You can make it clear publicly that you want a player. Don't need to 'touch them up' or whatever illegally approaching a young man who is with another club called. So the Window is to do all the legal stuff and make bids etc. A lot of the marketing groundwork can be covered by then.

For me the transfer window has been shambolic. We knew we needed another striker, a goalkeeper and a rb at least. I love sakho but it's definitely a Parish signing as a token to the fans. Parish is now in the press saying it's a shame about the Everton guy!!! Well how about trying before the last day of the window!!!
We now have a new manager who at interview I guess said about changing the style, formation and making football more entertaining. He was hired on that basis and not backed with the players to do it. I hope FdB changes to a back 4 or he will surely go and that will be a real shame after the amount of time it took to get the right man in only for him not to be the right man. Our club needs stability not this ridiculous managerial merry go round. We have a weaker squad now than before the window!! That can't be right! 5 years in the premier and all we have to show for it is a huge wage bill a managerial rollercoaster and some cladding on the main stand. Hardly progress.

Sakho in? ++++++ happy. Even if he's not 100% 90 minutes fit yet, I reckon he will be playing at least 60 minutes in a couple of weeks. Hands down a great signing.

TFM on loan? ++++ happy. Better than Ward, lighting quick. Should be first choice RB already.

RLC on loan? ++++++ as happy as I am with Sakho. Looks like someone you could build a team around in midfield, he's probably too good for us which is exactly why I hope Chelsea will never want him for their first team.

Jairo in? + better than neutral. A much better bet for the future than any other 21 year old we have on the books, but has plenty to learn about defending in England. Not first XI ready yet but should be in the match day squad without doubt.

No new keeper? Meh whatever, I'm not as stressed as some about keeping WH as first choice. We have more pressing needs........

No new no.2 striker? ---------- WTF seriously? Appalling, amateur, incompetent, rash, plain f*ing stupid. All summer to line up someone of reasonable backup quality - ALL SUMMER LONG. You just know the cloggers will be out to do Tekkers as soon as possible. Wouldn't you?

On balance, we should be solid enough at the back with a back 4 and a bit less stupidity from those players actually selected. Midfield looks good if healthy. GK is ok enough, but we are truly, truly screwed if Tekkers gets injured.

It's too big a risk not to mitigate. So much for the acumen of our Board, despite the positives I've described.

Edited by Mr_Gristle (01 Sep 2017 7.17pm)

Well I think Simon's head is large; always involved in espionage. (Name that tune)

The fact that there are doubts about whether the manager wanted some of the players is only positive IMO.

He's a fraud and sooner he's out the better our chance of staying up.

Sakho is the CB.
Mensah can play RB.
We were signing a striker but left it too late.
A keeper could be loaned in.

Parish is not excused here but these 'gradual changes' have been anything but.

COYP

It's called into question every time that he stays on his line and doesn't come out and take a cross, zero self confidence,zero personality and zero bottle.
Shouldn't be anywhere near a premier league first team.