S-Clarke

On a pure results basis, this pre-season has been pretty horrific to say the least - but results in pre-season matter diddly squat, and more often than not the teams who have crap pre-seasons actually go on to be better once the season proper starts (That's the positive I'm hanging on...!) ST situation quite clearly still the problem, and it's really frustrating that we'll be starting our 3rd season in a row without sorting our ST situation out (unless someone comes in the door next week!). Lots of work to do with the squad makeup and so much still in limbo, it's really hard to say how it's going to look come the end of August and gaining any momentum looks increasingly difficult - got a nasty feeling we'll be playing catch up, but it's often more fun that way.

It did look bad on the images, but he's fine according to the man himself. Lucky escape by the looks of it. I'd be surprised if he doesn't end up out on loan, Sunderland is surely number 1 choice though. We'd have to do something very special to win ahead of them given how he's thought of there, and how he thinks of them.

We've got some great footballing experience in a key position, something we haven't had for many years - I can't remember the last time tbh? It should make a huge difference. I also like the ambition, talk is cheap and all that, but we've had years of hearing ''we're lucky to be competing with palace'' and ''we're grateful we're just in the PL' - so it's refreshing to hear the words 'win', and even Europe, no matter how crazily far away that seems right now. That sort of talk will filter down to the players, to the fans etc and it'll breed confidence. We went into games over the last few years acting like we were just lucky to be there, let's see a change in that mindset now.

Burnley have signed another winger, a guy we were linked with as well - Jacob Bruun Larsen.

Probably Charly, Stephens, Bednarek maybe. (and sadly probably Moussa and Aribo too). Lavia will probably be done and dusted by the weekend. JWP will stay if he has to, but I can see a fee being reached with WHU in the end. ABK is clearly hankering for a move massively, we just need someone to pay our valuation.

I thought he'd be decent, he had pedigree - I don't think he's played enough to be totally conclusive on him, but from the little we've seen I don't think he's suited to a ball playing role, doesn't seem to be able to recover pace wise either. As Erwin said, it's not necessarily about buying better players than we have, I don't think that should be the expectation at all - but it's about having players who are suited to the specific style of play we're trying to deploy in the club. Over the last probably 3 years, our style has been very, very confused - caught between two, mastering neither. The squad is a miss-match of players suited to different styles. We're not going to sign players more established or better than Salisu for example, but I'd expect us to find someone much more suited to what we're trying to do without breaking the bank. Of the current lot who are probably staying, I think Stephens is suited to a ball playing role - would be good to get him a similar style of player next to him though (I'll keep mentioning Ronnie Edwards as he is great)

To be honest I look at our current CB's, their profiles etc, the only one who could potentially deal with this sort of football is ABK due to his physical attributes. The others are for the bin if we're going to try and play this way, it will expose the likes of Bednarek, Stephens and co horribly. (it doesn't take much to expose them anyway tbf) To me it seems as if Martin is 'all in', there's no half-way house with his style - so in that case, we need to ensure we ship out Lyanco, DCC, ABK, Salisu etc and buy 2 or 3 new CB's who fit what we're trying to do (capable ball playing CB's would be a really good start). It's not beyond the possible for us to sign 3 new CB's 'if' the ones we have on the books do leave, as expected. I just hope we don't miss out on someone like Ronnie Edwards whilst we wait to get rid of the trash, he is absolutely perfect for what we're trying to do.

I think it's as simple as saying our defenders are utter trash, GK/CB's - big concerns in those area's, and we'll continue to concede goals no matter what the set up is with the selection of defenders we have.

Very good player, but there were links to PL clubs earlier - Bournemouth one of them I think Bristol City have scared off suitors with their £30-35m asking price though, so it's not something we can get near.

Burnley need to take this PL malarky seriously, pissing around with low-ball bids everywhere.

I don't see us dealing with Swansea if I'm honest, think relationships are a bit fractured there! Grimes is a sensible shout though given his experience and leadership abilities, two attributes that we need - not even counting his ability on the ball. I just think it'll be too difficult. If JWP goes to WHU I'm fairly sure we'll get Downes, although I wouldn't say he's massively experienced himself.

Being good on the ball has aided him as a CB as well, he is able to move it very quickly and in tight situations. I'd be happy for him to be the like-for-like Lavia replacement - but like you say, we need some experience. I like Smallbone and I think he's stepped up a few levels, but I'd still look for some experience to compliment them both (and Charly).

Sadly the same bad smells are still lingering, Moussa, Lyanco, McCarthy etc - need to get the crap shifted, then we'll have a fresher feel without all the baggage. It's going to be a pretty mental August I think, strap yourselves in!

Transfers usually trickle through during July, before a late splurge in the final few weeks of August as clubs realise it's now or never (both sellers and buyers). It's a weird situation in that we will likely end up starting the Sheffield Wednesday game with 2 or 3 players who aren't here in September.

Ask me in September, mid-to-end of September. I don't think anyone can truly have any idea until then. Leeds are an unknown, they could have a last min spurge. Leicester likewise, lost most of their quality players. We've got lots and lots of work to do, totally possible we start the season with 2 or 3 players we won't end August with - so I'll keep my cards close to my chest until a few weeks after the window shuts.

I like him, seems to know what he wants and is an incredibly likable character which I can imagine will build up a bit of a feel good mood inside the camp. There still needs to be a lot of work in the squad, but this is probably the first time he'll be able to mould a squad in exactly the way he views football. At Swansea and MK he had to make do, but he'll have more flexibility here. When Jones came in I didn't like him, no one did really - just the vibe he gave off, looked totally out of his depth. Martin seems to have a lot more about him, understands the issues of years gone past - and most importantly, for me, isn't throwing those who went before him under the bus as Jones was so inclined to do. ''Not my fault gov', you were crap before me''

In situations the club simply can't win. Scenario 1 - We've got rid of all the players, it's a fire sale FFS Scenario 2 - We're holding out for the fee we want, no less. Club is showing no urgency etc etc.

Didn't we sign that new U21 Keeper from City's B Team to effectively replace Willy? There is more chance of us keeping Lavia than us signing a GK this summer. We'll have to buckle up and make sure we score lots of goals!

Second half much better, looked a better team. My slight worry from the pre-season games thus far is that it's playing out how Swansea fans warned. Lots of good football, good goals scored, but suicidal in and around the back with stupid goals given away. We need much, much, much better players in the back and in goal to be able to play that way, otherwise we'll need a minimum of 2 or 3 goals a game to get anything.

Shocking from KWP - dreadful. Good second half, wasted away there.

I hope Stu is over his fitness issues, a fully fit Stu in the championship will be ridiculous. Much better second half, Smallbone has added much more shape centrally. I think Lavia's mind was elsewhere, understandably I guess.

Best two players of this half. Manning > Charles. Tidy.

Both have been pegged back by Bournemouth to be fair, we're struggling to get out. Manning has looked decent though, covering and defending well. Looks pretty switched on.

Alcaraz has been really, really poor today too. He's better than this, doesn't seem too sure of his position and is being crowded out too much.

If doing his job is flapping his arms around and celebrating a challenge he had to make, yet consequently conceding two goals, then I'd hate to see him not doing his job. Bloke is inept. Lavia has been sloppy, giving the ball away, caught in possession - but you can kind of understand why, and he's given us a hell of a lot more than Lyanco ever has.