Harry Houdini could be useful come next April/May judging by many posts on here.

Seven signings announced in the last ten minutes- three of them by Everton. If we had £5m burning in our pockets, made sense not to show that number while still trying to squeeze other clubs down on other players. In the end it looks like we didn't have enough dosh to match our ambition in terms of player quality and so didn't have the ability to winkle the ones we wanted out of their current clubs.

As a newly promoted club to the Championship we were not going to be that attractive to players not already familiar with Mowbray and the team spirit here. I am far happier not having spent millions than I would have been bringing in at least 75% of the players linked with us on the last 487 pages. McGinn and Freeman looked interesting as did the City youngster gone to PNE on loan. Armstrong is a deal I thought we wouldn't get so that is a big plus and let's see how Davenport and Rothwell pan out. The squad has strengthened over last season already. My gut feel was always this season was going to be about the calibre of loans we brought in. If we can pull two or three in who can make a significant difference even if the loan fees are pricey and that is where the budget goes, I won't be complaining.

Here's a little gem for you all. Only 77 permanent transfers for fees all summer prior to today. Less than one per club. And we got two (or is it three?) of them.

Still only four completed permanent signings in the whole of English football today according to the BBC.

There are four loan slots unfilled and 22 days left to fill them.

Moves them from dark horses to one of the favourites this season.

I forgot I am in a different time zone

6pm

So the BBC have recorded the grand total of 4 transfers completed so far today. Compared with a 23.00 deadline day, it is now 6pm in the evening.

Could be an interesting day. But if we sign nobody, the loans window remains open and we headroom before hitting the limit for number of loans allowed. And we are already at least as strong as we were at the end of last season and the trip to Ipswich suggests that will be good enough to avoid an early return to League 1. Would have liked McGinn but Freeman more of a known quantity at this level. Having said that we signed Gladwin from QPR..

Forget they are called Millwall and this is a side which you'd expect to be there or thereabouts. Against Boro they ran riot at times and could/should have been far more than two ahead. Then two extremely late goals pegged them back, one of which makes our defending look measured and controlled! They can play quick and tight in the final twelve yards so our defenders are going to have to be extremely alert all game. A tremendous challenge because they even more than us will be smarting from letting two points slip away on the opening day. Has a draw written all over this game but I wouldn't be surprised if this is an away win for Millwall.

Every club seems to be struggling with this early window closure for permanent transfers. Don't be surprised to see some highly creative loan deals after tomorrow. Still think Rovers will be doing business on a permanent basis in the next 26 hours.

Looks a bit like there might have been some selective pumping in two or three places...

Sheffield United now below Rotherham...

Seen a bit of Willy Trap footage. Hard to tell if he is any good because the MLS is played at nothing like the intensity of the Championship.

Sheffield Wednesday have confirmed they are under a transfer ban and have been since April.

I would be ecstatic if we land McGinn.

It might be because most games last the thick end of 100 minutes but stop counting at 90. So the last minute is unusually long...

I have never rated Bruce other than as a true old fashioned centre half and mouthy ignoramus.

Half is 12 bringing 5,000+ Leeds a certainty. Bolton is the last home game of the season so it might bring a big do or die crowd to Ewood PNE if having a good season Possibles: Villa (first club to visit Ewood with a large away following, depends on keeping a good start going) Forest (unlikely- don't remember them having that good a travelling support at Ewood.. and 7-0) Sheffield United (Wednesday evening game so highly unlikely) Sheffield Wednesday (depends on how good a season they are having) Birmingham City (very unlikely not so big club will bring above 2,000) West Brom (possible as the New Year's Day fixture) Bristol City (could bring 2,500+ if having a good run but unlikely) Middlesbrough (if challenging for promotion and the poor dears don't have the sniffles) Wigan (a Tuesday evening game- forget it!) Stoke City (first Saturday in April so could fill Darwen End if doing well), immediately followed by Derby County (first Tuesday in April so unlikely unless really challenging for automatic promotion) So I make that nine >5,000 visitors to Ewood games at the very best. More likely to be four or five.

Good news. Hopefully the first of others this week.

Chelsea likeliest to be the one to drop out of CL contention of the six clubs pressing at the top and Liverpool probably the biggest threat to City.

This is a tad premature isn't it?

He was six yards out and the keeper was flat on the ground. A chip at arm level beyond the defender on the line either goes in or gets a penalty and a red card. Having said that, Nutall's non-effort heading backwards was far worse.