hypochondriac

7-7.5 for me without sorting the attack.

All the cliches are coming out now. So far today we've had: Bloated squad We never needed another attacking signing, we just wanted one We will be fine until January We signed Mara so we are stronger in attack There were no suitable or available candidates Rome wasn't built in a day

The simple part is failing to secure a replacement for Broja. No one is suggesting that securing signings is simple but it is an achievable objective given the time we have had and the resources. Also soggy passive-agressively liking the responses is amazing. Hi soggy why don't you converse with me directly or am I blocked again?

At this point I agree! He'd be mad to not go on loan at least.

I think what that does do is show how weak we were across most of the team. We have done very well with the signings we have made, it's just such a shame to leave a hole if this is how it pans out. I'm still hoping for another left field attacking addition though. Maybe not as high profile but still time.

But that wouldn't be his role though?

What sort of player is he? I can't say I've ever looked into him that closely.

Nice to see some attacking suggestions. There's still time to get someone in. I hope the club haven't given up.

Given how ridiculous our form has been under Ralph in terms of peaks and troughs, I would hope we wouldn't be basing any of our transfer strategy at all on our opening run of five games.

No I meant that it is now probably too late to get an alternative to Gakpo. I don't think we've sat on our hands but I do think we could have pushed and tried to sort one of our targets slightly earlier in the window. Waiting to pick up a target at the last minute is a risky strategy when an attacking signing was the priority of the summer.

IMO priority number one was to replace Broja this summer. If we get to close of play today and have not done so then we've failed in that objective. It's quite simple really and all the noise about what we could have done, what we tried to do etc is all a bit meaningless. Starting the season without a proper Broja replacement is disappointing however you look at it.

I think it's quite possible that we have left it too late to chase other options. If that is the case then that's the fault of the club and we're taking a risk by going into the season with a weaker attack.

Personally I think that's an absurd line of argument. We are a professional club and it has not been an impossible task for the club to improve the attack a sufficient amount from last year given the time and resources we have had. If we have now run out of time and so cannot strengthen further then I think we have made a mistake.

He wouldn't have to be that amazing to be an improvement on Bednarek.

Quite amusing considering the post three above yours which says that exact thing.

we failed to bring an attacker in to replace Broja. I would have thought that was clear and I elaborated on that very point in subsequent posts. I don't think anyone could suggest we aren't currently weaker in attack compared to last year. We have a few hours yet but if we don't strengthen in attack further then I'll be disappointed.

We've had the entirety of the summer to select candidates. It's not correct to say there simply aren't any suitable players available.

But the Ballard pathway, the change in formation, all the crap wingers we have and our bloated squad! etc etc etc...

All a bit rewriting of history now with some posters suggesting we never needed another attacking singing in this window after all. Even if you do think that, that's clearly not the opinion of the manger.

Given that we haven't replaced Broja then yes. You would hope there was an exciting prospect on our list somewhere that a big club is willing to let go on loan. Werent we linked with an attacker yesterday?

I know we don't need to replace both. My point was that Broja was on loan so was never really a permanent replacement. The vast majority of fans at the beginning of the summer would have said that our top priority would have been to replace Broja. If we fail to do that by the end of the day then that's a black mark against the club regardless of who they have tried for. I'm still hoping for an alternative so we aren't left exposed.

Where has anyone forgotten about Mara? Our forward line is not strong enough for a season in the Premier league and just like when we were weak at the back and failed to strengthen sufficiently and almost got relegated, it should be called out. We've done excellent work at the back and in midfield but we've left a hole up front and are currently weaker than we were at the end of the season.

I'll give up.

Yes he was the Long replacement quite clearly. He's a good prospect but clearly not what we had in mind at the start of the summer as our main attacking force to replace Broja and Ings.

I'm sorry but if the club have high standards then to fail to bring an attacker in when they've had the entire summer isn't good enough. Yes it happens but it doesn't mean it should be considered acceptable.