Most transfer links end up being false. We will see how much we spend. And yes, basically every left back in the league is better than Bell.

As has been pointed out, people are concerned because Venkys "way of working" ALWAYS means that we are behind everyone else. In regards to signings that have gone elsewhere, Morgan Fox, George Friend and Tyler Blackett are all better than any of the left backs we have, Chey Dunkley, James Chester and Grant Hall would all currently get into our team next to Lenihan, Kieffer Moore, Lyle Taylor and Steven Fletcher would all be better than Gallagher and Brereton, Ryan Woods and Jack Colback would be useful in midfield and Kieran Sadlier looks a decent winger which is something we lack. The vast majority of them players, we can definitely do better than and I dont think any scream out as outstanding but working in a tight economic climate, the challenge is now on to see if Mowbray can get any better. Before the season starts surely. No good signing players after that otherwise we are already potentially at a disadvantage.

Suspect that Hofmann will be at another club in a different country within 48 hours as Iversen was last week. We dont need a striker and a target man would make absolutely no sense whatsoever.

In the 7 games that he was here and played, we picked up 13 points and only conceded 7 goals. I thought aside from a mistake at West Brom, he was excellent.

Common consensus from what ive seen is that Pinnock was very much the better player in that partnership. If we do anything about this supposed interest, I hope it is at least a permanent deal and we try and make a partnership with Lenihan. And play full backs both so high up leaving him isolated. Although I think we will need a right footed CB either way.

It is a strange situation we are in because our first choice CB is right footed and the 2 back up options with senior experience are Wharton and Williams. If we was to get another left footer then it would potentially add balance alongside Lenihan but it would mean that should he get injured as he often does, we need to play 2 left footers which Mowbray doesnt like.

Just had a quick look and it seems that the common consensus was that Pinnock was very much the asset in his partnership with Lindsay and indeed Lindsay has made numerous mistakes for Stoke hence falling down the pecking order. Also a slow defender so wouldnt suit us playing a higher line. http://barnsleyfc.org.uk/threads/liam-lindsay.284603/ https://mobile.twitter.com/SkyFootball/status/1186727088373583873?ref_src=twsrc^tfw|twcamp^tweetembed|twterm^1186727088373583873|twgr^&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fs9e.github.io%2Fiframe%2Ftwitter.min.html1186727088373583873 A mistake he made last season.

We collect a very healthy level of points with those 2. Plus we concede plenty of goals so the more protection and stability that we can give back there, the better. Its the same when we play 2 "attacking" full backs who not only provide very little creativity but leave big holes. But after the window had closed, you was quick to mock those who had suggested that Stoke had done some good business. Lindsay didnt impress for Stoke, I had a quick look and their fans dont seem too fond of him. If our European scouting network can not find anything better than a player we were linked with last year and who has struggled to perform at Championship level, currently 5th or 6th choice at a team who conceder more goals and finished lower than us. Surely you understand the scepticism? It would be impossible to muster up any enthusiasm if we loaned him too. That being said, it seems we havent even bid for him. That being said, we need more than just a couple of new signings back there, especially when any CB is unlikely to be as good as Adarabioyo. We need to become more well organised and solid as a team. As I said above, having 2 attacking full backs is no use when we are conceding so many goals and especially as we rarely if ever have goals created from those areas.

Not even at the stage of testing the waters with a bid.

I wonder if its as accurate as the Iversen one last week!

You could say that about anyone. But it does bring me on to a different point you made. One of your main reasons for keeping Mowbray was because he held the key to our European scouting network. Since then, we have been tediously linked with players such as Pears, (his dad is Mowbrays former team mate at Boro) Iversen/Muric (kids on loan from English clubs like Walton was) and Souttar/Lindsay (players well down the pecking order at a club who finished further down with more goals conceded than us) and you have as far as I know, unsure on Pears, but seemed to endorse them all? Surely we should be raiding Europe for some unheralded gems to justify the point you made? Last year I am sure that you were very dismissive when people said that theyd have liked Lindsay here on the back of a League 1 season where he impressed. Now he has struggled to make the step up, how a year later is he suddenly a totally different proposition? Styles of defender, dear me. The best defenders help to stop the ball going into our net. If we signed him permanently, unsure but maybe. A loan of Stokes reserve CB would really be unambitious.

I thought that we found that we picked up more points against bottom half sides than against top half ones?

Davenport hasnt started a game for us yet as far as I know. So we cant know either way at this point. Evans next to Travis gets us results more often than not. No it isnt, but we also conceded 63 goals so it all needs re-evaluating. Burnley end up pinned back when they are playing top Premier League teams so it is imcomparable. Theres no way that they can stop that. We need to look at the way we are playing as much as who we are bringing in, otherwise we wont get near the play offs. I dont think its possible to bring in a partner for Lenihan as good as Adarabioyo. But you look for example at the full backs BOTH being pushed up. Seldom if ever are our full backs creators of our goals, so why do we need them both so high up at the same time?

Lindsay and Pinnock were both good at League 1 level and both rumoured last year. Pinnock easily made the step up. Lindsay struggled hence why he has fallen so far down the pecking order. Not convinced plus if we loaned in Stokes 5th or 6th choice CB, that really would be poor. If it is permanent then fair enough. May be worth us getting 2 CBs in if we can, because we know that it is going to be difficult to replace Adarabioyo, plus we would only have Lenihan as a right footed senior CB. Is a player Stoke have already deemed to be surplus to requirements going to be an improvement on Adarabioyo? I doubt it so that means we are weaker there already. To be honest, reading Rich Sharpes article, it just seems to be a 2 plus 2 based on our interest last year. He himself said nothing is close yesterday so I wouldnt get too excited.

Not with those jeans.

Yeah, agree with you @Paul There is no way that fans attending football matches will be able to wait until a vaccine is made, tested, mass produced and crucially as you say willingly given to everyone. The first 3 will take far longer than many football clubs will be able to fend off administration even before you consider the last factor.

He was offered a new contract by Warnock but chose to have a fresh start with a manager that he has previously worked with in Aitor Karanka. Part of the criticism would come because of the managers lack of imagination in the transfer market if that happened, although that being said, Friend would get into our first team even if I would want better ideally.

The bit of transfer news that we do know is supposedly happening which has gone quiet is Downings contract. It would be crazy if he signed but missed any of pre season due to any dithering. It will be interesting to see how many if any of our signings are made from abroad to justify this "European scouting network."

Stoke have signed Steven Fletcher and Forest have Lyle Taylor in for a medical. Seems like things are starting to move elsewhere.

Charlton are not in a position to offer Naby Sarr a new contract due to their embargo. Left footed CB, good on the ball. Wonder if hes on the radar. Wouldnt be my choice personally because he has a mistake in him.

I read that Mowbray was back from his holiday at the start of this week.

Hall was just an example of a Championship defender, probably not as appealing as Dunkley, Fox and Chester albeit none are necessarily stand out. Hall was QPRs best CB but had injury problems. Ultimately they are all just standard Championship defenders that seemingly based on their new clubs were very obtainable. There is undoubtedly better out there but I am unconvinced that Mowbray will either find better or indeed we will be in a financial market to sign better considering that we have other urgent priorities too.

If we had kept Cunningham fit, if we had kept Dack fit, if we had signed a better keeper... Top of the ifs and buts league. What style of play would you play @chaddyrovers

Regarding transfers elsewhere, Stoke signed left back Morgan Fox on a free, Sheffield Wednesday signed Chey Dunkley on the cheap, Neil Warnock signed Grant Hall at CB for free at Boro, Stoke also signed James Chester for free and Derby signed Groningens captain on a free. Ryan Woods also went to Millwall and Jack Colback has joined Forest. I think there are a few names there that seem fairly sensible transfers considering the current economic climate. The challenge is on Mowbray getting better than players like Fox, Chester and Dunkley on whatever budget he has. None are groundbreaking signings, lets see what he can do.