Saint Matty 76

Yeah you might be right. I was just a bit hesitant due to his chat regarding him missing days last week etc. Either way, my final go at predicting the zero creativity XI - Bazunu; Edwards, Stephens, Quarshire, Welington Charles, Fernandes Armstrong, Fraser, Archer Downs

Bree, Harwood-Bellis, Taylor and Smallbone all out through injury. Dibling, Edozie and Aribo out through transfer speculation. Fernandes and Downes both in the squad, maybe not ready to start.

Will Still stating that Dibling, Edozie and Aribo all out of the squad due to transfer-related reasons.

Quite literally not how it works you tit.

Largely shit answers from Spors/Parsons, but our fans really let us down time after time with this opportunity and the questions they ask. Fair play to Trollope on short notice who spoke the best, even if he was the least challenged.

Spors has zero interest in answering any questions/providing any detail. Parsons waffling the same stuff which they've preached beforehand without ever actually implementing. Nobody wants to talk to our Assistant Manager who has got here about three weeks back. Huge waste of time this one. Even more than usual somehow.

Jack Rosser, one of the few with clear club ties, reporting a bid for one of the best players in the league hours before the board go in front of the fans, give over. 😆

If anyone is dying for a rumour then the horrendous FootyInsider have just linked us to Fellows. 14 assists last year, him and Rudoni would be the dream end to the window.

If Downes and Fernandes are back in training, we may as well make use of the latter whilst he's here (such as JWP v Sheff Weds). Bazunu Edwards - Stephens - Quarshie - Welington Downes - Charles Armstrong - Fernandes - Archer Downs That'd be my guess. Although wouldn't be at all surprised to see Bree in for Edwards and Fernandes back next to Charles with Fraser in at 10 (🤮) if Downes isn't quite ready. I'd also love us to just give Robinson the start, but would understand the logic behind him being an impact sub to begin with.

Minor injury combined with not being that deserving of a large enough financial package to warrant a move will stop it, however.

THB isn't going anywhere with his knock. Whilst I completely agree that replacing Bazunu is a no brainer, I've made peace with the fact that we're definitely not doing it. Got a shit load of strikers already and therefore I'd imagine the only remaining incomers will be midfielders, whether holding midfield cover, attacking midfield or wide player(s). Buonanotte, Encisco, Esse, Echeverri and maybe Fabio Carvalho are some of the higher end options coming to mind who may become available for a loan? Perhaps Nyoni at Liverpool who has seemingly had a good preseason as well. Rudoni would be my absolute number one target right now if we've got the capability for a permanent deal.

Our four Summer loans in 23/24 all took place in the final 10 days of the window. I wouldn't be too surprised to see that be all we do for the rest of this year. It was three games into the season before we signed any of them. Two/three central midfielders and one/two wide players would be my guess. Harwood Bellis: 1st September Fraser: 25th August Holgate: 25th August Downes: 21st August

Wellington is absolutely miles better than Manning. Not really sure why he's not an automatic first choice?

Didn't for one second think we'd keep any of Ramsdale, Fernandes or Dibling. Also would've hope that the foresight of it obviously happening would've meant that a week out our replacements weren't Shit Existing GK, Nobody and Nobody. It'll be Armstrong, Fraser, Brereton Diaz; Archer on the opening day as it has been in preseason. Absolutely dying for a #10 and a left-winger unless we're willing to put a load of trust in Robinson.

Interesting one where apparently Ajax nearly signed Spertsyan but their board blocked the signing due to "moral concerns about dealing with a Russian club".

Ah right, my bad. Well if he was as poor getting down to the bottom corners as he was before that, I dread to imagine that part of his game now.

We got promoted in spite of him, and actually got carried over the line by a 50 year old McCarthy who looked better than Gav. There's nothing to suggest an ACL injury and a terrible loan move in Belgium has done anything to believe he's improved.

Apparently it's likely to be a significant fee loan + option anyway. Good news that we have a good level Goalkeeper available if we come back up and the option isn't picked up. Bad news that we're significantly less likely to go up with Bazunu and having Ramsdale still technically on our books makes buying another 1st choice basically impossible.

Good move for him. A better Goalkeeper than the relegation merry go round he's found himself in. Hopefully it gets sorted ASAP and we have a month to bring somebody else in to be the starter, although unfortunately I imagine another giant oversight where we sign another Lumley 3rd choice and trust Bazunu once more.

Can't really make much of a case for Robinson not to start ahead of Brereton-Diaz/Fraser.

Downes/Dibling in for Fraser/BBD and that's probably the Wrexham team if nobody leaves before that date? This current lineup is very dull without Fernandes further up and Dibling able to beat a man out wide.

No issue with Stephens being our 4th choice CB in the Championship. Anything other than those circumstances is always a bit of a worry. Absolutely echo that the biggest problem is if the club deem Bazunu a good enough option next year.

Three weeks to go and feels like there's absolute mountains still to be done. Of our current "best team" you'd imagine about half of them would still be off.

Jay Robinson looks seriously good doesn't he? Hope we don't fuck this one up like Amo-Ameyaw...

Almost forgot we were shit for a while!