Very short sighted in today's market though; you only have to look at the profit the Bees have made on Konsa in one season. Full back prices are also astronomical these days too. It's like the V's are still stuck in the 90s.

The only explanation I have other than the V's not allowing him to spend on defenders is that he's been foolishly blinded by Lenihan's return to form and fitness towards the end of the season and Williams coming in and doing okay. We all know Darragh has an injury in him, while Williams really, really isn't the long term answer at centre half. It is a huge concern; we will continue to concede for fun until new blood is brought in.

Packet of TM's hobnobs and a curly wurly I'd wager.

Yep I’d be surprised if TM plays SG anywhere but ‘wide forward’. He’s not good enough in the air (despite being 6’4) to play the Graham role. Strange one this for me. The GK and CB wait goes on.

He must have got a ridiculous new contract at Saints at some point.

That surely needs to be the stance by the club. We can’t keep dallying on it - as you say either pay the going rate or move on. Sounds like given the fee it may be influencing other potential moves, so crucial we either sh*t or get off the pot here.

Been pretty rollocks thus far hasn’t it? Two ageing freebies in as well as two under 23s. Need major surgery on our back line and the clock is ticking. Really starting to think Mowbray doesn’t see it that way though. IMV if we don’t improve it, we’ll be certs for a dog fight. Very much hoping to be proved I’m wrong before people have a pop.

Well with Gallagher off to the Bees it will be interesting to see this famed scouting network of ours spring in to action once again. Can’t wait to see which former TM prodigy we’re after this time.

Not a chance Reed will come back up t’north IMO. Can see him going to a London club or similar. He’d hardly have been buzzing to have played out of position most weeks either.

Club don't appear to be agreeing which is giving me major concerns for the season ahead unless a decent one is brought in.

We conceded the most away goals in the football league - we need a commanding, no nonsense CB. From what I’ve seen of him Magloire isn’t that man. Really is some dumbing down going on right now. Folk have gone from wanting two centre halves in to saying Magloire could be the answer (certainly on Twitter at least).

The lack of central defenders being linked is extremely worrying for me. I really bloody hope he pulls a good one out of the bag but I genuinely too think we’ll be starting with Lenihan and Mulgrew come Charlton. It’s like Cov all over again for Tony.

Needn’t worry - he’s a centre back. Seemingly we don’t want any.

This isn't another Anderson moment is it. Whose his agent/Mum/Dad/Brother/Dog?

Be very interesting to see how Raya does next season with a decent defender in front of him.

He’ll have 32 year old Johnson and 35 year old Downing next to him, so IMV - no thanks.

Jesus Christ are we only looking at over 30s? Simply cannot bring in Downing, Johnson and then Adam, surely? They’d all gas at 60 mins - if that for Adam!

He does sound like Raya Mark II from everything I’ve been reading!!

As I said yesterday, if a freebie GK comes in then we all know where this window is headed!

He’ll come good - he’s young. Even De Gea used to make regular cock ups. Get an experienced guy in to compete with him and educate him, not just replace him. If we do replace £3m Raya with a free Carson (or similar) then I think we all know which way this window goes contrary to the ‘Venkys want us to spend’ theories.

Pleased with Johnson - always played well against us and has a dirty streak which we’ve missed big time. Knows when to slow the game down too. Disappointed about Raya - just don’t understand it. Get a Carson or someone in to compete with him, not to replace him. Time to get some 20 somethings in now though with Downing and Johnson on board.

Sounds like the majority of meetings where I work. Lots of waffle, no actions. And to think they only do that twice a year on average. Simply cannot see us ever reaching the promised land under this lot.

So the latest names are Gallagher and Charlie Adam. The ‘revamped scouting team’ are really earning their corn thus far this window.

I think it’ll be that - perhaps Mulgrew for Williams - even if we do bring in a CB. Remember ‘you’ve got to fight your way into the team - you’ll be behind the current lads at the start’.

I keep coming back to this quote when he resigned at Coventry: "I probably let them down by not getting in the big 6ft 4in centre-half we were after, who could have been a man and help us keep clean sheets.’’ Something ain’t right. He’s either being snookered here by the owners or he’s being delusional and too trusting of the current crop once again.