Steve Earle

You may be right. So will Barnes. But we need better than both for this season!

Is one of those dominoes our very own England CB? @LinekersApples

So when Brendan said after the first pre-season friendly ‘there’ll be a cut off date obviously’, it seems he was either mistaken, or the date was set ludicrously close to the window. Disappointed all round.

Bless you @LinekersApples ?

As a matter of interest, could you tell us why? He’s a promising young player no doubt, but he’s not ready to start regularly for a team seeking to break into the top 6. And Liverpool are prepared to sell him. Which tells us something.

Respect and all that, but what does Matty James have to do to lose a squad place? ???‍♂️

Should we let go now @LinekersApples?

Thanks very much Brucey!

Does anyone know of a source for the Atalanta game that I can record from? I usually watch these games on my laptop but this Friday the boss says we're going out so I'll miss the live stream on LCFV TV.

Not sure I have a sense of how FT members see next season panning out. There’s been a lot of talk (even from the manager) about challenging for a top 6 spot and a while ago, just after we signed Youri, I was very much in that space. But I’m not there now. We’ve only signed three of the heralded five players identified early summer (by Rob Tanner & others). We still need another attacking midfielder, but most of all a goalscoring left footed right winger. With both, I could see us finishing above Yanited and possibly Arsenal. Without, I think we could aim for 5-10 points more than last season, which would be progress, but not ‘special’. And there’s still the possibility of our back four being weakened by the sale of Harry. I suspect I really need @LinekersApples @Abrasive fox or @themightyfin to reassure me that there’s going to be a happy ending!

FFS! Getting antsy now...

Want one. Now.

It's eerily quiet isn't it?

Oh. And his goalkeeping!

Schmeichel’s kicking!!!

Missing a £30-50m winger at Stoke IMO!

Very much a look of first team and second team out there today, subject of course to Wilf coming into the first team. I know it's still pre-season etc but I think you can read into those teams at least three things (maybe four if Maguire starting therefore isn't leaving is one): Ghezzal is now a sub for the ressies! He's got to go and we'll have to take a big hit; Mendy is probably leaving; We need, above all, a goal-scoring winger (not a goal-scoring wide forward like Perez). It's the only weakness in our first XI.

I think that’s low @LinekersApples, don’t you?!?

I sort of agree, but think it's Brendan's plan to play with one wide forward (egs Barnes & Perez) and one winger (to-be-signed). If we don't sign the £30-50M player then I think we'll play Perez on the right with Barnes competing with others for the spot on the left

I admire your confidence Roy! As I said, I'm sure Barnes will be a top 6 wide player, I'm just not as confident as you it'll be this season. My suspicion is he'll be 'sharing' the wide left berth with Perez and (possibly) Gray, while New Wonder Winger starts most games on the right. I'm in a win win - be delighted if you're right!

This is the one we need if we're going to crash the top 6. Everywhere on the pitch we have players who would play regularly for one or more of the current top 6. But not on the wings. None of Barnes, Gray or Albrighton would start for any of our top 6 rivals (and don't get me on to the back up players!). Barnes will become good enough, just not next season. Gray we now know won't. Albrighton is great at what he does and is worth a place in every match day squad. Perez will play wide some of the time, and no doubt do it well. But we need more goals and more assists from our wide players, and that means bringing in a fully formed, left-footed right winger to start...

Desperate times call for desperate measures!

If we threatened him with a year at OH Leuven might we get some sense out of him/those advising him?

PS LA, you've been great so far and I don't doubt you. My 'so when?' was just a fan's 'tell me more', not a criticism!

So by close of the window? Ta very much! ???