If we're talking peanuts for Szmodics (500k or less) then I wouldn't be against seeing how he performs for us with more quality around him. His figures in league 1 suggested he was far too good for that standard. Anything over half a mill looks a bit more risky.

Midfielder... British/Foreign?

It does sound like from your description of how Brittain played is the same as how my Dad and I described Styles performance, was everywhere, gave us the run around, looked a quality little player.

Maybe a tad unfair. They were in the playoffs last year but lost their manager where it seems it all fell apart for them. Those 3 are certainly the best of what they've got and have achieved more in this league than us since we've been relegated.

If they can somehow manage to do a deal with Barnsley for Brittain for a decent fee then they should really be going back for Styles and Helik. Both internationals and out of contract next season. Just get it done, they're there for the taking.

Realistically any deal around 15 mill will be done, finding some sort of middle ground will just take time. It wouldn't surprise me to see it be late in the market with no time to reinvest and the money get swallowed never to be seen again. I've made my peace with this scenario and if I could, would bet good money on it.

I'm surprised you actually still consider Brereton as a Rovers player tbh. I know he's not gone anywhere yet but In my view, he's already gone. There's no way he can stay to lose him on another free.

Who's saying I'm unhappy? I'd be more positive to see this get done because we desperately need players.

Precisely. Why haven't Sheff United tried to resign him if he's supposed to be so good?

Of a team where not many goals came from anywhere else than Brereton, he got more goals than Rothwell. He was a match winner for us on a few occasions. Frustrating? Yes but for someone who's only just turned 21 you should not expect the final product, it's down to a club like us to develop that and benefit from it. We can't afford a player like him who's the finished article. Not only are we going to have to replace Khadra's 5 goals 4 assists, we have to replace Rothwell's and Brereton's. I feel he could have comfortably improved on last season's tally having had a season with us under his belt. Alas, someone else will benefit from our scouting, experience and cash.

It probably never was, doesn't help when you're paying in smarties.

I don't disagree that there are other areas of the squad that require more attention but I just think that he's a top talent, who can be coached into being one of the best players in the league. No questioning his ability, down to his attitude if fulfills his potential. At the right price I would have loved to have him here and would have without doubt made us more of a threat going forward.

This is sort of my description of Hedges tbh... Nice on the eye sometimes but ultimately powderpuff and not threatening.

Be p*ssed off to see Khadra go Sheff Utd. Seeing them sign the centre half we wanted and now Khadra hurts. Seems like no one of any decent quality wants to come to us. Kicking it off with a loan of someone who will probably do ok for us and then sign for someone else with more ambition the following season is going to p*ss me off even more. Any loan should have a view to buy clause included at least. What a sh*te transfer window so far.

Before anyone dreams of getting a permanent transfer of a Liverpool player, have a quick look at how much they sell their squad players for. They're masters at selling squad players for fortunes. Maybe this guy might be an exception, but I bet they're at least asking double what they paid for him. Personally I don't know how I feel about this one, we need good players in the door, loans are ok for good players but using our budget on players that aren't assets to sell in the future seems at odds with the principles of this new project.

Back to transfers... Seeing as how I was right with my guess in us being interested in Antonio Colak... Louka Daniel Prop Andreassen of Aalborg (25), 14 goals in 33 from midfield in Danish Superliga. Fellow Dane for JDT, surely made inquiry at least? No transfer links to anywhere. Any of our Scandi fans know anything of him?

Mad you would think to post that considering the cut throat nature of the championship, all it takes is one bad start, a few injuries and you're in the thick of it. Look at the quality and experience that's just walked out of the door for no money, whilst our rivals are making decent signings already, are integrating them into the team and will generally be better prepared. As it stands, we have unproven youth players filling in and an unproven manager who won't fully grasp the demands of the championship. We look inexperienced at the back, small in midfield and lacking another centre forward. I can already envisage certain media folk saying how we "should of kept Mowbray" as we struggle our way through the season. I know everyone is excited by having a new coach with fresh ideas, some are treating him and Broughton almost like saviours of our football club, let me tell you... 5 games into the season without a win and that optimism will quickly get forgotten about, the mood will turn sour and fingers will get pointed at the owners etc... We've been here before. This is just me saying what I'm seeing, not being a doom merchant. Lots of work to be done. JDT needs some help. As it stands they're not giving him much chance unless I'm severely underestimating how good a coach he actually is.

As it stands I'm pretty concerned about how things aren't progressing. If we're not tempting players from Greece and Sweden then this project isn't being sold as an exciting one and we simply aren't offering enough in wages. With this group of players we are going to struggle, there's no doubt in my mind. We've lost so much experience and quality and so far not replaced it with the season just weeks away and little time to integrate new players. A tough start is ahead of us in my view unless they really get cracking in this next week.

Doesn't sound like he's coming here.

Can't say I want to see us waste any considerable amount of money on a player who's 30+ and didn't particularly shine at Cardiff. Few 100k is fine but it's certainly not a signing filling me with confidence so far.

Got to be honest, this doesn't fill me with excitement or confidence.

He's just turned 21, bagged 5 goals and 4 assists in his first proper season. Was injured for a lot of it aswell. The decision making comes with experience, a player like him who's the finished article is a player way out of our price budget. People used to say the same of Josh King when he was here. We have to develop players, 2-3 years time a player like him could be worth a fortune. Would depend on what Brighton fee is being quoted for it to be worth the risk. Having said all that, if the rumours about him are true, we can just stop wasting time on the subject.

Pretty much what I've been saying this past week. Losing players and losing out on ones we want for bigger wages elsewhere just screams of a massive cost cutting exercise so far. I'll give Broughton and JDT some credit, at least they're not in the media giving us some spin. They're obviously well aware that we don't want lip service but bodies through the door and to talk when deals get done. Even league 1 players it looks like we're being priced out of, Branagan at Oxford (linked apparently) would apparently cost a fairly hefty in fee and wages. So when we can't seemingly afford to sign league 1 players and a player surplus to requirements in Greece, it doesn't exactly fill you with confidence about the other targets they're likely moving on to and the upcoming season. My initial optimism is being quite quickly eroded by what I'm seeing go out the door and what's not coming the other way.

I called this one when he was first appointed. Been following their pursuit of him, many articles said other interested parties which I knew would be us but was well aware we wouldn't be able to compete with the wages Rangers are offering. So far, I'm not impressed with the lack of pull for the better previous players that the coach has worked with.

Simple, we aren't offering the wages other clubs are prepared to offer, that's why Boro will have signed 2 of ours when Nyambe goes there and why others have done decent business early in the window. Broughton and JDT have to be clever and pull some astute signings out of left field that we don't have much competition with other clubs for. Selling Brereton quick sharp would help, we need him gone soon rather than late in the window without time to strengthen.