Salopian

If we can avoid more than one serious injury over the remaining friendlies and the first 10 games, AND if they continue to play to his orders, then I can imagine 15 points, but the wheel can come off so easily and lady luck may take a part.

Some of the outcomes depend heavily on the unknowable future. Having said this we do seem to have exercised a longer term outlook, and we have bought some very promising youngsters, such as Maddison and Godfrey. What has worried me is that over the past few years we have lashed out, usually in August or January, in some kind of panic. Why did we spend so much on Naismith. Wildschut, Jarvis, van Wolfwinkel and others? The new system under Webber really does seem to be cautious and careful. We have spent relatively little, but we seem to have obtained quality. "Prudence and Ambition" was the declared policy when McN arrived, and some of the time has been evident. At times, I suspect in panic, we have wasted money.

Right back seems to lack cover for Pinto, replacements seem to be playing out of position there - Wildschut, Godfrey, or lacking pace - Martin. There seems plenty of firepower in the midfield - Vranci, Pritchard, Godfrey, Murphy, etc, but we have loaned Morris, so with two main strikers, we would seem to need at least one more here. What sort depends on the style of play chosen by Farke, but whether we need the traditional target man seems doubtful.

I''m positive about the new season in general, and I think that the skill and pace level will be as high as last season. Having seen the team capitulate on so many occasions last year, there is a doubt at the back of my mind about the mental toughness of the side. I hope that the new staff will deal with this, and turn us into a team who will never give up, and hate being beaten. There are still enough of the old guard to make me concerned about the defence, but if we succeed in signing a good central defender and left back, and if Pinto can develop the defensive side of his game, I will be reassured.

What is behind this? Are we really interested in the Scots lad or, is the recognition that Rangers have no money are we hoping to get the youngster at a bargain price in a player exchange? I know absolutely nothing about Barjonas, and especially what potential he is thought to have, but could this be a way of "off-loading" Dorrans, who clearly wants to go north, and overcome the lack of cash that Rangers are thought to suffer from?

We let him go, so at the time NC clearly didn''t feel that he had the potential, so the questions are; "Was the judgement made then a bad one or wrong, or has he come on since then?" Clearly if both Howson and Dorrans leave we shall be a little short in the attacking midfield area, or are Godfrey and Thompson reckoned to have more prospect? We need a committed, all-running player with a good shot. The craft will come from Wes, Pritchard and the German, so there may be a niche for Adeyemi. Hard running, hard tackling players may be subject to a greater risk of injury, so we need one or two more.

I believe that

Carry the cones and other equipment?

Doesn''t say much for Rudd, who is much more experienced, or the other keepers. As it is only for one season, giving time to spend limited money on other positions in the team, probably O.K, and ditto if it gives Remi time to develop a little more.

He looked good in the Premiership. In fact it was only towards the end of the season, when he was out for several games, that our fate was finally sealed. I think that he has some good qualities, but despite his height he is not good at headers and he really doesn''t like physical contact. If Farke feels that he can make an improvement, it may be worth the risk, but otherwise we need money to sign players, and I would sell him.

Given his contribution virtually every match, the price is too low. At £6m or more perhaps. Get rid of Wildshut first.

If he can defend, then a free signing could be good, but in describing him as "fast, in the centre or either wing" suggests that he would duplicate what we have. If his main contribution is in scoring, then 10 goals is not fantastic, even if he scored one or two with his head. A question - I saw the video of his goals, were any of them with the left foot? He scored one or two from on his left side, but he did so by using the outside of his right foot. Finally, aged 30 or 31 is he he a temporary fill, and are we expecting to lose a Murphy or Pritchard?

He clearly doesn''t enjoy the physical aspect of life in the Championship, so would another year be good for him or for us? If we can get a reasonable price, we could save a year''s wages and also have some money to sign a player happier in the conditions.

For me it depends on whom we sign, as coach etc and as players, and also what good players we may have to sell to finance new signings - if we are forced to sell one Murphy, Howson or Pritchard, then I shall be less confident. It is difficult to forget our poor record in signings over the past few years, and my confidence has been shaken, so I would prefer to keep our best rather than signing unknowns.

The defence, including the goalkeeper, has been the problem. Sometimes I wonder if what they lack is an on-field marshal to shout them into position and take action. They are so easily out of position, and they concede goals from crosses often because they are the wrong side of the opposing striker. If I had to pick one position, it would be central defender. I had hoped that Klose would have done this but... I agree with the importance of the keeper, both in his consistently good saving and cutting out crosses. If defenders have little confidence in the man in the jumper, then it will affect their own games. The most worrying thing of all is that to get an experienced and very good central defender, or cover any other position, is probably beyond our budget, because of the waste of money on poor signings in the past. We need to sign at least four new defenders and a keeper, and we can''t expect large signings on all these. The hope is that the new director of football will be able to repeat past miracles, producing a good squad from a large number of small purchases, but I wouldn''t bet on it.

and at times we moved the ball well, but let''s not assume that we can relax. We missed some good chances, but Preston missed three very good chances, and but a for a little bit of luck we could have been defeated. We might look convincing against QPR, but the games before could reveal the continuing weakness in defending. It may be good that we face Brighton who are still full of euphoria and who may be generous to us, and Leeds may be saving themselves for the play-offs. An away win is great, but this was not exactly convincing in defence.

Over several months AN said he was still trying to work out the best position for Godfrey. The player seems to like CD, but AN saw him as a a fullback. He came with a big reputation, so with nothing to lose now I would play him. In general, because we are on for a hiding, given the central defenders we have available, I have to ask whether such a match is a good opportunity to bring in younger players - this applies to all of them, - Maddison, Efete et al. But given that the central defenders will be two from Martin, Bassong, and Bennett, do we have any choice?

Like Whittaker, Pinto came with a better reputation going forward then defending. In fact, because of his pace he is really threatening. The problem is that neither of the two is very good at heading, like most of our central defenders, with the result that we have failed to cut out crosses, with goals the result, and like most of the defence they are regularly out of position.

I have seen only the highlights, because of where I live, but I must admit to being very impressed by him. He has good ball control and passing and a good shot with either foot - that much I knew. What was refreshingly new was his ability to resist challenges. He doesn''t look a big or powerful player, but the defenders struggled to knock him off the ball. AN wasted a lot of money in signings, but Pritchard seems to be an important part of our future. Let''s hope that we can hang on to him!

I would try to turn things round by picking our strongest defence, which would have to include Pinto and Djiks. The latter will not shirk headers, and the former is at least quick and keen. The main problem is a lack of reliable central defenders, and inconsistent goalkeepers. I fear the worst. In general I would like to select one or two youngsters, but too many who are untried. Could Ebou do it, or Maddison? Pritchard must surely have an extended run, and perhaps they should ignore the temptation to select Wes.

I think that we shall have to be patient. The new management structure will bring in some good players, but there will be a major problem to get rid of the the accumulated deadwood and non-tryers. If too many new players are brought in, making a coherent team of so many will take time, and I doubt if we have enough money to buy any significant players. I am not sure how quickly a repetition of the minor miracles they achieved in the past can be repeated. I would not want to produce a team which gets up via the play-offs and then fails to survive in the Prem. We have been this way before. I would prefer building securely to gain promotion and also avoid relegation, and this is not easy, or quick.

Our new man is respected because he signed quality players from lower divisions, and found some real winners in the process. I very much doubt that we shall be able to sign known quality players, because we do not have the money. Even if we ,manage to sell a few players, we shall not have a great budget. So the answer to the question is that we expect astute signings not perceived by other clubs, and when success comes (even stopping up the defence may be enough,) then we can think about "known" quality players. Given a good chief coach/manager, we ought to be challenging for promotion this time next year.

Perhaps the presence of the new Director if he comes in time, will remind players that they are playing for the futures and encourage something better. Otherwise I fear some big defeats, and the top half is by no means certain.

I had the same idea, but I wouldn''t want to put out a largely reserve team in games against teams at the top. It wouldn''t be good for the players or supporters. One or two positions are crying out for some change -especially in the defence, and certainly Godfrey, now that no experienced and competent fullback is available. We probably have to replace Dorrans, and I would urge Maddison. Otherwise bring on the others, one or two per match, fairly late in the game when opponents feel that they have scored enough goals.

I hope for a draw, but with our error-prone defence I expect to lose, say 1-2.