Johnnyrotten

Taylor played 70 games in defence in the SPL. Last week he played for Bromley, conceded a sloppy pen and got 2 yellow cards. Watson might be great, but what he's done in Scotland means nothing. Keillor Dunn was in the same midfield at Mansfield, good players play in L2 (and as we're taking Wrexham's cast offs, can we have him?).

I know a WBA fan. When asked for her opinion, she replied "He's shit, we sent him back at Christmas". I replied that you were all shit pre-Xmas. She said yes but he's really really shit. The reality is they don't know how bad things can get, they haven't seen Etete or Dan. As usual I won't be judging him till I've seen him in the warm up shooting drills.

And the signing was slated because he was "too old". What a class act he was for us, a championship Jordan Henderson.

It might be buttons for a proven championship player, not for a proven L2 striker. We're mugs if we over spend on an unknown quantity. If he had Hardie's scoring record we'd be talking £5mil if the starting point is £3.5mil and plenty aren't convinced Hardie will start games.

He's got a role to play definitely, because not many are as good as him in the air/leading the line, the ugly stuff. More than happy that he's in the squad. Just a bit concerning that currently he seems to be regarded as a guaranteed starter and its all about who plays with him, rather than instead of him at times. We'll see how it progresses, but even last season in L1 he wasn't a guaranteed starter till maybe Feb/March (getting booed at Doncaster on NY Day). It feels like the bar has been lowered rather than raised, Sheehan was in and out for a while, now no.1 midfielder. Forino and Gale the same, couldn't get a start for ages now we'd be gutted if either got injured.

All opinions but I'd say he's much closer to SKD than Klasnic. For all SKDs qualities, he was another that I wouldn't trust to put a shot on target from any distance, he didn't strike the ball well, that wasn't his game. In contrast, Klasnic was a great comination of touch, skill and thunderous strikes from around the edge of the box, a proper striker/goalscorer. SKD more a great leader of the line, and Dalby's a L1 version of him for me. Not a championship version unfortunately IMO but maybe he'll surprise me.

We never need to be concerned about that unattainable phenomenon ☹️

I've always enjoyed watching Conway play, he's got great technique, accepting that he's not exactly Stuart Pearce-esque defensively. So we brought in Famewo because he's seemingly more solid (physically and positionally). I think our main tactic this season compared to last is to be more solid as a starting point, which we all probably all agree with, so I just don't see wingbacks being an option for starting games. When we're trailing in the 2nd half it might be hard work trying to get back into it without the relative flair of Conway and Tutu. Hopefully its a while before we find out 😄

Daniel Storey is an absolute football nut, not just a quality journalist. Loves the game, at all levels and has the talent to write engaging articles. A couple of years ago he visited, watched a game at and wrote a feature on every club in the 92. He's doing something similar this season based on a vote of where he should for his next match. I love his enthusiasm and the joy he gets going to games that I probably wouldn't go anywhere near even if they were paying me!

Yes we're concerned about losing Simons, but week after week after week SS didn't see fit to start with him in L1. So if we've signed Watson to play in this league its hardly a resounding vote of confidence that he's behind a stand-in, he's not behind a first XI player. If Watson's too big a risk, I'd be happy to put Brunt in there as a "championship standard" player, if his only job is to make us more solid (open play and set pieces).

Last season he started 4 league games in Brazil and 6 league games for us, excluding play offs. At least he should be fresh when he comes back in October v Stoke!

The longer they leave it as it is, the better for us and other potential strugglers. I suspect they won't be around (as managers) when the January transfer window comes around. Then again about a third of the 24 managers won't be either.

Yeah, in some ways I'm glad we're playing PNE in our current situation, because they're poor, relatively. On the other hand if only we could play them in another month with a stronger team! If it was West Ham and Wolves first two games I'd take the defeats and move on. Its a bit early for a crucial 6 pointer, followed by another 2 v QPR and Lincoln.

This time last year, this was our bench in L1 at Barnsley: Cissoko, EE, Forino, McAtee, Morley, Tutu. And not in squad: Dalby, Dempsey We're a division above now and if all 8 of them started on Saturday we wouldn't be noticeably weaker! We were dire at Barnsley mind. And we had ACD, Sheehan and Simons starting who would all play start on Saturday if possible.

McAtee is the 2nd striker

I'm agreeing with you but also a bit pleased we might have to play a right footed player on the right wing 😄

Back up? One of the first names on the teamsheet for me, because he's championship standard. If we sign him on 1st September we're paying his wages for 4 months. Assuming he's fit when he signs, that seems like a low risk signing to me, balancing our needs with the fact that nobody knows who's going to get injured next.

Fair point, it was all a bit throwaway from me, as an outsider, wondering how a club like City end up paying fortunes for some players. The academy situation doesn't explain the number of caps some of them got for England though 😄

I assumed Phillips had signed as a free agent, but no he's still got 2 years left at City! On maybe £100k a week? £5mil a year? Here's £10mil for doing nothing for another 2 years. And we criticise IE for signing Randall, but Pep's a genius who can spot talent. No comeback on costing City about £200mil on Phillips and Grealish.

Same would apply to CBT but I'd love us to sign him. I realise that's a comment on me more than CBT!

Yes his international status and transfer to City for big money was always a bit of a mystery to me. There are a few others who played for City, and England, in modern times and were just average. Fabian Delph, Jolian Lescott, Adam Johnson, Jack Rodwell, Rico Lewis.

I see it the other way, he doesn't look strong like one of those beasts we'll play against like Kieffer Moore or Osmajic (PNE), tall and gangly rather than full of muscle. But he's deceptively strong, rarely gets beaten physically. As for goal poaching, maybe, but his finishing isn't a strong point to put it mildly and he can't shoot from any distance, hopefully he'll score a few with his head or overhead kicks 😄

I see it the other way, Hardie would be competing with Dean as the Kenny replacement (pace, goalscorer hopefully, not going to be holding off the CBs with strength). We don't have a replacement for Dalby as far as I can see, even if we signed both Kenny and Dean. Last year we signed Burstow to stand in for Dalby and it worked to an extent, certainly for a few months while Dalby got upto speed. Beggars can't be choosers but I hope we aren't counting on Dalby as our first choice, nailed on starter every week in the championship, we haven't been linked with any leaders of the line eg a Kyle Wooton, Olaofe, Sidibe who centre halves bounce off.

Blackpool boss Ian Evatt reunited with keeper Luke Southwood - BBC Sport

A good argument, with some logic and facts/balance - thank you. I can't disagree McAtee and Randall are the only players left signed by EE that don't start games. But Randall's goals and good games were before he came to us, he's been off form for a long time, for us and Blackpool. I'm not expecting McAtee to start games in the championship except in an injury/suspension crisis (ie this week!) You say when they have started they haven't impressed. I'll counter that and say when he's come on as sub, which has been a lot, he's impressed and if you can recall any games he came on as sub and was dire, feel free. I can name a lot of games Burstow and Forss were dire post October, maybe 1 or 2 for McAtee at most, yet he got less chances. And obviously cocked up at Plymouth which didn't help, same as Simons now who will struggle to get back in. We're talking about one player Randall that probably won't play above L2 this season, and another that would walk into most L1 teams outside the top contenders. Can see him at a Sheff Wed when they've realised Burstow's limitations.