This should be good news, but actually I'm getting a little concerned. All because of that damned lion cub pic Harry put up! Which feels ridiculous but what an odd day for it. Thing is, I posted yesterday how there is a transfer triangle with Boro, Millwall, and Sheff U all wanting wingers from each other. One way to cut through that would be if Millwall decided Harry Chapman would suffice as a Saville replacement...

Definitely the bottom one! Isn't it all of Lancashire though, not just East, unless you're counting Manchester and Merseyside?

We really have some great attacking options now. Lots of youth, speed and skill. Graham's experience and strength available too. With everyone fit we could field two completely different, handy attacking fours if we manage to add Chapman. You could field: Graham, Dack behind him, Armstrong and Palmer either side. Or Brereton, Rothwell behind, Chapman and Bennett either side. Or any combination of them of course. Although the first one is stronger and more proven, the second would trouble at least half the teams in this league. Even a few injuries shouldn't be too troubling. Conway doesn't have to be anywhere near the starting 11. Exciting stuff if we get Chapman too. Although he is inevitably going to be the impact sub for now unless injuries hit deep. He's terrifying against tired legs though.

The Boro local rag mentions an interesting transfer triangle that could determine our pursuit of Chapman. Boro want Saville, but Millwall will only sell if they land a replacement. The replacement Millwall want is Leonard from Sheff U, who will only sell if they get a replacement. The replacement Sheffield want is Marvin Johnson...from Boro. Need TM to get them all in a room to sort it out, while he wanders off with Chapman for a bargain fee...

It really doesn't make a difference. Unless you think about it all wrong. If we spend 6m or whatever in Jan, and he has gotten injured or been poor, we will be miffed at paying 6m for a waster. If we spent 6m last month and he gets injured or is poor...we will be miffed at paying 6m for a waster. We will 'feel tied down to something we no longer want' either way (though hopefully it won't happen). The only difference is we have saved interest payments by not handing it over yet.

Attack-minded.

Uh, in fairness, that very same article links a Bolton player with an imminent move. To us. I think we have had a blissfully peaceful summer for speculation of outgoings actually. We have several good assets and yet this recent Dack non-starter tosh is the only speculation I can remember. Except the Graham to Bolton one before he signed his new deal. Even last year, Mulgrew and Lenihan got linked away. Could easily have had speculation about Mulgrew, Lenihan, more than we had about Graham and Dack, Raya and even Nyambe.

More than happy to use a different synonym. I'd like a "Harry Chapman" winger.

As I recall, the fee was about 500k and he wanted to go at the time for regular football. I wasn't too happy about it, felt surely he could just be loaned out for that. If he goes for a lot, at least there's a development fee.

One too many? Hasn't he only made one at all this season? If all keepers make mistakes, but one is one too many...

This won't necessarily be such a huge or costly rebuilding job. Whittingham, Gladwin and Caddis don't factor in. They are deadwood that never makes the squad, and if we are desparate enough with injuries to go there for bench spots briefly, I'm fine to use youth players. We should stop mentioning them in this context immediately, they simply don't need replacing. Downing would be super easy to get to sign another deal if we decide we want him. If not, Wharton will be more experienced by then. Almost a non-issue again. The big ones there are Graham, Mulgrew and Evans. If by the end of the season they still seem to have enough in them to go again next season, I am sure we will offer new deals. We then may or may not keep them. Much will depend on how their bodies are coping and what wages they expect. If we do lose all (or more likely just some) of them, Evans isn't that big a deal as we have a billion players in that area - some are young and should be better by then. Rodwell is a funny one. If he does well enough, we will either keep him or be priced out of his wages. Either way, centre halves aren't that expensive, and again we have a billion DMs. Conway probably won't be offered another deal. Squad player at the moment, so probably not tough or pricey to replace (I'd go for a cheap, youthful gamble). Might have Chapman before then, if not, he could be available for just a tribunal fee. That leaves the loanees, Palmer and Reed. Maybe signing them (Reed anyway) on perms will become possible if we want them, or even loaning them again. If not, just dip into the loan market again (also potentially an option for other areas remember). The only thing I'd say is certain for replacing these guys (except a cheap Conway replacement) is that we WILL need to sign another striker. Even if we keep Graham on, it would surely be his last season, with his legs potentially going at any time, and a highly capable understudy would be paramout. Good strikers aren't cheap. If Brereton and/or Arma come along nicely enough this season though, we may only be looking at a cheapish gamble. What you have left out is the dreaded but very feasible prospect of losing Dack in the summer. The money would help us source a replacement (and maybe fund other positions too), but the likelihood is our quality in that position would diminish. To me, a nightmare scenario for rebuilding in the summer would be losing Graham, Mulgrew and Evans to bosmans, and having to sell Dack and maybe Raya if he has a great season. That would rip the whole spine from this team, front to back. Losing Lenihan may also be a risk.

Pretty sure we are trying for at least one more deal, or I reckon TM would have said our business was done. However, the lack of noise about it suggests that yes, we have closed off the leaks and also possibly that we aren't feeling too under pressure for more.

Good question. Wiki reckons he was out on loan to Derry City last season...20 apps, 1 goal.

I don't think they did - they offered him a better paid deal to stay. Think it may have only been one year though.

Indeed, can we trust any profile pic in there? What if they have been evil geniuses all along, and not a single pic is real? They could all be photos of the website team ingeniously doctored. Perhaps they've just gotten lazier with their photoshopping this year, as nobody has noticed before.

What happened to that Lithuanian 'wonderkid' we were supposed to be signing, which I presumed was for the development squad? Name something like (watch me butcher this) Villaus Pilliakautis or somesuch.

With us only playing one up front and having Graham, Armstrong and Brereton to choose from...Jerome would be a good addition with his goal record, a another option, but would he start enough to warrant a purchase? I'd think not. Derby paid 1.5 mill for him in Jan I think, and he scored...I want to say 5 in 18 I was reading earlier? Doubt they would release him for nowt, and he is 32. A loan until Jan or all season would work for us, but would it work for Derby unless we threw more money at it than we probably should?

There was only ever one person earmarked to replace Sam, sadly. Andy Cole wrote an online article before Sam was even fired (might have been before the takeover finalised even) saying a little birdy had told him it was going to happen and an SEM coach was going to get the job full time. Might have some minor details wrong but was along those lines.

The hair is slightly different...although most of the face is very similar I don't think that's actually the one they've used? Loving this photoshopping malarkey and detective work though.

Pretty much sums it up for me. Good luck Ben! If you deliver like we hope, you'll be a terrific signing. Agree with others that an early goal would do him the world of good.

I almost put a like on that, but I don't feel it was overrated. I think most fans gauge it just right...he built those tools. Just didn't know how to use them. He deserves credit for steadying the ship and recruiting well. Sadly, he failed to get us at least into the playoffs, which the squad he assembled was definitely capable of. He did well, but it was past time to let him go. Unfortunately we just replaced him badly. Parallels to Allardyce there really (except Sam should have been kept til season's end and then replaced properly).

How did the lad Joe Grayson cope then?

Not sure. Under Coyle, I'd be surprised if one of the opposition tea ladies didn't nick one against us.

Fair enough Big Tone, all looked questionable at the start but got us comfortably over the line...in the end! (Yes I'm willing to tempt fate at this point) Possibly helped by Lincoln making 7 changes too of course...could it be that we got given the heads up on that, due to our 'special relationship' with Lincoln? Which might have encouraged us making so many changes?

I picture Graham thinking 'Bugger, confirmed the new whipper snapper, best stick one in the onion bag'. Danny Graham, he scores when he wants!