We ultimately failed in the last two January transfer windows and another one opens tomorrow. Will it be third time lucky?
We will find out, but one of the players that won't be coming to Aston Villa, well, not for the rumoured £8mn, is Scott Parker. Does his agent this this is still 2004 and people are willing to pay stupid money for his player?
Don't get me wrong, Parker has something, but he is 29 years old and he has only once played more than 30 games in a league season, mostly because of injury.
Scott Parker has something, don't get me wrong, but it would be like signing Emile Heskey last January or Wayne Routledge the one before; nice idea and we would understand why, but he isn't going to make the impact at the club that we need to complete for a top four place.
The type of player that will make that impact I fear will cost a little more money. But, it is just a rumour, so I'm going to take it with a pinch of salt.
Moving on, there is growing speculation that Craig Gardner is leaving in January. I don't think he has ever had a proper run in the team and I don't think he would necessarily disappoint if he had it, in his preferred position, but O'Neill has his favourites in the middle and nothing will, okay a training ground fight might, change his mind.
It won't be nice to see Gardner go, as he is Villa, but if he does, you can't blame him and with talk that O'Neill needs to raise funds before he can buy, it sort of makes sense.
Last one today is Paul Downing. He is 18 years old apparently and plays for West Brom. Hands up, sorry, never heard of him. But if you have, a little bit of information below would be nice. I'm off for lunch, but as we are coming close to January, I'm going to 'rate the rumours'.
Craig Gardner leaving; if I were a betting man, I'd put money on this happening. Not nice, but almost a certainty. Four out of five.
Scott Parker coming; there is as much chance of this happening as there is I will win the lottery in January. Martin O'Neill is no mug. One out of five.