How many players do we need for the start of the season?

[Mack]

Another point is that with time and hindsight the whole 'Sven' era was one of the biggest false dawns in the club's history.

[Corky]

Dyer should not be a starter, good enough for the squad but just too inconsistent with his delivery and when he decided to use his pace.

[hackneyfox]

Maybe I interpret it in different way, but I read it as, people are bored of the other 3, and Dyer tends to get tagged on unjustly.

I'm not saying he should be first choice either, but I do think he adds to the squad over the course of a season (at this level).

Why are you so anti him?

He has pace, apart from that he gives absolutely nothing to the squad, his final ball is useless 99% of the time.

[Steve Agnew]

I think its looking pretty good as we stand. I would like to see us play passing football and to give Beckford a chance. We need players with his pace to be starting games and to keep the likes of Futacs on the bench, as an option. It will be soul destroying to have to watch Kasper and Futacs play a two man game all season. Kasper got a bit tedious with his long ball towards the end of last season, especially as he is capable of throwing the ball very well.

[Guest Col city fan]

I still believe we need a left winger. Dyer is our only natural left winger and although his pace can sometimes be indispensible, he doesn't have an end product and doesn't produce on a regular basis, which is probably why he has never played above Championship level. We need a tricky left winger with the ability to beat players but also score a few goals. Gallagher is also not good enough. Marshall is our only winger that will produce on a consistent basis.

Although we have a few central midfielders, a 'gritty' midfielder wouldn't look out of place. Jay Spearing's name was mentioned earlier, and although I don't think we will sign him, we could do with a player with similar attributes, a player that will just put his body on the line. Players like King are luxary players; they get knocked off of the ball to easy and we often carry them too much in physical games, such as Millwall, especially away games.

Overall though, the squad looks decent to be. The squad does have the ability to challenge, and I'd take a top 6th finish, no doubt.

All this.... It amazes me how people want to continue with King and even moreso Gally.

Christ, I have seen Gallagher have some stinkers and King goes missing too frequently.

I think they are both good players on their day, but their day doesn't come about consistently enough. It never really has done.

I think what Sven did was to to try to improve the general ability of the squad. He failed because he did it too quickly and he, although he bought some good players, he also wasted the funds available to him on others not so good.

Regarding your top 6 finish.... That's a big shout simply because none of us know enough about the new signings.

However, for me anyway, the defence is now sorted. The attack just about sorted. But to really give us that great shout of top 6 I just want to see that quality player brought in who we can all predict is going to make that difference. A player we basically know can really cut it at this level.

Koren or Spearing.... An exciting and pacy winger or two?

That would seal the deal IMO.

Then I'd have real hope.

[Raw Dykes]

All this.... It amazes me how people want to continue with King and even moreso Gally.

Christ, I have seen Gallagher have some stinkers and King goes missing too frequently.

I think they are both good players on their day, but their day doesn't come about consistently enough. It never really has done.

I think what Sven did was to to try to improve the general ability of the squad. He failed because he did it too quickly and he, although he bought some good players, he also wasted the funds available to him on others not so good.

Regarding your top 6 finish.... That's a big shout simply because none of us know enough about the new signings.

However, for me anyway, the defence is now sorted. The attack just about sorted. But to really give us that great shout of top 6 I just want to see that quality player brought in who we can all predict is going to make that difference. A player we basically know can really cut it at this level.

Koren or Spearing.... An exciting and pacy winger or two?

That would seal the deal IMO.

Then I'd have real hope.

I agree with pretty much all of this.

Re: Gally and King. I do think they are luxury players, but I still think they're valuable squad members. I think they would get into the starting lineups of quite a few clubs in this division. They can both be very handy when used wisely, i.e. finishing teams off at home. I wouldn't want either of them to start regularly, but I don't think we'd find it easy to replace backup players like them. Obviously, if they're not happy sitting on the bench, then I say get rid.

I agree about Sven. I don't think many other managers could have wasted so much money like that if they tried. The last summer transfer window was a massive opportunity to really strengthen the squad missed, but at least that's all history now. Of course, Sven did bring in some good players last summer (Schmeichel, Nugent, Konchesky, Danns), but the flops outnumber them.

I also agree about further signings. I think the defence looks very strong, although I think there might still be room for one more young centre half or right back for the future if/when Peltier leaves. I don't know much about Moore, Taft or Bolger - maybe one of those will step up.

I agree - one good addition to midfield could really make the difference. Whether it's a winger, a specialist defensive midfielder or a specialist central attacking midfielder, I reckon that could tip the balance from playoff hopefuls to automatic promotion contenders.

[Babylon]

All this.... It amazes me how people want to continue with King and even moreso Gally.

Christ, I have seen Gallagher have some stinkers and King goes missing too frequently.

I don't think anyone would have them as starters in most games, but there are times when both have been and could be very useful.

[ARM1968]

Winger, another CB and that's about it. Possibly a holding mid. But then I think we'd need to ship at least 1 CM out. My vote would be Wellens.