Possible we were in for that Beckwith bloke who ended up going to Rochdale though you would expect we were not exactly desperate to sign him. I mean even if they offered him a bit more would he really have gone there ahead of us if we made a serious offer?

Nicander - I'd be surprised if we don't get a left back (or two) before the season starts. It's a position our manager has specifically stated needs to be filled, after all. Whether we're waiting on a top target or whether we'll need to go lower down remains to be seen, though it's as likely we're waiting for another club to sign a player before we make a move

The thing I don't understand re left-backs is that we were planning to sell Currie and Brown would never have been 1st-choice, so what was Cope's plan for left-back and why hasn't he been able to successfully execute it so far?

TSO - Brown was offered a new deal before the season ended and decided to retire. Currie was the standard transfer out to a side two divisions above. We didn't "let them leave"...

I believe we’re only playing wing backs as we dont have any left backs currently. The longer it takes the more it feels like piss poor planning letting Brown, Currie and Hallard all leave.

Lurker - I think when we are attacking we could move into the 3-2 rest defence. JJ has always liked having two defensive midfielders - having them in front of the back three keeps us decently covered centrally and forces any counter out wide which is easier to deal with. Against Walsall we went with a 4-4-2/4-4-1-1 defensively but changed to a 3-4-3 when we attacked with Currie becoming the left wing back (from FB), Lewis becoming the third CB. I wonder whether that could be the plan for this season with O'Toole and Reeves holding and Ogundere becoming the third centre back.

SPLITTER?

One of the challenges with this WB approach is what style we're going to play and the grind on different positions. WBs suggest crosses, crosses work best with players pushing forward. Crosses are also a big source of turnovers, which results in the ball coming straight back at you. Theoretically that's why you have 3CBs but the problem with 3CBs is it means 3CBs. And realistically an attacking winger is winning foot races against CBs. Also that pulls the other CBs into the middle and is how you end up with players coming in at the back of the penalty area and scoring. You could use the central CB as a sweeper but you'll again have to cover the middle which will take time for players to get used to (I doubt 3CBs is something standard for them). Or you use the central mids to cover being the WBs, but that often leaves the centre of the pitch wide open for the opposition (which we've seen a lot as well). This will all rely on the keeper player as a sweeper as well but their distribution levels and players ability to offer options could limit them to hoof off the park. You can get the WBs to cover back but that requires pace and stamina and numbers. Likewise you can have a high press where the attacking players are expected to at least slow any attack when we turnover the ball. Which again requires pace and stamina and squad depth. And that's another area where we have a problem. We don't have a lot of left sided wide players to play LWB. So whilst we can be a crossing side from the right we will be England in L2 (predictably never going to cross from the left - meaning teams can ignore and double up elsewhere). Or we try to play a possession game, where we don't turnover possession but what do wide players playing on their correct foot bring to that?

I think the thing where we have missed/will miss CLE and the SPLITTER is the cover from midfield to the wide defence. They used to cover a lot (more so on the right where we lacked experience/levels) and it freed wide players to get involved into attacks. We're not going to have that now so Ball and Reeves and the new lad will probably need to do even more if we play with high WBs and they're not natural defenders.

nicander that's what I'd expect us to do with him but maybe with an expected licence to roam (the way Assal did).

Lurker - when we switched to wing-backs last season, Tilley played as one of the midfield three.

I don't think it's as simple as we're playing all wide players as wing backs. I doubt we'd neuter someone like Tilley that way and we have Ogundere (who I'd expect to start) and Biler to play on the right anyway. But using some as WBs is going to grind on them. Also we have 4 at present not counting McLean who is unlikely to play for ages. And Sasu is clearly still learning. So I wouldn't be surprised if we wanted to have options.

That account seems like mostly bollocks with a few truths (nicked from elsewhere) woven in here and there

Could be a great signing if true, but seems odd we'd be in for a winger given our plan is apparently to play with wing-backs. We aren't signing List as a bench option.

New signing? [Link]

Trying to buy the season membership and getting this error message, even though the membership is the only item in the cart: "Your cart contains products that can not be purchased together. Please remove some and proceed to multiple purchases."

meadow 00:03 and that's the biggest problem with it. There's no how do we make it possible for people to still just exist. It's you will stop doing these things and how that works is your problem. Then anger that people don't just stop.

Hash - interesting view you take - have a look here - [Link]

Spit those are holiday flights, they are ,ABC therapy sessions at their retreat. Tuning into their meditationary zones and body wellbeing systems

Port Vale seem to be spending loads of money. Clearly unsustainable and will obviously all come crashing back down to earth but they should be good for a couple of years I imagine.

Ben Heneghan signs for Port Vale on a 2yr deal.

Of course I might believe it more if those that preach didn't go on holiday flights. 😂😂 plenty of them ain't there😂😂

OI - I was out when the announced the goal was disallowed. The suggestion is the VAR decision came 90 minutes after the goal was scored. Must be a record!

I'd love to do more to promote climate change but whilst late night TFL connections fail to work, I'll drive. 35 minutes drive from Honor Oak to home versus 1hr 10 via Croydon including a 15 minute wait at Church Street. That said, I do drive a hybrid car so petrol consumption is quite low.

Body parts found in rosehill park[Link]