ErwinK1961

in - Scienza out - Edozie, Bree, Taylor, Aribo, plus don’t think Ballard has been formally confirmed yet I think Smallbone will still be here

Well there’s the other CM then… can’t see it though, too late in the day and Smallbone and Aribo still here

Jelert in - Bree &/or Taylor out Scienza in - Edozie out CM in if Aribo and Smallbone leave, but looking very unlikely

Let me stop you there..

Hopefully we will see a change in tempo with a change in formation. Be very surprised if it had nothing to do with Spors &/or Lederer, especially as the latter was chief scout for a team in the same league.

Annoyingly, I suspect it would. Also, I thought Ben Sheaf was their captain? Seems a very good capture for Wrexham.

Fair enough Hypo. I think let’s see what he does when the squad is complete - if he carries on with 5 atb then he won’t last long.

Not all crosses need to be 7ft in the air.

Absolutely, no one is buying him at this point.

You can’t have been very good at FM then.. 😉 In all seriousness though, when you’re looking for something to change and go for the win, you look to put your most attacking players on. At the moment, the options on the bench are mainly strikers - he would have had Robinson to bring on if Downes hadn’t pulled out and he bought on Matsuki. If we get a LW in that will be another option. If he still lumps on strikers when we’ve got a bench full of other options then I’ll be concerned.

Will Still a ‘hipster’ manager 😂 Do you just have one default setting when a manager isn’t Moyes or Allardyce?

What does that even mean?

I had a dream last night we went 1-0 down (Stephens OG), but won 8-2.

Of all the dross in our squad, I have a rather large (and probably irrational) dislike of Downes above all others. Since the final at Wembley I’ve never got the impression he actually wants to be here, with the only reason seemingly being his love for Martin. If I remember correctly, he also nearly bailed on us at the last minute to sign for Ipswich, but then got talked around (and probably got offered more money for the privilege). He also seems to have a distinct lack of self awareness. As mentioned above, the “irons” shout at the party was just odd. He admitted he was annoyed at getting booed by Ipswich fans (despite refusing to play and handing in a transfer request there). He was also confused when we booed after Rotherham at home 1-1… He strikes me as someone who thinks he’s a lot better than he actually is. Thinking he was prime Iniesta against Stoke a good example of that. He doesn’t really offer anything outstanding on the pitch, other than running around a lot. Not great at tackling, not great at progressive passing. Plus he’s about as reliable as a chocolate teapot. Was happy at the time we made it permanent, but in hindsight that was a mistake and would be very happy if he left before the deadline (so long as we replace).

How would people feel about Downes leaving, bringing another CM in and keeping Aribo? Giving us Charles, Jander, Aribo plus another

Dom Ballard on a permanent to Leyton Orient by looks of it. Good luck to him, hope he kicks on and has a good career.

Couldn’t even bring himself to do a Gary Lineker for the cause. Shameful.

Have said it for ages. The midfield (before Fernandes left) was made up of all the same type of midfielders. No creativity and no defensive protection. Azaz is a good start, but we still lack a proper DM. Jander looks a great player, but not sure he’s going to give us the defensive element we really need.

Can’t see another CM coming in.

Fair points - maybe I’m being naive, but I think shifting players in the positions we want to bring in will be key (e.g Edozie for Scienza and Bree for Jelert). Edozie, Smallbone, BBD just need to go if they want to play any football this season.

I don’t think we need to replace Aribo, he’s just a surplus that needs to go.

Jelert would surely mean Bree (and probably Taylor) out. Edozie leaving would hopefully then mean Scienza in. Then a case of shifting Aribo, BBD and Smallbone?

What an unbelievable downgrade that would be for Palace. Cant see it at all, their transfer model is much better than that.

Been out at a golf day all day - was greeted on arrival of the Fernandes news, so didn’t bother keeping up to date with anything else today. This thread (or the last 16 pages) was a great read… was like a matchday thread spread out over an entire day.

Downes.