For my two peneth, the recent winter windows seem to be more about addressing errors from the previous summer when we had more time to get ourselves sorted and this one is the same.
I said the summer transfer window was a 1/10. I’d probably wouldn’t change that because whilst I thought Bizot was a smart pick up, it’s only really been Lindelof who has surprised and impressed. Guessand has been an absolute disaster and Sancho ever poorer than the very low expectations I already have. The Elliot situation is ridiculous for all involved.
The fact that Bailey is already a marked improvement on Guessand speaks well for nobody when the club decided to dispense with him last summer but not even on a permanent transfer, only a loan.
We all know the restrictions Villa have and their chokehold in allowing us to compete, but it’s also fair to balance it out with two points that can be true at the same time:
1). That we need to be smarter in our signings when we do spend money.
2). It’s not fair that we have no wriggle room to get any significant signings (fee or wages) incorrect.
We did well to get our money back on Malen but something is wrong in Emery chasing him for so long and deciding quite early that he isn’t what he wants. See Diaby, Philogene also.
Luiz is back and I think that’s a smart move as he knows our team and system and already started well. Tammy I think is very good business at his price considering it’ll likely be less than we’ll get for Malen and way less than Strand Larsen at double the price.
But in turning to what we’re familiar with in Luiz and Bailey is an acknowledgment that we’ve got things wrong and no matter what else, something isn’t working in the recruitment department and hasn’t been for a while when we’re largely so reliant on the same group of players signed during the Smith era.
The two incoming players I like. Good on getting our money back for Malen. Palace won’t be stupid enough to trigger buying Guessand. Core of the squad and continuing issues not really address or improved. 5/10.
