Mixed messages for Cardiff City fans in the transfer window

The most interesting aspect regarding these moves are the fee's involved. For example, Matt Phillips provided an accomplished display in Blackpool's 3-1 victory over Cardiff at the weekend, is Noone really £500,000 better?

An offer of around £500,000 was made and rejected for Noone, when a more substantial bid, resembling the eventual offer of £1.5m would surely have been accepted had it been made earlier, allowing Brighton time to replace him.

Ian Holloway appeared genuinely offended by our move for Phillips, he was still bristling about it weeks later when the subject was raised at the weekend. He referred to the offer as "slightly outrageous", claiming that a far greater sum would be required from a 'top five' Premier League side before he would consider releasing him. Clearly Mackay was barking up the wrong tree.

News of the deadline day swoop for Sordell further muddied the waters, with a bid of around £3m lodged, it would appear that only the late intervention of Bolton prevented the deal from taking place.

Firstly, had Cardiff signed Sordell, where would he fit in the side? With a system employing one mobile striker, would Sordell take Kenny Miller's place or would the system be altered to accommodate both? Similar in style to Robert Earnshaw, who can't get anywhere near the team, the move still appears a strange one.

Mackay will be well aware of Sordell's strengths and weaknesses from his time in charge of Watford and we will never know what his intentions were, but why did it take until the final few hours of the window to make a bid? With that sort of money to spend, why not offer more for Noone and Phillips if necessary?

Also, with plenty of alternatives, maybe Mackay would have been better off cutting his losses and pursuing the likes of Bristol City's Albert Adomah or Crystal Palace's Sean Scannell?

I appreciate that buying clubs place a value on a player and understand why they would be unwilling to exceed that amount, also that deals are worked on throughout the window and sometimes only materialise towards the end. Even so, Cardiff's transfer window manoeuvrings left a lot to be desired.

The arrival of Kadeem Harris is pleasing, he appears rich in potential and you have to back Mackay's judgement with regards to young talent, having successfully integrated Joe Mason and Joe Ralls. Signed for £150,000 or £300,000, depending on whether you believe Cardiff or Wycombe, his arrival goes some way towards satisfying a desperate need for wingers.

Mackay will hope that Premier League clubs who were reluctant to part with fringe players in January will now be more willing to consider offers. The loan window is now open for Football League clubs and three month loan deals are up for grabs.

It may be that we end up landing a higher calibre of player than those we targeted last month, or alternatively Cardiff may fail to find value in the market and have to make the most of what they already have.

Despite already boasting a squad that has exceeded all expectations by maintaining a promotion challenge and making a cup final, I hope recruitments are found, otherwise fatigue, injuries and suspensions may scupper a season that is rich in promise.

With West Ham signing Nicky Maynard, Ricardo Vaz Te and Ravel Morrison, plus Southampton bringing in Billy Sharp, Tadanari Lee and Yago Falque, the fear is that they have strengthened from a position of power and we may be left behind.

Take a read through yesterday's webchat with Malky Mackay