for some reason i had it in my head it shut at the end of July, got 31st in my head, must be thinking of August, my mistake, smart arse

I didn't say he wasn't fit, I pointed out that the transfer may not be the sole reason for him not featuring, at least initially. Which reports are these then? I've not seen anything to suggest Forest were hawking him around, in fact everything I've read appears to be contrary to that, on deadline day all the reports suggested they were surprised at the interest in him from Rovers. As I've said repeatedly, I'm on the fence with this transfer, I can see both positives and negatives of it, however the length of time it's rumbled on and the multitude of reasons it hasn't gone through yet lead me to think that it's not going to happen. It's nearly 2 since the window closed and I find it hard to believe that two sides who are reported to want to do a deal have thus far not been able to, we allegedly have a team of people dedicated to transfers, surely they could have got the job done.

Forest don't need to sell IMO, yes they've not included him so far but I read somewhere he'd missed a lot of pre-season after playing with England U20's and isn't match fit so that could factor into him not playing as much as the transfer rumbling on. Looking at it objectively I don't think Forest are bothered about selling him, if he goes and they get good money, happy days. If they keep him he remains a developing squad player who will feature intermittently. If he spits his dummy out, again no major trauma as he doesn't appear to feature in their immediate plans and they can punt him out in January. Forest appear to have all the cards at the moment and as the end of the window draws nearer their hand only gets stronger. They don't need to sell but we need to buy and have repeatedly said as much.

I think it's a strange comment too, surely it's not that difficult a concept and can be written into a sale contract fairly easily. Kovacic deal from Real has had it written fairly easily it would seem.

I don't think we will sign Brereton, I think it's rumbled on too long and Forest's demands seem a bit rich for our taste/sensibilities. I think we will end up with Bauer and a couple of Premier League youngsters that haven't been on the radar thus far, oh and possibly Chapman although I think the way Palmer, Dack and Armstrong have linked up so far might have cooled our interest on Chapman a little.

I'm merely playing devils advocate as I have done on this signing from the start. Brereton is a massive risk; as with all big risks the potential rewards are massive but the fallout of a misplaced bet, equally so.

I'm not advocating bringing in Jerome at the cost of others but as a steady, Championship player in a rotation of forwards we could do worse.

We're looking at spending 8 million quid on a 'never been' and/or 'might never be'

I wouldn't be against Jerome on loan, steady pair of hands, very experienced at this level and provides some added physicality.

Doesn't Chapman's deal at Boro expire next year? Whilst they will be entitled to a development fee for him if he walks at the end you've got to think that one's a complicated deal as Rovers shouldn't be paying much for a player who is out of contract at the end of the year and is seemingly unwanted by his parent club.

He's crap? (tongue firmly wedged in cheek)

He's injured isn't he? He's also had a stinking injury record whilst at Villa and his wages are reportedly about £35k, potentially good player but another who looks like a massive risk to me.

Athletico Mince take on McClaren is hilarious

I think the opposite is true in terms of why people are bothered about the potential Brereton signing, I think most fans first and foremost want to go all out to retain our status as a Championship club this season, anything over that is bonus territory. Brereton is an unknown quantity and an expensive one at that, given the recent history I think most fans want a steady pair of hands this year that will see us safe in the league and look to build over the coming years. I don't think anyone realistically think we should be chasing promotion do they? Every fan I've spoken to see this as a great opportunity to consolidate and build on the good work that began last year.

I think it's now looking unlikely there will be someone in before the weekend, even at this stage it is then unlikely they would be included on Saturday. Brereton is supposedly not to full fitness following the summer tournament so if it is him it's pretty certain he wouldn't feature on Saturday. Of the others that have been bandied around (Gallagher and Chapman) only Gallagher would be in a position to be involved on Saturday.

Quelle surprise

behave, Bamford has scored 50 odd goals in his career.

Players get pilloried on here for poor scoring records when we look at signing them so because this one is a lot of money and now someone we've all decided is a world beater we cant then disregard the wisdom that's gone before. He's here to score goals and for 5, 6 or 7 million quid he'd have to score bucketfuls of them. Grabban cost Forest 6 million quid, this lad can't get in their side whichever way we dress it up and it going to cost us more. Doesn't stack up in my opinion. Don't get me wrong if he comes I will wholeheartedly support the lad and hope he becomes an all time great, but the fee in comparison to long time established goalscorers and young players with more pedigree seems very high.

Armstrong has played 50 or so championship games, scored 7 goals (in struggling sides) and has had succesful loan spells in League 1 either side of those 6 month championship loans and will cost a maximum of 3 million. 5, 6, or 7 million pounds sounds hefty in comparison. Armstrong also has a better goals to games ratio for England U19's for a direct comparison.

To be fair to Jon Stead he cost us 1 million pounds, scored a number of important goals in his first season helping to stave off relegation and was sold on to Sunderland for 1.8 million, so hardly a disaster really.

There are a lot of ifs and buts in that becoming reality. For a club such as ourselves that has been trading in the bargain bin for a number of years to seemingly having a bit of budget to play with I'm terrified we're going to blow it on a dud. As for his stats they can be twisted to suit any argument, you say some were from the bench, ok, why was he on the bench? I'm purely playing devils advocate in all this to be honest, I don't know if he's any good or not, what I do know though that is 7 million quid is a lot of dough. Whilst I do agree to some extent that at some point we need to join the party I think we need to be careful which party it is we join in, as at this stage it looks like one when you stick your keys in a bowl and end up with a one toothed hag from Padiham. I don't think it is unfair, they've spent the last few years battling around the bottom half and spending a load of dosh and bringing in a new manager doesn't change that overnight. West Ham spent an absolute fortune this summer, doesn't stop them being absolute toilet.

7 million pounds is an awful lot of money , regardless of who their manager is he is a 19 year old with less than 10 goals in 50 odd games and isn't in the plans of a middling Championship side, now we can spin those facts either way we want, but the fact remains 7 million pounds is an eye watering fee.

True, however with a player you buy I think they get more time to bed in. If a player comes in who is crap on loan and we know 6 months down the line we're going to have to shell out x amount on someone we already know is a dud it will stick in the craw a bit IMO.

Loan to buys make me uneasy, what if he's absolutely garbage during the loan period, how will fans then react to him being here longer term.

Wouldn't be surprised to see Adam back at Rangers with Gerrard.