It was a suggestion from someone else only on the proviso the Reading lad comes in permanently. Not happening In the first place I don't suppose.

Hard pass on Kent for me but Quality striker and Quality winger permanently Schlupp and Hanley on loan and I think that'd be a very good window. Expecting neither of the first 2 and maybe one of the second 2.

It's like we get to January 3rd every year then start thinking about who we might bring in.

Fair enough. Out of those options I'd sell Hyam. Just don't see us doing anything that bold.

Have a look back at the contributions from Paul Mani and my questions pertaining to it. Take it or leave it but incendiary stuff if true.

Not really - out of contract end of next season - needs an extended deal on decent money imo.

Amen to that.

And you can't blame Lenihan one bit.

I can't understand why most people think the likes of Schlupp and Hanley are not good enough as cover, maybe even only on a temporary basis, but Ryan Hedges is and deserves a contract extension. I must be living in some sort of parallel universe where in the other one Hedges is decent.

Thought he was given a 2 and a half year deal when he joined. Might be wrong on that so someone please confirm or otherwise. As he was out of work at the time and knowing our lot I wouldn't have thought he's on a particularly generous wage relatively speaking.

I know, I just can't see this Reading lad being prepared to come here to sit on the bench if he's as good as everyone says. Edit: Then when everyone's fit he's got to compete with Hyam/Carter/Wharton/Batth/ and to a lesser extent O'Riordan.

So without wishing to defend them, although roverfan99 wont have it, that sounds like Waghail playing silly buggers (I'm tempted to use a far stronger word) as opposed to any direct involvement of the owners. When you say "didn't sign his bumper contract" do I take it he was offered a decent deal eventually but by that stage they'd pissed him off beyond the point of no return?

So who are you dropping if he comes in? Hyam or Batth?

We did that with O Riordan and that went well. I can't see the problem with Hanley if it's a loan until the end of the season. Until Carter gets back, who comes in if one of the 2 CB's get injured? I think with the benefit of hindsight extending Mcfadzean's deal was a poor decision. Again, it all hinges on how well we do with the striker and winger positions. If we did well there then I'd be happy with Schlupp and Hanley on loan to bolster the squad. I'm very skeptical whether we will do well with the 2 main positions but you see my point.

The sports scientists will be aware of exactly who is struggling a bit fitness or fatigue wise and who isnt too bad. Sod wholesale changes, we need to win this, get into the next round and regain some momentum. This game is equally important as any League game, if not more so. If we lose this game we're out of the Cup. Conversely there's still 63 points still to play for in the League. Getting in the play offs or not isn't going to hinge on whether or not we rest players at Boro.

Might have missed it but I don't remember hearing any in his pre and post match Burnley offerings. Sounded a lot more fluent. Might have been doing some media training. Can't believe anyone regards that as an issue in the first place.

Friend of mine who knows Grant quite well said we were after him 3 or 4 years ago but at that point the owners weren't prepared to give him the length of contract he needed. He's younger than Batth and a lot of people have been saying we need cover at CB so again (as with Schlupp) at the right price I can't see the problem long as there's still enough to fill the priority positions of a quality striker and winger.

I remember you referring to JE offering to resign a while ago with no explanation as to the context. If true about the £5m being withdrawn from JDT why did they then press ahead with a loan deal for Mcguire - did they know it was going to be scuttled in advance or was it a genuine cock up? Also if they later agreed to advance Eustace £5m in summer and then backed out - is that not them going rogue or does Suhail have virtual autonomy over the budget in line with my original question. Either way if JE did offer to resign twice that's two managers in a row now and the whole situation is completely untenable , he won't be here long.

I'm surprised more people haven't picked up on this. Just for the sake of clarity are you claiming that Suhail decides how much the budget is and the owners just go along with whatever recommendation he makes, but that recommendation changes depending on what sort of mood he's in or what side of the bed he's got out of on any given day? That would be fairly crazy even by Venky standards but it might go some way to explaining the downright bat shit crazy events of 12 months ago when a permanent move for a player was seemingly authorised, then cancelled mid flight, then a loan deal with an option to purchase on far less favourable terms subsequently agreed, then said loan deal sabotaged either intentionally or unwittingly due to negligence.

Seems a bit of a gamble. I'd never heard of him. Currently out of work, last sacked by Young Boys. Hopefully WBA don't want to pay compensation.

It was a hypothetical about Dolan jim.

Not really a valid comparison to Rothwell. Most people don't rate Dolan anyway and arguably £4m is way above his market value.

I disagree strongly. It would have been insanity to sell one of our best players to our main rivals for the 2nd promotion spot. The fact Mowbray was up for it says everything about him.

Whoever he puts out we need to win this game and try and regain some momentum.

For me the desirability of bringing Schlupp in entirely hinges on whether it leaves enough in the kitty to bring in what we need in the priority positions of striker and winger. IF it does (Massive if) I can't see the problem. Schlupp or Hedges. No brainer isn't it? FWIW though I can't see Schlupp happening as a) His wages will be too much and b) The player himself will probably want to move to a Club who will guarantee him a permanent deal after the loan period ends.