RuffRob

It will be interesting to see how Holgate gets on this season. He wasn't great last year, but the whispers are that he was a little frustrated at the lack of 'coaching' they where receiving last year, particularly defensive. Give their ages, I would to see Holgate and Godfrey working together to be the long term starting CB partnership. It could be around for 10year+ if the can build a relationship.

I think Allan comes in to his own when we play the 'top' teams. When perhaps we spend a greater part of the game without the ball and within our own half. So a bit like you say, a lot of the game is kind of played on a condensed pitch. As we know with Doucoure, he is just up and down all game - same energy from first minute to the last. Can be forgiven the odd miss placed pass when you work this hard for the team. Goal will have done his confidence the world of good if front of the goal. Allan's shot in the first few mins of the game suggests Benitez is encouraging the midfeilders to have a bit more of a dig.

Base on what I have seen so far, (and been reading) I think we will get blood, sweat and tears from Rafa as a manager. I think we all can see he is committed to this job. If we see it, so do the players - ten fold. As a player yesterday, i am guessing you would have come off the pitch with your head down a bit after the first half. Manager does a few tweaks to how he wants you to play, and you then go out and absolutely smash the second half. As players that must give you so much confidence in going out and implementing his tactics and just listening to him. Very early days, but I think he could actually be the manager we have really needed this past 4-5 season. Not experimenting with some up and coming manager or a 'galactico' team man manager. Finger crossed for this season of non expectation. A lack of fanfare might be just what we need to just kuckle down and get a job done.

probably best result Rafa could have hoped for - coming back from a losing position, change in tactics/formation, big reaction from the team. Even ended up winning comfortably at the end. When did that last happen! A result where a manager made the calls and they worked. It's was just the start we all needed after the past few months.

My worry with Iwobi is that he just lacks composure with the final ball or when shooting on goal, and I am not sure that will improve. He just seem to fluff his lines. Maybe a 'make or break' 10-15 game run in a position that suits him is what is needed - as he hasn't had that yet. It would be a bit sickening to see him go to another team - and then flourish and grow in his favoured position. I have been willing him to do well - as I like the fella.

I don't have any great hopes for him either - I have seen more than enough to suspect he is never going to be a consistent 7 out of 10 performer for a team having European aspirations - no matter what position he plays in. My only hope is that if he gets a decent run of games we will get some good form and consistency from him - even if it just means we have a saleable asset. He is another expensive flop at the moment.

I don't think Iwobi is going anywhere. If James goes or is not trusted by Benitez as the starting attacking midfielder and Gyfi is not in the equation - then Iwobi might by default get a prolonged shot at his preferred position - rather than half a game here and there. It will be up to him to then show what he can do.

think he may have done it once or twice towards the end of his time. I remember listening to most pre match press conference - thinking why are letting the opposition know so much 48hrs before a game.

unlike Ancelotti, who was frustratingly happy to blab two days before the match who was and wasn't available. Keep 'em guessing until an hour before kick off.

just listened to Benitiez pre match press conference and one this that stood out is that he doesn't want to give to much away regarding who is available to play. I remember thinking Ancelotti used to say far to much when players where unavailable, all that did was help opposition managers plan their tactics. So I am glad Benitiez is going to be a bit more tight lipped.

I see the starting line up as: Pickford Coleman Keane Godfrey Digne Allan Douncoure Townsend Grey Iwobi DCL Possibly with Iwobi or Grey switching position. I think we will see a massive improvement down the right hand side. Coleman and Townsend are both solid hardworking professionals and I can actually see these two working well as a pairing and developing a decent partnership. Townsend will help out defensively and there is also decent cover with Allan in the middle - I am hoping to see Coleman at his attaching best. I think the key will be Coleman staying fit - especially considering we may not have a 'starting RB' ahead of him. the balance on the right is so much better. Coleman has goes in him when he gets forward, and Townsend can definitely hit a shot from outside of the area. I think teams will definitely have more to think about when they play us this season. I think James will be wrapped in cotton wool a little bit before the transfer window - so don't think he will be used before the beginning of September, possibly the same with Kean. This makes sense if selling one two are our best options of freeing funds. From a 'media circus' point of view it may be better if these player did find another clubs, and we had the funds to invest else where - I don't know about others, but am getting a little tired of a lot of the media coverage revolving around these two players - as its not exactly positive stuff. Nobody is ever bigger than the club - so time to move them on. If they are on the books come start of September, then Benitiez just has to work with what he has available. I would like to think we will be getting 3 points with the Goodison faithful back!! COYB

i think he knew he would have to sell in order to buy this season. However, it's not so easy to sell and think he might be stuck with much of the current incumbents this season. This may be tougher than he thought and obviously the Gylfi situation is an additional curve ball, weakening the squad and his attacking contribution was quite useful last season. I think the job is already tougher than it was the day he signed through no fault of his own. I do think he will give the job everything he has, and hopefully this rubs off on the players.

I have got a horrible feeling nobody is going to want to pay what he is worth this season, and we will have little choice other than to loan him out - The choice might either be loan him out, let him go cheaper than we would like or simply have him skulking around the place. Messi going to PSG has put a spanner in the works a bit, as one of only a couple of destinations is now not open to us.

Neither was Kean.

probably the worst summer ever to try and shift players. I think lots of clubs are stuck with players they would like to move on. Might be a case of just getting through the next 12months. Inter are looking like the will get Dumfries, but they are having to cashing in their prize asset to balance books and have a bit of money to spend.

but there is no money to buy him, so at the moment we can want whatever we like, we are not going to get it unless somebody who can bring in a decent transfer fee goes out the door!!

It very easy to be doom and gloom about not being able to buy the players we would like to see being bought this summer and maybe getting a manager that a lot are not overly enthusiastic about. but its easy to overlook what a great time this currently is with a new stadium now actually being built. Not any old Stadium in any old location, this development looks like it is going to be world class and potentially open massive revenue streams for us. As well as going to see Everton in their new home, I am looking forward to seeing concerts etc there. The whole development of the area looks really well thought out and will just be a great destination to go to. I think it really will be the premier location for events. I have been to loads of concerts at the Ethiad Stadium, but when you add to our stadium's location and complementary development that is going on around it I think our new home will blow the Etihad Stadium out of the water as a concert venue. Massive annual revenues that we currently can't tap in to. I think this new Stadium is going to be the really catalyst in seeing this club move forward - it is actually a time for us to have some real optimism for the future.

That's fair enough, but it's obvious we have no funds at the moment to spend on a proven 'starter'. Less rough say between a free transfer and say around £3m. What do you do? Hope Coleman is fit and firing all season, not bother with RB cover and just use CB's again, or simply hope Jonjo develops in to an attacking RB, or use the budget you have as best you can? If money was no object then good chance Dumfries would already be here. Club are trying to sell dispendable players to raise funds, but looks like no takers. With only loose change in our pockets, how do you get a bona fida 'starting' RB without taking a bit of a punt at the cheaper end of the market?

I would like to think it's a given that those who are deciding on the 'cheaper' players and not just doing it because they are simply cheap, but will actually fill an identified gap in the squad. These is also the reality - we need better cover at RB and £3m budget appears to be around the money we might have available. So it's the market we are in this summer. At £3m, the worst you can lose is £3m. We have recently been losing in excess of tens of millions on player after player this past few seasons. Like I said not a transfer I would worry about - modest fee and modest wages.

At £3m or so is peanuts in todays market. Will also be low wages. At worst will fill in if Coleman is crocked (guessing would be an upgrade on Jonjo - who we could then sell), at best could thrive and do a good job as a attacking minded right back. Read one article saying 19 assists in just over 100 games. If that is the case he must have good delivery. Lose no sleep on a player who costs £3m. Its those who come in at £20m+ that HAVE to perform, ( and we have to many of these who haven't performed.) that worry me more.

I know we have not strengthen as we would have liked, but on Saturday - barring Gylfi not being available we have a stronger squad than we did have at the end of last season. We have essentially lost Bernard, King and Olsen - but have gained Kean, Grey, Townsend and Begovic - and could also argue Gbamin. Apparently deal with Richarlison was you can play in the Olympics, but you get your arse back for the start f the premier league season and forgo your holiday. read that he is due back tomorrow and will be available for weekend. So if doesn't start, he might be an option off the bench if needed. This might all change before the end of the month. if these player are fitter and more well organised (than when under Ancelotti), which I think they should be, then no reason not to expect a result against Southampton. I think much will hinge on the form of DCL. Last season seemed to mirror DCL's form and expect that again given the lack of goals from elsewhere on the pitch.

I believe Rafa has quite a good track record of getting youth in to the team and giving them a chance, much more so than Carlo. We shall see, he might not have the same size squad as Ancelotti, so this season may be an opportunity to try some of the youngsters - if they are good enough.

he is only 30 - maybe a few lack lustre performances was because he has two and a half months out with an injured in middle of the season, and taking a few games to get back to match fitness. Didn't help with Doucoure then becoming injured for the run in - so bit weak in the middle. A heavy games schedule didn't help either. Should be back on form a game or two in to the season. Saw enough last year to see he's a decent player and at 30 his legs should be fine for a season or two. Hoping over this season we will start to see a fully fit and younger Gbmin start to fill Allan's boots. Allan will be a good role model for him and others at the club.

Would be quite happy to see Iwobi moved on, as I just can't see him turn in to the player we hoped he would be. Not enough assist or goals for an attacking player. I would think there would be plenty of 'replacements' available this summer, even if just on a loan if the squad was a bit short. Would rather see fringe players with little future moved on

It might not happen this summer, but hopefully he will be our Jack Grealish and bring in a substantial transfer fee when he does move on. We really could do with a standout season from him this year - in order to maximise the funds his inevitable sale will bring in.