What have you made of our start to the season?
Meirion Williams: The first two games were pretty much as expected with a continuation of the poor results of last season. I was pleasantly surprised by the Forest result because after those first two games, I wondered where our first point was coming from. As for the cup game, we threw that one away, which is the trait of a poor team.
Robert Banks: The Forest result has really put a spoke in my thinking. One swallow doesn’t make a summer but now with the international break, instead of dreading the Spurs game, I can’t wait to see if we can build on that great performance. The signing of Fernandes has given me hope.
Paul Brand: The Forest match redeemed it somewhat, and that could have gone either way in the last 10 minutes. Such are the fine margins of Premier League football and I’m still confident that there are at least three teams worse than us but maybe not as confident as I was before the Sunderland game.
David Meagher: What a dreadful start with three defeats. Hopefully, the Forest game was a more accurate indication of where we are at. The addition of Fernandes and return of Summerville makes us a different side going forward but it’s hard to get away from the fact that we look clueless at the back. Maybe four at the back is the answer but I think we are in for a torrid time.
What did you make of our transfer window overall?
MW: As expected. As usual we get the messages coming out from the club that we tried but didn’t get the signings we wanted over the line but here’s a player on loan to keep you happy. It’s all getting slightly boring now. The rumours are that the club ended up saving £31 million on wages so no doubt Sullivan is happy.
RB: Chaotic – but overall not bad. We held on to Paqueta, but didn’t get the striker we were looking for, but then we never do. Rome wasn’t built in a day but we’ve been saying that for 125 years.
PB: I’ve given up judging transfer windows to be honest. Last summer’s window looked good at the time but was pretty disastrous in hindsight. Fingers crossed Fernandes and Magassa address the glaring deficiencies in midfield.
DM: Not really inspiring as, if anything, we look weaker in defence. Diouf can team up with Summerville to make for a pacey left side in attack and Fernandes looks like the missing piece in terms of mobility and guile in midfield. If Wilson stays fit he’ll be a great signing. That said, one or two key injuries and we have no depth to fall back on. It’s all very thin.
What have you made of our new signings so far? Which of our new signings have impressed you and who hasn’t?
MW: I think Igor Julio could be a good signing but it’s a little too early to assess most of the others. Hermansen initially looked to be a concern but again it’s early days. As for Calum Wilson, I am actually happy with this one. First off, at least he won’t score against us. Unless it’s an own goal, and secondly he is a proven goal scorer.
RB: Fernandes looks a proper baller. Mobile, good control and can pick a pass. I like Walker-Peters too. Hermansen too early to judge, Wilson has already played more minutes than I thought he would. Diouf looks like a beast, his crossing is different gravy.
PB: Great debut from Fernandes, Diouf’s crossing looks a real weapon, and Wilson looked surprisingly sprightly. Hermansen looks less convincing but I hope he’ll come good, especially after a Leicester fan with coaching links to the club gave me a glowing review that I repeated on X.
DM: Diouf, Fernandes and Wilson look decent. Hermansen needs time to settle. I think Igor is a punt.
How many points do you think we’ll pick up between now and the end of October?
MW: I can see us not getting a sniff against Tottenham and Arsenal. Brentford too will be tough. I’m thinking at best four points but probably two. Leeds away has a draw written all over it and Palace at home looks like a game we will huff and puff at.
RB: Ask me again after Spurs. It’s impossible to say at this stage but I’d be delighted with nine. Performances are more important at this stage. If we are competitive then the points will come. The first two games were so disheartening because we just had no fight.
PB: As with transfer windows, I’m loathed to make predictions but Meirion’s verdict looks pretty realistic.
DM: We are West Ham. Therefore, we’ll lose to Palace, Leeds and Brentford, picking up a draw and a win against Arsenal and Spurs.
Based on what you’ve seen so far, what do you think is our best starting XI, and why
MW: I believe it will be the starting eleven from the Forest game with Julio replacing Mavropanos. Why initially change a winning formation?
RB: 4-3-3. Hermansen, Walker-Peters, Diouf, Mavrapanos, Killman, Fernandes, Paqueta, Soucek, Summerville, Bowen, Fullkrug. I hesitate with Summerville because I think he might be more of an impact sub, and Fullkrug is in there just because he’s fitter than Wilson. The five at the back thing has to go until we have the staff to execute it.
PB: They say not to change a starting line-up but surely there’s room for AWB? I persist with my claim that he’d make a good centre-back, particularly in a three. I also had designs on Summerville as a wing-back but his City Ground cameo suggests he could be wasted there, and KWP is a ready-made substitute for AWB, whether at wing-back or conventional right-back. In short, I think our best XI is yet to reveal itself.
DM: Areola, AWB, Diouf, Kilman, Todibo, Soucek, Fernandes, Paqueta, Summerville, Bowen, Wilson. Why? I like the pace up front and from our full backs. Fernandes and Paqueta look like a decent creative pairing in midfield while Soucek is just quietly brilliant at what he does.
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