Its also very difficult to manufacture importance for a new tournament. The World Cup and a tournament for each one is enough. That feeling of a summer tournament with numerous games a day ,(in the same location, not across Europe with an asymmetrical format!) the beer gardens, the wallcharts, mapping out your route to the final, the build up, thats all worthwhile. The Nations League will never have that.

It would be on the face of it a good window if we got Douglas over the lin but of course there are some ifs and buts in there. The main signing that stands out is Ayala, if he stays fit he should be exactly what we needed. Douglas would be a good short term stop gap to the left back position and a proven player again assuming he doesnt get injuries, although we would be in a similar position next summer to what we faced this summer in goal, with no players there. That being said, if we dont go up this year I suspect there will be a few major sales. In goal it is all a bit more uncertain. Kaminski has started well although he hasnt been called upon very often so time will tell if he is the real deal. And the other fella is a total unknown at this stage but in an ideal world will not be called upon if Kaminski stays fit and in form. Aside from that, Dolan is a nice little bonus. There would be questions about squad depth though, our bench has looked very weak for the first few games and I still think we could have done with quality cover for Travis and a wide player with real quality but if, and its a big if that we get Douglas, we have at least addressed the main 3 areas.

But friendlies obviously are also unnecessary at this point too. Qualifiers ultimately are a lead to the only popular aspect of international football, summer tournaments, and the process beside play offs was completed before this season. Like I said, the idea of the nations league pre pandemic is a good one, simply as a slightly more competitive alternative to friendlies. At a point in which the season is starting late and there are already major risks in terms of fixture congestion, the nations league (or indeed any friendlies) are totally unnecessary and a needless addition to an already overly packed schedule. 3 games within the break is bonkers.

Absolutely crazy that there is another round of nations league games this midweek. The initial pre-pandemic concept was nice, as an alternative to friendlies. Totally unnecessary burden at the moment on players for a competition that no one really gives a shite about. Should have been scrapped this time but that would have required common sense.

Also @JoeH did you have reservations over Cunningham in the current team due to his lack of pace? Douglas is no faster but then again, Bell is fast and does absolutely nothing with it. Not an issue to me but would this be a reservation regarding if we signed Douglas in your opinion?

I would disagree with the latter, I think Cunningham is equally effective both ways. That being said, Douglas whilst being weaker than Cunningham defensively is as good as youll get going forward at this level.

Hes not the best defender, no. When he was at Wolves he was brilliant as a wing back, he never was as good at Leeds even within Bielsas system which often reverts to a back 3. Thats not me saying I dont want him.

As said previously, it is a myth that Cunningham is just a good defensive player without being able to attack. He is very good going forward too. That being said, I would say that Douglas is stand out going forward, with his set pieces a particular highlight. I personally prefer the competence at both ends, but there is no doubt that Douglas would improve us.

I don't think that Douglas is the best defender in the world but he is definitely better than Bell and also would give us a new dimension from set pieces where I think we are really lacking. Also as a temporary signing, I would prefer a more experienced player rather than a kid. I would have preferred Cunningham who could work both ways but maybe he holds the key to this deal, his presence may mean Cardiff are more willing to allow Joe Bennett to go to Watford which eliminates competition.

Thanks.

Where from?

And now he is seemingly back on sky sports, trying to play the charming old man routine and fabricating stories to try and appear insightful. He was telling a story about Benjani last week, saying that City offered 10m on deadline day after he hadnt scored all season, so Redknapp supposedly had to coax and convince him into reluctantly moving, before he fell asleep at the airport and nearly missed the airport. Lovely ancedote but Benjani came out in the media a day or two after and said that it wasnt true, he was actually top scorer in the league at that part, he didnt fall asleep at the airport and the fee was less than half what Redknapp claimed!

This was the quote that seemingly I misread so my apologies. There is no indication that only a substantial King sell on will prevent us from going over FFP constraints unless we sell, but if that is only to allow further purchases, we never seem to buy in January anyway.

Parking bay area is "possibly" ours?

Does any of this add any further proof that we as an individual club are so close to the line that we have to sell an Armstrong to avoid a points deduction?

But Williams is hardly fast, so the difference between Wharton and Williams next to Ayala compared to the Cardiff game. Pace is not essential. Besides, against Forest, they have an aging Lewis Grabban and Lyle Taylor up front, we wont be facing blistering pace. Magloire is a player who really struggled in his last senior game here, and has only had a very unsuccessful loan spell where he was sent back after a couple of poor games. His stock has crazily risen off the back of a friendly and its crazy.

Is there any indication that we are in serious risk/breach of FFP on the assumption that the rules are not flexed/eased due to covid and indeed we dont sell our playing assets this summer? Not from anything I can see. The manager has been consistent in saying that there is no urgency to sell Armstrong or indeed any specific player, so surely @philipl implying that we are at risk of a points deduction if we dont sell is just scaremongering. This summer, we spent a reported £450k on one player, a couple more in on frees and Adarabioyo, Walton, Downing, Graham, Samuel, Smallwood, Hart and Leutwiler all are now off the wage bill. I dont agree with the prospect of risking a points deduction but with our current approach there is no suggestion of that being the case.

I wouldnt give Downing a new deal, not least because we are well into the season and especially at his age there will be questions regarding when he will be ready for selection. But the looking down the nose at him as some sort of mercenary is harsh. We dont know whether he wanted 2 years based on his very impressive year last year, whether he was told that his game time would have decreased or even if it was financial and he didnt feel like his performances warranted a pay cut to stay, which I could understand. If he had come back and had a full pre season he would be right about the first team picture again.

Definitely, especially with Armstrong, Dack and Lenihan about to go in their final year, this is going to be the last year of a cycle before we need to hit the reset button I suspect in terms of contracts and players.

That friendly v Leicester is becoming his Brett Emerton v Wolves moment, although for Brett's sake at least that was a competitive game! We wouldnt get anything other than a nominal fee at best for Wharton and its not as if hes hit his peak, nor has he been stagnating playing kids football. Id trust him far more than Magloire or Carter if we needed one of them which we may as soon as at the weekend.

Cant really grasp any urgency to sell any prized assets until it is financially necessary or clubs circle and the player or players in question force our hand. There is no suggestion of either.

To be fair, he isnt number 3. Seems like he is also behind someone called Roef who also dislodged him at Gent, and Casteels who dropped out injured who is at Wolfsburg.

Yeah we could do with 2 or 3 ideally, we look a little thin in terms of numbers. A first choice left back is a must. Even if free agent left backs are under consideration, the aim should be to get one done before Friday. There wont be many (if any) credible free agents at this point and if we aim for a player and it doesnt work out, there is no possibility of an alternative even as a loan once the deadline passes.

Time very much ticking on us getting a couple more in before the deadline.

Because he is a winger, he has said himself that playing at full back is not for him full time and Mowbray sees him as an attacking player too: https://www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk/sport/18576200.what-cant----mowbray-tips-youngster-bright-future/ But reiterating Rankin-Costello will be seen long-term as an attacking player, he said: “He’s got a big future in whatever position. If I was to pigeon-hole him after watching him for the last three years he’s probably most dynamic coming in off the left in a 4-2-3-1." Besides, Nyambe cant play effectively at CB either. Would he? Presumably the only interest would come from League 1 and the clubs dont have a pot to piss in at the moment there. You speak about Wharton as if his developing is over and he has not made it at a point whereby we wont get any better from here on in. He is only 23, very young for a centre back and now has some real good experience under his belt. As it stands, surely he should be our fourth choice centre back.