Summer Transfer Window - The Verdict

[richtheholtender]

The DCM is so important as it is them that enables the creative players to go and play. Signing a quality one will be bring out the best out of the players in front of them, take the pressure of youngsters and the pressure of the defence.  Given we haven't a spent anything other than the grealish money I would have thought we could make this happen if we wanted.

[Legion]

Still a few hours left for nothing to happen.

[ozzjim]

Still a few hours left for nothing to happen.

Made me chuckle Legion.

[Toronto Villa]

It would have been nice to get another midfielder in but this is such a statement of faith in our current squad, players who have yet to contribute fully like Sanson, and more specifically players like both Ramsey’s, JPB and Chuckie. Maybe both him and his bro. We have to give those players a chance. The money is there, so nothing to be concerned about financially.

But Dean Smith firstly has to hope we get past all of these injuries and players missing through COVID. We have lots of depth of those young players step up, but we won’t feel that immediately. It will take time to come together. And with Ollie, Bert, Bailey also set to come back it’s really not as bad we think it is.

[ROBBO]

Too many players in midfield that have been found wanting in the past, or just breaking through and not ready to play
a senior role. Fingers crossed for the next few hours.

[Clark W Griswold]

The DCM is so important as it is them that enables the creative players to go and play. Signing a quality one will be bring out the best out of the players in front of them

I'd liken it to buying Marks and Spencers premium range bacon and sausage and then going home and putting it on some cheap ass smart price thin cut white bread near the sell by date that you had in the cupboard rather than buying the M&S fresh baked bloomer whilst you're there and putting it with that.

[Risso]

It would have been nice to get another midfielder in but this is such a statement of faith in our current squad, players who have yet to contribute fully like Sanson, and more specifically players like both Ramsey’s, JPB and Chuckie. Maybe both him and his bro. We have to give those players a chance. The money is there, so nothing to be concerned about financially.

But Dean Smith firstly has to hope we get past all of these injuries and players missing through COVID. We have lots of depth of those young players step up, but we won’t feel that immediately. It will take time to come together. And with Ollie, Bert, Bailey also set to come back it’s really not as bad we think it is.

That's all lovely, but none of them are defensive midfielders. The main reason why West Ham look so much better than us for the last season and a bit is that Noble and Soucek are both great players. They play in a position that suits them, and they make the rest of the team tick. Compare that to McGinn and Luiz, both played out of position, and both who regularly don't look as good as they undoubtedly can be.

[Forge10]

We were short up front and lost two, added to this our main striker is injured. I can't imagine the board are happy that we signed Wesley for a record fee and are happy to get rid. Davis is never given the chance and is questionable whether he can cut it at this level? Guilbert is certainly no better or worse than any other option we have in that position, so I feel another backward step if you consider losing Elmo as well. As for midfield we've lost our best player, signed Buendia and already he's been pushed out of position. Despite how impressive Chukwemeka was on saturday should we really be throwing in young players this early in the season? Bailey looks decent but another one who clearly had an injury when we signed him.

I don't think we've strengthened the problem areas from last season, add to thsat losing our best player by an absolute mile and we will do well to consolidate this season.

[richtheholtender]

It would have been nice to get another midfielder in but this is such a statement of faith in our current squad, players who have yet to contribute fully like Sanson, and more specifically players like both Ramsey’s, JPB and Chuckie. Maybe both him and his bro. We have to give those players a chance. The money is there, so nothing to be concerned about financially.

But Dean Smith firstly has to hope we get past all of these injuries and players missing through COVID. We have lots of depth of those young players step up, but we won’t feel that immediately. It will take time to come together. And with Ollie, Bert, Bailey also set to come back it’s really not as bad we think it is.

Signing the defensive midfielder we need isn't going to hinder any of those players.

[Monty]

One thing as well it's our seriously rough upcoming run of fixtures, holy shit. Two rough months. Chelsea, Everton, Man United, Spurs, Wolves, Arsenal, West Ham. Plus Chelsea in the League Cup. One team we finished above last year, and probably the best one of those at that, which also happens to be a derby. It's not an exaggeration to say that double figures in points might be a tall order before October with this midfield. But we shall see!

[ozzjim]

One thing as well it's our seriously rough upcoming run of fixtures, holy shit. Two rough months. Chelsea, Everton, Man United, Spurs, Wolves, Arsenal, West Ham. Plus Chelsea in the League Cup. One team we finished above last year, and probably the best one of those at that, which also happens to be a derby. It's not an exaggeration to say that double figures in points might be a tall order before October with this midfield. But we shall see!

Exactly my worry Monty. Then you are picking them up and trying to get them going. It is what it is. Imagine if we sold Luiz to Roma this pm lol. Meltdown might start then.

[paul_e]

One thing as well it's our seriously rough upcoming run of fixtures, holy shit. Two rough months. Chelsea, Everton, Man United, Spurs, Wolves, Arsenal, West Ham. Plus Chelsea in the League Cup. One team we finished above last year, and probably the best one of those at that, which also happens to be a derby. It's not an exaggeration to say that double figures in points might be a tall order before October with this midfield. But we shall see!

I understand that you're upset about the team but this is far too pessimistic, there's 1 game in that list that I wouldn't expect anything from and that's purely because us being screwed by a shitty referee against Man U is a national tradition at this point.

[Mister E]

Gone backwards.
Losing Jack is a disaster, one that could be mitigated if the money was well used - but it hasn't been used this window.
Buendia, Bailey and Ings are all very good signings. Problem is that they have made us very lopsided and fitting them in means a change to a system we do not have the players for in other areas.
Young and Tuanzebe are OK temporary cover, replacing loaned out or sold cover. No real uplift, just a holding position.

I think you undervalue Young and Tuanzebe in your 'OK temporary cover' remark: both have shown they are an upgrade on our previous options.

1. I do not like the look of any formation that fits all of Bailey, Buendia, Ings and Watkins in. It means a two man midfield which we simply do not have the right players for.

I disagree with your 2-man midfield assumption. Buendia can play in a 3-man midfield, meaning we can play 4-3-3 with ease once all the players are fit and available.

2. Traore is one of our best players, but he now has Buendia and Bailey in front of him. I absolutely think we needed a right winger to cover the loss of Trez to injury, but not two of them.

Injuries will always mean having good cover is a good thing, and  - anyway - you assume that Buendia was bought to play as an out-and-out winger.

3. Grealish was our best player, and now we have only El Ghazi as a true left winger. We seem to have replaced him with either Bailey (a right sided player), or Watkins being shifted out of position

Both Bailey and Buendia are strong off both feet.

4. We needed a number 10 to replace Barkley, but have not signed one. Instead we have the options of playing Buendia or Ings out of position. Either of which would leave the midfield right open.

Buendia has played #10 comfortably in the past. Furthermore, with a decent DMF McGinn, Sanson and Ramsey can play #10

5. We have lost a very good defensive coach and not replaced him.

- true; let's see how that is dealt with.

6. We have reduced cover in Goal, and are now in a position where we are already looking at our second choice keeper playing important games against Chelsea and maybe more. Had Heaton stayed this would not be an issue.

Maybe Heaton did not want to stay with us. Maybe Sinisalo will do a decent job. I share some of your concern.

7. Our midfield has lots of number 8s and no no 10s or no. 6s of any note. This has been an issue since Bruce came in and it beggars belief we have not taken the opportunity to sort it out.

Maybe your point simply illustrates your concern for numbers and positions. I think we have lots of variety in our midfield options, some of which players do different jobs for their countries or have done for previous clubs.

Meanwhile Chelsea, Man Utd, Liverpool, Man City, Arsenal, Leicester and Spurs have improved their squads making the task of getting into Europe more difficult

agreed that our competition has not got any weaker; it was ever thus.


The opportunity we missed, IMO, was to continue the buying spree in the early transfer period in July - if we'd paid out for a decent DMF (perhaps over the odds on pricing) early, we'd not be scraping around for one on the last day of the transfer window.

[Monty]

One thing as well it's our seriously rough upcoming run of fixtures, holy shit. Two rough months. Chelsea, Everton, Man United, Spurs, Wolves, Arsenal, West Ham. Plus Chelsea in the League Cup. One team we finished above last year, and probably the best one of those at that, which also happens to be a derby. It's not an exaggeration to say that double figures in points might be a tall order before October with this midfield. But we shall see!

I understand that you're upset about the team but this is far too pessimistic, there's 1 game in that list that I wouldn't expect anything from and that's purely because us being screwed by a shitty referee against Man U is a national tradition at this point.

And not Chelsea? I'd say we're firm second-favourites in four of those league games, mild second-favourites in one and about even in a couple. Double figures means either two wins or a win and three draws, from a run of games in which we're not favourites once. I'd call that a very tough run and a tall order.

[john e]

That’s a work of art that post Mister E
I struggle just to not double post