ARTICLE: More signings unlikely

[SkiptonClaret]

Pretty indefensible not signing a centre half. Kevin Long simply isn’t good enough, a real accident waiting to happen. We needed to invest in a young centre half and, arguably, a number 10 this window, we covered outwide with the loan signing. Instead the only permanent signing is an ageing wideman on a downward career spiral, seriously do we have anything remotely resembling a scouting network ?
Not good enough, nowhere near good enough.

[Bin Ont Turf]

Don't often agree with his comments but this is exactly how I feel. Let's hope season ticket holders don't have similar views.

Agreeing with nonsense is worse than actually posting it.

What IF Dyche had a crystal ball? What IF we were Manchester City? What IF we didn't have transfer budget or didn't sign any cover in the summer?

What IF he didn't post b0llocks?

[Paranoid]

Still think there is scope in the Holding 'loan', however may hinge on Arsenal getting Evans from West Brom?

[JimmyMac'sMate]

Think at a push Hendrick could fill at centre half just a thought what's your thoughts utc

[Reecey1987]

Taylor - and with Ward back in training that would be an option but not immediately

Few weeks away then before ward is ready for selection ? If thats the case then wood will be back in around 2 months before he his ready for selection if he his only in light training

[NRC]

Seeing a specialist about Defour’s knee - that sounds much longer term. If that’s the case I’m hoping it’s not a midfield two of Westwood and Cork, I’d rather drop Hendrick back and have someone else playing in the hole.

With all these injuries I’d have hoped for a centre half and a central midfielder.

I still wouldnt be surprised if we did sign one or two, be it on loan or permanent.

I would rather we do this (drop Hendrick back in) and put JBG in the hole, Lennon out wide...

[Sidney1st]

We have space in the squad. Brady can be removed, arguably Ulvestad could be removed and probably Walters and maybe even Marney, plus we only had a 24-man squad.

Brady I agree with.
Walters - I don't know what he's had done or the recovery time.
Marney - just a tweak isn't it?
Ulvestad - yeah we could.

So that's 3 spaces in a 25 man squad.

The general consensus is we need a striker, centre back and some people want a goalkeeper.

[ClaretTony]

SI’m hoping it’s not a midfield two of Westwood and Cork

Outstanding at Man City in the cup

[claretblue]

Taylor - and with Ward back in training that would be an option but not immediately

we lost two centre backs last time we were at Newcastle...

if Long plays I hope he has a good game to help erase the memory of his debut (crutiate injury within minutes of starting)

UTC

[joey13]

Well be looking at £50 million profit this season

So give the taxman 40% of that , makes no sense at all .
20 million buys a decent striker or centre back

[claretspice]

It would be a disappointment if, for the second window in the row, we failed to bring in a centre back when clearly that is a real area of weakness in the squad. We may have 34 points, but its really important that we kick on - we saw West Brom fall away alarmingly after being the success story of the season last season, and look how they've got on subsequently. Long is adequate cover, but our record with him in the side this season is no more than OK, and to leave us with few other options for the whole of the rest of the season looks like a bizarre risk to me.

In terms of midfield, the injury to Defour sounds unfortunate and its obviously a blow. I'd be astounded if Westwood didn't start in that role at Newcastle, and indeed against City, but certainly in games where there's more onus on us to boss the game, the option of playing Hendrick deeper and Arfield off the front man is a really attractive one. It is still an area where we're reasonably well covered.

Lennon and NKoudou without doubt make us stronger and I think if we can get a centre back over the line it really will have been an outstanding window, so any concerns about the centre half issue need to be tempered. But one slight curiosity is that this is another window in which our overseas scouting network has failed to deliver as much as a credible link, let alone a signing, which is weird. Given we're clearly struggling to land a domestic centre half, you'd have thought we'd have spread our wings a bit in our search by now.

[Roosterbooster]

Still probably a central defender down but other than that, injuries apart, we are looking stronger with the two additions

This is the bit that concerns me

We have a bucket load of them

[tiger76]

I would reserve Judgement until the window closes Wednesday night.

Then IF we have to go with what we have got, then people can rightly point fingers and ask questions.
However, I think it will only be tongues wagging come Thursday.

If we get a result in Geordie Shore land on Wednesday people may calm down,although with this board i wouldn't hold my breath.

[claretspice]

This is the bit that concerns me

We have a bucket load of them

You can't legislate for that, though. Centre half aside we now have good depth in each position with cover for all but the most dramatic injury crisis. You can only build a squad that covers for realistic scenarios - once you've got 3 centre halves out at the same time, say, a club like ours is always going to be scrambling a bit.

[claretandy]

So give the taxman 40% of that , makes no sense at all .
20 million buys a decent striker or centre back

Corporation tax isn't 40%

[ClaretTony]

This is the bit that concerns me

We have a bucket load of them

It happens, Palace & West Ham currently have as many injuries as we do.

[ashtonlongsider]

Just as I expected. Not right time of year to be bring in too many players or making wholesale changes. The one exception being the possibility of bringing in the lad from Arsenal. Still feel this may happen.

[MACCA]

You can't legislate for that, though. Centre half aside we now have good depth in each position with cover for all but the most dramatic injury crisis. You can only build a squad that covers for realistic scenarios - once you've got 3 centre halves out at the same time, say, a club like ours is always going to be scrambling a bit.

Depth?

We have 2 injured strikers, 1 that's unproven at this level and then 2 others. None of the 5 shout goals at You, even less so the 3 that are left.

Number 10? We don't even have 1 who is comfortable there, never mind any depth.

CB? We have Kev Long who has done Ok when called upon ( but was deemed 4th choice and not good enough back up for the championship remember, reason for Taky's arrival ), but we are a knock/suspension off playing Taylor there ( out of position) or Tom Anderson...

Our depth has been up top ( depth but lack of quality ) Gk department, again makes the Legzdins signing strange if he was signed yet not deemed good enough for the bench.
Full backs can be classed as covered, however Bardsley having highlighted he is no where near good enough.

Wingers, just got cover in the last 2 weeks, prior to that we had 3 for 2 roles, and had to resort to playing a forward wide left.

To say we have had depth may be true numbers wise, but quality wise or in the correct/needed positions are wide of the mark.

[Grumps]

It happens, Palace & West Ham currently have as many injuries as we do.

And they are both trying to sign players to cover these injuries

[Roosterbooster]

Depth?

We have 2 injured strikers, 1 that's unproven at this level and then 2 others. None of the 5 shout goals at You, even less so the 3 that are left.

Number 10? We don't even have 1 who is comfortable there, never mind any depth.

CB? We have Kev Long who has done Ok when called upon, but we are a knock/suspension off playing Taylor there ( out of position) or Tom Anderson...

Our depth has been up top ( depth but lack of quality ) Gk again makes the Legzdins signing strange if he was signed yet not deemed good enough for the bench.
Full backs can be classed as covered, however Bardsley having highlighted he is no where near good enough.

Wingers, just got cover in the last 2 weeks, prior to that we had 3 for 2 roles, and had to resort to playing a forward LW.

To say we have had depth may be true numbers wise, but quality wise or in the correct/needed positions are wide of the mark.

I think you’ve hit the nail on the head. Correct, we can’t necessarily predict injuries, but we do know that they will happen. If they happen to back up/fringe players, fine, no issues, but when they happen to our core, we need to make sure the depth of the squad is good enough. I don’t think we can currently realistically replace Defour / Wood / Mee / Tarks with long term solutions. I would have liked to use our current league position as a bit of sway to do that.

[elwaclaret]

I'd wait until Wednesday before drawing any conclusions. SD is obviously going to play down any potential business.

[kentonclaret]

Palace and West Ham may well have as many (or even more) injuries than we currently do, but have their managers announced that any additions to their squads are unlikely before the window closes on Wednesday?

[joey13]

Corporation tax isn't 40%

20% then , still stupid !

[Reecey1987]

Palace and West Ham may well have as many (or even more) injuries than we currently do, but have their managers announced that any additions to their squads are unlikely before the window closes on Wednesday?

No they have just had another bid rejected for cairney and also said they will pay up to 20 m for Schneiderlin

[claretspice]

Depth?

We have 2 injured strikers, 1 that's unproven at this level and then 2 others. None of the 5 shout goals at You, even less so the 3 that are left.

Number 10? We don't even have 1 who is comfortable there, never mind any depth.

CB? We have Kev Long who has done Ok when called upon, but we are a knock/suspension off playing Taylor there ( out of position) or Tom Anderson...

Our depth has been up top ( depth but lack of quality ) Gk again makes the Legzdins signing strange if he was signed yet not deemed good enough for the bench.
Full backs can be classed as covered, however Bardsley having highlighted he is no where near good enough.

Wingers, just got cover in the last 2 weeks, prior to that we had 3 for 2 roles, and had to resort to playing a forward LW.

To say we have had depth may be true numbers wise, but quality wise or in the correct/needed positions are wide of the mark.

I think you're massively overreacting, quite frankly. I make that about half the squad you've just written off. Whilst we're 8th in the league.

The only position in which we don't now have good cover is centre back.

[KRBFC]

Don’t understand what all the panic is suddenly about.I think Sean and the back room staff know what is the long term injury situation better than we do and they don’t seem to be panicking to buy players in the window where you tend to get ripped off.As for all this talk of not going for 7th place think some are getting a little ahead of themselves.Whilst it would be nice to finish 7th let’s be realistic in where we are in our development.Leicester have a lot to answer for winning the Prem As now expectations are too high for some.Most of the players who have got us to the position we are in will be back from injury before the season ends I am sure.Dont forget we have had a bad run but who we have played during that run.

Leicesters title success has absolutely nothing to do with our start to the season.

[claretspice]

I think you’ve hit the nail on the head. Correct, we can’t necessarily predict injuries, but we do know that they will happen. If they happen to back up/fringe players, fine, no issues, but when they happen to our core, we need to make sure the depth of the squad is good enough. I don’t think we can currently realistically replace Defour / Wood / Mee / Tarks with long term solutions. I would have liked to use our current league position as a bit of sway to do that.

Defour? Ashley Westwood, kept Defour out of the side after he signed last year and has, I think, about 200 Premier League appearances. As back up, he's superbly qualified.

Wood? Sam Vokes averages a goal every 200 minutes he's on the pitch in the Premier League over the last 18 months and he'll be helped immensely by the introduction of pace out wide. Ashley Barnes has done well in the meantime.

Tarks and Mee - something in what you say there, that's the area where we're short. That's the one area where we aren't strong enough to absorb a relatively normal injury list. There again, Spurs spent the entirety of last season without any credible replacement for Harry Kane, so there we are, its not just us.

[ClaretTony]

And they are both trying to sign players to cover these injuries

They are both frantically trying to sign players because of their position in the league. They've also changed manager since the last window.

[Jimscho]

Leicesters title success has absolutely nothing to do with our start to the season.

No but it has given people false expectations.It was a one off and probably won't happen again for a long time.

[MACCA]

I think you're massively overreacting, quite frankly. I make that about half the squad you've just written off. Whilst we're 8th in the league.

The only position in which we don't now have good cover is centre back.

Not written off anyone.

Legzdins - Soon as Heaton got injured we baught in Lindegaard, and he replaced Legzdins on the bench... shows we didn't trust/rate him good enough for the number 2.

Bardsley - possibly 1 decent game since coming in for Lowton, been caught out several times already, suspect on a couple of goals.

Kev Long - 4th choice in the championship, suddenly deemed good enough for 3rd choice in the Prem, even though hardly kicked a ball at this level..has looked suspect already when called upon, and best run of games has come in the 3rd and 4th tier.

Wells - unproven at this level, purchased injured and has had about 30 minutes in 5 months here.

Walters - get the signing, however has flopped massively due to injury in which many highlighted on his arrival. Possibly unlucky, but still, played next yo no football, and unlikely to again for Burnley

Hendrick - form has hit the buffers

Wide men. Only just brought in adequate cover. We started the season with 3 players for 2 positions, 2 weeks ago we had 1 fit wide man meaning a forward had to play wide left.

Our "Depth
GK - sorted out, after strange purchase
LB - adequate cover
RB- suspect
CB - what we have suspect, we are short, need better
WL - Arfield - adequate
WE- no cover, needed
CM - adequate Westwood/Hendrick
AMC/No:10/2nd striker - No natural to start with, zero cover
ST - could have been described as adequate, but people's concerns of age/injuries/goal records have been highlighted.

We are still at least 2 players light with everyone fit. The fact we have half a dozen injuries means we are extreamly weak, which will result in players in the match day squad deemed surplus to requirements in the championship, whether that's for us, or other teams.

[Jimscho]

Defour? Ashley Westwood, kept Defour out of the side after he signed last year and has, I think, about 200 Premier League appearances. As back up, he's superbly qualified.

Wood? Sam Vokes averages a goal every 200 minutes he's on the pitch in the Premier League over the last 18 months and he'll be helped immensely by the introduction of pace out wide. Ashley Barnes has done well in the meantime.

Tarks and Mee - something in what you say there, that's the area where we're short. That's the one area where we aren't strong enough to absorb a relatively normal injury list. There again, Spurs spent the entirety of last season without any credible replacement for Harry Kane, so there we are, its not just us.

Got to say I have not always agreed with Claretspice but I think he is bang on with his analysis on here.Think the only place we could be in danger is at CB.

[Lancasterclaret]

Nico saying we've put in a bid worth up to £10 million

[Squarepusher]

Nixon suggesting on twitter that we've stuck in a £10m bid for Joe Worrall.

[KRBFC]

No but it has given people false expectations.It was a one off and probably won't happen again for a long time.

You think finishing 7th after the great start is false expectation? really? I'd say it was a pretty realistic aim given we've been in the top 7 the entire season. I still have no idea how Leicester winning the title has influenced any Burnley fans hope of finishing 7th this year.

[Roosterbooster]

Defour? Ashley Westwood, kept Defour out of the side after he signed last year and has, I think, about 200 Premier League appearances. As back up, he's superbly qualified.

Wood? Sam Vokes averages a goal every 200 minutes he's on the pitch in the Premier League over the last 18 months and he'll be helped immensely by the introduction of pace out wide. Ashley Barnes has done well in the meantime.

Tarks and Mee - something in what you say there, that's the area where we're short. That's the one area where we aren't strong enough to absorb a relatively normal injury list. There again, Spurs spent the entirety of last season without any credible replacement for Harry Kane, so there we are, its not just us.

I don’t think you can compare Westwood with Defour. He isn’t nearly as creative. We don’t have another CM creative spark. He might have kept Defour out of the team last season, but we were playing 442, and many get the feeling that was because SD and Defour fell out. I think Westwood is excellent cover for Cork, but not Defour.

I used Wood as an example only of a core player, as I’m still to be convinced. I like Vokes. I’d probably play him ahead of Wood. But we don’t have a proven striker who can bag 10 PL goals a season, every season. 15-20 goal/season strikers are too much to ask for. Barnes isn’t the answer. And as much as I love Sam, we need better if we are going to push for top half regularly. Survival might be the measure of success, but I don’t think aiming for top half is out of the question. Given our lack of goals, I’m surprised more people don’t think we need to strengthen in this area. Even if it’s an Ings like No10 as support for a striker I’d be happy.

Without injuries, I think we are absolutely fine. But we are struggling at the moment. So why not try and sign some more players who will really improve our starting 11? Easier said than done I know, but I also think we are in the best position we have been for decades to achieve this.

[dsr]

Disaster. Panic. Tears. I can't cope. If only we had a manager we could trust - but Dyche has got transfer windows wrong again and again and again, at least if you believe what is written on here every window.

[Roosterbooster]

Disaster. Panic. Tears. I can't cope. If only we had a manager we could trust - but Dyche has got transfer windows wrong again and again and again, at least if you believe what is written on here every window.

I don’t think people blame Dyche

And if you look at it another way, if we had brought in the players people suggested window after window, we could have been 12th last season, stayed up 3 years ago, comfortably be in 7th now and aiming for Europe! I’m not suggesting it’s a failed window. I’m just saying at the moment I’m a little disappointed!

[kentonclaret]

David Moyes stated in his latest West Ham press conference that he is NOT just trying to bring in players to cover for injuries but looking for those that will improve the squad of players at his disposal. This is what Burnley should be attempting to do, and the news of a bid for Joe Worrall is a step in the right direction if Nixon is correct in his assumption.

Offering good money for a young player with promise in a position that needs to be covered.

[Spijed]

I don’t think you can compare Westwood with Defour. He isn’t nearly as creative. We don’t have another CM creative spark. He might have kept Defour out of the team last season, but we were playing 442, and many get the feeling that was because SD and Defour fell out. I think Westwood is excellent cover for Cork, but not Defour.

I used Wood as an example only of a core player, as I’m still to be convinced. I like Vokes. I’d probably play him ahead of Wood. But we don’t have a proven striker who can bag 10 PL goals a season, every season. 15-20 goal/season strikers are too much to ask for. Barnes isn’t the answer. And as much as I love Sam, we need better if we are going to push for top half regularly. Survival might be the measure of success, but I don’t think aiming for top half is out of the question. Given our lack of goals, I’m surprised more people don’t think we need to strengthen in this area. Even if it’s an Ings like No10 as support for a striker I’d be happy.

Without injuries, I think we are absolutely fine. But we are struggling at the moment. So why not try and sign some more players who will really improve our starting 11? Easier said than done I know, but I also think we are in the best position we have been for decades to achieve this.

So you'd be happy to bin Wood if a better player came along? What does that say about team loyalty for a club like ours?

[Jimscho]

You think finishing 7th after the great start is false expectation? really? I'd say it was a pretty realistic aim given we've been in the top 7 the entire season. I still have no idea how Leicester winning the title has influenced any Burnley fans hope of finishing 7th this year.

I would have said at the beginning of the seasons most supporters hopes and expectations would have been bottom half safety.We have had a terrific start to the season and some supporters are now getting beyond themselves.Whilst it would be nice to finish 7th it's not the be all and end all.I am sure the team will endeavour to finish as high as they can.I am not young like you so have probably a bit more realistic expectations.Top 12 in my book would be a magnificent achievement this season.Yes I think what Leicester achieved has changed some supporters expectations.They are a way in front of us in development in the Premier League because of the extra few years they have been there and the players they have such as Vardy and Mahrez.For us to be up there competing with them is a credit to Dyche(I know you would rather he wasn't here) and his team.

For false expectations see Roosterboosters post above.

[Roosterbooster]

So you'd be happy to bin Wood if a better player came along? What does that say about team loyalty for a club like ours?

Well we didn’t show much loyalty to Vossen / Hennings / Juke... and plenty more!
I’m not sure we should continue to play people if they aren’t doing the business, just because we should be showing them loyalty.
I’m all for giving players a chance, but I wasn’t convinced with Wood before we signed him. And I’m still not convinced now. I’m not the type to think “We’ve got him now, might as well just make do!” We could say that about all our players! Heck, why even bother signing anyone! Let’s just make up the numbers with the U23s. Show them some loyalty!

[KRBFC]

I would have said at the beginning of the seasons most supporters hopes and expectations would have been bottom half safety.We have had a terrific start to the season and some supporters are now getting beyond themselves.Whilst it would be nice to finish 7th it's not the be all and end all.I am sure the team will endeavour to finish as high as they can.I am not young like you so have probably a bit more realistic expectations.Top 12 in my book would be a magnificent achievement this season.Yes I think what Leicester achieved has changed some supporters expectations.They are a way in front of us in development in the Premier League because of the extra few years they have been there and the players they have such as Vardy and Mahrez.For us to be up there competing with them is a credit to Dyche(I know you would rather he wasn't here) and his team.

When have I said I'd rather Dyche not be here? I've been full of praise for the ginger one this season or are you still bringing up comments from 16 months ago?

It's not about expecting to finish 7th, it's not expectation. I expected us to challenge for 7th after being top 7 the entire season and having a healthy cushion. We are in a fabulous position to challenge for 7th, so why not? why hold back? Before the season, you're right, survival was the aim but surely the aim changes after the start we had. It would be a season of ''what ifs'' if we finished 12th and blew such a great start because we were reluctant to aid Dyche in the window.

[Spijed]

Well we didn’t show much loyalty to Vossen / Hennings / Juke... and plenty more!
I’m not sure we should continue to play people if they aren’t doing the business, just because we should be showing them loyalty.
I’m all for giving players a chance, but I wasn’t convinced with Wood before we signed him. And I’m still not convinced now. I’m not the type to think “We’ve got him now, might as well just make do!” We could say that about all our players! Heck, why even bother signing anyone! Let’s just make up the numbers with the U23s. Show them some loyalty!

He's been one of the best Championship strikers of recent times so how come you weren't convinced? I presume that unless a striker doesn't score 30 goals per season he simply won't be good enough for us?

This season he's got 4 goals in 15 appearances, with some of those appearances from the bench which equates to over 10 goals if he'd had played the full season.

So you are prepared to write off a player after just 15 games? Madness!

[Jimscho]

When have I said I'd rather Dyche not be here? I've been full of praise for the ginger one this season or are you still bringing up comments from 16 months ago?

It's not about expecting to finish 7th, it's not expectation. I expected us to challenge for 7th after being top 7 the entire season and having a healthy cushion. We are in a fabulous position to challenge for 7th, so why not? why hold back? Before the season, you're right, survival was the aim but surely the aim changes after the start we had. It would be a season of ''what ifs'' if we finished 12th and blew such a great start because we were reluctant to aid Dyche in the window.

I am sorry but everyone knows your views on Dyche you've said it often enough and not just from 16 months ago,is it really so long since you last started a Dyche out thread?Who said we are holding back?Just look who we have played in the last few games when points have dried up.Who is not aiding Dyche in the Window.Do you know he has approached the Board for funds and they have turned him down?No you don't and neither do I.I do know he has just signed a new contract so must be happy with what is going on at the Club.

[boatshed bill]

Don’t understand what all the panic is suddenly about.I think Sean and the back room staff know what is the long term injury situation better than we do and they don’t seem to be panicking to buy players in the window where you tend to get ripped off.As for all this talk of not going for 7th place think some are getting a little ahead of themselves.Whilst it would be nice to finish 7th let’s be realistic in where we are in our development.Leicester have a lot to answer for winning the Prem As now expectations are too high for some.Most of the players who have got us to the position we are in will be back from injury before the season ends I am sure.Dont forget we have had a bad run but who we have played during that run.

Realistically: 3 points from the last 21.
Further injuries could see us do worse than that 2/21...takes us to 36.
Anyone really believe we don't need to strengthen?

[Bin Ont Turf]

Realistically: 3 points from the last 21.
Further injuries could see us do worse than that 2/21...takes us to 36.
Anyone really believe we don't need to strengthen?

If we're playing the 'what if', 'what about' this and 'yeh but maybe' game then...........

Could have had 3 points at Brighton, should have had 3 points at Huddersfield, could have had 3 points at Man Utd, should have had 1 point at home to Man Utd and could have had 1 point at home to Liverpool.

Anyone really believe that we're in complete ruin and should be going for the medicine cabinet?

[KRBFC]

I am sorry but everyone knows your views on Dyche you've said it often enough and not just from 16 months ago,is it really so long since you last started a Dyche out thread?Who said we are holding back?Just look who we have played in the last few games when points have dried up.Who is not aiding Dyche in the Window.Do you know he has approached the Board for funds and they have turned him down?No you don't and neither do I.I do know he has just signed a new contract so must be happy with what is going on at the Club.

So if you know my view on Dyche then why are you arguing when I say we could finish 7th if we back Dyche? You don't even make sense

[Jimscho]

Realistically: 3 points from the last 21.
Further injuries could see us do worse than that 2/21...takes us to 36.
Anyone really believe we don't need to strengthen?

We played 5 games in that 7 game run against top 6 sides so hardly likely to get many points.Why are we going to only get 2 points from next 7 games?Have you got Wednesday nights lottow numbers as well.Think we need to strengthen at CB for back up.Apart from that I will stick with what we have.

[boatshed bill]

If we're playing the 'what if', 'what about' this and 'yeh but maybe' game then...........

Could have had 3 points at Brighton, should have had 3 points at Huddersfield, could have had 3 points at Man Utd, should have had 1 point at home to Man Utd and could have had 1 point at home to Liverpool.

Anyone really believe that we're in complete ruin and should be going for the medicine cabinet?

Could haves don't win points or matches.
We could do with a bit of reinforcement, we've never really had a 25 man squad.

[Vegas Claret]

It would be a disappointment if, for the second window in the row, we failed to bring in a centre back when clearly that is a real area of weakness in the squad. We may have 34 points, but its really important that we kick on - we saw West Brom fall away alarmingly after being the success story of the season last season, and look how they've got on subsequently. Long is adequate cover, but our record with him in the side this season is no more than OK, and to leave us with few other options for the whole of the rest of the season looks like a bizarre risk to me.

In terms of midfield, the injury to Defour sounds unfortunate and its obviously a blow. I'd be astounded if Westwood didn't start in that role at Newcastle, and indeed against City, but certainly in games where there's more onus on us to boss the game, the option of playing Hendrick deeper and Arfield off the front man is a really attractive one. It is still an area where we're reasonably well covered.

Lennon and NKoudou without doubt make us stronger and I think if we can get a centre back over the line it really will have been an outstanding window, so any concerns about the centre half issue need to be tempered. But one slight curiosity is that this is another window in which our overseas scouting network has failed to deliver as much as a credible link, let alone a signing, which is weird. Given we're clearly struggling to land a domestic centre half, you'd have thought we'd have spread our wings a bit in our search by now.

spot on spice