Summer Transfer Window - The Verdict

[Toronto Villa]

I think we took a massive step back in losing one of the best players in the world and have taken a minuscule step forward in terms of now having some quite good players to add depth to a quite good squad. We should now be quite good but not quite as good as last season. Possibly quite close to relegation but not quite close to Europe. Maybe quite close to losing Martinez as I can’t see him staying at a lower half club.

So we’ve nearly but not quite shored up our position as quite a good club.

but how on earth do you know that when we've not even been able select a number of them this season?

[mike]

I do think the midfield is quite shit though.

Yes, we have quite good forward options, quite a good defence, and quite a shit midfield. Fortunately, we have a quite outstanding goalkeeper.

[aj2k77]

I wouldn't be surprised in the least if Smith ends up sacked this season. Midfield and lack of control of games will be our downfall.

[mike]

I think we took a massive step back in losing one of the best players in the world and have taken a minuscule step forward in terms of now having some quite good players to add depth to a quite good squad. We should now be quite good but not quite as good as last season. Possibly quite close to relegation but not quite close to Europe. Maybe quite close to losing Martinez as I can’t see him staying at a lower half club.

So we’ve nearly but not quite shored up our position as quite a good club.

but how on earth do you know that when we've not even been able select a number of them this season?

I don’t, none of us do. It’s just an opinion, that why it starts ‘I think’. I thought we were being asked for opinions.

[Mister E]

Estimated net spend (£m)

Looking at net spend over one window is somewhat misleading.
For example, PSG could have taken €220m from Real Madrid today - which would have made their net spend figure pretty healthy - but chose not to.

[Mister E]

I think we took a massive step back in losing one of the best players in the world and have taken a minuscule step forward in terms of now having some quite good players to add depth to a quite good squad. We should now be quite good but not quite as good as last season. Possibly quite close to relegation but not quite close to Europe. Maybe quite close to losing Martinez as I can’t see him staying at a lower half club.
So we’ve nearly but not quite shored up our position as quite a good club.

but how on earth do you know that when we've not even been able select a number of them this season?

I don’t, none of us do. It’s just an opinion, that why it starts ‘I think’. I thought we were being asked for opinions.

Quite, Mike 

[LeonW]

Talk about net spend is very Villa retro.

[SamTheMouse]

We've replaced Ratboy, nothing more. So I'm expecting the same as last season.

[JJ-AV]

I think, considering the fact we had no control over Grealish going, the recruitment has been excellent.

I agree I have concerns over the midfield, however it only looks so weak because the acquisitions were so strong elsewhere. Also, Sanson was signed in Jan and was a Summer target brought forward. Had we signed him in June there wouldn't be this hysteria over a centre-midfielder.

We have enough depth now that we can wait for the right players rather than chasing anyone and I like that.

The backline is very strong, starters and reserves.

McGinn and Luiz to start every game and then any four from Sanson, Ramsey, Bailey, Buendia, Traore, Ings and Watkins in a 4-4-1-1 or 4-3-3 looks excellent to me. 3 of those 7 on the bench as an option to change it each week, with Young, El Ghazi, Philogene-Bidace, Chukwumeka and Archer in reserve too.

An imposing centre-midfielder the quality of Ings/Bailey/Martinez's signings has to be next on the agenda though.

A 9/10 window now for me, it'll take time for the side to blend together but if we can finish midtable and consolodate last year's good progress, with so much money in the bank we'll be in a fantastic position to push for Europe/who knows next year.

[Mister E]

I think, considering the fact we had no control over Grealish going, the recruitment has been excellent.

I agree I have concerns over the midfield, however it only looks so weak because the acquisitions were so strong elsewhere. Also, Sanson was signed in Jan and was a Summer target brought forward. Had we signed him in June there wouldn't be this hysteria over a centre-midfielder.

We have enough depth now that we can wait for the right players rather than chasing anyone and I like that.

The backline is very strong, starters and reserves.

McGinn and Luiz to start every game and then any four from Sanson, Ramsey, Bailey, Buendia, Traore, Ings and Watkins in a 4-4-1-1 or 4-3-3 looks excellent to me. 3 of those 7 on the bench as an option to change it each week, with Young, El Ghazi, Philogene-Bidace, Chukwumeka and Archer in reserve too.

An imposing centre-midfielder the quality of Ings/Bailey/Martinez's signings has to be next on the agenda though.

A 9/10 window now for me, it'll take time for the side to blend together but if we can finish midtable and consolidate last year's good progress, with so much money in the bank we'll be in a fantastic position to push for Europe/who knows next year.

Some positivity! Yeh!!

[Big Ming]

It's important that the youngsters that are good enough to make the grade can actually see a route to progress to the first team squad as Chuckwemaka and Philogene-Bidace have done.

Otherwise there is no point packing the youth squad with the best talent available.

I guess the idea of growing our own rather than paying through the nose is a good one.

The only problem is that I can't see an outstanding DCM prospect amongst the kids.

[ozzjim]

Wonder if the lad we got from West Brom that I can't spell or pronounce is closer than we think.

[colin69]

I don’t think it really matters who plays in midfield, it is our weak point and has been for years. Unless they pull something out of  the hat in the final stages that isn’t going to change.

[Vegas]

The thing I can’t reconcile is these rumours that it’s Dean who doesn’t want to splash the cash on another midfielder, with him choosing to start Chuck and Young in there ahead of Nakamba vs Brentford.

Clearly he doesn’t rate our midfield options to highly, Nakamba at least. So why not add to the squad? That’s why I’m a little sceptical (based on precisely zero ITK!) that it’s Dean deciding we don’t need more.

[Monty]

I don't think it would be unreasonable to take the last selection as a one-off injury crisis that won't happen again.