thunderball

Thought we were plucky in the face of late disruption, but lacked quality and familiarity. Passing, possession and retention was poor, movement was mixed, and needs to improve. We have no cohesion, we just wing it, but that is understandable. Thought Chuck was nervous to start but grew into it and was solid enough, he will grow into a classy, reliable midfielder I think. Targett was improved and got better but is not last seasons Targett, but he is not on his own. Midfield was weak, and way below what we need, we will be easily dominated here this season. Buendia had flashes of quality and assurance but I hope he will grow into this team and is not a glorified Jota. I think he needs a strong midfield around him and willing runners/movement from others. We are just thrown together at the moment and its going to take time for this to fall into place. I thought Ings showed endeavour and willingness, he was unluckily not to add another today. Hopefully the return of Watkins, Traore and Bailey will bring some balance and quality. No panic yet, when you look at the struggles around the rest of the division, everyone is getting up to speed and I think the return of the crowds is influencing things. I really hope they spend £50m on a very good CM, I think we need one.

Valuable point given the injuries and unfamiliarity. Can’t complain.

I’m about 2 minutes behind I think

Would be good to try and get Ollie into the game

We need a better midfield

A point is OK. It’s early days

In fairness, if he can’t do 10 minutes he shouldn’t be on the bench?

Love to see Bidace and Watkins on now

Young in the middle AND Chuck really isn’t the best formula against a well drilled Brentford. We have little choice though

They are doing OK. Chuck is warming up, finding his feet with the pace

Buendia now in a groove for us

I think it’s all internet BS, everyone is reading the same mischievous posts/tweets and reinforcing the lie. I read on Twitter the delay in announcing the Scotland team was because McGinn “had Covid”, but he was subsequently named in the squad. I think that’s it. If so many players have Covid it would make the news and there would be action. Smith outlined his injuries at the presser yesterday. We will all be wiser come 2pm.

Positive mind set. I like it

Some will say we will play 4-4-2 and therefore we dont need to but I think Ings sits where Barkley sat so the shape is similar. I like the fact that Buendia and Bailey seems very comfortable on either side, and Buendia can play at 10 or even more deep lying - that’s progress. Ings is the curve ball, it could be the Joker in the pack, but it will depend on him getting through a bigger workload as well as carrying that greater threat. We lose Barkley’s dribbling and creativity but hopefully gain goals. We hopefully get the creativity as well as greater modern endeavour from Watkins/Buendia and Bailey. I think Traore will contribute this year also. It’s all going to take time to click though, with our fixtures I really can see us in a pretty poor placing come November, but hopefully kick on from there.

To address some of the general points of issue here: 1. We could definitely do with a more dynamic, progressive central midfielder. Whether they compete with McGinn, Sanson, Luiz or Nakamba is irrelevant, we lack this player and none of those we have have made an unarguable case for themselves as the stand-in candidate, in fact, far from it. 2. We haven’t replaced Grealish on the LHS. Bailey can deputise but he is not the like for like replacement. 3. I think we are short of quality due to international competitions this year. We will lose key players for prolonged periods and that will affect us, but the silver lining is it might give the youngsters a chance. 4. If Wesley is gone, its likely for good. And if he wasn’t good enough then Davis has no place here either, sentiment has no place in that, we need a much better deputy pushing Ings and Ollie, neither neither may with us for too long and we need cover and continuity. 5. Unless we are a lost cause like Sheffield Utd, I dont think Dean Smith is going anywhere this season, even if results mean we regress. That might change during the summer, but we won’t panic unless we are terrible before Christmas. I also think depending on how we fare this season we go big next summer, we now have the money. I also think we will sign Cantwell in January for >£10m or next Summer on a free - his age and style are right up Dean’s street.

'We are done' is definitive but "Pretty much done" leaves the door wide open. Deano's full of deception/tricks like that I expect another 3 or 4 at least.

....we will never know

We have a better chance of beating them in this than in the league. It’s depends what team we want to field, they won’t be full strength.

I think it would be a mistake to sell Luiz, there is a player in there but we havent quite managed to get it right for us or him, but that doesn't mean we should sell. Get him a new contract and be patient unless Roma are willing to pay say £30m its pointless? I think the issue is the McGinn balance. Maybe its one or the other, but its rash to seel now, I am sure we will regret it in two years time. Nakamba isnt up to it for where we want to be, that is now clear. If we can replace him great, but I think Ramsey is a decent stop gap. I dont think there will be many takers though?

The brilliant thing is, they are actually the brightest ones on the pitch so far this season: tonight; Ramsey for the seniors last two games; kids during the friendlies. They have a familiarity of how they are playing and interacting, making runs. I do think the better ones need men’s football now to kick on, they are ready.

OK. But just tell us anyway? Go on…

The club was quick to replace him after his first full season with us so it suggests there is something they don’t like. Wasn’t sure if his loan was keeping him hot while Elmo played out his contract and he would deputise and compete against Cash, and maybe wait for the kids to step up, but the body language suggests that isn’t going to be the case?

Great finish, well done lad

I just think we are much better than that.

Until then not much tonight. Hopefully that will help him settle and he will have a storming second half.