honeybradger

Motsi was the last big name 14 year old we had and he did well at u21 level last season. Sadly looks like he is gone as well. I think this situation is going to be happening more and more because of the level of talent we are producing. Hopefully we at least manage to keep a couple of them.

Depends on what you mean by proven Aaron Ramsey, Lascelles, Jordan James, Julian Carranza, Joe Aribo, Okoli, Skipp, El Khannouss all had significant minutes at similar levels to the ones they were signed to play at.

I don't think anyone will match our £10mil valuation of Nelson. He's our only centre back comfortable enough on the ball to play Martin ball so I really hope we keep him. Otherwise i think we might be in for a disaster of a season.

The issue is can we afford to send him out on loan? In theory he is still the best goal scorer at the club and with the club looking at signings like Ings there's no guarantee that will change. I think it's a very typical outcome of the "you have to take your opportunities" approach that you end up with players like Otchere, Silko Thomas and Mcateer breaking through who managed to show up on the day whereas players like Evans who you would expect to contribute more over the course of the season get left on the sidelines.

I think we've not made it easy for Evans where he's pretty much always played with a weaker midfield behind him. Is Otchere really better than him or benefiting from being around better players? Riley Carr was also quiet today who previously looked very impressive when he had quality players feeding him the ball. I think Evans would look better playing with Alves, Braybrooke and Page.

Really happy with Braybrooke this pre season. Think he will be far too good for league one.

I don't think we need to worry about Sammy getting in ahead of Chaplin, the gap in class is too clear for Martin to overlook

Looking really good this half.

Brilliant pass from Thomas

Midfield more of an issue than the attack. They only had long balls from the defence to work off all half.

Need Alves, Braybrooke and Page to cleanse my eyes. Choudhury and Chaplin not good enough considering their experience. Neale struggling as well although it is more understandable and he was probably the better of the 3.

I have been similarly unimpressed by Chaplin but he is nailed on in our starting lineup at the start of the season.

A level above the rest of our players this half.

As much as I like Evans I don't think he should be on corners. Needs to work on his delivery.

So far Vietes looks the most comfortable playing out the back. Hope he's not off.

Hutchinson is a proper bull dog.

So are McCarthy and Souttar, what are they doing.

Faes is such a bombscare

Hutchinson, Evans, Carr front 3

This is not a first choice XI so I'm not sure why this would imply McCarthy is first choice. Hopefully just trying him out.

Surely there's a Strait of Hormuz chant we can come up with for when we're protecting a lead.

Am I wrong or did Omerod not even play in the National league last season but in the National League north. Struggled at lot in the National league the season before with 1 goal in 33 although was only 19. Seems a bit silly to sign him when he is 3 years older than Evans and less proven.

£20mil for Fatawu £15mil for Fatawu + Skipp

Didn't play in the friendly against Burton. Wonder if that means he's close to a transfer, apparently he's likely to go to Huddersfield

The young players look lively and exciting. The senior players still look lethargic and unbothered. Some players just aren't athletic enough no matter how much you train them.