Harry_SFC

Doesn't help when you've got Stephens and Wood at CB. They are both so slow on the ball. THB is the key in that respect. So his replacement really needs to know how to pass the ball forwards quickly and accurately.

I'm not sure he's worth less than Charles though.

Yeah 20 plus 5 add ons will do it. Definitely too cheap.

Tbh I don't blame the club for the Stewart situation. They absolutely should have had a replacement for Charles ready to go though.

Doesn't help when the best player from last season (THB) isn't playing, another one seems to have given up (Scienza) and another is injured (Jander)

Dobbin looked much more lively than Scienza that's for sure.

Scienza playing like he wants a move

The biggest problem is this side has no real pace or power in it at all. Unless we sign 2-3 starters in the next 10 days we will struggle to make the top 8 I think.

Yep and our recruitment to replace players we'd sold last summer was generally very good. Whether Spors can replicate that is another matter. Replacing THB will be very very hard given how influential he is on and off the pitch.

The recruitment at CM and CB will probably determine how well we do this season. I say that because I still expect Jander to be sold. They will be incredibly hard pressed to improve on or even equal the quality of THB and Jander. So Solaks statement saying how we will be better or equal to last season was probably a bit risky, but it improved the fans mood at the time so I guess it did it's job.

To start with two losses against very average sides would be a bit of a disaster this season. The longer we're stuck on -4 the more catching up we'll have to do.

Even bigger blow that Burnley have just signed our (seemingly) number 1 replacement for him.

I think we should be looking at getting £30m for him. £25m with £5m achievable add ons as absolute minimum. I get that he only has 2 years left but he's arguably our best player.

Got a bad feeling we will sell for 25m.

He's another year older as well. What is he now, 33? We really should be upgrading now.