S-Clarke

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.

Same failings from where I'm sitting - Moussa not knowing what to do with his feet, McCarthy kicking the ball into touch like it's rugby, Lyanco celebrating nonsense and still giving up goals for fun. Adams totally isolated up top and fluffing the few chances he gets. Same players, same failings. Hell of a lot of work needed. Need some takers for Moussa, Lyanco and McCarthy ASAP.

Honestly, the bloke is an absolute tool. I'd give him to Bestikas for free.

This is absolutely diabolic from us, being given a dicking by Bournemouth. Keep it respectable, they look on a different planet to us.

If I'm honest, I'll be staggered if we get our money back on him. £15m tops imo. That January transfer window was an absolute cluster fuck.

Can't find what I saw now, but it was regarding Lilie - he was travelling over there this week, ''things will now move quickly'' was the tone of the bit I read, as he has decided to leave. No chance he stays.

Sulemana is off back to Liege 1 - should be done this week.

Not sure where you saw that, all that's on his twitter feed is a reply to a question from a fan where he states Burnley are 'trying' as we need money. Feel like taking whatever he says with a pinch of salt tbh.

Agreed, I'm desperate to see movement at CB as none of the ones we have are either good enough or committed - I guess for the start of the season we'll be going Stephens and Bednarek, but I hope we can shift on Lyanco, ABK and Salisu sharpish so we can get some more progressive CB options (Ronnie Edwards etc)

I think it's fair to say we're in a bit of a holding pattern at the moment, without these moves we simply cannot evolve the squad - not financially, just because of the sheer size of it. I'm sure we'd love Ronnie Edwards for e.g, but unless Lyanco, ABK and Salisu piss off then we will not be getting a CB in the door. It's a frustrating situation because in respect of ABK and Salisu we can't even count on them as players, they simply won't play - they'll down tools - so we really need to get them gone by hook or by crook. Similar is true of our full back positions really, it's a massive luxury to be here with Bree, Livramento, KWP, Manning and Larios - there will undoubtably be one of KWP or Livramento out of the door before the end of the window in my opinion, it's all too unbalanced atm. I'm sure we'd have expected to have shifted much more than we have by now, especially our 'star players' - but the bids coming in are derisory really. It makes no sense to sell Lavia for any less than £45m (straight cash, no add on nonsense), otherwise we might as well keep him for a year and sell him back to City for the pre-agreed £40m next summer. It's very frustrating how clubs are happy to offer £70m for Cacedio or £45m for Paulina, yet subject us to sub-£30m bids for our equivalents.

There will be a breaking point at some point in August, the players are quite calm at the moment but if it comes to August and they still don't have anything lined up I can imagine the attitudes will change. What we don't want to do is paint ourselves into a corner by playing hard ball now, then having to give in during late August and having zero time to actually replace, or having to ridiculously overpay ourselves with panicked deals. It's a really difficult one and I guess only the club know truthfully how certain individuals will react as the weeks tick on.