8. Nice round number that. The same number of games we've played in January without any reinforcements coming in.

He was pushing to leave. You can't hold unhappy players hostage - he wanted (and earned) a shot at the PL. We got very decent money for a 29 year old with a 12 month purple patch on his CV. We just didn't reinvest it.

Who's making that argument, cos he's categorically not!

I would happily hire a limo and drive him there myself. Did you not watch him throw two into the back of his own net on Saturday?

We're playing Calamity Pears in net. We clearly don't value the GK position too much. Get Hilton de-registered if it allows us to bring in another good outfield player.

Anyone that watched 30 seconds of ACD could tell you he isn't quick.

So why turn down repeated offers to buy it from them? It's a sunk cost - they're never getting their money back, but they can stop the bleeding.

They don't have kicks offs at stupid times either - they protested against that. Plus all the clubs are part fan-owned. I don't admire the Germans often, but they do football better than we do.

Eventually John and the Group go to prison for a very long time and are financially ruined. The business is finally released from their evil grasp and prospers. The End.

I'd say Pears throwing two into his own net is the main reason we lost.

In football you move further backwards the less skilful you are. FBs are often failed CMs (or wingers). CMs are often frustrated CFs. If he's playing RB at his age he's found his position.

That's what 'utility man' JRC is for. Shame he's never quite hit the heights we hoped he would.

Brittain is similar to Beck (albeit more skillful) - he's a very, very good attacking Fullback / Wingback at this level. You nullify what he does well when you ask him to play further forward. He's better as the free runner overlapping rather than the Winger. As for Duru - I thought he was ready to sit on our bench and spell Brittain from what we've seen of him, but I'm glad he's going to get regular football. He'll be playing a lot for us after this season I think.

As a season ticket holder I'm very tempted to give this one a miss. The lack of transfer activity, again, is sucking the life out of my support.

Marginally, if at all. Both are a very similar level to the Championship.

I bet, combined, they add up to more salary - but it's a much more confusing set up.

Agree to disagree.

I really liked Broughton and JDT. They were just never backed by the people that hold the purse strings.

Genuinely never thought he got a chance here. He must have looked shite in training.

There's absolutely no way they know who Adam Wharton is.

Even if my interest had waned in something, if it's costing me a reported £20m a year to exist and is a general PR nightmare, I'd appoint the best people possible and instruct them to run it accordingly. Some would say that's what they've done with Suhail Shaikh as he's cut costs to the bone - but it's still a PR nightmare. Or, y'know, I'd sell it at a loss and be done with it. There's clearly another nefarious reason as to why they continue to hold onto the club and strangle the life out of it. The ongoing Indian court case suggests it's fraud and tax evasion.

"Oh yeah I've heard about that. They fucking despise you and your kin in Lancashire, right?"

My t-shirts don't tend to charge me £20m a year to exist in my drawer.

Pickering won't be back for ages and Beck will be going back in the summer. If they want someone like that Small lad at Charlton, now would be a smart time to buy him and integrate him into the squad. Y'know if we were run professionally and all that.

Fraud. Tax evasion.