Nothing to do with being a doom monger, just stating - discussing the current points, personally I am a big fan of max & I do hope we sign him on a 4 year deal in line with our team building.
I also think that our full back line would be very potent with him. Up the trin.

Spook / Start, you are both correct.

Plus for all we know, the deal may already be signed.

What will be will be.

@Trojan Horse, @Pop Tart and @Butcher

Will reply as one

I think all of your comments are fair enough . I have no axe to grind and agree that he is a good player who can still improve . I also take note of your comments being different to other clubs who haven't seen him play week in and week out , and again you are absolutely right . With little or no coverage of the lower leagues , we weren't able to see his performances on a week by week basis .

The one thing I feel that I have to mention is his outstanding effort to reach 500 season points and break the record . A fantastic achievement even at a lower level .

The fact that he is even being mentioned as a possible England Full Back is testament to the progress he has already made, although at 27 it could be argued that it is difficult to measure at exactly what level he should be at now . I still have my own doubts about him being ahead of Evalds (in particular) and also Brierley , but that's just my opinion to be fair , we're not all going to agree .

Perhaps I was being unkind to say that he hasn't yet reached SL standard , on the basis that you spent a season in the Championship and prior to that were at the lower end of the table during Max's earlier time in SL.

I think we can all agree that it is going to be interesting to see how he goes this season and I wish him all the best (except for the 3 games against Cas of course.Hope he has a few off days against us haha)

Max was outstanding in 2024, has persevered when the likes of walker Hampshire et al were picked in front of him. However if he’s second in line as gb full back think it says more about the dearth of quality in British game. Championship player of the year is nice but both max and the other former championship player of year walmsley have a lot to prove at sl level. Realistically think we are the team most likely to give him a good deal, personally think talk of other clubs is just that - talk! Am sure he’ll be announced before long along with atoni

I like Atoni but he’s got much more to prove at SL level than Max who’s played 100 or so games in the comp and is known SL standard already. I like Atoni and he’s improved but I’ll be interested to see how him and Bain go at SL level.

For me Atoni is there. He's played in SL and when he settled he really rocked defenses. And I think has got fitter.
Bain is a question mark. We'll just have to see. He's had a slow start with injury but could be good for us.

I agree but I think he only actually got there for 1/3 of the season at the back end. He can do it but I want to see if he can do it consistently over a season. He’s capable.

Bain is a question mark. I can see him playing more interchange 13.

I agree on Bain at 13 but he's got Pitts, Cozza and any of the middles when Powell plays them their.
He's got a tough job to impress.

He does, it’s hard to see past Pitts for starting 13. Seems to be aging like a fine wine and looks fitter and stronger. There’s certainly healthy competition for interchange 13 like you say. Could be a handful fighting for it. Will make for a good competitive training attitude hopefully.

I don't think our forwards will be overwhelmed by SL but I am concerned a little by our half backs.
We really need to hit the road running - we cannot afford to wait for players to develop.
Just how I see it- they may make me eat my words and I hope they do!

Develop?
Our halfbacks are pretty much the most experienced in the squad. What do you want them to develop?