PlymouthGeordie

The bit where we targeted a player out of our price range and then subsequently targeted another player in Carlos where we have similar issues which are also delaying/preventing the deal.

If we were mid-table i'd share your thought process but we're not. Instead we're dropping points left, right and center because our defence is awful and we're running out of games. We wasted 2 weeks on Botman and appear to be doing the same on Carlos. If they land their preferred targets but they only play 15 games instead of 19 and we go down they've messed up. I'll reiterate, I believe the new ownership to be doing a good job on the whole. I just think they've botched the CB hunt.

I agree on this. But Botman was our number 1 target and we spent 2 weeks on him and failed. We now appear to have spent the best part of 2 weeks on Carlos and on the face of it progress appears slow and as a result we'll likely play 2 winnable games with no new CB and we've dropped 2 points in the first of those winnable games. It's not great is all I'm saying.

But they'll have tried their best though. So you're saying it's not ok to ask questions at 3 weeks (where we'll have played 2 huge games vs Watford and Leeds) but it is ok to ask questions at 4 weeks?

Using the logic of the club are trying and pushing but ultimately failing (so far) to obtain a player in the position we most need. Using that same logic, if come the end of the window we haven't signed a CB we shouldn't critisce them because it won't be through lack of trying. Effort alone isn't always enough (see half of our first 11). Just to add, I'm of the opinion the new ownership are doing a good job in difficult circumstances. I just think the CB pursuit has been a bit of a mess and a prolonged one at that.

Or, they could target players that are readily available for the money they're willing to pay. They know the fee for Carlos, either pay it or move on. Some sensitive souls on here the moment the smallest criticism of the new ownership is mentioned.

Doesn't sound like this is going to happen in time for the weekend. If we don't have a new CB in by the time Saturday comes around it'll be a failure of the hierarchy given it's our priority position and we'll be 3 weeks in to the window.

Dummett with Lewis at LB. Dummett and Trippier are both good talkers and could talk Carlos and Lewis through games, plus we'd have pace right across the back line.

I agree to an extent. But only if we begin to win a few and put pressure on them. Transfer budgets aside, purely on points and games played I'd much rather be in their position.

If granted their next 3 games would be Arsenal, Man Utd and Liverpool.

Probably our best CB. Deceptively quick, good in the air and rarely at fault for the goals we concede. I'd be playing him at CB with Lewis at LB until we can bring in some more reinforcements at the back.

I saw the links to Gosens, who was the other player?

It's hard to argue that we aren't already gone and tbh, if Watford get 4 points from their next 2 games and Leeds beat us it will be all over. To even have a remote chance we need to sign 2x CB, a LB and a CM that can actually get around the pitch. In addition, with all respect to Wood who I think is a solid signing, the new players will need to be a level up on him, more of the Trippier ilk.

We are done. Norwich, Brentford, Leeds, Watford, Southampton and Burnley at home. One win, we are done.

Not sure on first 11 but any line up needs to exclude Ritchie. He's so far out of his depth it's unreal. Should have given away a pen and received a red card against Cambridge. He'll be targeted and cost us a goal if he plays at left back. I'd love to see Dummett back in personally. We just need a solid option in that position and he gives us that.

Yep, madness. Longstaff, Shelvey and Hendrick always look like they're running through treacle. Willock has fallen off a cliff and Hayden (now injured) can cover ground well but his other attributes are poor.

Have to move quickly on to the next target. Got to be looking unlikely we'll have a new CB in our first 11 come Watford. Even if we sign one is it the right thing to chuck them in after only 1 or 2 training sessions?

No but I've seen Clark, Krafth and Lascelles plenty and they are taking us down. We're negotiating all deals from a position a weakness. We're second bottom and have played more games than our rivals. We've got no strikers and our defence is at best of championship standard. All selling clubs know the above. Unfortunately in this window we have to pay the premium being asked.

Badiashile off injured today as well so if he's our back up option to Botman and Carlos we could find ourselves working our way down to options 4 & 5 on the list soon.

With Kounde going off injured that could rule out Carlos. Lille have us over a barrel, we're desperate and they know it. May just need to pay the asking price on this one even if it is a bit higher than his current value.

Need some Botman and Carlos updates to get over that shower today.

Yep and that was when Clark, Ritchie, Dubravka and Dummett were competent and consistently available. Time/ Injuries have sadly caught up with all 4 and left us severely depleted down the left hand side (excluding Dubravka obviously).

He gets the remainder of the season for me with no questions asked.

I think he's a good appointment, he speaks well, has clear ideas and will build the club like Rafa would've (albeit with completely different philosophies). Today aside, I think he's been massively unlucky. Norwich - We should have won with 10 and surely would've won with 11. Brentford - Should've won and he couldn't even be there because of Covid. Man Utd - Should've won. Leicester - Maddison dive took the game away from us. Liverpool - Their first goal gets disallowed 99 times out of 100. Today is the first time I've been disappointed with his post match comments. Claiming we played well is Bruce-esque but I get why he's done it. He has to salvage what little confidence the players have remaining. So much rests on the Watford match but if do win it I really fancy us to survive. He still has my full support and should we go down I'd be happy for him to remain as manager. I'm just not sure PIF will feel the same.

I did think if we go down he'd be kept on. However, that was pre Trippier and if they come Botman, Carlos etc. If he takes us down after that level of investment I don't see PIF keeping him on even if Staveley and Reuben would like him to.