I judge a director of football in regards to recruitment by who has signed, not sob stories. Few questions: Why did we even want a central midfielder when Broughton kept going on about blocking pathways? What changed? Why are we focusing on loans when the project is long term and people keep dismissing promotion chances? Does any of the blame regarding an inability to sign a striker (not specifically Kone or Undav, just in general, as you said we should have a big shortlist) fall on Broughton? How do you rank the window out of 10? Has your faith in the project under Broughton even slightly changed? Why did the owners not sack Silvester when DJ Campbell didn't sign that time due to a fax issue?

Because as I said, he has overseen an underwhelming window and a terrible one. It is all unplanned and he bangs on about projects then tries to focus on loans rightly or wrongly that does not fit into the nonsense he talks. I have no faith in this project and think anyone who does is naive. Silvester should have long gone too.

He oversees transfers and has overseen an underwhelming window and now a woeful one. Sylvester should also have been removed even after the DJ Campbell incident.

Surely that is Broughton done on the Rovers gravy train. But Venkys have never cared for making employees accountable for their actions.

And even if we were allowed to sign him on a free like that, I can't imagine he would be in a rush to choose us if he was a free agent!

Not if they have been signed outside of the very specific rules that govern player registrations. We had 31 days.

Broughton is overseeing recruitment, judgement on that side comes down to what we sign and what we didn't, simple as that, no excuses. Even if you can pass on any potentially farcical situation which leads to the O'Brien deal collapse, you have been insistent that we don't sign a midfielder, swallowing the "not blocking pathways" tripe so surely you will be annoyed that Broughton did try to get one, going against all of his project bollocks whether he signs or not? I said on the strikers that those individual deals may have been out of control but as a general hunt for a striker, it IN NO WAY makes the overall inability to get one other than a massive failure. You had faith that we would get one on deadline day which made up part of your defence.

Its pretty simple. We went into the window needing whatever you believed, how does that compare to what we have got? Only Sorba Thomas would be a terrible window. O'Brien would be a great addition in a position I felt was crucial but you didnt, but it seems that we have fucked up the deal anyway. If he joins, the window IMO goes from terrible to ok whilst missing a key priority, a striker. If we had a great window, you would never question if we were lucky, yet if we have a rubbish one you start defending it basee on external factors. If the O'Brien deal was fucked up, many will lose faith in Broughton and I wouldnt be the only one in questioning his role in our future. Would you lose confidence in him?

Don't get me wrong, I would strongly consider the future of Broughton if this all goes to shit this window, and Waggott has never demonstrated any use. But the exact same thing has happened before under Venkys with different staff. It's not an unfounded assumption.

If it was just O'Brien and Thomas on loan for the first team, as good as the former is, that would be a disappointing window.

Would prefer Robbie, even at his age.

They had Surridge in the Championship but he has been featuring lately with Awoniyi out long term and Dennis proving to be a poor signing, he started against United so I very much doubt that.

I think Cook would be a very shrewd addition especially if we could maybe get on an 18 month deal, not just a loan. A real leader, been there and done it and a quality defender at this level. Phillips was really shaky at the start of the season but really caught my eye against Forest (I appreciate we got battered but the likes of Mola and Wharton were the issue) and also at Norwich where he was excellent. I definitely think he is better than Carter who is rather clumsy and cumbersome. I would suggest that the ideal scenario would be to get Cook along with Ayala, Wharton and Hyam and have a really experienced set of defenders for the rest of the season, maybe keep Carter to cover CB and RB and then loan Phillips out. He has struggled in basically all of his appearances with cramp and usually goes off when he starts which isn't ideal for a centre back in particular when you have to change mid game, hopefully some League 1 football could allow him to develop physically. I can't see Cook signing though,

I don't think we are working away on any striker, but Cornick is not the type we need anyway.

You regularly push the narrative that there are decent funds available and just not spent due to incompetence underneath, without then also questioning the owners on retaining staff you deem to be incompetent. I do think there is certainly scope to criticise and doubt Broughton and I was underwhelmed by the first transfer window. But in this window like last winter in a good position rather than make any push at promotion we have to only sign loans and potentially signings for nominal fees. Not that you cant sign players that improve you, but you have previously admitted that suggests a lack of ambition but any willingness to criticse them is fleeting. I dont even expect massive investment, but we are massively handicapped by their pig ignorance and stubbornness to allow players to be sold for reinvestment purposes.

I agree for sure regarding your point about opportunities. Surely this lack of ambition and the blame lies predominantly at the owners door though? We was hardly in a mess in the summer, we finished 8th and lost 3 senior players who we replaced. One of those players could have earnt a decent fee had the owners not intervened, we could have also sold Brereton and had lots more money to play around with, instead this is the second window in a good position that we have spent begging for loans. Neither are the majority of our defensive and midfield players but it doesn't stop him trying!

Steve Cook would get straight into the side, would be good on maybe a 1.5 year deal to provide much needed experience. These links combined with different types of attackers don't suggest a structured recruitment plan.

I can't see how anyone could defend the infuriating comments that a team in the play offs at the end of January doesn't specifically aim for the top 6. Embarrassing. O'Brien would be an excellent signing especially with an obligation to buy should we go up, the owners and the structure below have no no interest in going up anyway! Just feels like a window where the final comment will be us missing out on everyone but "tried" but lets hope I am wrong.

He wouldnt, not many.

Tomasson said "players" plural in the press conference AFTER signing Thomas. Would be really piss poor if no one came in.

In the league after his 4 initial sub appearances, only once since.

The net spend thing is somewhat misleading. Whilst we do, we still spend very little overall because of the lack of sales due to the owners unwillingness to sell while they still add value. Im sure I read that Boro have spent £50m whilst earning £70m in recent years.

Kaminski Rankin Costello Ayala Phillips Pickering Travis Buckley Markanday Dack Dolan Brereton Subs: Pears, Carter, Wharton, Edun, Garrett, Hedges, Szmodics, Leonard, Gallagher

No strikeforce containing Gallagher would make a particularly good strikeforce.