Let's say we get Caulker and Hyam. Do you feel the squad is well balanced? Better or worse than last year?

No, I agree we don't seem to play with wingers. However, they are an integral position in most attacking line ups. I've never quite understood how you can have a flexible front 4, if none have the ability to beat the full back and get to the byline. Surely by definition, that's not flexible.

You are replacing squad members who've left, with existing squad members...and claiming we have a stronger squad?

So does Gallagher. Can't class him as a winger. We lack the option of pace out wide or down the middle. A genuine winger who can get to the line, would and should be an option. I'll concede that said player could also be a wide forward who has that skill set.

Isn't the idea to be stronger than the previous season? So if this squad doesn't finish 8th or higher, then it's down to the manager?

Brereton isn't a winger, he's a wide forward, same with Markanday I believe.

It was a tad facetious however, I'm inclined to agree to some extent about loaning the Liverpool lad. That said, he is probably better than Caulker, who may be sat on the books for a couple of years - I suppose the devil will be in the detail. I'd be more in favour if there were signs that our left back and attacking options were going to be strengthened.

Let's say we bring in Hyam and Caulker. Are we stronger than last year?

1 left back who's shown he's clearly not up to it and another who lots of people consider slightly worse. 4 wingers? Hedges? Dolan at a push? Who are the others? 5 CM. Oldest is 24. 3 are 19 or younger with hardly any first team experience. No pace, physicality or experience in there. What if we want to play with 3 midfielders? We are woefully short.

Woefully short at LB, CM our wide and up front. 4 more players needed even if BBD stays.

True. Cheaper the better👍

I bet most of those would struggle in the Championship.

He hasn't been in England for 5 years. During that time he's floated around a rather poor Turkish league. He's a body through the door, in a position we are short in. He may turn out to be ok, he may be useless. Let's not kid ourselves that we've played a blinder to get him though. It only makes sense if the money goes somewhere else in the team.

We allegedly bring in young players with a potential sell on. I'm sure we could have picked up a journeyman CB weeks ago if we really wanted one.

We have Ayala. How this fella fits our supposed M.O. I have no idea. Oh, except he's cheap. Now if it allows us to make a good young permanent signing like Van Hecke, then it's a reasonable shout. If it's him and the Coventry lad, that's disappointing . If it ends up just being him, then that's shite.

Venky hstory suggests that waiting till the last day of the window never works for us. Anyone pinning their hopes on getting 4-5 in in one day is going to be bitterly disappointed. Another week passes and we haven't added any depth to the squad. If bodies aren't in the building by the time we tonk the Tangerines, it will be time to close the thread! At least we can Ask Gregg next Friday 🎉

Caulker on a free 6-7 years ago would be a good signing. Last 5 years suggest you shouldn't touch him with a barge pole. Another example of a talented player who didn't fulfil his potential.

Can we Hecke. He would no doubt cost more. But comparatively, even at twice the price. He would be a better option for the club. That said, I'd rather not spend a large amount in JPVH either😂. I'd rather we invested up front.

I can see the logic there. However, the likelihood of us signing 2 permanent CBs seems unrealistic to me. Especially 2 who will cost upwards of £6 million. We have holes all over the squad. I would guess that if Hyatt does sign, he will be the only permanent deal at centre back. Out of the options mentioned to date, that would be the poorest solution in my opinion. If the fee for Hyatt was a lot lower, I'd be more comfortable with it. Feels like a Paul Downing option.

So that's a no?

Eyes before stats any day.

So for the reported fee you'd rather have the more experienced lad from Coventry over the 2 Dutch lads?

To be fair you've kind of missed the point I was making. If I've never heard of him, he's clearly not stood out at championship level so compared to the other names we've been linked with, he's an underwhelming signing (to me at any rate). He doesn't seem to fit with our modus operandi for spending decent sums. He may turn out to be great but I bet he wasn't on the A, B or C list..certainly won't be somebody JDT is familiar with. It's also a relatively large fee. Let's go back to the early interviews with Broughton and JDT. If you were told we're going to spend around £7 million (if fees are to be believed). Then get told in the next breath who the 4 players are (Brittain, Szmodic, Morton and Hyatt) what would the general reaction have been?

Well batted 👏

...well yes because we would no doubt be signing them from Gibraltar, Andorra and San Marino.