Oh crap, yeah 🤣

He’s about 13 years younger than Balaji I think so I doubt it

You not in UK? I tried that a while ago and couldn’t getting shipping to work. Seems daft there are shirts somewhere. I’d happily buy one at the mo but can’t and I imagine I’m not the only one.

Simms played for Everton didn’t he so the only place he’ll be going is back to Sunderland or staying at Everton I would think.

The issue is if he is bang average and we do pay it I suppose. Although you’d like to think that wouldn’t happen

He played today too. (The Canadian lad that is). Bit of a weird one

You mention it at the start of the paragraph but I do wonder if Gallagher offers us quite a lot defensively for set pieces and corners. We are already playing with 1 CB less than season and our midfielders are only on the smaller size. I’ve no stats or anything to back this up but just wonder if we would be more vulnerable with that front 4 (which seems daft when talking about your CF). Guess if a replacement scored 20 goals it probably wouldn’t matter if we conceded a few more from corners / free kicks though as I doubt he saves us that many up the other end!

They okay with 3 don’t they? If so I’d have thought they’d be wanting to sign a CB rather than get rid of one. His contract situation needs sorting though too doesn’t it.

Not sure that’s in his interest though. Probably reduces his options and the money he’d be able to get personally in 12 months as a club wouldn’t need to pay that £18m. Granted he’s got 12 months now on lower wages and could get injured but I doubt he’d want to tie himself to us longer term at moment

Or Gilmour / Ampadu. Chelsea’s squad is ridiculous.

I’m not saying we are not light, and obviously anything can happen, but I was surprised at this - I think Travis started 45 games last season and played 90 mins in 43 of them.

Well the Cucurella deal might help move Van Hecke along, assuming Colvill goes

Yup and it will be the same again. Didnt Van Hecke and Khadra both sign either on the deadline or imminently before. Van Hecke didn’t even play until mid October. Although granted we also had Leninhan as an option then.

Yeah I thought that. But I guess he still might not be heading our way even if that’s the case?

Did we not think that last year? I agree we will struggle over 46 games with this squad but I do think the new guys should be given until at least the end of the window before being criticised too heavily.

Kaminski Nyambe, Lenihan, Ayala, Pickering Buckley, Travis, Rothwell BBD, Dolan, Gallagher Eastham, Carter, Magloire, Davenport, Garrett, McBride, Butterworth That was our team on the opening day last year. I’m not convinced we are significantly weaker going into Saturday. Id like us to have brought in more players by now but I’m also in the fairly relaxed camp of they will happen and the season isn’t going to be defined on the pitch in the next few weeks. It’s not ideal, but it’s not the end of the world either.

I think they’ve got a 1 year option to extend though

I agree with Glen that Brittain was the one who stood out against us at Ewood. Not saying Styles isn’t decent as I haven’t got a clue but I came away from that match thinking Brittain looked a good player.

Not got the bulk of the ordered stock I think is what they said

It’s what the Brereton deal was wasn’t it? We had to buy him, he’d essentially already signed.

Bit of a weird one that because they’ve changed the rules haven’t they? I think previously it’s offside but that glance of his shin pad meant he wasn’t. Not that that rules had any impact on the linesman imo, I assume he thought Sam was onside originally anyway

I imagine because we want him to sign a new longer contract rather than just trigger the additional year, which would be done if longer agreement can’t be reached imminently

Agree with this. Only seen it the once but thought Palmer was abit unlucky. Armstrong miss was really poor - barely tested the keeper. Dont think we have played too bad. Defensively both sides look poor - yet both goals come from set pieces. We look decent without the ball, really press to get it back. Got a few options on the bench now too so a result is there to be had.

And 2 of those game without Dack. Very impressive start to the season to be fair. Didnt expect anything today, would have been happy with a draw and delighted with a win / clean sheet.