kingfox

Hamza looks like he’s just been stopped by police for a breathalyser test.

My very credible sources have told me that Mavididi and Fatawu are both close to leaving, with free agents Ryan Fraser and Rachid Ghezzal coming in to replace them.

I know it’s extremely early days, but I’m pretty confident we’ll do the quadruple under Russell Martin this season.

Of course. Russell loves him, has one year left on his contract, is under Wasserman agency. He’ll probably be made captain too.

Not quite Aylestone Meadows is it

Kind of my thinking too and I really hope it turns out to be the case. Many fans just have mental scars with what’s transpired in recent seasons, culminating in the Ayew and BDCR combo. Fans end up fearing the situation when we start out with a cluster of experienced signings, a “Here we go again” kind of feeling. But I’ve said myself that getting the leadership group right is extremely important this summer, you can’t go into a season with Hamza and BDCR as your main senior figures, that’s just piss poor squad management. Russell did similar at MK Dons and Swansea, a few older heads, but the majority of his signings were under 25. I hope that will be a similar case here this summer. Once Ings, Chaplin and McCarthy are through the door, I’d be inclined to get a couple more experienced heads, especially in defence, then the rest of the signings to be 25 and under 🤞🏻

Can’t believe what I’ve just come across

When Graeme Souness replaces Russell Martin 👍🏻

Don’t worry mate, Skipp will get replaced with Chris Marsden.

Disgusting news if true. But I’m hearing Bade Aluko and Jayden Joseph are being loaned out, with Francis Benali and Jason Dodd coming in.

Who next? Marian Pahars? James Beattie? Claus Lundekvam?

No doubt mate, it’s just the fact that the weekend left me more confused Preferring more directness on the wings, rather than playing Alves and BDCR out there, was such a key decision imo, a decision I hope Russell Martin sticks with. But now with Chaplin coming in, who’s best work in his career has come when playing behind a main striker, it will be interesting to see where Martin plays him, because comparing him with BDCR, it’s ridiculous how many similarities there were in their statistics last season.

But then you have the conundrum of what he produced at the weekend, he was our best player in a 8/10 role. It all depends how certain players are viewed, it’s why I was most intrigued to see where Martin would play Alves and BDCR at the weekend, they both ended up playing the same role, a role where I personally think Chaplin would fit better. If BDCR left, I could understand this signing a bit more. You could put Alves LW, but how he looked at the weekend, maybe the 8/10 role is better for him. Mavididi could leave, but do you replace him with a similar player? While Jake Evans is probably best at RW rather than a lone striker role at this level. Also you have to factor in that Martin went with more directness on the wings at the weekend, even giving Riley Carr a chance. Conundrums galore

After what happened at the weekend, it’s left me more confused of where he fits into this team. As one of the 8/10? But then Alves will probably be pushed out the 11. As a false 9 striker? Personally I think he’s better behind a main striker. RW? Martin went with more direct players on the wings at the weekend, and in all honesty, I’d prefer it to stay that way.

Get in! Shove your rowing up your arse.

Just listened to his post match interview, glad he was questioned about the young talent in the group, and it was one of the more exciting reasons as to why he joined the club. We’ve known for years about the talent coming through, they just need to be utilised in the right manner. Some may end up going out on loan for the season, Briggs has already been one, but if we can have a solid core of young talent, which is probably the most positive thing about the club atm, sign the right quality and leadership to help them, then the overall picture of the club might look a bit brighter. Going to be an important few weeks, getting rid of the bad in Winks, Kristiansen, Okoli, Faes and Vestergaard especially, then hopefully we can look forward with a bit of positivity.

Thanks mate. The question I had coming into pre season was how he was going to be viewed by Russell, as he’s played a mixture of attacking midfield and wing, but to see him start in a 8/10 role, scoring and putting in arguably the best display of the afternoon, hopefully that’s an encouraging sign moving forward. If that’s how he’s viewed going forward, then makes me think do we even need Conor Chaplin if he signs, unless Russell sees him in a different position or BDCR is on his way out, which is probably doubtful.

Couldn’t watch, but was most intrigued to see where Alves played today, to have a good performance in an attacking midfield role is very encouraging, maybe that’s the right spot for him moving forward.

Mentioned him last week along with Kian Noble who is also at Man City, those two are the most realistic imo over Alleyne and Mfuni. Burns is out of contract next year, so could see him moving somewhere permanently.

The wings are the most unpredictable position imo, just because that position has been so varied throughout Martin’s managerial career, a mix of natural wingers and non natural wingers. Intrigued to see how BDCR, Evans and Alves line up in pre season. I’ve said to Ric though a couple of times this summer, that I wouldn’t be surprised if Emilio Lawrence joins from Man City, especially if Mavididi leaves too.

I see Lleyton Hewitt’s son has reached the Boys’ singles final, feel old yet?

£10 million For a player in League One in the last year of his contract. This might get messy.

This is what life in League One gets you. He was never going to stay in this division, even more so with only a year left on his contract. Just a shame he may be the first centre back out the door instead of Okoli or Faes.