It would actually be a rare bit of good news if Gallagher chose Wigan then we could concentrate on getting someone better in.

Where does he play? Out and out forward?

Yep. How often have we heard TM complain that it's difficult to sign players because other Clubs won't let them go until they have replacements lined up.

So anyone who doesn't agree with you is automatically on the wind up? No "winding up" whatsoever intended on my part. My impression of last season was that the momentum from winning promotion got us off to a solid start which just about got us over the line as we were well and truly found out in the last two thirds or so of the season. I've just checked back to see if the stats co-included with my impression and it appears that in the second half of last season we got 23 points from 19 games so imo with Mulgrew and Graham in particular well on the decline and not getting any younger we're in desperate trouble unless we improve very substantially. For me the business conducted and names linked so far are absolutely desperate and that was even before the loss of Raya which I am gutted about as I think he's a good keeper now and will go onto be a top class one. So apologies if I'm posting frequently but it's a reflection of how serious the trouble I think we are in is. If for the sake of argument we'd not sold Raya, and signed Hanley, Reed and Assombalonga permanently I'd never be off here crowing what great business we'd done! If it keeps everyone happier I'll limit the "we're doomed" stuff to a posting or two a day. As things stand it won't change my view though and what are you supposed to do if you think we're in very serious trouble? Sit back and say nothing or keep repeating your thoughts in the hope eventually the penny drops and someone somewhere takes some notice? If I didn't care, it wouldn't bother me.

Bet we replace him with someone "experienced" who also doesn't have enough presence and isn't a brilliant shot stopper either though Bob.

What can't you believe you're reading?

Well to be fair Gallagher seems to have morphed into Shearer in the eyes of many since he's been away!

We started the window with the unenviable task of having to reconstruct the spine of the team. Top class CH CM and main striker. As per the last couple of Windows there's been a bit of tinkering around the edges but arguably the only thing that has changed is that you can now add a first choice keeper to that list, with us having absolutely no idea who we're going to replace Raya with. I also disagree about Reed, I thought he was top class but the Mowbray mismanaged him terribly by a hunting him out wide.

This close season seems to be starting to mirror the last one in terms of stockpiling (average) midfielders. I'm sure we calculated we had 15 midfielders available before the start of last season.

Oh, right then. So if Dack and Lenihan suddenly express a desire to move as well we have to just step aside, rip up their contracts and wave them on their merry way with our blessings? I bet they'll be glad to hear that.

Not really. Just to add a bit of meat on the bones the two players we've signed have a combined age of 67 and the two 'on trial" have a combined age of 61. All will be free transfers and most recently Butterfield got relegated from League 1 whilst out on loan at Bradford. Adam's most recent claims to fame are relegation from the Premier League and then being part of a Stoke squad that subsequently underperformed very badly in the Championship. Up front we appear to be targeting a striker who's never scored more than 11 League goals in a season and who was part of a squad that got us relegated the last time he was here. On the Raya issue, surely no-one can defend him being sold without a replacement already having been lined up and secured. Can they?

Commandment #1 "Tony can never do any wrong therefore thou shalt always find someone else to blame."

Great post.

Yet. Thanks for proving my point. Doesn't really matter if we don't. sign him. Shouldn't be anywhere near here in the first place.

Exactly.

It's an interesting exercise in human psychology on here. If at the end of last season I'd said on here "I know, I have a brilliant idea, let's sign Stewart Downing and Charlie Adam" people would have been calling for the men in white coats. Mowbray does it and many posters seem receptive to the idea and start performing mental gymnastics to justify how it could possibly work. I wonder how bad a potential signing would actually have to be before he received universal condemnation.

I take it from what you say you don't actually want us to sign him. Therefore, what's the benefit of "giving him a run out" thereby preventing us looking at someone else or even having him around the squad. There is none.

Mowbray's taking the **** now. Shades of Robbie Fowler - "Only coming in to train and get fit" - next news he's been handed a deal. If we are actually interested in that Newcastle reserve their fans can't wait to get rid of to replace Raya then part of the deal should be a stipulation Mowbray goes the other way to take over as their manager.

What remotely suggests we won't? Given how our transfer window activity is shaping up I'd snap anyone-s hand off now for 21st before a ball is kicked.

Therein lies the heart of the problem. Mowbray demonstrated last season he doesn-t have the ability, nouse or ambition to take us forward and is starting to wreak damage it may take years to recover from if we are relegated again. We may never recover if the owners eventually get frustrated wirh the lack of progress/regression and take their bat and ball home. with them.

How much did they get for selling That lad to Spurs?

Hopefully nothing in it. That would put the tin hat on it if that happens.

I'm not the one responsible for scouting the markets. As I've said all along QUALITY CB CM main striker needed. Hanley would have been good, I'd have hoped for better than a 32 year old on his way down coming in in midfield, and Assombalonga or Austin would be more like the sort of quality we required up front.

New keeper Bennett Mulgrew Lenihan Williams Downing Evans Johnson Smallwood Dack Graham Not exactly brimming with youthful promise and enthusiasm is it?

Has he played for Boro / us /or us AND Boro before? (Like Chapman)? ?