Rating our transfer window

[Ricky]

I'd rate our transfer window like this:


Incomings - 6/10

10 signings is a good number, a lot but not quite too many, and the size of the squad is now ideal. But we have barely signed any of our first choice targets. If just another 2 of those 10 could've been first choice targets who improve the starting 11 then it would've been a significantly better window for us. We still lack pace, which is particularly disappointing.


Outgoings and squad management: 8/10

Undoubtedly the biggest positive is that we've not lost anybody we didn't want to. In particular Brooks, who seemed the most likely to be sold. He's like a new signing. We've shifted the deadwood including, at long last, Brayford, although not on ideal terms. Arguably only Hanson remains who we would have ideally liked to move on. I would've also liked certain players tied down to longer contracts.


Overall: 7/10

Ultimately I was never going to be too disappointed as long as our squad is strong enough to achieve what I consider to be the minimum aim of survival, and as long as we didn't sell any prized assets. The squad should be strong enough to survive quite comfortably. At the end of the day if you compare our squad now to what it was just over a year ago, it makes fantastic reading.

But at the same time we've missed an opportunity to build on our momentum and capitalise on having the best manager we've had for decades. A few quality additions could've possibly seen us challenge for the top 6. And given the £6m or so we received from the sell on clauses, we had every reason to expect more investment in the team. But for whatever reason, that hasn't happened.

 

[PeteBlade]

A rational, reasoned argument about our transfer window that doesn't talk about having 'no ambition', being 'tinpot' or that 'the board must step down'.

A refreshing read in the last 12 hours, 8/10, would read again and recommend to a friend.

 

[Roygbiv]

6/10.

Biggest 3 things for me

1. Keeping hold of Brooks, Fleck, Coutts and O Connell

2. Having real depth at centre half , a position I felt needed the most work

3. The wing backs. 2 players for either side that won't cause any distribution to the team whoever plays

Negatives

1. The lack of pace issue not being resolved

2. Not enough players brought in that will jump straight into the first 11. That said I do think the players who got us up deserve a chance to prove themselves at this level

3.That nagging feeling that a couple of more quality players for decent fees could have really seen us kick on. I'm happy with the squad in terms of survival but if we had pushed the boat out just that bit more I think things could have got really exciting.

 

[Lee Baxter]

Pretty much exactly where I stand on it, although depending on our fortunes with injuries I might be inclined to rate it slightly lower.

I feel like we've got good coverage all over the park save two positions - a back up for Coutts/Fleck & a striker who can replace Billy's goals in case of an injury. Donaldson has a solid record at championship level so that definitely helps but I do think we could still come unstuck if we have a little bad luck. I'd also have loved for us to add that extra dimension to our game with a pacey option but that wasn't to be. Hopefully Donaldson still has a bit of that in the tank.

And for the record, I'm not writing Lundstram off. He could arguably back up Coutts if he can adjust to the speed/pressing nature of the championship quickly but I'm not sure we have a player in our squad who can back up what Fleck brings to the table. Fingers crossed these potential selection headaches never see the light of day.

 

[Grizzly blade]

As Pete said.

We were 2 good strikers awayfrom a 10/10. Early to say how they will all fare I suppose, but adding 2 quality strikers would be the difference between mid to lower half and top half.

January could be interesting. We have money, it's been offered to clubs on several players. How much....I don't know. Possibly up to £6m...or as low as £2m. But I would hope that Mitchell, Wilder, Knill and the board will be working exceptionally hard to find the strikers that fit the budget, and will have done the work needed to ensure they go through very early in January.

 

[Ricky]

There are some positives to the negatives. Brooks will now play a lot between now and January. The midfield door isn't closed on Whiteman, who could be a big player for us. And there's more scope for us to add to the squad in January, when money should be available - with 2 or 3 more signings it might have been hard to make space for signings.

 

[Lee Baxter]

There are some positives to the negatives. Brooks will now play a lot between now and January. The midfield door isn't closed on Whiteman, who could be a big player for us. And there's more scope for us to add to the squad in January, when money should be available - with 2 or 3 more signings it might have been hard to make space for signings.

I always forget about Ben. How's he doing on loan so far? I read he did great in that first match but haven't heard any more about his spell. Would be great if he can provide coverage in central midfield come January.

 

[Jon P]

There are some positives to the negatives. Brooks will now play a lot between now and January. The midfield door isn't closed on Whiteman, who could be a big player for us. And there's more scope for us to add to the squad in January, when money should be available - with 2 or 3 more signings it might have been hard to make space for signings.

RE Brooks - I do hope he plays, which I know puts him on the market, but we were so tentative with Che and he still left. Brooks will be on his bike within 12 months, let's get most of him until then. He's the only pace we have.

 

[Foody]

I also think out transfer dealings prove something about this modern world. Supposedly you can't get good players without spending a fortune. Yet I feel we have built a very decent defence and midfield for very little money. However, goal scorers really do cost money. Upfront we are really lacking in quality, disappointed that we are so reliant upon Sharp.

Overall though it's still a decent window, the defensive additions have been excellent. Last season's midfield looks like it can compete, But now has more competition for places. If we'd only signed a good partner for Sharp and a pacey loan player I'd be really happy. The one saving grace is that we aren't reliant upon loan players.

 

[Dkc]

I agree, keeping Brooks is the biggest plus of this window. Hope he keeps fit and starts every game.

 

[FTPE]

A ball winning midfielder and that illusive pacey striker away from 9/10
Id put us at 7/10. A few squad players and a couple of good solid additions too.
You can't put a price on NOT selling our better players though, you'd think last season would secure our top players but that's not always the case.

 

[Sheffsteel]

I've rated it 6 out of 10

It's been OK but it's a shame we couldn't do better.
Think the defence and midfield is fine, however we're too reliant on Bill Sharp.
We need more attacking options, however it might mean young Brooks gets a chance up front.

The positives are we've kept all our best players
Bought in an experienced decent Championship striker.
Wilder is dissapointed but accepts that the board are backing him, vital to make sure CW feels supported.
Also its looks a certainty that we'll stay up

Was dreaming we might sneak into the play-offs but I really doubt that's possible now.

 

[chipsncake]

Listen to Chris, overall he's unhappy and would probably give it a 4 or 5.

 

[yorkshirecoast]

The big positive is keeping hold of Brooks - who looks quality. We are a decent passing team but lack players with the skill and pace to beat an opponent (although Duffy can do this when on song). Brooks is very difficult to stop when he runs at his opponent and I hope he is given more playing time.

It's disappointing we have not brought in more quality - I would have preferred fewer incomings but of higher quality. Many of those signed look more like squad players than regular first teamers. The fact we weren't able to bring in many of our top targets - even though they would only have commanded modest fees - is particularly disappointing. This suggests much of the Walker and Maguire money was not made available to CW, which is astonishing.

 

[Benny and the Blades]

How do you rate players you haven't seen play yet ?

 

[IOM Blade]

5/10. We haven't improved the first team from last season. Stevens has looked a slight improvement on Lafferty the last couple of games, but that's about it.

 

[Alfreton14Blade]

We've been more a Burton Albion, rather than a Birmingham City.

Which, all things considered, I'd much rather us be. Let the S6 lot keep the mantle of the soulless BCFC type.

Still disappointed we didn't gamble (earlier in the window) on Cole, and that we didn't bid high enough for Leonard. But we've got more than plenty to be happy about right now.

 

[Jim Chimmerney]

Haven't lost any key players, strengthened the defence, kept hold of Brookes, just short of a couple of quality attacking players, it's a 7 1/2 from me, clapped up to an 8

 

[Harry's Game]

6 (verging) 7 out of 10.

We have had considerably worse ones since blowing the parachute payments ten years ago, but somewhat disappointing in the creative departments of the squad,

If all our current first choices in midfield and up front stay fit we should get away with it,

No one important was sold is the big plus.

 

[Ferenc Blade]

10/10

10 in, all good, cant see the problem

Buy in Jan if we need to.

 

[Stretch]

7/10

 

[8lade]

5/10, some in some out nowt to get excited about until:
Heneghan becomes one of those centre halves who scores a goal every 3 games from headers at set pieces (yeah I've looked he doesn't do it!)
Donaldson becomes a 20 goal a season player for the first time in 5 years (fair play I think the chances will be there for him)
Brayford has a blinder against us (if that happens we send Brooks down that side).

 

[Enigmatic]

Thinking back to just over a year ago and seeing the progress we've made in just 3 transfer windows is nothing short of incredible. We now have a competitive, well balanced squad with plenty of depth. It's easy to be disappointed that we couldn't get those quality players (and importantly, pace) over the line last night... I was too. But on reflection it's been another great window for us... and no first team or promising players have been sold!

The real hard work to the squad has been done, and we now have a platform upon which we can add the quality we need to compete at the higher levels of this division. I expect that to start in January, where I have no doubt Wilder will bring in 2-3 quality signings, and next summer we will have a chance to bring in a few more with the added bonus of not upsetting the team spirit too much. I have a good feeling about next year and beyond.

8/10.

 

[anglian blade]

Unlike almost every other club including the big Premier League ones we have retained everyone we want and bought in some good additions and still some people rate it 1. Maybe these ought to be told the window opened in June, not this week.

 

[drinksmat]

The transfer window was the whole Summer, not just the last 48 hours. We have a stronger team than the one that finished last season, kept the players that most wanted to remain at the club and offloaded some players. Nothing bad here.

We have had far worse summers in recent years - frequently delayed by the need to find a new manager before anything could even start. Anyone miss them days?

 

[Hodgyman]

10 out of 10 for not selling our best players
7 out of 10 for the players signed (until I see them play)
10 out of 10 for Chris' efforts but let down by agents and sellers unrealistic demands

 

[west_yorks_blade]

I largely agree with Ricky's assessment and rate it a 6 overall.

My only quibble is that Ricky hates fax machine jokes, whilst I find them hilarious.

 

[Bladesman]

5/10 kept our decent players but went after targets that were far from first choice and have not addressed the glaring lack of pace in this squad.

 

[allypallyblade]

I've said 6 but reckon we'll do a bit when loans open. Also looking for some of last season's goalscorers to get going in next few games.

 

[Willie Carlin]

When's next window start!!