saintant

It would not be stunning not to get promoted if Baz remains our number one keeper.

Agree with most of this. Trouble is, as we all know, it's a game of brinkmanship. Unless a club is desperate to make certain they get one of our 'star' players they will wait until the very end of the window and hope to nick them for a low price. We are then left in a position of either accepting the offer which leaves us little or no time to buy replacements or we decline and keep an unhappy player until the next window. Neither scenario is ideal but thems the rules I'm afraid.

Wanyama could play a bit - not convinced this guy can.

No thanks.

It's a no brainer and I just hope we are looking at finding a keeper to replace Baz as our number one as a matter of priority.

This is it in a nutshell. Baz makes major mistakes in pretty much every game. That will cost you many points over the course of a season. We have to get someone much better.

Keep him as number one and we will not even make the play-offs. You have to have a reliable keeper and Baz doesn't fit the bill. Very short sighted if those in charge fail to recognise this.

Great going forward but we won't win promotion unless there is a drastic improvement at the back and I still say we must get a new keeper.

Weird logic. So what could we do once we were definitely relegated that Leicester and Leeds couldn't?

How did we have a head start? I don't understand that.

We are awash with players who don't really do much. We need a few who can influence games.

It matters not a jot how good Bazunu is with his feet if the defenders he's passing to are incapable of controlling it and moving it on quickly and accurately. Maybe our defenders will get better at this but so far they look like an accident waiting to happen every time they receive the ball under pressure.

What we need, probably above all else, is a competent, reliable guy between the sticks. Without that promotion is a pipe dream.

Spot on. Let's not keep saying none of our forwards can score when they are being offered very few decent chances. It's the build up play that is far too slow and the lack of players who can provide the killer passes.

Not a huge fan of keep-ball football where it's 100% about possession. I always think this discourages any bravery on the ball which leads to stale, negative play. It drives me nuts when we work a promising position well inside opposition territory and, because a simple pass isn't on, we go backwards and recycle leading us inevitably down the same blind alley. When we get into an attacking situation, if there's no easy pass on take the difficult option or try taking on an opponent. We have to be far more positive in the way we play or it'll be a season of pass sideways, backwards, rinse and repeat. It won't be good to watch unless we change our approach.

Agree we aren't ruthless in front of goal but we don't create nearly enough chances. Create more opportunities and some of them will go in so the misses will not be so costly. We create so little we can't afford to miss.

I feel like like I've read this comment before.

If we are serious about promotion we will need a new keeper.

Looked as though he was actually delaying because Caleta-Car was showing signs of a slight injury.

Thought the youngsters did well in general. Also,Tino excellent, KWP good in patches, Smallbone neat and tidy but he does keep it very simple and doesn't try much offensively. Djenepo a headless chicken. Adam Armstrong did ok. Bazunu made a great save - more of that please. Free kicks in dangerous positions were wasted every time because the tactic is clearly to retain possession rather than put a cross into the box - don't think the fans will put up with that for long - makes zero sense. Not a bad work out overall for an opening friendly.

Lots of passing but with no positive intent. Back four all hopeless - we'll need much better if we are to play that risky keep ball at the back rather than hoofing it. Benfica are streets ahead of us in every department which comes as no surprise. Only highlight was the performance of the 16 year old who outshone the rest by a distance. Too pedestrian from back to front in general. Still, it's our first friendly so we can't expect Pep style moves and transition.

Looks a unit with plenty of skill. Great movement gets him into position to score goals with feet and head. Could be just what we need.

At last, a signing with experience and maturity and a good reputation who will add some much needed leadership to the squad. Looks a great signing so well done to those involved in getting this across the line.

I accept he had a poor defence in front of him. However, this does not excuse the fact that he let in far too many shots that should have been routine saves for even a half decent keeper. On top of that he pulled off very few worldy saves which prevented almost certain goals. Those two things together are not a great combination for a goalkeeper although I accept that, given time, he may improve. Right now I don't have faith in him as our first choice and the jury is still out on Bazball.

Looks a pretty tough start and we are notorious for being very slow out of the blocks.