Deadline day: Where should we even begin?

Last Updated : 08-Feb-2026 by Molly Whitmore

Deadline day. Where should we even begin? A failure, really, when you look at the teams around us in the fight to stay up.

Clubs like West Ham and Nottingham Forest are out there signing players. Are they glamorous names? Not always. Some we have barely heard of, others I am more than happy to have missed out on anyway.

But the key point is this: they have made multiple signings to try to give themselves a fighting chance. Us? Just the one.

Now, this is not meant to bash Facundo Buonanotte. From what I have read and heard about him, he is a strong attacking midfielder, creative, energetic and that is always a positive. He could be a good addition.

But he should not have been the only addition. We absolutely should have been looking at a goalkeeper - someone like James Trafford, for example. I know that is a big IF, but as I said on the Don't Go To Bed Just Yet podcast, why did we not at least test the waters?

Forest managed to land Stefan Ortega - and if he was once considered good enough for Manchester City; surely he was worth a look from us too?

Then there is Jorgen Strand Larsen. Can someone please explain why we were so stubborn with this one? We knew three or four days ago that  Crystal Palace were going to get him, so why were we just sitting around waiting for an overpriced striker that was clearly slipping away? Why did we not explore alternatives?

We are one Dominic Calvert-Lewin injury away from being in serious trouble, and we all know his injury record. We were chatting to Everton fans last Monday and even they could not believe he had not already done his usual six-week stint on the sidelines. Will it come? Let's hope not, because the board have really let us down in that department.

There is not much else to say about this deadline day and that is part of the problem. It is becoming a recurring theme. New owners. Same deadline day. Rubbish.

As a fan, you worry. You really, really worry. Friday night under the lights against Forest has suddenly become our biggest game of the season so far.

Right now, it does not feel like we have had much help. Hopefully that is just the deadline day hangover talking.

Molly Whitmore is a regular contributor on BBC Radio Leeds find all their audio here

The views expressed above are Molly's and do not necessarily represent the views of LeedsUnitedMAD.