Lean, Mean and Young

Next point is regarding our Center Forward Options.. Tosun is back to light training & hopefully will be fully fit by Nov 2nd as per Transfr Market.
If u again look back to his performances, he is actually very good inside the penalty box & we actually will be playing to his strengths. So we have a pretty descent backup along with Ellis Simms who Carlo seems to have an opinion on. This kid also could potentially develop with the service he would be getting and we could potentially have a surprise in our hands.

And finally, a note on The Guardian article about the Young stars in each club to watch out for. They cover 17 year old center back Reece Welch for Everton. He is 6'4" and is key part of U-18's. Can any ToffeeWebber throw more info about this player and his potential. I am asking this because, at 17 both Branthwaite & Gibson are training with the first team and I have a doubt as to why is still with the U-18's?

Bolasie even less so, he is as busted a flush as Theo. I like Bernard more than some but him and James on the flanks creates imbalance, mainly a lack of pace. If Bernard were to back anyone up, it would be James himself – albeit not at the same level – or more feasibly, Gomes.

It means that Gordon needs to be the real deal. Then we could perm 2 from 3. If not, then we need a Dom back up.

Tosun is not it, in my view. Not with the new standards we set ourselves. It's not that Iwobi and especially Bernard are terrible, or that we can't look to them for game time this season. Neither is the case.

But I think we want quality options that can cover isolated injuries. 2 from 3, all quality, is okay. A run of injuries forces our hand and sees the second string play more, but no club can plan for that, especially in specific positions – like the right-back shortage we currently face. But we can plan for basic quality cover otherwise.

In essence we and Carlo need to work out if Gordon can be the real deal. If not, we are one quality player light up front.

Most teams have key players that their team is built around.

Or great start to the new season has surprised a lot of people. The wheels could fall off any time or we could get lucky and limp into a Champions League spot.

I feel Carlo knows what he is doing and not only does he have a plan but also a backup plan...

Small steps but in the right direction... Enjoy the moment of now in everything, not just football.

Desperation buys have given way to carefully considered acquisition and the longed-for revolution has hit the ground running. For the first time in decades it feels like those in charge are ahead of the game.

There has been no shouting from the rooftops no panicking over knee jerk fan pressure just a quiet determination to get it right

Last time it felt like this was in the days of Sir John Moores and Harry Catterick.

All that leaves me very optimistic for the future. We will build on it too.

Jay, I was with you expecting a loan deal for a forward on Monday. I wonder how Cenk's recovery is going and whether he is ahead of schedule. He is contracted until June 2022 so maybe they want him fit and playing as part of the squad.

You know I am a natural pessimist, but, last weekend will keep my spirits up for many a long day. Whatever transpires that was a great time. I believe there are more on the way.

As for the registered 25, we don't need to register the U21s, so that's
- Gordon
- Noukounko
- Virginia<>If Godfrey (22) was actually 21 when the season kicked off, he's exempt too, as is Davies if he's classed as 21 (he's still playing for England U21s).

So a bit more room in our 25 than you might think.

Kenwright out though!

Take out 2 long term injuries, Gbamin, Tosun, Total = 23 or 25.

Take out 3 of the B's...as in lucky to still 'Be' here, Besic, Bolasie and Baningime, Total = 20 or 22.

Take out 1 Keeper, Total = 19 or 21

Of those 19 or 21, Holgate and Branthwaite are 6(?) weeks at least away from being fit, Total = 17 or 19.

Gomes, Allan?? how are they doing? Total = 15 or 17.

Players returning from International duty infection free or what 7(?)

30 may not be enough.

Keepers - okay
CBs and LB/RB - okay
Defensive Mid - Allan with limited backup - it's either Delph or a slight change of formation to two more defensive midfielders
Midfield - okay with Doucouré, Gomes, Sigurdsson, Davies and even Delph fighting for two spots at most
Wide attackers - kind of ok with Iwobi, Gordon, Bernard backing up the obvious two starters.
Centre Forward - it's Dom and nothing else.

I know people see Richarlison as a centre-forward option but I think it wastes him.

It's an area that I think we need an experienced head to come in from the EFL. The alternative would be to turn to youth, but if that was the plan then we missed the boat in the early Carabao rounds.

One player away from a balanced squad and it won't cost much to fix. Over to you Marcel and Carlo!

I would ideally like a defender comfortable at both right-back and left-back and a left-footed Richarlison type player who can play right-wing or as a striker.

Then I would reassess in the summer depending on where we finish.

I don't think any of us expected the windfall of having all our MF problems sorted in that window but hey what a transformation.

I think all of us in an ideal world would have liked a good backup forward and a top class GK but we have to realise there is not a bottomless pit and Rome wasnt built in a day.

One other thing to bear in mind is that the quality backup is difficult to achieve if players arent getting any game time so it needs a certain type of character who is prepared to wait for his opprtunity and then seize it with both hands.

That is where I believe our stars are aligning because we have some really special youngsters pushing for a place in the first team now.