Lampard and Austin have got some big decisions to make over the next three days before the transfer window closes.
The squad still looks short in a few areas, particularly at left back and left wing, and unless we address them, I think there is a real danger we go straight back down.
It was obvious at the end of last season that we needed two good options in every position, while also moving on players who are not going to be good enough at this level and will take up places in the 25 man squad.
BTA is the obvious one for me. I just do not think he is good enough for a Premier League squad.
When he plays on the left he does not stay wide, rarely takes his full-back on, does not create enough and gives the ball away too often.
As many people have said on here, he is not particularly effective as a striker or No.10 either, and I do not think he offers enough as a winger. Although he has similar physical attributes to EMC, he is nowhere near as much of a threat in 1v1 situations, and his positioning and decision making are often frustrating, particularly when he drifts inside and makes it harder for the No.10 to find space.
He might be a great lad and good around the dressing room, but that cannot be enough at this level.
If the club can sell him or send him out on loan and bring in a better left winger to compete with EMC, we should do it.
Left back is another one. That should have been one of the priorities as soon as the window opened. Lampard and Austin have known for months that we needed two players there who are good enough for the Premier League.
Brau going out on loan makes sense, but Bidwell also needs to be moved on as soon as possible rather than taking up one of the 25 man squad places.
The problem is moving some of these players on. Bidwell, Woolfenden, Kitching, Lati, Eccles, BTA and Simms could all be on wages that Championship clubs will be reluctant to pay. But this is where the club has to be ruthless. If Lampard does not see them as part of his plans, that needs to be made clear to the players and their agents so they can start actively looking for moves elsewhere.
Some of them might be great professionals and popular in the dressing room, but we cannot pick a Premier League squad mainly on who is a good character.
We need enough quality, competition and depth to give ourselves a proper chance of being competitive at this level and staying up.
If we are serious about survival, there should be no room for sentiment. Some difficult decisions have to be made and we must have higher standards and expectations.
There were some worrying things tactically as well.
As Fernando Partridge said, at times it looked like we had gone back to the team that lost the play off to Sunderland. Lots of sideways passing, then eventually a cross, and nowhere near enough vertical passing or players trying to play between the lines.
For the first Premier League home game, I thought the lack of movement, tempo and intensity was really disappointing. You would have expected everyone to be flying into it, but far too much of our play was slow, predictable and easy to defend against.
Grimes being left as the last man when we lose possession is going to get punished at this level. Hopefully Lampard makes sure it does not happen again.
I am not saying everything is suddenly a disaster after a couple of games, but there are definitely some warning signs.
Hopefully the rumours about Ashley Cole coming in as a coach are true. His knowledge and experience should help improve the defence and, in particular, help the younger defenders develop and reach their potential.
Lampard and Austin have only got a few days left to improve the squad and I think the decisions they make now could have a big say in whether we give ourselves a chance of staying up.
The squad still looks short in a few areas, particularly at left back and left wing, and unless we address them, I think there is a real danger we go straight back down.
It was obvious at the end of last season that we needed two good options in every position, while also moving on players who are not going to be good enough at this level and will take up places in the 25 man squad.
BTA is the obvious one for me. I just do not think he is good enough for a Premier League squad.
When he plays on the left he does not stay wide, rarely takes his full-back on, does not create enough and gives the ball away too often.
As many people have said on here, he is not particularly effective as a striker or No.10 either, and I do not think he offers enough as a winger. Although he has similar physical attributes to EMC, he is nowhere near as much of a threat in 1v1 situations, and his positioning and decision making are often frustrating, particularly when he drifts inside and makes it harder for the No.10 to find space.
He might be a great lad and good around the dressing room, but that cannot be enough at this level.
If the club can sell him or send him out on loan and bring in a better left winger to compete with EMC, we should do it.
Left back is another one. That should have been one of the priorities as soon as the window opened. Lampard and Austin have known for months that we needed two players there who are good enough for the Premier League.
Brau going out on loan makes sense, but Bidwell also needs to be moved on as soon as possible rather than taking up one of the 25 man squad places.
The problem is moving some of these players on. Bidwell, Woolfenden, Kitching, Lati, Eccles, BTA and Simms could all be on wages that Championship clubs will be reluctant to pay. But this is where the club has to be ruthless. If Lampard does not see them as part of his plans, that needs to be made clear to the players and their agents so they can start actively looking for moves elsewhere.
Some of them might be great professionals and popular in the dressing room, but we cannot pick a Premier League squad mainly on who is a good character.
We need enough quality, competition and depth to give ourselves a proper chance of being competitive at this level and staying up.
If we are serious about survival, there should be no room for sentiment. Some difficult decisions have to be made and we must have higher standards and expectations.
There were some worrying things tactically as well.
As Fernando Partridge said, at times it looked like we had gone back to the team that lost the play off to Sunderland. Lots of sideways passing, then eventually a cross, and nowhere near enough vertical passing or players trying to play between the lines.
For the first Premier League home game, I thought the lack of movement, tempo and intensity was really disappointing. You would have expected everyone to be flying into it, but far too much of our play was slow, predictable and easy to defend against.
Grimes being left as the last man when we lose possession is going to get punished at this level. Hopefully Lampard makes sure it does not happen again.
I am not saying everything is suddenly a disaster after a couple of games, but there are definitely some warning signs.
Hopefully the rumours about Ashley Cole coming in as a coach are true. His knowledge and experience should help improve the defence and, in particular, help the younger defenders develop and reach their potential.
Lampard and Austin have only got a few days left to improve the squad and I think the decisions they make now could have a big say in whether we give ourselves a chance of staying up.
