They are saying on loan which would be pointless for Boro. Harry Chapman is out of contract in the summer, so I can only imagine they have the option of him signing a new one and then loaning him out or finding a club now that will agree a loan with obligation to buy.

So Michael Owen or Thierry Henry were not proper strikers/centre forwards? There are different types of them. Yes, ideally we could do with a similar target man/hold-up type of striker like Graham as backup and perhaps that is what TM is looking to bring in on loan. There are other ways to play to suit the striker that is playing though, Adam Armstrong showed that he was decent as the lone man upfront, it meant that we just had to play over the top to him or down the channels rather than expecting him to hold it up. Brereton will be similar to that I imagine but he does have a bigger frame and height.

TM has already said today he is looking at possibly bringing another striker in due to Samuels injury - How many more do you want to compete for one position? Graham, Brereton, Armstrong, Nuttal, Samuel and even Dack has played there recently.

TM himself today has said that both Bennett and Evans are carrying knocks, so add that to the Armstrong, Dack, Samuel, Davenport and Williams injuries already and it shows we need strength in depth. Evans also has quite the injury record too - so expect him to break down at some point (possibly after playing for Ireland ) Reed is an upgrade on Smallwood who has so far looked off the pace this season in a higher league. He also offers cover at RB having played there most of the season for Norwich in the Championship.

Rodwell as I am told by the oracle Chaddy was signed as CB cover and not midfield though he can play there obviosuly. Bell and Hart are full backs so not sure where you are going with that one. Travis will go on loan, Whittingham I cannot see being involved unless desperate and Gladwin - he has been spotted less frequently than a Dodo since being here.

Evans, Smallwood, Davenport, Reed - 2 for each position. Travis will go on loan and Whittingham I would imagine is pretty much deemed as surplus. Bennett, Rothwell, Palmer, Dack, Armstrong, Conway - 2 for each position. Gladwin the only other I would imagine could challenge but we all know that wont happen. Yes Bennett and Rothwell can play back their too and I imagine they will at times as injuries kick in or TM changes things up mid-game.

Think it has been mentioned that Shearer was a full England international when he came here. Scored a hattrick on his professional debut against Arsenal too. Brereton has potential but I doubt we will ever have anyone as good as him upfront again.

Yeah i think CB is done now - we can always call Wharton back if needed as well. On the striker situation, TM already suggested today he might be looking at bringing another in due to Samuels injury.

Not many clubs will loan out players if they are not going to be getting minutes or even make the matchday squad - not ones they rate anyway. Will only be those they want off the wage bill and do not care about. All three of ours will be be competing for a first team spot, so really can only see two more players potentially coming in. Which positions do we fill with them?

Not getting Brereton in before the deadline could well hampen us a bit more as he now takes up a loan spot.

In a perfect world it would be nice to have a CH, another backup striker and a winger (though TM probably wont be getting one. A decent keeper as competition for Raya wouldnt go amiss either.

So really we can only be looking at a max of two more in after Brereton unless free agents.

At any one time or only five allowed in the starting eleven and subs?

How many loans are we allowed? Palmer, Reed and soon to be Brereton (albeit with an obligation to buy) so far.

Wharton, Gladwin and Downing have the same body.

Its still there when I go there.

To be honest, after the crappy transfer windows we have had to endure in the past few seasons, I find it difficult to find many faults at all. None of us had a clue we would be spending close to 10 million (once brereton comes in) this window with many of us expecting 3 million tops. That alone is positive but we also have to be happy with the types of signings coming in as well. Young and up'n'coming players with big potential. Is it a perfect window? No Could we do with a couple more? Of course (and there is still time) But had some one told me at the end of the season that we would be sign Armstrong permanently and get a 6 million striker in permanently and loaned in the highly rated Palmer I would have probably laughed in their face. Then throw in Rothwell who so far looks brilliant, Davenport who is highly-rated, and the gamble (which might just workout) in Rodwell and you have to say its been great business - especially considering we have kept hold of all of the players we wanted to. Reed in as well now and possibly one or two more and I just cannot see how anyone would be disappointed.

Haha - its quite obvious who is the correct body out of Conway and Caddis. My guess is Downing for the other three.

Paul Downing, Scott Wharton and Ben Gladwin have the same body, so do Conway and Caddis. What would the reasoning be for this? Couldnt find a kit that fits Caddis? Gladwin couldnt put one on for fear of injuring himself? In seriousness, I guess some were not there on 'photo' day for whatever reason. Caddis had a labouring gig probably.

He certainly aint worth 2 million. As you said though, Charlton are a mess and it must be tough to stand out. Who is that CB Forest want rid of, another England youth international? - I would be over something like that but Forest seem to want premium dollar these days.

Nobody wants him sold fella. We are just talking if it happens it needs to be for massive moolah. Look at Cairney, King and other players the Venkies let go for peanuts that are now worth a shed ton more. I hope Dacky boy loves it here so much, the commeraderie and the dressing room that he would rather stick with us and take us to the promised land. Unfortunately, it does not work that way most of the time and its those above his head that might accept bids. Ideal scenario, sell him for 120 mil so the Venksters can do one.

Reed played most of last season at Rb for Norwich due to an injury to their own main Rb and it is here where he impressed the most for them. Kinda think that is part of the reason TM has gone for him. Can be back up RB too.

Even for the Venkies it would be absolute madness to cash him in for 10 million. A season or two tearing up this league and he will fall in the 30+ bracket the way way fees have been going in recent years. Either a relegated PL team will pick him up using parachute payments in a bid to go straight back up or a mid to lower PL team will take a chance on him in the same way as that James Maddison. Still, IF we (and the owners) were to show the ambition to get up ourselves in a season or too, he might just get there with us.

Too right and so he should. Anything within the rules that gives us some help is fine with me. Clubs up and down the country would do similar depending on opponent.

I thought we were gonna sign Beckham and Ronaldinho