Bailey

No-one is arguing that Maupay isn't a terrible finisher. Stevie Wonder can see that but in the two games I have seen properly, his presence on the pitch has led to more chances being created by the team. I think you are being very kind to Gana and unkind to Maupay regarding that chance. Gana fired it at him from not much more than 5 yards away whilst he had his back to goal, with a defender nearby. If he takes a touch to turn, he is getting tackled. My memory also wasn't that it was on the ground either. Personally I think he should have moved the ball into Doucoure's path. I have no idea why a guy who can't score an easy chance thinks he will score a worldie. We don't need a carbon copy of Dom, but we need someone that suits the style of football we are playing. I wouldn't hang your hat on creating too many chances against Nyon, Wigan and Bolton to support your argument that we are creating enough for him to score into the new season. The only time we have really been able to advance the ball and look threatening in the last two games has involved Maupay dropping deep, and Dobbin running past him. There was very little to no semblance of attacking football before that yesterday. Just look at the chance you mentioned created by a wonderful ball from Onana. The reason there was enough space for that ball to Dobbin was because Maupay just drags the other centre half out of position. Not a lot but enough for the ball. I also think you are confusing the need for a back-up Dom between chances with getting us forward up the pitch as a team. It isn't about being 6ft plus, its about being able to compete for duels and stretching the defence. No-one else will compete for duels, but at least Dobbin, with someone like Maupay as a foil (sure Danjuma could do the same and be more prolific), creates a dynamic we don't have when we have a McNeil/Maupay or Danjuma/Iwobi front three.

There would be nothing to stop Mansfield climbing through the leagues, albeit Im not sure if the rules allow it in the same country? Its more likely that you will have say a French side and PL team. Not sure what the Champions League rules are though?

I still don't understand why we bought Maupay and I am not a fan of his but I have some sympathy for him, and Danjuma, when he played yesterday. Firstly, if Maupay was as bad as you suggest, we would have seen a big improvement with Danjuma on the pitch, first match or not, but he was worse. Secondly, I watched players like Patterson and Iwobi floating balls into the box for him to try and win against 6ft plus defenders. Likewise the midfield are playing through balls to him when he doesn't have the pace to chase them into the channels. He has no chance. It is no surprise that he improves a bit when he has someone like Dobbin around him, stretching the game, so that his movement can drag defenders in, allowing the ball over the top. That is more akin to what he had at Brighton. If Dom doesn't stay fit and we do not get another body in to replicate his style of football, a lot of people are going to be very disappointed with Danjuma trying to play the same role because he is as equally ill suited to it. The slight saving grace for him is that he has some pace and has more 1 v 1 threat, which Maupay has none of (both counts).

Even if it means the feeder club gets players it would never have had the chance to without the other club? If its managed right it could see both clubs be successful, albeit not that I would like the idea of it myself. As an example, look at the player United are looking to sign who was on their radar last season. He was a £20mil player then and now be is £70mil. If they had a feeder club, like some do, he either signs for United and goes on loan there or signs for the feeder club for £20mil and then signs for United this summer for a far lower fee. The feeder club get to watch a potential elite player for a year bang in goals for fun meaning they win more games. The parent club stack up a group of talented players preparing them for a step up to the big leagues for a fraction of the price in the seasons that follow giving them loads of room for FFP when they go and sign players from outside the owners portfolio of clubs. I don't see how it is fair.

So far in preseason it has been our best combination which highlights our problems! They have created chances but neither of them look like taking one

I think its easier to name the positions we don't need. Both centre backs look shaky. Patterson doesn't defend or attack well enough to be first choice. Midfield lacks almost any quality, its saving grace is the energy from Doucoure, Onana and Gueye(ish). Garner might patch it all together when he is match fit but its a big ask. Iwobi on the right wing will do a job but he is inconsistent as hell. We need a striker that can act as a focal point when Dom is injured. Not too much to be concerned about.

On Dobbin, he has the pace and potentially the dribbling to trouble teams but I don't think there is a lot of quality when he gets into those positions. He does seem to be able to help us get from front to back quite well when he has a foil to play off. I agree on some of the comments about Onana. He doesn't look like he should be a top earner or that he should have commanded the fee we paid but he provided a bit of drive and produced the one ball of quality in the final third all game.

I feel like our best back-up option to DCL is Maupay up front with Dobbin playing around him.

This time Tarkowski with a good ball to Dobbin who cant finish again. Lovely run in behind, using his pace.

Best passage of play yet. Lovely ball Onana, Dobbin misses a good chance.

McNeil looks in pain from that challenge

Tarkowski was so far off his man. I hope its just the effect of preseason on him because he reminds me of Jags at the end.

Aside from McNeil, the only other player I have thought looked competent is Young. He hasn't done anything exciting, just the basics but nailed them.

Our only chances have come from a set piece where the shot was blocked and a stab from Garner where we would have been offside in the build-up! Danjuma doing his best Maupay impression at the moment

Patterson is full of energy but lacks so much quality. Such a shame.

We should be a lot sharper than this. I have seen a few teams this preseason, against better opposition too and we look miles behind.

Tarkowski is looking very leggy this pre-season.

Bit better since but its mainly due to McNeil and Garner getting more touches.

Pretty dreadful first 10 mins.

What do people think about these owners that own multiple clubs? I think that whilst its allowed it is a really good idea because you can take a lot more risk and basically own a series of feeder clubs. From a competition point of view it is a massive concern as it gives wealthier owners (and therefore football clubs) an unfair advantage. I think it is something that needs to be looked into by Fifa asap but until then Mohsiri needs to start finding another club to own and start buying some rough gems to send there!

This. I think he has been thrown under the bus a fair few times by some terrible decision making from De Gead too. He would probably still be our best defender if he came here. Well on par with the other two at the least. He certainly has a higher level of ability, it is just where his head is at.

Im not sure our owner has completely clean hands himself!

Should have just stopped at chicken and mushroom pies...

They are so far ahead but it isn't rocket science. They aren't identifying players that other teams aren't, they are just taking the risk and backing themselves to find more stars than duds. They have a good network, albeit one I think needs to be looked at from an anti-competition point of view, and they have an excellent manager. We wanted an owner that wanted to throw money left, right and centre at "stars" whilst other teams were doing things the right way and getting in young talent. Bournemouth look to be doing a very similar thing over the last couple of windows too. From a completely different perspective, Chelsea are looking at bringing in some of the best young talent too, albeit at a higher price tag and a lot more risk. The only problem they may have is that at some point the conveyor belt will break, like it did at Southampton.

This touches on what I find a little disappointing with players coming through because I assume he has spent year in an academy and technically he should be sound already. Decision making will come in time, but there shouldn't really be a lot to work on technically by the time they get to the first team. It is more of an adjustment to playing against men instead of boys. The other thing is this lad scored 4 goals in PL2 and 8 in the U18s. Cannon scored 8 in the Championship. I think there is a massive gulf between them, albeit Cannon is just under 2 years older.