This won't necessarily be such a huge or costly rebuilding job. Whittingham, Gladwin and Caddis don't factor in. They are deadwood that never makes the squad, and if we are desparate enough with injuries to go there for bench spots briefly, I'm fine to use youth players. We should stop mentioning them in this context immediately, they simply don't need replacing. Downing would be super easy to get to sign another deal if we decide we want him. If not, Wharton will be more experienced by then. Almost a non-issue again. The big ones there are Graham, Mulgrew and Evans. If by the end of the season they still seem to have enough in them to go again next season, I am sure we will offer new deals. We then may or may not keep them. Much will depend on how their bodies are coping and what wages they expect. If we do lose all (or more likely just some) of them, Evans isn't that big a deal as we have a billion players in that area - some are young and should be better by then. Rodwell is a funny one. If he does well enough, we will either keep him or be priced out of his wages. Either way, centre halves aren't that expensive, and again we have a billion DMs. Conway probably won't be offered another deal. Squad player at the moment, so probably not tough or pricey to replace (I'd go for a cheap, youthful gamble). Might have Chapman before then, if not, he could be available for just a tribunal fee. That leaves the loanees, Palmer and Reed. Maybe signing them (Reed anyway) on perms will become possible if we want them, or even loaning them again. If not, just dip into the loan market again (also potentially an option for other areas remember). The only thing I'd say is certain for replacing these guys (except a cheap Conway replacement) is that we WILL need to sign another striker. Even if we keep Graham on, it would surely be his last season, with his legs potentially going at any time, and a highly capable understudy would be paramout. Good strikers aren't cheap. If Brereton and/or Arma come along nicely enough this season though, we may only be looking at a cheapish gamble. What you have left out is the dreaded but very feasible prospect of losing Dack in the summer. The money would help us source a replacement (and maybe fund other positions too), but the likelihood is our quality in that position would diminish. To me, a nightmare scenario for rebuilding in the summer would be losing Graham, Mulgrew and Evans to bosmans, and having to sell Dack and maybe Raya if he has a great season. That would rip the whole spine from this team, front to back. Losing Lenihan may also be a risk.

Pretty sure we are trying for at least one more deal, or I reckon TM would have said our business was done. However, the lack of noise about it suggests that yes, we have closed off the leaks and also possibly that we aren't feeling too under pressure for more.

Good question. Wiki reckons he was out on loan to Derry City last season...20 apps, 1 goal.

I don't think they did - they offered him a better paid deal to stay. Think it may have only been one year though.

Indeed, can we trust any profile pic in there? What if they have been evil geniuses all along, and not a single pic is real? They could all be photos of the website team ingeniously doctored. Perhaps they've just gotten lazier with their photoshopping this year, as nobody has noticed before.

What happened to that Lithuanian 'wonderkid' we were supposed to be signing, which I presumed was for the development squad? Name something like (watch me butcher this) Villaus Pilliakautis or somesuch.

With us only playing one up front and having Graham, Armstrong and Brereton to choose from...Jerome would be a good addition with his goal record, a another option, but would he start enough to warrant a purchase? I'd think not. Derby paid 1.5 mill for him in Jan I think, and he scored...I want to say 5 in 18 I was reading earlier? Doubt they would release him for nowt, and he is 32. A loan until Jan or all season would work for us, but would it work for Derby unless we threw more money at it than we probably should?

There was only ever one person earmarked to replace Sam, sadly. Andy Cole wrote an online article before Sam was even fired (might have been before the takeover finalised even) saying a little birdy had told him it was going to happen and an SEM coach was going to get the job full time. Might have some minor details wrong but was along those lines.

The hair is slightly different...although most of the face is very similar I don't think that's actually the one they've used? Loving this photoshopping malarkey and detective work though.

Pretty much sums it up for me. Good luck Ben! If you deliver like we hope, you'll be a terrific signing. Agree with others that an early goal would do him the world of good.

I almost put a like on that, but I don't feel it was overrated. I think most fans gauge it just right...he built those tools. Just didn't know how to use them. He deserves credit for steadying the ship and recruiting well. Sadly, he failed to get us at least into the playoffs, which the squad he assembled was definitely capable of. He did well, but it was past time to let him go. Unfortunately we just replaced him badly. Parallels to Allardyce there really (except Sam should have been kept til season's end and then replaced properly).

How did the lad Joe Grayson cope then?

Not sure. Under Coyle, I'd be surprised if one of the opposition tea ladies didn't nick one against us.

Fair enough Big Tone, all looked questionable at the start but got us comfortably over the line...in the end! (Yes I'm willing to tempt fate at this point) Possibly helped by Lincoln making 7 changes too of course...could it be that we got given the heads up on that, due to our 'special relationship' with Lincoln? Which might have encouraged us making so many changes?

I picture Graham thinking 'Bugger, confirmed the new whipper snapper, best stick one in the onion bag'. Danny Graham, he scores when he wants!

Apart from that. I saw that mentioned earlier. No idea of him as a player. Defender it seems...central? Any good? How old? Highly rated? etc.

Strange to field both Graham and Nuttall, especially due to, as someone said earlier, Graham's participation in a midweek match last week putting him on the bench on Saturday. Must be because of the Brereton deal being completed, and presumably Arma being back. I guess Graham will be on the bench again. However, Mowbray has shown he doesn't introduce anyone straight into the team the week they sign, so Brereton will likely be bench at best for Bristol. Armstrong up front must be the tactic for the weekend...bit of a risk though, should his injury recur before then. A few puzzling lineup and formation choices tonight, but let's see at the end if it worked. Also...who the hell is Joe Grayson? Not seen his name crop up before even in the youth team discussions.

You're only going to give him until 10 minutes into the game? Caddis in the shop window...I wouldn't put him in Poundland's shop window. I'd feel embarrassed donating him to a charity shop.

I must be missing something, those seem to contradict. Unless it is including super long, 18 month or 2 year loans. Otherwise not sure how you can include 5 loans but can only get 4.

No, you're a good poster. And I'm sure someone has gotten us mixed up in the past.

One is exceptable...from the English language. Welcome to the Language Window, folks. Due to close as soon as the mods tell us to quit it. Anyway, I read the Forest forum earlier tonight. Most of them rate him very highly and are very unhappy with the supposed fee. I do think part of this (what they think he should cost) comes from his being from their youth team though, and other youth players having sold or been linked for exorbitant amounts. Seems to make them think all their youth fringe players should command a premium. One of them pointed out that if they were linked with a player with a similar record for a similar fee they wouldn't think it was super cheap. However, highly encouraging how gutted a lot of them are by it. It does make me feel better about the risk. I expected a lot more bitter 'sod it we don't need him' remarks.

Ack! You probably meant to say blueboy3333 or something...

It's disturbing me that you know.

I thought you said you didn't get why people are bothered.

Think again. A month or two ago I got an official warning from K-Hod for a minor, and indirect insult I threw 'at' Chaddy. Can't say I was best pleased by it, felt it was OTT and heavy-handed, especially since I very very rarely get irritated enough by someone on here to do any form of insulting, but the point is, people do get in 'trouble' for it. For the record I'm neither a happy clapper nor a doom monger, either. Now let's stop talking about moderators, posters, and forum personalities and just talk football.