booth

Not due to lack of talent, due to breaching betting rules. He scored 7 goals in 16 games in Turkey. At the moment if a club were to offer him a 12 month contract he'd take their hand off. Last year.

At the moment he's training with Liverpool's kids. Also didn't we just sell someone combined with letting a load of players go? And don't we need bums on seats? Not really speculating to accumulate are we.

Sturridge - 32, free agent. Sounds like a sad situation for the guy at the moment and he just wants to play football. Andy Carroll's move to Reading collapsed on deadline day - still a free agent, 32.

It'd be good to bring in an experienced forward. Can't see it happening though.

15th last season. It'd be a stretch to suddenly become top 10 when we've just weakened the squad. Unless we get lucky and one of our kids turns out to be the second coming of Alan Shearer.

And we finished 15th last season. I have a terrible feeling the decline will come well before Christmas.

I don’t fancy our chances with a couple of kids and a couple of disappointments (even if they have started the season okay). We’re relying on pure chance now, especially as Ayala is due a bruised leg anytime now. When that happens the floodgates will open. I don’t even think the likes of Butterworth and McBride will feature much. He will be playing the full back he’s just signed as a false 9. Wharton and Dack returning may improve things but how long is that going to take?

So 30 goal striker out, nothing in. We all know what usually happens next, when a club doesn’t replace quality players.

I hope it involves a catapult capable of launching a 57 year old into the sea.

Tony will be having a doze right now.

Just had a look at that. Bloody hell.

He probably realised he wouldn’t be first choice Burke.

Having all but one of his shots saved. Marvellous. Also, that’s in slow motion. His best bits amount to 1 minute 22 seconds. And some of that is walking.

Mowbray desperately trying to sign a bigger berk than him. Priceless.

He’s a winger.

Returned to the board to discover almost 200 new posts, mostly disappointed, and that we are about to sign a Burke. This could be Mowbray’s defining moment.

The truth is Mowbray is so laid back, he’s still figuring out what his game plan is for the August fixtures.

It’s mental at a professional football club. Unless he’s holding out for some super signing, but I can’t see it.

Regardless of what he does in these few hours, not having a shortlist ready to go after Armstrong was sold is pretty neglectful. I know the argument is that the longer it gets to the deadline the cheaper it may be, but these clubs will know we are the ones in need of a replacement. And neither are we.

Transfer deadline drinks have started early I see.

He may be decent in the championship given previous showings at a higher level - but I’m not sure quite why he’d be out of our grasp transfer wise.

For context, the lad hasn’t played a single game of league football in the UK.

Asking a lot for them all to suddenly become championship quality at the same time. It’d be great if they did. Do other clubs do this? Genuinely asking because I don’t know, it seems like another gamble with the club to me.

We spent money a while ago, and the money was badly spent when you look at the the return we've had from it - a lot of money in this league. As I said I'm not bothered about £5m-10m players. As it stands we haven't spent a penny on a permanent signing yet. Would it be too much to ask for some decent championship players who can do a job? Other teams pick them up. An experienced midfielder? Or a decent replacement for Armstrong? (he's going to be very missed as the season goes on) I can only guarantee one thing about the players we've brought in, they are inexperienced.

Exactly, what is he thinking spending all that money on a player who doesn’t play his way?