Ram@Lincoln

Great analogy. Absolutely not. It'll be high expense, riddled with many problems that you can't see. It's cheap for a reason. I'll take the reliable Ford knowing it'll get me to work and back, not sat with the bonnet up on the side of the motorway looking like a fool.

Totally agree there that they wouldn't have been available if their records were better. However, we aren't in a position to gamble good money on players with very dodgy injury records. If we had the loose change after completing the squad then fair enough. We all seem to agree that we're missing a reliable and clinical striker, Embleton and John Jules are neither, like you say they are bonus signings. It's like taking the car to fill up on fuel, forgetting the petrol and just coming out with a kitkat from below the checkout. It's a bonus buy, but not actually the thing we need.

It's almost like the recruitment analysts don't actually look at the previous history of the player. If I'm buying a car, I'm wanting to know about the service history, has it been a write off at any time, any known mechanical faults or manufacturer recalls. You then build up a image of the cars reliability to your needs and circumstance. If there's loads of advisories on the MOT and failed multiple times with recurring problems then I'm staying well clear. John Jules has barely played at any of his loans and always picked up long term injuries. Embleton hadn't played in 18 months or whatever it was. If they were cars, there's no chance I'm going anywhere near them.

If played centrally behind a striker he produces the goods. One of the few players who actually looks to take on a player and isn't afraid to shoot from range. I'm not saying a large fee will come in for him, but if a club could pick him up for £250k or similar, I'd say that's a very astute transfer for them for a player still with high potential. Due to the management at the club, he will never flourish here or get the support needed to enable this. It will be asset protection. We need to nuture our young players, look at Morgan Whitaker. He was bombed out then flourished when given the chance and a set up that caters to his strengths. Likewise with Jakobsen at Preston and Archie Brown in Belgium via Switzerland.

I'm surprised RD haven't already asked Warne if Bird, Cashin or Sibley have a year's option on their current contracts similar to Knight this summer. It seems we're all resigned to them leaving for free/compensation if not sold in January. Players wise for January, that Baker Richardson yesterday for Crewe seemed to give our backline many problems. From a basic eye he seems to be in a similar playing mould to Clarke Harris.

Are we definite that there isn't any extension options on Cashin, Bird and anyone else's expiring contracts? We had confirmation from Warne on RD around this time on Knight's extension to retain his value.