Rebel

I am not sure JWP is better than Charles defensively. Maybe his experience will make him better positionally and his passing better at keeping possession but physcially I think we will miss Charles. We look very lightweight in midfield when it comes down to physical battle - which in some games it will. We are definitely weaker at centre forward without Stewart and Archer. Mubama and Dobbin is a downgrade for now - despite Stewart's injury record. And until Roerslev proves his fitness probably weaker at right back without Jelert. Although maybe that is where Zach Abbot comes in as cover at right back as much as centre back.

But we haven't really got 2 good players for every position - or so it seems at the moment. Last night against Brum City who were we going to bring on to replace a player in the starting 11 to make a difference and give us a win. Outside of Matsuki for Fellows and possibly JWP for Bragg there was no one. Wellington for Manning is possibly the only other one (better defensively for sure) - but more of a straight swap. Jander is injured but he would be a starter. And I think Fellows proved Matsuki should be the starter on the left. Scienza, Azaz and Larin all had relatively bad games and their was really no alternative for any of them (Mubama and Dobbin were both a step down in quality). Last season the big difference for us was the strength we had on our bench - and substitutions either made us stronger - or were on the same level at least and gave us fresh legs - Stewart & Charles particularly.

Basically yes - it doesn't look like he has ever really played as a Number 10 if you look back at his stats - except for the odd game and our pre-season. Transfermarket lists him a a right footed LW - but he has scored more goals from RW than left. And in the most most successful period of his career so far at Preston he played as a second striker alongside a big Number 9 target man or as a centre forward ahead of Alfie Devine at Number 10. To me it suggests he was bought more as cover for Larin & Mubama at 9 and as cover for Scienza at LW - a replacement in one for Archer and Edozie if you like. Which on paper makes a lot of sense - reducing squad costs in terms of wages for pretty much the same output or hopefully better. I think we were trying him out Number 10 in pre-season to see if he could cover there as well. I think the switch with Scienza to LW in the first game suggests they didn't think it really worked and tried Scienza there which didn't really work either. We were supposedly interested in Justin Devenny at Palace who is a Number 10 much more in the mold of Azaz - but with Celtic's and others interest his price went up too much. At £9M it looks like we overpaid for him at the moment - unless he improves an awful lot. Which is more than possible. I don't think Spors is terrible at squad planning - I think he has proved he's pretty good. But it doesn't mean he infallible - or that sometimes clever ideas just don't come off. I'd rather have kept Jay Robinson for cover a LW and bought Devenny for £9M if I am honest.

I get the feeling they bought Dobbin to provide cover across the front three - at Left Wing, Right Wing and Centre Forward but also as an option as a Second Striker if we want to change our game a bit. So in many ways as a replacement for Archer and Edozie and as cover for Scienza, Fellows/Matzuki and Larin/Mubama. He seems to have played better at RW or CF/SS when it comes to scoring goals though. Which I think explains why we got rid of Archer on loan and were trying to shift Edozie as well. I don't think we bought him as cover for Azaz in the Number 10 role. I think out target there was Justin Devenny from Crystal Palace - but we gave Dobbin a try in pre-season to see if if would work. I think we overpaid for him though - and I am not sure he or Mubama will really make any difference on the pitch - but them that is the same as Archer and Edozie I guess. I think it was a failure to not really replace Stewart or Charles (who could play as the Number 10) - and the team look weaker than last season in key areas. I also think we are missing the physical holding/defensive midfielder to help us close out games - which is why they brought in Romeu in January. It didn't work - but that doesn't change the fact we need one. Personally I think we should just have kept Jay Robinson over paying £9M plus for Dobbin.

I don't think they feel Downs needs replacing as he wasn't here last season. And I think they see Dobbin as cover for Azaz and a replacement for Edozie and Archer as he can play as a winger or a second striker. But not as a first 11 starter. At Preston he played as a second striker with a big Number 9 or as centre forward ahead of Alfie Devine as the Number 10. Buying him would make more sense to me as cover for Edozie & Archer if we bought in a attacking central midfielder now to cover Azaz and replace Charles. I see JWP more as a replacement for Romeu. Maybe that's why we were rumoured to be interested in Justin Devenney at Palace.

Bragg did't have a great game but he wasn't all bad - he did set up Larin's goal. His passing was off and he seemed to lack a bit of physicality. But then that was true of most of the team. They just didn't seem to be at it for some reason. I blame poor pre-season for that. I am more than happy for Bragg to be one of our CM/DMs and he will have more good games than bad. But I do think we need to replace Charles (another 8 to cover Jander) and add another midfielder who is a bit more defensive and physical. There are going be games when Downes is injured or suspended and relying on Jander (if he is still here) and Bragg would make us look a bit lighweight in the middle. Maybe we will get lucky and replace Charles with someone like him who could play 6, 8 and 10 but I doubt it.

All 3 of the above - certainly that the case so far this season. Pre-season started too late and was too short. Plus we played too few friendly games against teams that were too weak We needed to hit the ground running this season with the -4 points so really needed to bring the key signings in early. But we always seem to start badly anyway - so we are a bit cursed. I think the whole club was focused on Spygate over the summer - and whether or not Eckert was going to get suspended and resign or got sacked. Everything else kinda got put on hold or delayed. Or that is what it looks like right now. Personally I think we should have sacked him and moved on - Danny Rohl would have been a good alternative for example. Or even Thomas Frank. I think we will have a slow start to the season - due to late signings and the half-arsed pre-season. But I also think the team will be weaker overall than last season at the end of the transfer window. Right now we don't really have any squad depth in key positions - if Larin gets injured we are going to struggle up front. I think we will just about make it into the top 8 and the play-offs - but we wont be good enough to get through the play-offs and get promoted. I don't really get the Dobbin signing - he's not a winger or a number 10 really - he seems to have been a second striker who plays of a big man in a 2 up front or a centre forward who plays with a second striker. Preston seem to have played 2 upfront last season (3-5-2 for the most part) which is not the way we have played. Hopefully he's not cover for Azaz at number 10 - or cover for Scienza at left wing. But then I don't really see where he plays.

We need a No. 8 replacement for Shea Charles ASAP - but even with Charles, Jander, Downes and Bragg we were a bit short in midfield last season which is why they signed Romeu in January. It didn't work unfortunately but we still need a big physical No. 6 to give us cover for Downes and Bragg and someone who can come one and help us close out games.

Bragg had a bad game - he did some good things, but more bad than good yesterday. Lacked a bit of physicality. But he will play better than that for most games. The real difference was Scienza and/or Dobbin weren't providing any help in central midfield. We looked a lot better when Azaz came on and played like an attacking central midfielder. Scienza and Dobbin are both wingers really - more than No. 10s - and I see them as competing for the left wing slot going forwards. Which means we still need to find cover for Azaz at attacking midfield / No. 10. I don't think anyone had a problem with Charles leaving or the club selling him but I think we expected them to have replaced straight away - we certainly missed having another 6/8 midfielder in the squad yesterday. Even with Charles and Bragg in the squad last season we felt the need for another 6 and signed Romeu. It didn't work out but we still need another 6 this season. Personally I think we need another 10 to cover for Azaz, plus another 8 and another 6 to cover for Jander, Bragg and Downes.

if a club like Everton or Villa come in for THB this summer he will be off - but I'd hope we wouldn't lose him to a Coventry or Hull. But money talks and I thought it was said we needed to raise about £50M this summer. if it came to selling 2 of Scienza, THB or Jander who would you keep?

I would have kept Robinson, but I think Dobbin has been brought in to provide competition and cover at LW, 10 and RW and I think the plan is for Akachukwu is to provide cover on the left as well. So I am not sure Robinson would have got the game time needed to develop with Fellows and Matsuki covering the right wing as well. I still think the plan is to move on Edozie and BBD though. I thought of Larin and Steward as one fit striker between them really - so we desperately need to add a first choice striker that fits the physical centre forward model. Oyekunle will be great a 3rd choice cover and Larin as the second striker but we need a first choice goal scorer. Archer doesn't fit the way we play and I think we will move him on. And Downs just doesn't have it in terms of physicality or technique. A loan to the Bundesliga 2 seems most likely.

I'd be happy if Saints bring Ross Stewart back- but even if they do I fully expect them to sign another younger striker - just not at £14M. Don't forget we still have Oyekunle, Brereton-Diza, Damian Downs and Archer on the books as well. But I fully expect Archer and BBD to leave permanently and Downs to go on loan to the Bundesliga 2 or the US at the very least and a younger striker signed with Oyekunle being given game time as well.

Is it just me that thinks that even if Ross Stewart signs back-on with Saints we need another centre forward? With the age and injury records of Stewart and Larin I almost think of them as one player - I am not sure either can play a full 90 mins week in week out - even more so when its Tuesday - Saturday - Tuesday - Saturday. We need a young player like Will Lankshear in addition to Larin and Stewart to give us the strength and depth upfront to last season out.

would anyone swap one of Manning or Welington for Target on a free?

I would be a bit worried about the forward / striker position unless the new striker we sign is very good and a guaranteed starter. I am not convinced Archer will score a lot of goals on our team unless we change the way we play, And at 31 Larin is bit too old to play 90 mins week in week out. That's partly why rotating him with Steward got the best out of them both. Even if we manage to keep Stewart I would still want a new No. 9 to give us real depth at centre forward - another physical presence. I am expecting us to sell and replace Archer and Edozie if I am honest.