ianofcleveleys

Clearly the loss of RR and Simons is a big factor in us going into this month's games looking well short, when added to the shortages out wide / up front. It's also hard to judge which, if any, of the new lads will be upgrades on what we've let go and hack it in Championship, until they've actually come up against such opponents at least 3 or 4 times. As things stand today though, on the eve of our first game, we look some way short of a squad that will take points off even those in the bottom third. Any sort of positive result tomorrow, whether by way of an OG, a blunder, a dodgy pen or whatever, will be a big bonus

That's about it, I reckon SS will be checking back on his dash cam footage to see if he's run over any black cats recently. It's a big blow, without question, and SS will earn his corn and some finding a way for us to get points over that period without what RR brings. Championship's new Dogs of War incoming

He didn't always start under SS at Plymouth and scored a fair number of his goals late on, off the bench, when defences were tiring and bits of spaces appeared. He's a finisher, something we clearly lack. Hopefully gets a better run of injury free weeks and months with us, if so, all good.

Although it's been argued earlier (and with reason) that our reliance on loans last season is biting us on the arse, so is the legacy of indulging Evatt with fees and contracts to the degree he was, on the likes of Schon, Randall, Lolos. There's a thread of its own on the pros and cons of McAtee but I'd also include him. That £2.5m wouldn't necessarily be a game changing amount of course, but it's money spent with next to nil return in terms of contribution to our promotion and a limiting factor to the flexibility and ambition with which SS can currently operate

These preview articles / pods by NTT20 and others probably ought to come with a caveat that they'll repeat/revise them first week of September. A lot of clubs might be in different places personnel-wise by then. I sincerely hope we're one such club.

Agree with this, there's been a lot of talk before and since yesterday along the 'glorified friendly', 'pre-season comp', 'wont care if we're out of it' lines. Almost that playing round 1 before league starts has lowered its status compared to if it was played a week on Tuesday as has been tradition. What it does do is miss the trick you've set out, we've been used to bedding new boys in through Pizza Cup and maybe a couple of games in Carabao. None of that open to us now. We made a balls of that yesterday

SS has said the other week he wants at least two more strikers, of different types, one to run in behind and stretch defences, the other a physical presence / aerial threat type

I'll base it on my own judgement, having watched all the friendlies and today. Even if Randall wasn't already history, based on his absence from the last three squads, he wouldn't be near being in front of Watson anyway. Watson hasnt ripped any trees up but did well enough in each of the friendlies, today wasn't a great situation for any of the subs to come into, only Dong in a couple of flashes made much impression.

Daughter went to Uni in Sheff 16 years ago, never came back, settled there, fair to say I enjoy my visits to hers 😊🍺

Don't disagree re RR, he'd have to play himself out of the team really, the most creative body we have at the minute

Friendlies and today have shown, for me, that Dalby wont get into double figures in this league if he's being asked / trying to be two things at once. If he's coming deep to hold it up and bring people in he hasn't the pace to then get on the end of crosses that follow. If he stays high up and is a goalmouth loiterer RR will have a lot to do as the link between midfield and him. SS has said he wants someone (such as Kenny) who has the pace to get beyond him and their back line. If he plays though, as you say, where does RR fit in? Finding the mix that gets us scoring but accommodates our few Championship level performers is going to be a challenge.

Gale had arguably as productive a 45 mins as we've seen from him but nothing made of three decent balls across. We played some tidy stuff in getting to the edge of their box or the by line but didn't make the most of any of it Always going to be difficult down to 10 and, not surprisingly, we made less and less happen as game wore on. Subs added little apart from resting legs, Dong showed one or two bits but that was about it.

If games are there to be won, I want us to win them, its a good thing. That one was there for the taking and we made a bollocks of it. We should have been 2 up well before Simons lunacy. SS might, however, see it all as an advert for how urgently the cavalry is needed. Going into next week with what we've put out there today is a parlous state to be in.

Bannan had tried that ball a few mins earlier, didn't quite come off but well worth another go down the side of Forino, no pace

Absolutely brainless head loss as were threatening to get on top of them. What a pillock.