This is not the best we can do on the transfer market. First McCormack is not even close to Chopra or Scotland, or Ebanks-Blake... Second Stead is good enough to be a reserve to some of the above and he is not worse than McCormack... The only difference is Keano doesn't like him and obviously he likes McCormack...

I have a feeling that Stead is looking so usefull and purposeful because he is putting himself in the shop window, I think he wants to leave the Town and is trying to show other clubs what he is capable of. (just a thought, hopefully completely wrong).

Presumably the negotiations are centred on how much we have to pay on top of offering Jon Stead in order to get McCormack in. Even if we agree this, both players would then have to agree personal terms for the deal to go through.

Can't really see what's in this for Stead. He'd be behind Chopra and Whittingham at Cardiff, his wages would at best be the same as he gets now and he'd have to relocate his family to South Wales.

Happy to get McCormack if it happens, but keep Stead. He's a good squad player. Who do we have up front to replace him? Priskin finally showing some promise, and Wickham coming back from injury in a week or two, but we don't have many options up front, now that Pablo is definitely out of the picture. Murray did good last night, but we need experience alongside youth.

Ian Marshall was a fine striker, we could do with him here now!!!

"Its funny how ideas and posts change. People couldn't wait to get rid of Stead and now, 2 games in he is invaluable."

Or it might just be different people.

Or maybe Stead inspires fluctuating opinions like this. After all, before the New Year last season, Keane said he was the only one of his strikers who had "stepped up to the plate", then one harsh dismissal and two games later, he's farming him out on loan.

Anyone else on here feeling excited by what the players and managers are showing us but feeling just a little peeved by the lack of action in bringing in new players by ME and Clegg??? Keano has said that he spoke with 4 players that he needed and they wanted to come here - Now all of these deals seem to be drifting away! Chopra seemed unsettled and should have been snapped up! Scotland is now getting interest from other clubs... Is this going to be another season of Bridesmaid not Bride for us all?!?!?!?!?! I am sure that Keano will be well pi$$ed off if the chairman ties his hands on these deals... O'Neill at Villa is an example and warning to us all I fear.... Come on Evans & Clegg - We must get a few more additions! The lads were great last night, but they are not ready to hinge all our promotion expectations on!!!! COYB - Keano!!!!

BloooooCD;

O'Neill is a disgrace and had no reason for leaving despite petulance, he has spent more than most over the past few years, and has also made some costly mistakes.

In the current economy you cannot expect to spend, spend, spend and ignore the net transfer losses and wages to revenue ratio.

Good riddance to moaning o'neill, overrated by himself and many others.

Dont hurry back!!

Get Keano out Get Keano out

Sorry that for all who miss these posts as there have been very very few since Friday
Its nice to have some sensible points of view for a change

marhsallsmullet;

I agree with your point that to just throw money does no good - we can all testify to that following last season.. But the promises of new faces and the fact that Keano did what was asked of him and stripped our squad to apparently make way for players coming in just seems as though we should now be celebrating some decent new arrivals - not en-mass but a couple of key players in the areas where we are now weakened...

I'm sure you'll find that most managers lock horns with their clubs owners over spending... Its always easier when it is other peoples money eah! (My ex-wife has no problem with mine! ha ha!) But I think if Keano has kept up his part of the deal then the club should back him and bring in the players he has identified.

We have had a cracking start (in comparison to last season) but we need to strengthen our beleagured squad and that all elusive striker that is proven at this level would be a great start

BloooCD - I see your frustration, but I believe that ME and Clegg are working away behind the scenes to get the deals done.

They worked damn hard on the Fulop deal!!

Is it me or am I wrong in thinking that Stead does not actually struggle to score for us?

I would keep him

Tedturnip

I think we would keep Stead if we could get rid of a Counago. I still think Wickham, Priskin plus a Scotland/Chopra McCormack or who ever we get in will be are main men. On the basis of Murray i think Keane may see him as good as Stead but on far less money plus Walters (if he stays) could play up front.
After the above then will come Stead and Counago,sell Stead and Counago and thats possible 20k a week off the wage bill or a million quid that can be used to pay the McCormacks/ Scotland/ Chopra. 20k a week for fringe players is alot of money.
I like Stead and he is playing well for us at present, but for me he blows a little hot and cold and I feel will not be able to score goals regular in the Prem.

Cack news about Kennedy being out for longer than 3 weeks, looked very handy on Saturday against Boro. Hopefully O'Conner can recover and fill in, in his absence.

On the plus though, Edwards injury is better than originally thought and after his display on Saturday to it will be great to have him back a bit sooner.

Think only a magician could name the starting line up against Burnley this weekend!

Wigan have accepted our bid for Scotland! COYB

Mcormack Wickham Walters/Scotland - As the front three ? depending on whether walters goes... sounds good.

Ditch Pablo, keep Stead. Sign Scotland and/or Chopra, plus McCormack, sell Walters (if he really wants to go).

I think that's it!

Keane obviously has a problem with Stead..dunno why cos he always gives his all and that's good enough for me & he's too good for this league to be sat on the bench...McCormack will be a good addition though.

Agree with a lot of what's already been said. However, IF we sign two new forwards and hang on to Wickham and Priskin, I think that's a decent forawrd line. I can't help but feel that Stead and Counago are too expensive in terms of wages to sit on the bench! I fully expect Counago to hang around the club but can't see him playing for us again.

Hope Stead stays at Portman Road. I was at the match vs. boro. As soon as Stead came on he made a positive difference. Good positioning, running of the ball and a great goal

Cant see Stead going to Cardiff. As stated above, they will want to cut their wage bill, they still cant afford to pay their players and it doesnt seem that Steadys missus wants the disruption after the birth of Stead jnr.

As for Marshall, he was a good striker even though he looked like a drunken scaffolder. One of the classic ' haircuts' to have graced a Town shirt too.

I like stead mainly because he gives 100% as was shown last night but his goals to games ratio is not great. Mc cormack is more prolific and can play wide also.Not sure how many he scored last season though. A strike force of Scotland, Mc cormack wickham and Priskin will give a greater goals return than Pablo, Stead, Walters and Martin surely.

Why not Keep Stead and swap PABLO...

Scotland for Stead
McCormack for Walters

Simples - just a bit of 'jiggerypokery!' to do now!

^^Why not Keep Stead and swap PABLO...^^

quite simply noone wants, needs or can afford to carry a one trick pony who can only fall over and sulk 95% of the time just for the very occasional flashes of genius.

Pablo will sit out his contract and (hopefully) RK will never select him again.

(unless Magic gets another managers gig)