conclude that from his time here, albeit brief. "Great player?!" Can he score and assist regularly? If hes not been badly affected by injuries then yes he can so it is in Tomasson's best interests to play in a way that suits his best player.

Give me a number 10 as effective as Dack any day of the week, for all of your "metrics" about athleticism. Hope Szmodics can step up to the Championship at the third time of asking, hopefully he can also fit into the same side as Dack and they can get the best out of each other. We need players that can run in behind off the ball and it seems like he wants to do that.

Ahmedhodzic is banned for a game, carried over from Bordeaux.

He wouldn't and to clarify, Hourihane is just an example, not a specific recommendation. But any slightly older head would not need to be really expensive, Hourihane has joined Derby who are in League 1 and under (I think) some restrictions. But it would also give us that experienced head, not necessarily to play 46 games, and I wouldn't want someone over the hill like Johnson, but he could play a part in giving us some composure when required. I don't think 3 is enough for such an important position. Seri would have been one of the first names on the team sheet, very good Championship player. Harsh. 2 are unproven.

Why is that the only option, a young loanee or an older player on big wages? Surely there is a middle ground, especially if we have money to spend. For me especially in the heart of midfield, we could do with at least 4 so for me, Morton could have been a much more comfortable addition with another midfielder aswell. Johnson clearly was over the hill last season (although was excellent as a steady head at home to QPR) so he is an extreme example but we could have for me done with an older head perhaps, someone who could more than contribute and give a very inexperienced side (especially when Ayala hibernates in a month or two) a bit of know how, even if he doesn't usually start but he can come in as and when. Hourihane was mentioned and in the absence of anyone more suitable for the role in my immediate mind, I would have been happy with him and a younger body to give us some real strength in there.

I think 3 central midfielders for 2 positions over 46 games is leaving us very short.

To be fair, Leighton Clarkson had also played for their first team, as much as I am keen to avoid that lazy comparison. Mowbray was quite successful in the loan market to be fair and there was always more of an onus on the loan market in the absence of funds. Hopefully this summer, there won't be as much focus on the loan market and we can get more permanent deals done. I may be wrong but didn't Broughton acknowledge that Brittain had been on the list before his appointment so I think the similarities are more than coincidence. Lets hope more creativity in the market follows.

Not an equivalent but at least someone who is a similar type of player.

Can't help but feel like Styles is this summers Maddison. Would love to be wrong as we need another midfielder.

I think that your point loses credibility when I wanted Mowbray out myself and am glad he's gone. But as I said earlier, the churn at Championship level in general is a large one, lots of clubs reliant on loanees and losing players with regularity. Last summer, we improved 7 places despite losing our best player and having to make do with loans. Mowbray was regularly criticised for mentioning the journey (Tomasson I suspect will in time) and it was somewhat justified in that it is so hard to build up and up consistently in the Championship. We seem to have a bit of a budget this summer so there is no reason that a bright new appointment of a manager shouldn't aim to improve on 8th.

Not too sure what to make of this Morton signing, mainly I can't help but be underwhelmed at the likely prospect of Morton being our sole midfield recruit, that would leave us very short of options in there, I thought we were last year so to expect Morton to replace Rothwell with kids replacing squad members would leave us looking lightweight in there to say the least. Travis cannot get injured or banned. I don't swallow this theory that it blocks our own youngsters, if they are good enough they will break through. There has to be an emphasis on the here and now and I would question whether Garrett/Wharton would have made appearances against the likes of AC Milan and Spurs. If Morton is better than our current options then get him. I must say that the current recruitment lacks the imagination we were all under the impression would unfold upon a new foreign manager and crucially a director of football being appointed. Totally acknowledge the restrictions notably work permit issues and a lack of time but a full back from relegated Barnsley who Mowbray had previously tried to sign, a playmaker from Peterborough and following tradition, a kid on loan from Liverpool could have easily been a window from summers gone by. Looking at replacements for who has vacated, obviously assuming that Szmodics does sign, are we better off or worse? Szmodics replaces perhaps the easiest of the 5/6 primary absentees in Khadra who was one of our biggest threats but forever injured, can Szmodics at the third time of asking step up to Championship level. Nyambe had strengths and weaknesses, is Brittain going to be any better? And the least confident I am of the 3, can Morton be expected to fill the Rothwell void? We are still left with Van Hecke and Lenihan shaped voids, our player of the season and captain, and probably our only goal threat from last season. Of course there are many additional factors, the new manager, a new formation, players returning from injuries, players inevitably succumbing to injuries and positional changes. But interesting to see what people think about the signings so far compared to last seasons equivalents?

“Strategically we knew we needed to add another central midfielder to the squad for this season and a loan suited us ideally to ensure we didn’t block the medium-term pathways of some of our own young midfielders who have done so well for us over the last eight weeks." The words of Broughton, who apparently shouldn't be speaking. Doesn't sound like we plan to sign another midfielder, which would IMO leave us short. Hope Morton is a success, we could be very reliant on our captain this season.

It would not be progress to potentially drop 4 positions in the table.

I do find it strange how people are underplaying our chances and our expectations this season. Especially when we keep getting told that we have a healthy budget, as much as we have heard it before. The Championship is particularly volatile when it comes to building a squad, there is a large reliance on loans, a regular churn of players and the yearly introduction of 3 sides sitting on parachute money. We have seen this summer more than ever how the exit of loanees and the inability to offer competitive wages causes a huge problem. Mowbray used to get criticised for going on about the journey ad nauseum yet so many people seem happy with a mid table finish and in some cases, writing the season off altogether as a learning curve. The benchmark has to be to improve on 8th.

I never said that I wouldnt give him time and patience. I dont get why you keep repeating it and it doesnt mean that we cant comment as we go, game by game.

I would worry if Travis gets injured or suspended, that is for sure.

Natural goalscorers (of which I am not saying that he is or isnt, its an unknown until he shows at senior level) tend to have many more chances because they anticipate chances, its not simply a case of supplying, although our whole attacking game was not too effective at the weekend. I just thought he struggled in general, a few times his lack of physicality meant that defenders got to the ball first, I suspect not many if anyone on the pitch had fewer touches, he wasnt a focal point, I dont remember him winning any headers, he didnt seem to have any pace. Anyway we agree that we need a new striker so thats the main thing anyway. I just dont see it happening. So many transfer rumours have been mentioned and rarely do they happen so I wouldnt assume anything or get your hopes up just yet. Because he is a young lad, I feel like people are more forgiving shall we say, perhaps understandably compared to a more senior player.

I have never said that he is not good enough. It's a big ask for him to come into a Championship side and play regularly and he really struggled at the weekend in my opinion, and I believe that any judgement has been caveated with him being a young Academy lad since. All I am saying is that he shouldn't just be given a run of games because the most important thing is results, not his development. If he does well both objectives will align. As it is, like Gallagher who was also poor, I would take both players out with a few different players all on the fringes waiting for starts in that front 4. I don't get why you regularly comment on my quotes if you seemingly thing my judgement is so poor, but that is a separate issue.

Never said it won't take time, and my consistent message has been that it is all about results so 1 out of 1 isn't bad. We created very little but we won the game, that's all that matters, no matter how many pretty pictures with arrows are drawn. In the meantime, like most I will be judging following each game and commenting on what is good and bad. Didn't really work going forward but might take a lot of trial and error to get where we want.

Did he? And we can't afford to just give him a run of games unless he merits continued selection. Buckley didn't get that, he was in and out. Maybe like Wharton, that regular initial gametime could come elsewhere initially.

Yeah it is a tough one for him but he certainly struggled. The main issue for me is that if we don't sign a striker, Gallagher is not good enough to be our main one if we genuinely want to improve. Vale is seemingly being judged by different standards, constantly with the caveat of "for a young lad." I purposely see potentially more merit in a loan spell to see if he can score goals regularly in League 1 or 2, but regardless of his immediate future, we need a striker. Preferably someone with a bit more of a track record above 2 goals in 15 League 2 appearances. I didn't realise that you was including Morton, so tallies up more numerically. Don't see Styles signing and certainly not by the end of the week. We certainly look thin on the ground, a couple of injuries and we would really look light.

Was he? Aside from one flick to Brittain, he did nothing really and he looked overawed. And "for a young lad" cannot be the benchmark when he is fighting for a place in an area where we have various options, but I think that is the problem when judging him. In terms of the here and now, if he is to stay around the team, he should be judged equally in comparison to anyone else, not with the caveat of him being a "young lad."