Maybe we’ll all die of Ebola before the season starts anyway

Could there be an announcement later I wonder :-)

to be fair, if we don't sign a significant number of players we won't have enough to be playing in all these competitions anyway so first round exits would suit.

Maybe they'll go bust again in the interim

May make a few pounds out of the gate money

I agree with Hash

Another first round exit then

Not a great draw

Away Pompey

Colchester away for me,a new ground and not too far plus we could even get to the next round for a change.

Hash - as important as those three replacements are the main thing we need is a cohesive team. If you look at Plymouth for example that's what got them where they did

Oh and nothing really good there either ...

Just when you think football shirts couldn't get any more expensive along comes the fashion industry to jump on the World Cup bandwaggon and prove you wrong: [Link]

Simmie, Its going to be frannies away

It's the league cup draw today... Who do people want?

It could be verbally agreed but not signed yet which I suspect is the case. I'm not going to predict relegation or safety but what is absolutely obvious is that without Long, Darius (probably) and LTB (almost certainly) Ardley is going to have to make at least three brilliant signings. The rest can be so so but if we don't replace those three with people who are at least as good then we will go down. Can Ardley do it? Well he did sign Long, Darius and LTB so yes he can. Will Ardley do it? We don't know because we haven't signed anyone yet.

Nug if he had something sorted it would already be announced. They don't have to hide the move until end of June. They can announce the agreement now and the contract starts 1st July.

LTB will know where he’s going by now. It will all be agreed and will be announced on 1/7. He’s not staying. Just hope it’s with a club like Sunderland or in the championship because if it’s with a club that’s a similar level then that will be a kicker

Are people suggesting that our opinions on the likely outcome of the season have any bearing beyond amusing or annoying ourselves? I've been wrong about relegation the last two years, would be good if it could turn into a hat trick, but I'm still going to forecast it.

Gimps - please sort out the missing comma in Thursday's burger banner. Thank you.

Sorry but it's not just emotion at all . It's about risk and probable outcomes . There's nothing at all logical thinking all our new signings will be good or gel quickly enough .

At this time LTB will be wondering what the future holds for him. He will be hoping for a good offer from somewhere. Now is the time to make him an improved offer on what he was given to tempt him to stay. We need him to stay but give him a better reason to do so

JamPot - and, given the experience of Ardley's previous recruitments, it will only be half built when the season starts.

Jampot, you are trying to apply logical argument to a Guestbook that is driven by emotion, not reason.

Because the team is half built