heh heh. "speculation for now"! get him in

I would go for Trotter instead. Unfinished business at the club and he's been decent ever since he left

Do we need another central midfielder??

Pratley has been a decent player and has goals in him, but I don't see him as the creative influence wee need in the middle. Skuse is a guaranteed starter when fit, we have Hyam back, Douglas has had his moments and Bru is hopefully going to be available for most of our remaining games this season. I'm not sure Pratley would bring anything additional to that mix. I have omitted Giles Coke deliberately.
What we don't have is Teddy Bishop and we have to acknowledge the possibility that he won't be back fit ahead of next season now. With McGoldrick missing too the lack of creativity in the middle has rarely been starker. If we are to bring in another central midfielder, even on loan, surely it has to be somebody with a bit of ingenuity? If we want a Jamaican international, why not check out the availability of Giles Barnes who had another good year for Houston & is now in close season?
I thought Zach Clough would be out of our reach also and with our 4 main strikers would not be a priority, but if Bristol City have agreed a €750k deal, surely we can stump up that amount for a player who is likely to be worth 10 times that amount in a year or two, if he stays fit? With the injuries to McGoldrick and Murphy's up & down start to the season, we may well need more quality up front over the coming months.

Len,a very good post.I agree with you 100%.

Is the Clough fee really £750K, if so a bargain in my opinion. Surely he can do better than Bristol City and their whinging Manager. We are overloaded with midfielders but how many of them are good enough. Clough I believe would be.

The important thing is has Darren Pratley got a good 'hoof 'which is a must if you are playing for Mick McCarthy.

Was impressed with him at Portman Road recently. He was everywhere and has an eye for goal.
Worth a look at a good price.

Need all the help we can get . Pratley is combative and is a good footballer. Skuse,Douglas and Pratley would be good centre of midfield and would be a good replacement for Douglas long term as getting on a bit . Bru unfortunately bit of a sick note and while Coke always looks good never does anything . Hyam hasn't really gone to the next level and Bishop is a worry as might not be physically strong enough . As for Tabb don't think MM likes him anymore . X

'surely we can stump up that amount'

I don't think we could even stump up £750, nevermind £750,000. Which is probably why the best we have got so far is some poor lad on loan who can't even get into Barnsleys 1st team. Probably with his wages covered by Parr's imminent departure.

It is staggering to think that some fans are still bandying figures like this around when MM has stated time after time that we have no money, and there certainly won't be any new arrivals in this transfer window.

clough and moncur from Col U would be ideal solution

No. The fee for Zach Clough was reported, on sky sports news the other today to be £2m. And no, we aren't gonna be paying that kind of money for 1 player. Harry 19, a to call comment by you, knocking digby when his performance on sat was down to poor team selection by mm. If he was going to play sat it should have been beside smith or Berra. That would at least have given him a chance of blending into the side. And not being slated by people on here.

Swap him for Giles Coke!!!!!!!!!

All hypothetical - McCarthy and creativity / flair are like chalk/ cheese. So forget it.

Never has the 'hoof' been more applicable to the Suffolk Punch than now.

An approach for Moncur would be a sensible move - although, and because of that - very unlikely to happen.

Hyam obviously hasn't learnt to pass other than sideways / backwards - but has he been prevented from doing so... ??

I wonder ... !!

We need a creative influence in the middle. Not convinced Prately is that man. We should be looking to spend a modest fee in order to sign a couple of quality additions.

Jas. Don't disagree with you about paying a modest fee for a couple of players. But Pratley is a good player. The only worry I'd have about signing him is would mm drop hyam to play him?

Blues1 - yes he is a decent player, but as Len States, is he any different to the players we have? I'm not sure. Better than a Giles Coke though, that's for sure.

@Blues1
My mistake on the Clough fee, was working off a previous report & hadn't gotten the Sky updated details. Fair enough, we are not going to be paying out £2m+ for him, I accept that.
I do think there is & should be leeway to pay certain fees though, such as stumping up £750k for a real prospect. Despite all the protestations of us not paying fees, Mick did splash out £325k on Knudsen. Where a lower league or overseas player with some pedigree can be brought in, and a decent sell on fee would appear assured, the Mings & Cresswell fees should be justification enough to pay in excess of £500k.

Long live the McCarthy hoof ball! Who needs ball retention when you can hoof it. Don't matter who plays centre mid, they got to get used to looking over head! Seriously, Pratley is micks kind of player, puts a shift in, enough said. Like some other posters on here, we still lack that bit of quality in the squad, whether a creative midfielder or a striker who can get a goal from nothing, alas due to the fianacial restraints can't see that happening sadly.

the boy Bennett was lively for Pompey !

the boy Bennett was lively for Pompey !

the boy Bennett was lively for Pompey !

I agree Len. Trouble is, McCarthy doesn't appear to want to spend ne money on transfer fees. Money its been made clear is available to him if he wants it. Plus, for 500k or so are u gonna get better than we could get for no fee if they out of contract? Maybe, maybe not

Isn't he just in the same mould of what we already have ie Skuse, Douglas, Hyam? He will demand a half decent wage, which could probably be better spent elsewhere