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What about 4-4-2: Gollini De Laet - Elphwick - Chester - Amavi Bacuna - Tshibiola - Jedinak - Grealish Ayew - McCormack Bacuna appears to have won RDM over but that looks a lot better 1st team than before. Also could play as a 4-3-3: Gollini De Laet - Elphwick - Chester - Amavi Bacuna - Tshibiola - Jedinak Ayew - McCormack - Grealish Or a 4-2-3-1: Gollini De Laet - Elphwick - Chester - Amavi Tshibiola - Jedinak Bacuna - Ayew - Grealish McCormack Versatility

Agree but it still needs installation in the players and that's where the character comes from. From what we have seen very little players from last season currently have it, and it looks like it is going to take a while to build back up. If defensively we had: Gollini New RB - Elphick - Baker - Amavi New DM This would be a defensive unit more or less unaffected by last season; all "new" to the team. Can instill the organisation in them but it will be a lot quicker and easier with the new players rather than the old ones. didnt like the subs, but a) he's learning the squad and b ) from Tony's tweet and RDM pre match saying "places on Saturday" he was really saying "places in the squad". The only real sense in today was testing the resolve of some players and whether then can hack it. The majority failed and will hopefully been moved on. We can't forget that we have had the "pleasure" of this for over a year. Whilst it might be obvious on videos etc. there's nothing quite like seeing it up close and testing it in a competitive match.

Agree mostly, but probably would put Okore, Gardner (just), Veretout and Gestede in squad also. Okore looked better in first half, and was covering Richards as well. When he was partnered with Baker it looked better. Baker definitely looks more solid right now and deserves to be partnering Elphick; but would rule Okore out of being in the squad. Would prefer Cissohko out but given Bennett going we do need cover. Would say 2 (1 defensive, 1 attacking/creative) midfielders, a target/poacher up top and a right back are essential. Was beginning to think Richards night be OK as back up until tonight but now think this is needed. I don't think this result would have changed players minds, but they might ask for a few more grand to their wage packet... Given that comment from Xia, does begin to make me think this was for them to play for the shirt.I think we are going to see A LOT of movement over the next few weeks.

Has to have been a last chance saloon for him. RDM not only gave him the opportunity of starting; he made him captain. THEN allowed him to play in his "preferred" position. Awful defending; was always out of the defence line. Played on the Luton player for the 1st goal (to be fair Amavi could have done more). As a leader? Inept is an understatement. No talking I saw, no rallying. Complete opposite to Elphick on Sunday. Utterly useless. Should be nowhere near the first team. Hutton is not great and should be replaced also but I would rather him at right back rather than Richards. Whilst it is only 1 game this season, it is a complete repetition of what happened last season. Even with a new manager, proper pre season, better coaching, "easier" opposition he still is woefully poor. The epitamy of what went wrong last season. Don't wish a career ending injury but hopefully Hull will panic regarding lack of players and sign him up. He needs to go. Now.

Wow. That was poor. First half was OK to be fair, certainly first 20 minutes or so. Why why why was Richards put to CB? Awful there last season and was the weak link in the defence in first half being out of position all the time! Midfield were absent again. RDM - not good from you either. Disappointed. Not the end of the world, but hopefully a wake up call. Tony, get your cheque book out, you are going to need it!

Substitutions Sherwood would be proud of...

Positive for first 20/25 minutes then we have let them into the game. Richards is such a liability, we need a new right back. He can't even defend at this level. Not being impressed so far by Gardner and Tshibola but time to make an impression. Still need a new midfielder. Ayew needs to calm the f*** down! Not to panic quite yet. RDM needs to get their heads back on straight; but clearly showing we still need players.

Would prefer him to Cissohko as back up to Amavi but if he wants first team football then can understand. Also as we have already played them this season, there's only 1 game he can f*** us over in!!!

Arrivederci Carlos. Not the worst but pleased he has gone. It has lightened up the squad and he is definitely not one for the future. However hope he does well for Fiorentina. So as it appears to be a loan this won't go to other football right?

To Hutton's defence, still better positioning than Richards who's marking the opposition goalkeeper...

If you look at his Twitter profile, all he is doing is retweeting villa fans comments about how they love him and loads of Villa stuff. Yeah I think he is staying

Needs replacing long term, but I think there are other priorities beforehand. Get the Central Midfield sorted then look at RB. Wasn't as bad as he has been (didn't even get a yellow card!) and certainly better than Richards or Bacuna there, but we can do better. Whether that is this window or next, I imagine it is something that will happen sooner rather than later.

So season commencing today and already a lot more positivity! So far then we've had: 4 Ins - Gollini, Elphick, Tshibola, McCormack 8 Outs - Richardson, N'Zogbia, Crespo, Clark, Gana, Gil (loan), Guzan, Sinclair. Plus 3 more bids (Jedinak, Morrison, Wells?) and Lescott being told to f*** off (even if Leeds don't want him), squad is already looking a lot better. If we could get rid of Richards and Gabby would be excellent. The we have 7 or 8 players in (according to the good Doctor), meaning a total of 11/12 in?! Whilst maybe some concerns that the squad doesn't know each other and a lot of upheaval like last season, there are 2 key differences: 1. Better management; and 2. Better attitude. What is clear that each of the signings come across as professionals, wanting to play better football and want to play for the shirt. If the other signings are of similar mentality then I think we are well into having an excellent team, one that should be challenging at the upper echelons of the league! Now watch us lose to Wednesday...

Thinking he will go 4-2-3-1 Gollini Hutton - Elphick - Baker - Amavi (if fit) / Cissokho Gardner - Tshibola Bacuna - Ayew - Grealish Gestede Subs: Steed, Okore, Amavi/Cissokho, Westwood, McCormack, Green, Veretout Won't start McCormack, more or less said that in press conference. Bacuna he seems to be keen on. Might play Westwood instead of Gardner. Anyway 1-2. Bannan scores first for Wednesday (of course); then Bacuna equalises followed by a late goal by McCormack! Finally the season started and I cannot wait!!!

They have just signed Flanagan on loan for the season, along with Lowton I imagine they are set for the season. I did see a report though that Liverpool on have Clyne as RB. Go on Klopp, you know Richards is amazing. He has champions league experience too...

BBC reporting medical too! Link Whilst RDM may have seen something in him, will be really pleased if this goes through!

Just to add more random speculation Ravel Morrison is following our very own Italian goalkeeper Eggollini on Twitter:

BBC also confirming Clicky: Much more likely to get minutes which will be good for us and him.

Feels like the signing we needed to make. Gets goals at this level and by the looks of it creates them too. Finally some real cutting edge in the final third (hopefully!).

Hatched 2 10k eggs today (my first ones). Got an Omanyte and Electabuzz; got neither before so very pleased! Was struggling with new ones but finally evolved my eevee to a flareon. Other than that still just keep getting the same pokemon. Damn bloody drowzees!!!

This. Just watched the highlights via Middlesbrough YouTube channel and that pass was awful. Think he could have done better on the 3rd goal too. Thunking about it last season he was told at the start "don't want you, not good enough" by sherwood. Says the same to Bennett. Then Garde comes and basically says to Cissohko "we need you" (which we did given we had no cover for LB, thanks Sherwood) and makes His ego inflate massively. When he gets back here and sees the meas he then says "I'm too good for this" and has a massive chip on his shoulder. Would explain the poor performances anyway. Speculative of course but I get the distinct impression he does not give a damn and will be out for the first team that matches his wages and I won't miss him. I can see a much better attitude coming out of Bennett and right now would rather him stay than Cissokho as competition with Amavi.

First Team Gollini New RB - Elphick - Okore/Baker - Amavi New Defensive Midfielder - Tshibola/Gardner Ayew - New Attacking Midfieider - Grealish New Striker Back up/Squad Steer/Bunn Hutton?/Richards? - Clark/Toner - Baker/Okore - Bennett/Cissohko? Sanchez? - Westwood? Green - Veretout? - Bacuna? Gestede?/Kozak?/Hepburn-Murphy That back up team is truly awful! Anyone with a question mark more than happy to change. Think really we only have strength in depth in Goal and Central Defence. Green seems good and Hepburn-Murphy is promising but don't want to go in with him as main back up. If wasn't clear already, then it's abundantly clear now these players were badly managed for a while. What has been going on in Bodymoor Heath the last 2 years I don't know but it's been horrific whatever has happened. Clearly these players have been damaged, the key is how many can be saved. First few proper games will really tell and if we are terrible, I hope that many more transfers come in. Certainly 2 new midfielders and a new striker are a must. Really would like a new RB too. First team then starts looking better. If we could get that first team sorted this transfer window then should still be up there by Christmas. More strengthening in January and then who knows.

So preseason done and next match is the real test. Have to say I am somewhat disappointed with the result against Middlesborough. Didn't watch the game but from all the comments it seems that not much has changed since last season unfortunately. Hopefully that can be sorted out but next month will be exceptionally telling for the season. Did have a thought about where we need to improve desperately and its seems clear that we still lack that cutting edge in front of goal. Having gone through the stats of pre season our goal breakdown was as follows: Total goals: 21 goals Defenders: 5 Midfielders: 3 (including Sinclair) Forwards: 13 (4 were from youth strikers too so 9 senior strikers) And it's fair to say also that we have not played decent opponents. To me that midfield stat is abysmal, being out scored by defenders?! Clearly not strong enough in the slightest. With Amavi coming back might tighten the defence, but I would really want to see some improvement there. However that might need game time more than anything just to get them working together. However we definitely need to improve the attack and midfield. That lack of midfielders scoring is a worry and having a strong striker will improve us immensely. We need: Defensive Midfielder Attacking/Creative Midfielder Striker As an absolute minimum if we want to even consider promotion right now. Still don't think we have worry regarding relegation but the squad needs strengthening. The fact that Sinclair was involved shows me the move to Celtic is not near. Sanchez also showing no move imminent. I was rather hopeful but hmmm.... Tony, Roberto, Keith. Your move.

They are in Scotland, they gave up on "football" a long time ago...

I'm walking distance to the cross city line and that runs every 10 minutes to Aston on Saturday afternoon. Sunday's are annoying at every 30 minutes and evenings runs until 11 but can still get me home so all good! Depends where you need to get to but buses and trains into town means should be reachable from public transport from near enough wherever