So in summary we all concur that we need a commanding midfielder with a bit of "bite". We cannot buy one, but we do have an expensive one on the books who is a bit of an injury risk that we can recall. So (1) find a cheap one in free agency - unlikely in a January window (Shinnie?) (2) get one in on loan who doesn't need a loan fee (3) bring Bielek back.

Option 3 makes other manoeuvres less easy but the defence is fine even with the bodges. Those bodges weaken midfield but Bielek covers that.

Striker in lieu of Collins is another need, or he has to up productivity. But these are more in the way of luxuries.

For me, bring Bielek back, maybe tinker with front/wide options and choose quality we already have over quantity. It's a risk, but everything's a risk - I just remember Bielek at Charlton tearing new arseholes for League 1 players a few years back. It worked then in an otherwise poor side.....