GrahamC

Fenerbahce being mentioned on social media..

Yep, I really meant when is he going to stop having any income. I have to say whatever he intends to do I’m surprised both him & HNM haven’t announced their next move this close to the new season.

Tuesday. I guess we’re “bothered with him” because at present we haven’t replaced him, as we have lost 4 other centre backs in Baker, Klose, Moore & Low from the wage bill as well & only brought in the one in Rob Dickie. Until he signs for someone else or we recruit another CB he will remain under consideration.

For what it’s worth he no longer appears under the profiles of the first team after the site refresh.

Seems likely that he won’t be fit for Preston. What I thought interesting in James Piercy’s reporting of this was his comment about him being seen primarily as a midfielder now, which certainly isn’t borne out by the stats, he isn’t someone who is prone to making things up, so if true this suggests strongly to me that we will bring in another defender, assuming that Kalas doesn’t return.

Lost 2-1 today to an Andorran side in the preliminary round of the Europa Conference league. Firstly I can never recall a side from Andorra winning any game in Europe & secondly their subs included Jojo Wollacott (who will get his chance soon based on the error made by their keeper) & Jamie McAllister’s son.

So a lie then. Not exactly a surprise for them.

Nope, that’s definitely the case. Could well be that is his long term plan whatever happens to his career in the next few years though, especially as his partner is from here. Let’s say a Coventry or Cardiff offer him something, he could commute or live there part of the week whilst this gets built.

Yep but surely he would want to sort his future out as soon as we stop paying him? Just expect us to clarify the situation then, we don’t even know if our offer is still on the table. Plus if he is coming off the wage bill that’s another saving.

That’s disappointing to read, though the general point about having players available for the majority of games & not simply the start is spot on. We’ll know more after the Pompey game & maybe McCrorie could still be back by Preston, but on this basis it looks like Tanner, Vyner, Dickie & either Pring or Roberts will start the first one. We should have clarity on Kalas by then so if it is confirmed that he’s gone & then depending on the prognosis for Naismith maybe we will look to add another?

Only seen bits on my phone but really impressed with him. I really rate Pring but it wouldn’t be the biggest shock in the world if he started at LB against PNE. Still think there are twists and turns to come in the Scott saga, but that aside I reckon the team for the first league game is probably about 90% settled now.

Spot on. For reference no one did so last season, Vyner managed 45 (missed Rotherham away through illness) & Wells was on the pitch in 45 too but he only started 32 of those. One of the reasons we brought in McCrorie, Dickie, Roberts & Knight was to give us more squad depth.

At least some things never change- a dubious penalty to the opposition like Hull & Rotherham (both dives) last season.

Do you not think our availability has improved out of all recognition since Dave Rennie arrived? Weimann returned under him & then didn’t miss a single game the following season. Hardly “so many” injuries, is it? I would expect we are pretty much in the middle of the table regarding player availability & would be interested to know for instance how we could have stopped Atkinson & Benarous doing their ACLs.

O’Leary Tanner Araoye Vyner Roberts James Williams Knight Cornick Conway Mehmeti

Araoye certainly seems to have moved up the pecking order so far, he appears ahead of Callum Wood (who was on the bench a fair few times last season) & arguably Knight-Lebel too.

Are away friendlies often on it?

One of 4 or 5, including Idehen as mentioned.

Interesting comment from Paul Warne today that Kane Wilson is “a long way off full fitness” & I noticed he only made a short sub appearance in their friendly at the weekend. Also heard that the Bolton move did fall through because he failed their medical which makes you wonder what sort of one Derby did & after Pearson’s comment last season about him having to “manage his fitness” how much he’s actually going to pplay.

Pearson has been very clear that he sees pre season games as training exercises, none of these results matter. What does is establishing patterns of play & avoiding injuries. We have completely resurfaced the pitch this summer after the Arctic Monkeys gig, next season we have both the rugby & the women’s team playing on it, so there was no space for a friendly to be played there, whether that was Ajax or Aldershot.

Starting line up as follows; Wiles-Richards Leeson Knight-Lebel Dickie Pring King Meerholz Scott Sykes Wells Bell.

This is the absolute best. Brighton have been quoted £50m by Chelsea & Liverpool are said to be interested. You would think after signing the 34 year old James Wilson & George Friend who is even older that the penny would drop, absolute moron. This is on a par with anyone suggesting Mbappe on here, which even though we have our share of the deluded, would not happen.

Knight? I think you’ve forgotten him. I think with him, James (who I rate very highly) & Scott or his replacement, we’re ok. Williams is good enough as cover but agree that unless he significantly improves his availability & performance levels next season will probably be his last with us. King is fine for a few games as cover but plans will have gone seriously awry if he’s needed any more than that.

Brighton, West Ham, Newcastle, too. Despite absolutely no evidence that any of them are actually interested in him. FWIW I think West Ham were before their new Director of Football arrived, but not now.

You actually originally said that we’d be left with Joe Williams to replace Scott & when I said in response we’d bring someone in, you then said that player wouldn’t be as good as Scott.. Which isn’t exactly revelatory. It is actually possible though to sell your best player, spend less on his replacement & still improve, Brentford have pulled off that feat consistently. I’d also be interested to know if anyone seriously thinks we’re going to finish fourth (which is what improving by ten places would mean). My guess is not.