I don't think I've ever seen such poor long term planning. Also factor in Mulgrew is finished (unsure of contract situation) Graham will be coming to the end of his career, ditto Downing, and possibly Johnson as well. That is a lot of changes for a team that failed to get in an extra centre back and an experienced keeper.

Yes there does seem an air of panic and short term-ism about the whole of our transfer dealings. All 3 defensive reinforcements likely won't be here next year, which is terrible for continuity, whilst the midfield options also have a limited shelf life. As you say, the keeper situation is very odd and only a step backwards - like for like, but with less benefits for us. Perhaps most worrying of this transfer window is our inability to get deals through.

Had a bit more time to reflect and again think it comes down to our ambitions as to whether it was a good window. For a club trying to stay in the Championship it was probably a pretty good window, for a club trying to kick on to top 6/8 it was much weaker. Keeper: 3/10 This has to be a fail for me. We replaced a young keeper who flaps and doesn't command his area, but with loads of potential, for a keeper who is no more experienced, flaps and doesn't command his area (by all accounts) and who cares about the potential, because he is gone in a year as it is a loan. If Mulgrew being shipped out to Wigan is telling on his ability, I'd suggest this works in reverse for our new keeper. Added to which it is a horrible use of a loan. Loans are there to get something better that you otherwise couldn't afford. Neither of these boxes are ticked, and as the only keeper we have, he's a guaranteed starter, limiting the number of effective loans we can have in the squad. Poor decision imo and a regression. Defence: 5.5/10 Better back 4, yet depth of defence is still worrying. Whilst it'd be hard to get worse than last year's back line options, we've nevertheless improved. We have a good quality left back and with the thin cb options the assurance that the liability Williams is (at lb) will not play there again. Similarly the City lad cannot be worse than Mulgrew and Rodwell so the back 4 shapes up well. Worryingly though there is no cover whatsoever. Williams is ok as a 4th choice centre back but I suggest he can do a job there, like Evanswood in midfield, and to be the first option called on when one of our centre backs is missing - which will happen with injuries and suspensions - is too big a drop in quality for a team with top half aspirations. Worryingly, he's the only one we can call on, without playing people out of position. Centre back is one of the key places you struggle to play out of position, and with virtually no cover here, and all youngsters out on loan, we're asking for trouble. Similarly no cover at right back is huge as well. Bennett is our reserve right back choice. This has two problems as a) he is not very good there, and b) that means he is less likely to play in midfield where he is decent. In fact, Bennett coming in for Johnson or Travis when injured/suspended would still make a rather strong 2 sitting midfielders. Our lack of defensive depth though means this is unlikely to happen though. Frustratingly, we start the whole process over again next summer when Cunningham and Tosin leave, leaving our paper thin defence, non-existent. Midfield 8/10 Losing Reed was a huge blow. And whilst Johnson is good, he's not as good as Reed. He is however a big upgrade on Evanswood, which is really positive. Similarly Downing is a signing I really like as he gives us lots of tactical options. He gives us lots more width and balance when played wide left, whilst also for games where less battlers are needed could slot into the 2 defensive midfield slots and dictate play from there. Sadly at 34 it seems a one season option, and we don't know whether his wages could be put to better use elsewhere. That said, if used astutely I feel Downing could be a really clever signing and have a big impact for us, whilst Johnson means we're so much less limited in defensive mid it's untrue. The fly in the ointment is both are comfortably the other side of 30, which along with the defence leaves a huge rebuilding job in the next 18 months, which may have been better to avoid. Quality wise though, I'm impressed. Strikers 6/10 We're in a much stronger position than we were with Samuel and Bereton not looking like cutting it in this league, that left only Graham as a viable striker. Gally at least has shown he is decent at this level and does give us another reliable option. Most importantly it keeps the 4-2-3-1 formation that suits Dack so well, making it a really important capture. Given Graham's age, alongside being the only reliable striker we had, this to me was a crucial signing. The big question is can Gally replace Graham - is he good enough? My gut reaction is no, but a useful second striker, which isn't really what we were after £12 million down the line. So yes, better in terms of squad and options, but the fear is it's not quite good enough. Overall a decent window and not the disaster it was shaping up to be. Perhaps in defence especially the Charlton game was a blessing in disguise. The big problem is however, I'm not too sure it was good enough. Certainly not for a top 6/8 table team but more to the point there's a few holes and weaknesses that could really let us down and threaten us with relegation. An injury to Graham, or any of our first 4 defenders and things look very risky indeed.

Agreed. Better than last season. However... This is one of the problems. The other problem is there will be injuries and suspensions - defenders do pick up a fair few bookings - and we are rediculously thin on numbers and quality beyond these 4. As for the window overall depends what you rate it against. Some of Venkys worst and last January - excellent. A team aiming for top 6 - poor. I'd say it's treading water. We avoided a disastrous window and the defence looks marginally better - although unconvinced any improvement on the keeper front. We've strengthened up top in options and Johnson looks a good player. That said I feel he is a downgrade on Reed and there's a lot of pressure on Gally to come good. Being better than Bereton isn't enough. Most worrying for me is a) how light we are defensively and b) how short term our window has been. All 3 key defensive signings , plus our 2 miss may need replacing next year. Given how slow we do transfers and deals it feels like we've deferred rather than defused the time bomb. And if injuries in defence or a few odd selections occur we may not have even done that.

Either TM has some deals done that please fans and buy him some time. Or he has done the impossible and made fans sad Mulgrew is leaving..

A left back is good but that leaves me with the fear that may leave Bennett unhindered at RB and Mulgrew getting a fair amount of game time. Not that I'm complaining too much on this Bell hasn't stepped it up. Tbh I feel TM was unfortunate with Bell, lb of the league 1 team of the year, great rep, on the cheap with a fair bit of potential. Sadly the potential or thinking ability hasn't developed anywhere near what expected. A permanent transfer for one of the defensive incomings is a must unless we want another problem summer next year.

No but having 2/3 windows to do so generally helps. And to still be floundering at the end of the 3rd window is pretty poor going. (response to TM not you!)

Whilst loans are better than nothing that would mean next summer we would need 2-3 centre backs (Tosin Mulgrew and incoming player replacement) and a new keeper. And that's before any other areas of the team are considered! Nothing like forward planning

Irons in the fire... but didn't work out. Too much wage demands etc. It looks like we're active . Maybe I'm just badly burned by the defenders are coming quote! Regarding frustration etc. TM is highly secure in his job, Venkys won't sack him, he appointed his own boss, and the owners are a very legitimate and convenient excuse for lack of transfers alongside FFP. I don't think TM has to worry too much on that score.

Or TM is saying what we want to hear. Not saying you are wrong as communication from the club is very hot and miss but it's very much a possibility that TM is trying to placate fans.

Not sure I would believe him. "Defenders are coming" the real meaning being (take your pick/vote): - things are fine but that will shut the fans up - but that will mean upsetting the lads, can't leave Charlie and Benno out, so change of plan - but Venkys won;t let me. Either way it means I don't really believe much he says these days whatsoever. Another one corrupted by the madhouse.

Or doesn't want to upset the inner circle.

If switching off is a big no no (agree on that) than I can't see how you want Bennett at RB - he switches off so much it is untrue. I've yet to see Bennett to the defensive stuff well at RB and Nayambe has better pace and defensive solidity both key attributes to a RB.

Nayambe is a solid RB and could be a very good one. He has all the attributes. As well as getting better at signing players we have to see more of our academy graduates developing to their potential. Being played 2nd choice behind a midfielder and unde Mulgrew's leadership isn't going to help Nayambe reach that potential.

How is EB not an issue. He lost his man on numerous occasions and looked ropey the entire match. In fact more often than not when he plays there he is the weak link. Genuinely what does he offer at RB? He's a defensive liability.

You'd have to think so. In a loan deal the player has to be substantially better otherwise you get no benefit. You take the pain and risk of developing them but don't see the reward. Clearly he isn't vastly better than Raya in first watch so it makes no sense. Esoecially when Raya arguably has as much experience and so much potential (admittedly unfilled as yet.) If it was necessary to fund other positions again it's be a mistake but you'd see their thinking - but there's not a permanent deal in sight. Mind you TM is poor at developing young players - Nayambe, Rothwell, Raya and Nuttall (over Samuel);for starters all have the potential to be impacting our squad but haven't really done so.

My big issue is that in most places we're in a worse position than before or are referring problems for 12 months. The keeper situation is one of them. Debatable whether the new chap is better - not convinced - but even if he does develop he'll be gone by the summer. Similarly Hanley on loan would be an improvement but in 12 months time we'd be in the same position of a terrible defence. A problem deferred not fixed. Factor in the probable losses of Downing, Graham, Mulgrew (albeit numbers only problem with him) and maybe Johnston along with the keeper and Hanley as well and we could have another summer needing big recruitment just to stand still.

I think he realises Bereton is a big mistake. Even if there is a decent player in there - which is questionable - he isn't a lone striker/target man which negates both the system and arguably our most talented player (Dack). Certainly with Graham still producing the goods and playing one up top there's no way you spend £5 mill, all your budget seemingly, on a 3rd option there. If there was a potential switch to 2 up top (not sure how you incorporate the rest of our players into that though, especially Dack) I'd have expected the last couple of games of the season for TM to give it a go. Basically I agree with what you are saying! I guess it's a positive he recognises Bereton doesn't quite work - if only he could see the flaws in the defence.

If we've spend £12 million on a successor for Graham and not succeeded in doing so that is gross incompetence. One is bad enough and poor judgement, but two... I still maintain as a big critic of TM we needed adequate back up for Graham this year. He's getting older and Dack also plays best with a target mannin front of him However if £12 mill and 2 summers hasn't done it then TM weaknesses are even more widespread then I thought.

But Tony makes it more complicated then it needs to be. Say playing a right back at right back instead of a mediocre midfielder there who's out of his depth in that position instead. Or playing our brightest prospect (Rothwell) rather then sticking him on the bench. Or even blowing £7 million on a striker who is not up to scratch. Also there is value to be had in the market. Norwich's top scorer last season came on a free. The lad from Hibs to Villa cost only £3 mill ish. Bauer was available on a free and we had even identified him as an option and fluffed it. And Bowyer was a poor manager but excellent scout who found huge value in the market - Cairney, Gestede and more. Don't buy that it's a lack of financial power holding us back this transfer window whatsoever.

Agree with the latter would ship on a 4 and a couple of others too. However I do feel Evans is a sham of a footballer who looks ok but actually does nothing. Not to mention he is hardly ever fit...

In fairness to that attacking line up the number of out and out strikers is very limited. Dack plays the 10 roll, Armstrong is out wide leaving Bereton, Graham and Samuel. Graham - good but aging. Age will catch up eventually. Don't want to be left with another Mulgrew situation. Bereton - looked poor last season and not up to it. Even if he is decent - and I doubt it - not up to taking on the mantle of Graham. Perhaps most tellingly of all he doesn't look suited to the lone striker role. Samuel - yeah. Nuff said. So to me we were really short up front too. Mostly is shows what a colossal waste of money Bereton was that needed to be rectified. So not my major criticism of TM doing so. That said given the other urgent areas needing upgrading perhaps a cheaper big unit of a footballer and diverting the majority of the funds from Gally onto a much needed defence would perhaps have been a better bet. Goodness knows that needed sorting too. But we needed cover up top as well imo. Finally if we had got Bauer would we be complaining about £5 mill on a striker. Perhaps that could have been the best of both worlds. Naturally we messed that option up too...

A few thoughts: 1) hard to get excited about signings. Even if we do sign players, and they are good (no guarentee of either with TM's track record) they aren't certainties to play - or play in their main positions. Given we had a few solutions to Saturday's problems on the bench, and given players when played aren't always in position (Bereton, Reed) there's a lot more hurdles to cross than "just" getting them in. 2) I'd keep Smallwood as a squad player. He can tackle and is always fit - 2 positives over Evans. Add in Evans wages and he's be the one to go for me. Johnston, Travis, Bennett and Smallwood are enough for the defensive mid positions. 3) it might be me and the papers hyping it but virtually all other clubs have made solid foreign signings - how hard is it to get our network set up and something from it?

Yes and that game was rearranged and still played! I cannot for the life of me think of why 2 clubs would be treated so differently in such similar circumstances (and location) especially with the club getting preferential treatment having behaved worse, other than the PL connection. I'm sure all the headlines would be ex premier League club goes bust and that is what they are striving to avoid.

Just realized Bolton and Bury are in the same league making the disparity in treatment all the more appalling. Equally the pair being on the same deduction with Bury to my knowledge not having cancelled any games is another unfair advantage to Bolton. Is it because they were in the premiership?