21 Aug 2026 08:09:49
So as it stands it seems as we enter the 2nd week of the season and with just over a week left of the window:
Gks: the guy who has played all pre-season and is HG is going. No replacement. Sa and SJ may or may not stay and may or may not want to be here.
RB: the guy who has played all pre-season and is HG is 35 and injured. Of the other 3 options 2 are almost universally castigated on here - Jackson and Hoever - and the other one is a kid, Lima, who has barely played and most regard as well off the pace.
RCB: the guy who has played all pre-season is injured. The other options Santi and Djiga, (who many - I have no opinion as I have never seen play - on here don't rate at all!), have barely played all pre-season and the senior one, Santi, has publicly stated he wants out. The mooted replacement, Medina, is seemingly - I have never seen play myself so would reserve judgement - v poorly regarded by many on here/other sites.
LCB - is Toti!! The option, Krejci, has barely played in pre-season and many believe he will be sold as he is actually quite good and will raise a fee.
LB - the first choice last year, Hugo, appears to be on his way and the option, Wolfe, had a nightmare game last week looking well off the pace to put it mildly! Seemingly no replacement lined up?
I'm a little worried about the defence!
PS: Andre, James and Lopez - (Yes I have changed my mind about him) - is probably the best mid 3 in the division by a mile!
Armstrong/Mane, Gomes and Raul are probably fine as well as a front 3 as well.
Hope this isn't too negative for some on here and is fair and balanced and without too much emotion.
21 Aug 2026 08:44:55
I think ur spot on with that assessment.
21 Aug 2026 09:03:21
As usual, I couldn't agree more, Future Old Pal. Going forward, we are a top 7 team. In defence, I'm not even sure we are good enough to be mid-table. Herein lies the problem, and we all saw it play out against Blackburn. Our defence was shockingly poor that day, and that was before Trippier's injury. To be honest, I don't understand how this isn't blindingly obvious to the club/manager.
It's, yet again, another damning indictment on our recruitment team over the last 2/3 years. Take Djiga, we paid £10m for him, so if he isn't now up to the Champ (which I can't say yet, because I haven't seen enough of him), but if he isn't, then what the hell are we doing? Because £10m should buy you a fairly decent CB at this level. Big last week of the window needed for this season to get anywhere.
21 Aug 2026 09:37:54
We paid £8.3Mill for Pedro Lima!!
21 Aug 2026 09:50:07
Near enough, bang on, Future, apart from up front. We all know what Raul can do. We all know what Armstrong used to do. But Mane needs to improve massively, as his decision making is awful. 3 times against Blackburn, he took a shot from distance when team mates were better placed, & all 3 times came to nothing. He also needs to attack defenders more, as he has started to turn back & play backwards.
Omo, but I'm not sure about Armstrong or Mane, & yes, we seem to have a good midfield, but we are gonna let a lot of goals in this season unless something drastically happens over the next week, & I pray Raul does not get injured for any length of time or we're screwed. This is only my opinion, folks. I'm not moaning. I want us to do well.
21 Aug 2026 12:01:33
Mane: I do not rate him, and he just got hyped up last season when he was our only hope for a few games. His decision making is terrible, and he takes too long on the ball.
R. Gomes: I like him, but he needs to be more consistent. I think he performs better coming off the bench.
Armstrong: Works hard, but that is it.
Lopez: Class player, and I think giving him the freedom to roam would be perfect. He is a great passer of the ball, and if he is allowed to just roam to find spaces to receive the ball, it would make life very hard for other teams.
21 Aug 2026 12:39:55
Some excellent posts, and hard to disagree with any of the points. I believe Matheus Mane has the makings of being a 'big star' in the future. However, someone needs to instill a better team ethic in his thought process. Great if he bangs in 15-20 goals in a season, but he needs to be made aware of his teammates around him.
I, for one, would like to see his assists improve. He has the capability and guile. He needs to work on his speed of thought and reading of the game that comes with experience, and buckle down to hard graft. Otherwise, he will disappear like Zeli Ismail, and what a wasted talent he was - still playing for Shifnal.
21 Aug 2026 13:26:00
We are looking to replace Bentley with a home-grown third choice GK. Ruddy is being considered as he's good behind the scenes.
21 Aug 2026 19:50:24
Ps, re the front line, I did say "probably fine".
I don't think that is too hyperbolic?