So, after watching us play, I'm only going to adjust my 'What we need' post very slightly. Now it's:
1) RB - because at the moment, if Sam Long gets injured, our plan B is apparently to play a 17 year old out of position there!
2) Striker - key position, but we can conceivably play Browne or Murphy up top if we need to. And Baldock will hopefully be back one day; still very important that we bring in an alternative option to our master poacher. And now, having seen that KR doesn't seem comfortable playing Browne or Murphy up top, and instead left Matty T on the pitch despite the fact he was spent - it's even more vital to get this done asp
3) CM - Less important than it was in the middle of the day Thursday! But we're still light in terms of bodies, and definitely light in terms of defensive capabilities. So McGuane was excellent today, and did make me think that I might be wrong, and he could play that CDM role......in which case, we need another more creative midfielder, so that when we feel we need to get more solid, we can play a tight midfield three; and in case anything should happen to Cam.
4) LB - I still think Brown is a CB not a LB, but I guess we could muddle through with him and Seddon if we absolutely had to. Yeah, no we can't. I guess I'd forgotten over the summer how weak Seddon's defending is - just doesn't seem to have any awareness of how the play is progressing around him, and players were getting in behind him constantly. That's not a lack of confidence that does that, and it's not something that's easy to learn. Maybe he could be a decent LWB because he does have some skills going forwards. But a League One playoff-standard LB, he is not.
5) Winger - would be more of a luxury signing. Even with Wildschut's injury, we now have three excellent options in Jones/Browne/Murphy, plus two who can play there in Henry & Bodin, and Goodrham as well. Would still be nice to have more depth given the injury histories of the players we do have.
In terms of timing, the equation is pretty simple now that the games have started.
The longer it takes us, the more points we're going to drop because we're short in all these areas. It's criminal nowadays to only have two subs that you're comfortable bringing on before the 97th minute.
And the more points we drop in August, the less likely we are to be in the picture come April.