January Transfer Window - The Verdict.

[kippaxvilla2]

Assuming we are not going to seal a late deal for anyone, what is the verdict?

Repeating what I said earlier.  Plenty of reputable reports flying around that the manager was going to be heavily backed this window.  So what went wrong?

Firstly, I agree with the outgoings with the possible exception of Sanson but he was never going to accept his position in the team forever.

The sale of Ings immediately sounded an alarm bell.  Selling him to a direct rival.  For all the 'he is shit' etc, he had the ability to bring us back into a game or nick it for us and that might come back to bite.  Selling him and nor replacing him simply doesn't make sense.  You have more than one option when you are looking at new recruits in case your first choices are not available/unwilling to come.

There is an indication from Percy that our targets were too highly priced.  In which case are we now experiencing a distinctive change of policy - fine if we are, just don't sell us bullshit like aiming for Europe/winning cups - because it isn't happening with this philosophy.

Finally, I hope the first thing that happens in the summer if not before Lange is given the boot and Emery can bring his own DOF in that he trusts.

3/10

[Risso]

1/10

A slight upgrade at best in the left back position and a kid from the Beazer Homes League who we don't know if he's any better than any of the other kids we've got knocking about
Selling our top scorer and contributor of 25% of our league goals and not replacing him
Taking a weak squad and making it even worse
Our manager banging on for ages that we need a winger and not getting one
Being in our best potential position in the league for years and bottling it

[gpbarr]

7/10

Finally shifted a bunch of deadwood
Cleared salary space
Didn’t get sucked into overpaying for average players
Didn’t sign another PC
Moreno a strong addition
Traore return smart

Onwards. UTV

[pauliewalnuts]

1/10

Squad now weaker than it was before the window
Selling our top scorer and not replacing him whilst loaning out one of the other strikers leaving us entirely beholden to Watkins who is not exactly prolific
Didn't get the wide player the manager wanted
Chucking away the season with half of it left to play and things way more open than they usually are
Another next-to-nothing-net-spend window. This is starting to get predictable.

[Steve67]

Emery said that if we move out Sanson and Nakamba, we would most likely bring in another midfielder.  I wasn't expecting that player to be Bertrand Traore!   Marginally upgraded in the left back area, weakened our bench somewhat and we can't afford injuries to Emi, Kamara, Mings or Watkins.  A total anti-climax of a window.  Thank goodness we have points on the board, because we'd be worrying a bit harder if we hadn't.  Need to beat Leicester to maintain momentum, and I can't see that happening on Saturday. 

Never mind this 'we'll get them in the summer' rubbish either.  Same players, same ambitions = Champions League aspirations.  One positive is that we have probably saved around 300k a week in wages.  Take a bonus why don't you, dear Christian.

[PeterWithesShin]

9/10 for players out
5/10 for players in

[PeterWithe]

Outs - good
Ins - Pretty shit.

[Beard82]

Outs - good
Ins - Pretty shit.

I'd go with that

[SoccerHQ]

5/10.

Think Moreno will be a very tidy signing and good value for money. Duran could be in 12 months but would've liked an attacking signing who could make immediate impact and I just don't think he'll be able to do that.

Personally I'd have kept Archer in the squad if it was known we'd have sold Ings without a replacement.

Who knows what the financial optics are behind the scenes but my gut feeling is for second time in three seasons we're not going to seize a decent chance to have a statement finish in the league which hasn't happened since Dinosaurs roamed the earth.

Just finishing 11th again when Emery would've been in for 3/4 of the season dosen't feel enough with his quality and impact he's made on existing players. Ultimately though I don''t think he's been provided with the correct tools to make a proper go for europa.

[curiousorange]

A terrible failure of a window and no amount of people saying "In Emery We Trust" ot gaslighting themselves that naming two keepers on the bench is actually a masterstroke will convince me otherwise.

[eamonn]

5.5/10

A decent striker and we'd probably have been set. I also like Sanson and would like him to have got a run at some stage.

[astonvilla82]

With the last few transfer Windows we done,it hasn't helped us much with the players we brought in,add to that Steven Gerrard as well

[PaulMcGrathsNo5Shirt]

Didn't expect us to go out and be silly, but did expect better.

[Pete3206]

Let's hope Ollie Watkins doesn't get injured

I don't understand Archer being on loan and and I don't get there being no experienced replacement for Ings.

But hey, what do I know?

[Legion]

D-.