Hands on

There is no way we need another goalkeeper who is not the number 1 so this is clear circumstantial evidence that the purchase of players is not being properly coordinated. With a larger budget it wouldn't matter so much if players were signed without the agreement of the Shez but we have, regardless of what Corney has said, a shit budget which has to be carefully managed to produce a balanced team. This has not happened - again further circumstantial evidence that the budget is not controlled by Shez. The signing of a goalkeeper who is shorter than me at 5'10" is nonsense in this day and age of footballers of ever increasing height. If Shez gets the money to bring in the players he wants and that will only happen if the embargo is lifted in the next six days, all well and good after our poor start BUT that doesn't seem to be what will happen. It would not be surprising if I am right to think Shez will soon be on his way.

Can the EFL embargo International clearance or is it just transfers?

Buggar! I've taken what Corney said literally. So the gentleman in question has been persuaded to put money into a worthless football club in exchange for the issue of shares. Wow nice one Corney.

It's a takeover by someone Corney regards as the right sort of person who is undertaking due diligence as we type. Whoever you are WELCOME!

I do wonder if some of you have actually taken the trouble to listen to what SC said. He said we are under an embargo, he has the letter, which started three weeks ago because we are paying too much to our players. Now we assume this is a transfer embargo because that is what the EFL control so we can assume this is why we have been looking at players out of contract. The embargo doesn't stop us taking on these players but I think if nothing changes EFL fines could be on their way. Reference to due diligence and a name followed a direct question about wanting to sell the club. If the sale goes through before the end of August the new owners can under FFP simply inject money, so called investment, into the club to augment our budget as long as it doesn't create debt ie they make a gift. FFP at our level is a salary versus income assessment and does not include transfer fees. Clearly having built a squad with players on contracts we are now hurting because some of those well remunerated players can't be arsed and there is very little anyone can do about it unless and until someone throws some more money at the club as a so called investment. The Shez rants and strange formations now seem to make more sense. There is a chink of sunlight but the outlook is still overcast.

You can only explain his actions if he is trying to prove a point or wants to have his feet up with compensation Christmas presents under the tree.

They might turn it up when there is some good news.

Still waiting for the Euro Lottery winner.

There were two differences between us and Wigan. Ability was obvious but as you point out movement/speed/fitness (call it what you like) was the other. I rather think it is because of desire/commitment - they or most of them are coasting, going through the motions - no umph to do anything other than survive and by so doing putting our ongoing league one status at risk.

I did text a friend with the idea that the only way you can explain what is happening is that Shez wants the sack. We shall see when we have gone nine without winning because that is the direction we are going in.

Great topic. I don't understand where Davies was yesterday. On team sheet as substitute. Didn't warm up at half time. Didn't come on when Holloway removed. Injured or spat out his dummy?

The terrible decisions were made before kick off by the man who saved us twice but who now looks incapable of building a team. So sad!

Well I don't know about all of you but I have been surprised by the last two signings given the circumstances. A goal keeper, just the one, and a tiny unfit Belgium winger. Surprise!

Like it or lump it Ripley is on a season long loan at Burton keeping the bench warm hence the Shez comment about people who would rather sit on the bench than play. He got what he wanted in an extension of his contract at Boro. We were played!

What you pay for a loan signing depends upon what the club wants for their player. Ripley could have been cheaper if we guaranteed to play him when fit which we would have done without any hesitation. When it comes to Wilson it would be interesting to know what Cardiff wanted for this half season loan and the terms that were agreed. I can't see them wanting him to sit on the bench in Oldham.......

It goes from bad to worse. The scenario is I think that the Manager would work out what and who he wanted and draw up lists of first choice second choice and so on. Discussion with Corney. Positive noises, remember those, Hunt, Gardner and Davies signed whilst waiting for the talented bench sitter Ripley (that will do him a lot of good). Ben Wilson signed until January. Oxford game. Corney asked Manager what happened. Manager signs a tiny unfit Belgium winger. Corney thinks I can't let him spend anymore. Panic sets in. Burton game an improvement because diamond dropped. On to Walsall where defeat follows an abject second half performance. Manager has a rant like he did at Notts County whilst losing nine on the bounce. Manager no longer sure we will sign a second or is the first keeper. A group of travelling misfits meets up for a kick about on Little Wembley in the hope that they are offered a minimum wage contract with a struggling football club.

So Ben has 2 games to go before we can bring in an emergency keeper. What concerns me and everyone on here is that we are two weeks into the season and we only have one senior goal keeper who we do not regard as a number 1.

Loans are dangerous particularly when they ask for double the wage if you don't play them.

Does this mean we are waiting for his decision as we did with Ripley? When we are screwed again I hope there is a plan B. I'm not saying we would have won at Walsall but that first goal.

I would like to be able to analyse the Burton game because Fane can and did pass. He also went on two runs and failed to pass when he should. He broke up play and dominated their players. He is just the sort of player we need but there has to be balance and there has to be hard work by others around him. As Sheridan said after Walsall "We Threw It Away". It was not a lack of ability it was the desire that was lacking. They did not play for their shirt. Sheridan had every right to believe these players could do what they did last year. Our first three competitive games, Burton was the better performance, have shown him and us that they don't appear to be willing, Fane aside, to put in the effort for 90 minutes. Sheridan has strengthened the midfield with Gardner and now Kyeremeh. If the midfield group goes missing the defence will not look as strong as last year. If the midfield group goes missing our forwards will get no decent service. It is the midfield group that need to look at themselves and start earning their money.

It was 4 4 2 Wednesday. It should be 3 5 2 (1 1) Saturday. Holloway is best centrally holding up with players running on. I would have Fane, Green and Banks as a midfield three. Hunt and Ryan wing backs. Stott or Edmundson for Wilson or Gerrard. Holloway with either Duffas or Davies but bring Fawns on after 60. Being away from home is about a clean sheet. If we lose badly I will tell myself it is only three games into the season and these players need to get to know each other - to gel. Actually I will know then what I fear now - deep doo doo the same old..........

Apparently there was also an overheard conversation. Gerrard has lost weight, I think everyone was a bit complacent and this contributed to the slow start. They know now that it is going to be another long hard season whichever end of the table they are so I expect better tomorrow.

After the opening game Shez had every right to be down beat. I don't share the view that it was simply a lack of motivation amongst the players and possibly he recognised that as the system was quickly dropped. Let us never see the diamond again unless and until we sign better midfield players. Notwithstanding the poor effort against Oxford it would not help if he went now. It is however interesting to consider that he might perform better when facing relegation rather than the expectations of top six although he probably knows we have not yet got a top six team.

A much better and more entertaining performance against a better team who were confident that they would win. When they needed a goal after we went 2 1 up they quickly got it. The referee did the rest - he seemed intent on giving Burton a foul every time one of their men fell over so the award of the penalty was not surprising. Playing people, with the exception of Duffas, in their position with a format they understood produced a much better effort. We still need to go back to 3 5 2 (1 1 as Holloway is much better on his own up front) unless Gardner can do the Liam Kelly role because the midfielders we have are not good enough as a 2. Fane was better in the middle and did make some telling passes both forward and the one back for their first goal. Where he suffers is when he carries the ball because that seems to be all he thinks about and forgets to pass - two great runs, failed to pass, lost ball and then out of position. Saturday was a relegation performance. Yesterday survival in 15th place. Goalkeeper my MoM.

Why does a fellow European, we ain't out yet, need International clearance?