Hopefully West Ham get it done quick so Palace can move on and find another option. The worst case scenario is we have a Lewis Hall situation where we are left with no-one. On that, how is it the club deemed we needed another left-back in the summer but seemingly have done nothing to address that in January? Similarly, we supposedly were pushing hard for the PSG lad but so far we still haven't got another forward. I appreciate it's not easy to get deals done in January, but what has been happening in the last four months since the summer window shut? Were no other plans being made? Could they not, for instance, have sounded out Genk on Munoz before January? Roy has shown no desire to involve Franca or Ebiowei so why is there no news about us looking at wingers, especially given Olise can't stay fit for more than five minutes.

I think Philips would be a good signing, but I think more pressing is our need for some creativity and goal scorers in the squad. When we kick off at Arsenal tomorrow we will in all likelihood have no recognised wide players on the pitch with others having to fill in.

I cannot recall the last time one player left the fold and the whole team declined as with Doucoure. A DM of equal quality who binds with Lerma will see an immediate improvement. His value has been questioned, but IF (big if) he provides that, then in today's money £10m, even for half a season, may seem just about correct value, especially if there is e.g. an option.

Left back is important as we have no specialist cover for Mitchell. Other players can play there, but in extremis and it is not their preferred positions. However, we should not be aiming for any LB, but one with quality and youth who we can persuade to stay. Lewis Hall came up in the summer. He went elsewhere as we were out muscled by Saudi cash. However, did we dodge one? He has hardly played. And on your point, it is a narrow window. Perhaps there are no other Lewis Halls currently out there?

Strikers, who knows? There was some discussion about the PSG lad, but has his position changed? The whole world knows he wants to leave so we are now competing in a limited window with other clubs. That pushes up the price to the extent I suspect no-one can afford him; until his price falls at the very last minute. Meanwhile, Mateta and Edouard are hardly AJs, but give them the ball against a tired defence and...

...Of course, without a decent midfield and especially a decent DM who can quickly convert defence into attack...

I was driving earlier and I actually shouted at the radio when they said Wet Spam are in talks. Honestly I have no reason to feel like I do, its irrational. I hope KP goes anywhere but there. I think its because they are just that bit more funded, given a new stadium but mostly that they think they are a big club... it winds me up when I hear (normally a cabbie) on the radio moaning about David Moyes and how they don't play the Wet Spam way... F*ck Off... Just F*ck Off. The fans actually think they are in the same league as Liverpool and City. Clowns.

Sorry. Rant over

I would suggest Yohan Cabaye was the last time. A high quality player within an average team who was sorely missed when not playing.

I would be happy with a right back rather than a left back (Munoz), I think Clyne can cover at LB for Mitchell until the summer.

In midfield Phillips would definitely help and I agree it’s a huge position the way we play, but that amount of money for probably a maximum of 16 games is steep to say the least. Is Ozoh good enough at present to tide us over? I certainly think he is close and would expect him to share duties with Hughes.

I would hold fire on a striker until the summer unless Mateta goes. Instead I would throw everything at a quality left winger which is where creativity has been short since Zaha departed. Whilst Olise is out there is too much pressure on Eze to perform and even with Ayew back we need to be supplying whoever plays CF with supply from both sides.

So in short, my minimum would be right back and left wing. Have we got £25m in reserves to fill those two positions? You would certainly hope so.

Edited by Eaglecoops (19 Jan 2024 6.11pm)