That seems an unwise thing for them to do.

Yep has to be 6 months in L1 or it's a waste of his time.

Completely different pedigree to Poku, no? Another Gilsenan - might be good, but he's bounced around a few big club Academies and is 20 already so it's unlikely that he is.

You're an incredible judge of talent. I've seen DeNeve play for about 90 mins and the rest for less than 45 mins (or indeed not at all when it comes to Tavares).

I'm tired of this topic now, but after their rash of injuries they preferred Gray (a younger player who's a CM) over him at CB. So I don't think he's even on the radar for their first team.

Plus he's clearly better than Hedges.

He's very clearly not a RB - you can see that from watching him for 20 minutes. Can he play there? Yes, in the same way Travis can play there.

There's literally no reason why Tyjon or Higgins won't do the same. Why would they sign on here when apparently signing for Arsenal et al and being loaned out for 3 years is much more preferable.

They were clearly hoping a professional contract coupled with a clear pathway into the first team (and actual minutes on the pitch) would convince him to stay. The fact his agent insisted on a pitiful release clause told you where his heart was.

He can't be far off the first team if he's scoring goals like that. We have absolutely nothing out wide.

Yes, but we move in different circles to Spurs. Them buying a player for £2m and selling him for £6m is a rounding error in their accounts.

Traitorous little shit, isn't he?

We didn't have an option - his agent forced us to put that pitiful clause in his contract.

And still 5th / 6th choice at his club.

As a squad player, undoubtedly yes.

As much as I'd like to get our business done early and be able to have the whole squad training together in pre-season, it's just not how football works anymore. We won't know if this transfer window has been a success until October, when we've seen them play, and we obviously won't know who we've got until the window closes. None of us have any real idea how good DeNeve, Alebiosu and Tavares are. McLoughin we know is a pretty solid Championship CB (something we desperately needed). It does look like we've put a premium on athleticism though - they're all bigger, stronger and faster than the players that proceeded them.

Professionally I've got no problem with what he did and what he's done. He improved us, tried to stabilise the team for the next three years and ultimately wasn't backed at all. Personally though? Fuck him and the horse he rode in on. That's my prerogative as a fan.

It's a bit like the Finneran deal (and Tyjon). We have no say in where he goes, but we're due compensation due to his age. That'll be decided by a tribunal unless we both agree a fee. Suspect we've got zero interest in making things easy for Derby.

I've seen him play for like 20 minutes, so no I wouldn't agree. He could be the next Cafu for all I know at this stage.

He's far, far more effective starting games than coming on as an 'impact sub'.

I just think you're desperate for another CM. We fell apart when Tronstad and Travis got injured last year - we need to lighten their load. Montgomery / Forshaw / Buckley can come off the bench and spell them for 10-15 minutes, but I wouldn't want to start any of them in a meaningful match. We need two guys like Baker who can start a midweek match without a second thought from the manager - hopefully Tavares is one of them.

Might as well sell him in that case.

Ohashi and Gueye are a massive upgrade on what came before them. You'd have to spend a pretty penny bringing in a better replacement (assuming you didn't strike lucky on the continent again). What they both struggled with last year was receiving quality delivery - that's where I think our paltry war chest should be spent.

Maybe the ref was as sick of the Italian diving as the rest of us?

You love to see it. Play acting from minute one and camped in their own box. Got what they deserved.