When you factor in that £10m was in one summer, you soon see that this idea that Venkys have only just started to not invest in the club is untrue.

Both. But predominantly my opinion.

I dont think theres much in it, which says a lot considering how low the benchmark is in terms of improving on Pears. I also think that the idea that he can do much in terms of helping the other goalkeepers in a year is a big assumption. If we get Ruddy, I would suggest that similar to last year, whoever is in net will cost us far more points than they will save.

Based on current day Ruddy? Declining further as he gets older. Im not entirely sure.

Picking that centre back pairing would be on par with chucking in Clinton Mola last time.

These assumptions presume that the setup here works to 100% efficiency which we dont know. Eustace should never have a player signed that he doesnt approve, that is obvious. But we have brought people in to spend much of their time looking at players, whereas most of Eustace's time will be spent preparing for matches. So if loads of work has been done on various keepers and the end result is signing a nearly 38 year old keeper who Eustace used to manage, IMO something has gone horribly wrong. I dont get why people wont just pass on their own opinions. Eustace obviously is more qualified than any of us but he isnt flawless (like any manager) so it shouldnt surpress our own opinions. If he wants Ruddy, maybe its based on an opinion of him prior to a poor season where Eustace didnt witness first hand a physical decline. Obviously those opinions may change dependant on how the player does. All that matters to any of us is bringing in the best players. But it seems that most are in agreement that Ruddy (and to a much lesser extent Dembele) would not be the right player and it would bring into question the whole setup if the best player from a long list of options just happened to be someone Eustace had at Birmingham. The 2 first home games against 2 promoted clubs who both looked poor will be 2 of the most likely to be relegated. That being said, its not some sort of procession to win any league game and Eustace does deserve credit for winning them. They are two of the easiest/least difficult games we will play all season though, but you still have to win them.

If we dont spend much this week, would you be more angry at Venkys for again failing to put the money in to improve the club or Waggott for saying that nothing is stopping them?

Taking aside the fact that most clubs would use such a influx of fees received to build the foundations of the side both for now and longer term. The idea of a safe pair of hands makes sense, but comparing Ruddy and Rushworth. The former would fit the experienced goalkeeper bill, and the latter would be a young loanee. But when you look into it, Ruddy wouldnt be that guaranteed safe choice because hes clearly on the decline and struggled at this level last season, and is only getting older. So he would not be a safe choice, he would be a big risk. Whereas Rushworth comes off the back of a very impressive season as one of the better keepers in the league, winning Swansea's player of the season. I still am not convinced that he is realistic, but contrary to this idea of an older goalkeeper being a safe stop gap, these 2 options blow that theory out of the water. So it wouldnt be a choice of a solid foundation and stability if we went for Ruddy. He would be the one linked goalkeeper whereby I am not even sure if he would be number 1.

You seem particularly keen to sign Germain. What makes you want him so much? I would be underwhelmed by Dembele and pissed off with Ruddy but someone who is predominantly a striker wouldnt be a sensible option out wide.

Reading the comments of Wigan fans on twitter, they would seemingly snap our hands off for £3.5m (as if we will offer that) and dont think hes anywhere near it.

His thirst for attention just gets greater and greater. Bizarre and sad.

Again, nobody has not been behind him in the ground. Needless and inaccurate comment. He has been criticised on here a lot because he ultimately has underwhelmed as a signing so far and also his work ethic and lack of bravery can irk people. Good finish yesterday though.

We was, prior to Batth coming in. Cooper is joining Hull.

Loaning a youngster from a league 1 side would be embarassing.

Their manager has been quoted as saying that they will loan him out.

He likes to play as a number 10 and he isnt that quick from what I have seen. But he is a talented player and our squad now lacks anyone who you look at and think he could be a potential long term asset with resale value. But can you see it happening?

It will have to be quick whoever we sign because weve spent so long pissing about that weve barely got any time left.

There isnt a player at Birmingham that Eustace doesnt rate. Aasgard is a good talent but not sure he is what we need.

Rumours that he is going to Venezia.

Are these players we just want rather than are close to im guessing. A passing interest that nothing will materialise from.

If we barely/dont spend, its all Venkys.

Pissing about with loans having brought in £40m in fees. Wouldnt surprise me if Rushworth went elsewhere and we loaned someone inferior. Ruddy maybe.

Travis was not anywhere near as good as v Derby and Pickering was solid. Neither were woeful.

From reports, it seems that Germain would be as an alternative to a winger which wouldnt make sense. We need a natural winger regardless, but Germain aswell would give us the option to play him or Gueye with Ohashi off him knowing we have someone on the bench to change things up. I think we will have some performances along the way like what Gueye put in today. He is technically poor and I am not convinced yet that he will get loads of goals but he showed in his first 2 games that he has something to offer.

There were justified question marks last season when Eustace failed to win a single home game despite some favourable fixtures. You have to be strong at home. This season we have played 2 promoted sides that look really limited and will likely be right near the bottom. They are games you have to be winning as your bread and butter and we have got all 6 points which is a really solid foundation to build on so very pleasing. Today was not a particularly good performance to be honest and our limitations were clear so it was just about getting over the line. We badly need some pace in the final third, we were quite stodgy and predictable. Dolan continues to underwhelm, Hedges was poor and although he took his goal well, I am still not convinced by JRC. I think we need 2 more attackers with at least one being a quick winger but first need to decide where Ohashi is best placed. I thought he struggled at times as a main striker, hes not the quickest, he struggled to hold it up and his lay offs are often loose. But when he played off Gueye a bit deeper, he came to life more and it allowed him to pick the ball up in clever areas and drive with the ball. If hes seen as playing off the front then we need competition for Gueye as he would be the only senior striker, if not then we could do with a second wide man. Gueye struggled when he came on, I suspect he will come up with performances like this as he is very unpolished, with a wild finish, poor first touches and occasionally causing us problems going back. But he showed what he can do in the first 2 games. Not convinced he will score that many but gives us a different dimension.