afar

Grabban could be key for them, he's got a decent record in that division.

They are laying into Galloway on RTG, wonder why Rafa chased him so hard last year.

Not watching the game but sounds from the comments on the Beeb that they've been a little unlucky so far.

Got there just before me Aye. Anything above 30K and there'll be at least six gushing "our fans" type threads TBf it wasn't long ago when a 30k crowd in the Championship was pretty impressive. Not that you would believe whatever figure they come out with especially when you factor in the free ticket element.

The big question for me is where the hell did the 40 million surplus go from last season, we have a net spend of less than 20 million so far. Criminal that it's not been re-invested.

Some of the posts in there about how we will fare this season are educated bollocks, "not 3 worse teams than us", "worst squad in the division", "Rather have Hughton in a relegation fight", "Their defence was like a sieve in the c'ship" They don't do themselves any favours by not doing a little bit of research do they.

If that was true, West Ham wouldn't have been in for Hart, someone who's hardly been in great form himself. I think this is a waste of limited resources imo, if we want an upgrade we need to be looking at better than him.

Not convinced about Derby this season, they lost their best two players in Ince and Hughes, this is a good first game for the Mackems, if they can't get a win here it'll be a good indication of how much they are going to struggle this season, having said that we lost our first two last season.

Well the weekend is coming up and we don't seem to do any business during Saturday and Sunday, so we have a week before the season starts, we are likely to start with the current squad.

The defence gave up fewer goals than any other last year. Dummett is the only weak link imo, Gayle had the best strike rate of goals to games in the division. If you want to find reason for us finishing in that range, look at the strength in depth and the missing components like a quality number 10 or a decent left back. For me, I'm predicting 10th (with the caveat that Shelvey and Gayle stay fit and available for most of the season) right now and I've often been accused as being a pessimistic old bastard, which is absolutely true. Think our first 11 or so is better than most on here think, and they are way over estimating the general strength of the likes of Stoke or WBA or Southampton, the teams that will probably be in and around that area. The drop off from our first 11 though is severe and that's what worries me most of all.

Yeah it was, good signs. If Aarons was on the left when he took that pass, think it would have led to a good chance, Aarons really didn't know what to do on the right. Fabulous play all round by Merino, he broke up possession initially, raked a perfect ball 40 or 50 yards and then was first man up to support.

Another point you've got to take into account with Huddersfield is they went up by borrowing 75% of their first team. Those players all went back to their parent clubs in the summer, so naturally they had to replace them, and they have done with a bunch of signings, some of which are of dubious quality in terms of the PL. They are well managed by Wagner and will spring the odd surprise here and there but anything above 18th is a huge feat for them, truth is they were a long way behind us in the end last season and got through the playoffs without winning a game. Brighton seem to be follow the Burnley plan of a few years back, almost expecting relegation so not taking any financial risks.

I certainly think a lot of folks on here are underestimating the ability we do have in the squad when assessed against the vast majority of the sides in the PL. They seem to be trying to compare us to Chelsea, Manure, Liverpool or Spuds. Of course we are nowhere near that quality, but we are a lot closer to the likes of Watford, WBA, Stoke , Southampton and even West Ham than folks on here want to make out. If we can steer clear of major injuries we'll be absolutely fine, where we will have problems is if we have to dip to far into our squad as there is a huge drop off in quality in certain areas. I think most understand that, i just feel like most expect a lot more than being involved a relegation scrap with Rafa managing the team and the owner is threatening that. As long as Shelvey and Gayle stay injury and suspension free, I don't think we will be involved in a relegation scrap with Rafa managing us. Chris Hughton and Pardew managed us to a comfortable return the last time we went down, Rafa is way better than those two of course and this squad is better than that squad. Right now we are a team with mid table aspirations rather than a one that people here are panicking about that hovers around the bottom three all season. And this absolutely, look at the pre-season prep we had that year, look at how we were so mismanaged, is that squad any stronger than the one we have now ?

I certainly think a lot of folks on here are underestimating the ability we do have in the squad when assessed against the vast majority of the sides in the PL. They seem to be trying to compare us to Chelsea, Manure, Liverpool or Spuds. Of course we are nowhere near that quality, but we are a lot closer to the likes of Watford, WBA, Stoke , Southampton and even West Ham than folks on here want to make out. If we can steer clear of major injuries we'll be absolutely fine, where we will have problems is if we have to dip to far into our squad as there is a huge drop off in quality in certain areas.

Think that's pretty much spot on, Rafa showed his hand with the Wolfsburg game I think and I think Atsu won the battle to line up alongside Ritchie on the wings. I wasn't impressed at all with Elliot and Dummett and would switch them out personally (although there appears to be few options for Dummett), I would also go with a slightly different line up if it were me picking: Krul, Manquillo, Lejeune, Clark, Gamez, Ritchie, Merino, Shelvey, Hayden, Aarons, Gayle. Gone for Krul because he's still our best keeper in my mind, failing him I would go Darlow, Woodman then Elliot in that order. Gamez although not a left back is still a better option than dummett I think. Since we are playing one of the better PL sides first up, protecting that back four with a more flat central midfield maybe a good way to go. I've gone for Aarons on the left because he's the one true left winger in the squad and has looked as good as anyone in pre-season. I'm assuming Gayle will be fit.

Like most of us, I've seen little of him to judge but the fact that he can't get past Dummett who has been atrocious this pre-season says a lot about the guy. Rafa doesn't even want to look at the guy, look at the Wolfsburg game. Clark had to play the full 90 mins, Mbemba came on and played right back, Gamez had to go to left back and there wasn't another CB to replace Clark. Really odd situation, surely Rafa sanctioned the deal and knew something about the player, but what he's seen in training obviously makes him think he's not cut out for the English game.

Plus 9.5 for Thauvin.

We should be happy with the performance today, compare our pre-season with the last one we had going into a PL campaign and it's a world apart. 3-1 flattered them in all truth, and we are still a couple of weeks away from full fitness. Some good performances out there too, really excited for the competition in the wide positions Ritchie and Atsu were excellent today, Murphy and Aarons will be pushing them for starting spots. We look solid at the centre of Defence in LeJuene and Clark, Manquillo had a good game, Perez blew hot and cold as usual, thought Mitro played well again, got on the end of things and scored (could of had more). Shelvey and Hayden, then Merino is an exciting prospect. No Colback today Worried though about Dummett, Diame looked woeful when he first came on but did grow into the game , need to shift him imo. De Jong was quiet but could have gotten on the scoresheet too.

not sure he is, clearly didn't want to play for Bruce. Grayson got something out of McGeady last year when most thought he was done, he's probably thinking he can do the same with McCormack, it's a unecessary risk for Villa iyam.

Not sure why Villa would let him go to a rival on loan, he's got a great record at that level, obviously didn't get along with Bruce, but why strengthen a team that could compete with you ? I can understand a sale but not a loan to another Champ club, makes little sense to me.

Strange how Hanley wasn't even included again today, We had to give Clark 90 mins.

I thought he was good today actually, was getting into positions, that's the main thing. Could of had a couple more and certainly should have had a penalty.

We were a lot better than them for sure, it could have been a lot more than 3-1 tbh. Despite all the doom on here, we've got some decent players, we just need to add a few to be confident enough for a good season. Lets face it, good for us now is mid table.

Is he a alternative to Shelvey or is he someone who could play alongside him ? I like Hayden too, those three in midfield could be an option but it would leave the striker very isolated.

Biggest concern of the pre-season for me. Obviously we need another striker, a true number 10 and the GK situation needs addressing (although I think Krul and Darlow would adequately get us through the season, Elliot looked suspect today in the little work he had, he was sloppy) but the more I see of Dummett this pre-season the more I worry, the problem is compounded by the lack of alternatives.