[matacaster]

Think selling Smithies is not that much of a loss really, although maybe should have held out for more brass. Could be a useful sell on clause? He has been a good servant, with some breathtaking saves (and a great goal in playoffs), but not always in the right position and sometimes failing to marshall defence properly for set pieces. Although not as spectacular, I thought Simon Eastwood was generlly possibly a safer pair of hands.

I think Joe Murphy should be given his chance, with an older goalie at the latter end of their careeer and thus relatively cheap as backup until one of the academy lads comes thru - but they do need their chance!!

I would prefer to see any available money spent on a couple of fast, hard tackling, reliable defenders and build from there. Fixing a leaky defence gives confidence to the goalkeeper, who in turn gives further confidence to the defense. A midfield confident in their defence allows them to put more effort into getting the ball forward to the strikers, who then at least have the opportunity to score, rather than being spectators . A weak goalkeeper or defence (or both) nearly always causes midfield to draw back to help the defence and results in the old hoofing up to the forwards and vast swathes of the pitch where there are no players which the opposition can exploit.

Sadford fans have discovered already that Nathan Clarke has neither the skill nor the speed necessary for League 1 let alone the championship. Thank goodness Powell didn't buy him.