I agree about Dack! The 4 4 2 was in response to how do we fit Armstrong up front in a two - playing off another striker. I'm not a fan of 3 at the back. We don't have the personnel to play 4 4 2 these days. Mainly due to lack of wide men. I'd love two have a couple of nippy wingers (a proper lefty and righty) both playing on their natural wing. They could still play the wide roles of a '3' as well. Add another striker and that would be a top window with a very flexible squad. Chapman and Maddison would be perfect lol In the event of Dack being out the side. Then we have the option of changing our attacks from central to wide, playing with pace (not Bennett and Conway) and adding an extra striker to make up the goal threat. * The most dangerous player I saw at Ewood in the last few years was the much under used Josh King coming off the bench and playing down the wing late on. His pace caused havoc. We need that type of threat from the bench. Bowyer seemed to want that blistering pace out wide - as he brought in Barrow on loan as well. Then never played them!!! All hypothetical though, as TM doesn't seem to want to go down that route or I'm pretty certain he'd have signed a couple. Maybe the lad Simmonds in the under 23s may develop into that role. And hopefully Dack doesn't get injured! Game Day ?

Take Dack out of the equation! 4-4-2 is still a useful way to play two up top. Providing the wide players are decent. Like when Conway was firing them over for Gestede and Rhodes back in the day. As I said earlier, not advocating playing the system...as we have no wingers ?. But, it is a system that still has merits with the correct personnel and allows 2 up top - without the dreaded 3 at the back....which was the topic. ?.

Raya Nyambe. Mulgrew. Lennihan. Bell Bennett Play it when he's injured! Joking aside, Dack played in a midfield '2' for Gillingham. Can play that role and does his fair share of tracking back. I'm not advocating we go 4 4 2. Just think it is a system that can still be utilised if you want 2 up top -without going 3 at the back. Dependent on having decent wide men though!

There's no harm chucking a traditional 4-4-2 out now and again. Last thing teams expect these days ! Get the best players out on the pitch and if they are intelligent enough, they should sort themselves out!

Midfield will be interesting this year. We have an abundance of players there. Wewill no doubt start of with Evans and Smallwood as the '2'. If Davenport is as good as rumoured, he should be able to force his way in. If not, great opportunity for Travis. Also the (admittedly unlikely) scenario that Whittingham has a swansong.

We are about to find out whether our budget is competitive or not IMO. I like Armstrong and he definitely has the potential to develop - but hopefully hasn't swallowed our budget. Can he play up on his own? -yes - if we play down the sides of the CBs like with Bellamy. That said, I don't think he will start up front though. We've been crying out for a pacy forward for years. He will be a great option from the bench and I would expect him to be on the bench a lot up to christmas! We still therefore need to sign another pacy attacking player (left winger I would say) and a Graham replacement - though can see this being a loan. Both of those will need to be able to go straight into the team so won't be cheap. Powerful CB would be a bonus. I still think we will play a 4-2-3-1 which may merge into 4-5-1 or even 4-3-3 depending on the personnel used.

There's desperate and then there's Joe Hart.

Here's the thing. If Armstrong had joined at the beginning of the window, I'd have been made up. However, as we've since been told he wasn't near the top of the list, then it feels a bit anticlimactic -if this is our main signing. I want an A lister ?

Missing a winger there.

Wickham is only 25 but would appear to be made of glass for such a physical player.

Probably Hugill. We need to find a player similar (and it pains me to say it) to Sam Vokes

Going to be honest. He's good but not exceptional. Several times last year Graham didn't get a sniff against the centre halves. If they are big and physical, Graham is usually quiet.

* Mystic Chaddy prods round his tea leaves with a silver spoon.

He's been on it!

Not really. Armstrong is not on our b list of priorities ...so disappointed now! ?

I'm as skeptical as they come Rev but I thought that article indicated he wanted to bring in better quality than we have. Saying that that some will disappointed about not getting in the 18 despite training hard. But that is the position he would like to be and the current players have to accept that.

Agree. He could potentially be the Tammy Abraham of this window.

Clough would be great as a bench player but not sure he would improve the first 11. Cheap deal or Loan, wouldn't be the worst shout. A worthy D lister. hi

His career history would suggest that at 28 - he's just had his wonder season. Would be avoiding.

Well if we are making a signing pre Ipswich, you would guess today is the day as I imagine the squad will travel down tomorrow.

Would anyone else be underwhelmed if it was Waghorn?

Easy way to work this out...which forwards play with number 7 on their back? (We can probably rule Ronaldo out).

When is the deadline for a player to be eligible for Saturday's game?

Apologies. I should have added the rolls eyes emoji!

Not having that pal -info is clearly wrong. Nixon said we were looking at a cheap deal and loans...