The Vale to Dolan change shows how far a bit of graft and trying hard can get you. Also says a lot about what spells at the lower level and probably a bit of experience outside a comfort zone gets you too

Centre mid and a goal scoring striker and we get 2 or 3 there. Is Leonard (think that's his name) an 'actual' striker as I don't think much of Vale. Feel sorry for JDT and some of the comments. Understand he's got the tactical understudy etc but turning around and looking at that bench who makes an impact? Dolan and hedges at best

This has Thomas injury and a Wigan late winner all over it

Dack being able to add this running to his game after his injuries does make me feel slightly sorry for him and what could have been (for him)

Apparently the teams got there at 16:10 and there's no issues so we've not bothered checking and left Now we've a meeting we've missed and can't go ahead with

Off to atletico madrid

Souttar off from stoke for 15-20m

Semenyo from Bristol going for 10 million and BBD on a free - not right

According to fotmob yes can play across the front 4 I've not seen him kick a ball in all fairness just work gossip

Aaron Collins a name I've seen too

Don't love Cantwell even as a Diaz replacement on the wing. Same for Gerhaldt as we have Dolan and Markanday. Would much prefer another striker if we lose Diaz, with Dack off of the two acting as the go between for Morton/Buckley. We've no ball carrier and two deep centre mods. Can either bring one in or play more central for me

Left a comment the other day but if we keep Diaz a right back understudy, a lump of a central midfielder and either an attacking midfielder or a left footed central mid who doesn't play like Morton and Buckley and allows Diaz to attack more than defend makes the world of difference. If we do lose Diaz and make some spendable money then I think the manager will have a rethink of how we play and embed the passing game more. Currently we piddle about with it waiting for the long ball to Diaz on the break as for me we don't have bar Dack someone playing between the opposition's midfield and defence. A striker to replace some goals, a tough tackling centre mid, a back up right back on loan and a creative more attacking midfielder would change the team overnight

Dreamworld is: Tall angry physical central midfielder who can disrupt a team. Ideally Scandinavian with a beard. Alternative striker/second striker who can play the pressing game and chip in with goals Full back who is defensive minded and serviceable on either side OR out and out wing back on the right hand side who can play as understudy to Britain when fit (loan?) Central midfielder who plays a different game to Buckley/Morton who plays slightly further up the field and can link our deeper midfielders/inside wingbacks to our strikers in games we can't get into. Based on rumours if we bring in Demebele that hits the target for a striker for me. I fancied Simms over the summer too who's landed at Sunderland. Otherwise a Danny Graham character or Grabban as Forest did could chip some goals in (Is Kienan Davies still at villa?) Ebowele from Palace on loan fits the wing back. Otherwise Norton Cuffey at Arsenal on loan somewhere (Rotheram) can play on either side. Berget from Malmö fits the attacking midfielder and we'd be after a lump of a central midfielder which I'm sure Nordic and league one could suffice. I've heard the name Magennis from Hibs but don't watch Scottish football so can't say what role he fits or whether it's just talk. Wouldn't be hell bent on losing Edun on the basis 5 subs and his engine could be useful as season drags on although manager doesn't fancy him

Somewhat agree with this (although I do on paper see logic of playing out the back pulling them into our half and then launching over the top to Diaz) but my issue and said it earlier in the thread is once we played it from keeper to centre back to left back to centre mid - we've no one who wants to turn their man and drive. And when we don't have Diaz on, we recycle it back to defenders that's where panic starts

We really don't have any direct players besides Diaz. We have a lot of ball holding midfielders but not one who can drive forward. Consistently find ourselves lumping it for Diaz to run on to, otherwise weve nothing between central midfield and strikers and those central midfielders by nature want to sit deeper and play the ball

Agreed If we are doing bargain basement any 2 of the 3 from passed two games would elevate us Hamer O hare Thomas

Also. If this lot go down I'd be interested in Thomas.

Who is on commentary on ifollow?

Can't watch it but from the messages seems our midfield is being over run. I don't believe we have a central midfielder with any venom or size to win the physical battle so hopefully Hirst can hold the ball up and push them back that way.

Omar Elabdealloui has terminated his contract with Galatasaray. Ex Man City, Feyernoord, Hull City and Olympiacos right back. Only 30 years old. Might be one Greg has links to from his Glimt days. The one main stumbling block might be he was declared to be nearly legally blind with a 5% chance of recovery last December. He's said he's looking for a club which might indicate he's recovered enough. However that being said we have had Bradley Orr and Nuno Ribiero in recent years play the role and having watched them I was never sure how much of the game they could see either

Wonder if Juan Mata fancies staying local now he's out of a contract, presumably has kids in school in Manchester and has caked it in for years

Interesting at least that we are looking abroad and in what you'd call high reward low value markets. I definitely remember the guy I bumped into being Scott Kennedy and not Clinton Mola. So whether that's fallen through due to work permits but who knows. Personally hoping Mola is more of a central midfielder and we can move to a 3 if needed. A real core and a terrier style midfielder would be a big win for me

If fit is the key word but he fits the Rothwell replacement. Granted hes just had an operation to move his knee lower in his leg because its so off so is a big gamble - but we get a Europa league level player for that gamble

Ryan Thomas Kiwi/English box to box midfielder released by PSV because his knee has needed specialist surgery. Jack Rodwell deal potentially to lessen burden on the kids anyone? Tom Carrol, Massimu Luongo, and Thomas Rogic also available

The frustration come end of the window will be that in a season where 5 subs are allowed we don't have the squad depth to make 5 decent subs and teams run us off the park. Even players like Edun who are at best serviceable and at worst best not said can provide benefit as legs (as seen vs Sheff Utd where for me he helped get us a foot back in the game). Not every signing needs be a Bowler if we have an understanding of how we play and what we want