Take a step back....

[Barmyblade]

If we look at the summer transfer window (from the start), we have brought in 10 players - being a goalkeeper (Jamal), 3 centre backs (Stearman, CCV and Heneghan), a wing back for each side (Enda and Baldock), a centre mid (Lundstrom), an attacking mid/winger (Thomas) and 2 centre forwards (Ched and Donaldson). As at this stage last year, these are a mix of age, experiences, permanents and loans. More importantly perhjaps, we haven't lost anyone we didn't want and expect to lose (unlike some previous years), and have all our star players from last year, and youngsters coming through.

Anyone expecting to do multiple deals on deadline day is asking for trouble (especially with agent's corrupt agendas) and merely demonstrates a failed summer campaign and bad planning. Think how Jose must have been sat on his sofa last night with a fine glass of red, laughing at Chelsea and Spurs floundering around to buy overpriced second choices (Drinkwater for Matic astounds me!).

There are perhaps four reasons to sign someone late in the window:
1. Long term injuries to key squad members late in August (such as Lavery and perhaps Stearman) - which may be explains yesterday's movements;
2. A bargain becoming available due to the seller's clubs circumstances (perhaps Lafferty last year being an example);
3. Accepting an unrefusably large bid for a key player late on deadline day - requiring a replacement to be sought (a trap we have fallen into before when unable to find such a replacement);
4. Signing a young loan player from a Premier League club - as you have to wait for most dealings to occur before those clubs decide who may be available (for me the most frustrating aspect of yesterday was not tyingup another PL loanee).

All clubs - no matter how large and influential - suffer from the problems on deadline day - which is why it is prudent generally not to wait (and our early recruitment shows that generally we didn't). Fleetwood agreed a deal for Cole dependent on them signing a replacement - which they couldn't do - so the deal didn't proceed. Just as Man City agreed a deal for Sanchez on condition Arsenal signed a replacement - which failed for the same reason.

For me Birmingham City's approach (being Harry's usual) is very unattractive, and merely excites the short term fans - with little thought for the long term (or even mid term). For example, I would rather keep Brooks and see how he develops, than break the bank to sign Jota (who is a fine player) on big wages, breaking our wage structure and threatening our single most positive attribute - our team spirit.

Would I have liked us to sign another pacy attacker (for me, Sinclair rather than Cole) then absolutely - although a ball winning midfielder appears more necessary (although Fleck's awesome tackle on Saturday maybe suggests not!). But do I think we have done well over the whole window - then too right.

 

[Need4speed]

Absolutely - couldn't agree more
I think that there was also an element of the bandwagon getting too complicated and fees and wages getting ridiculous.
Clubs are so intent on getting replacements in they won't sell unless at the inflated prices that will cover the inflated price of the replacement
Wages have gone daft and clubs probably are worried about their structure and the effect on the dressing room
You only have to look at our business - we had to essentially give Brayford away, Hanson didn't go and Donaldson was probably just Harry trying to save wages having been the only manager yesterday to spunk money We know what will happen there and does he care.

 

[Bladeinleeds]

If we look at the summer transfer window (from the start), we have brought in 10 players - being a goalkeeper (Jamal), 3 centre backs (Stearman, CCV and Heneghan), a wing back for each side (Enda and Baldock), a centre mid (Lundstrom), an attacking mid/winger (Thomas) and 2 centre forwards (Ched and Donaldson). As at this stage last year, these are a mix of age, experiences, permanents and loans. More importantly perhjaps, we haven't lost anyone we didn't want and expect to lose (unlike some previous years), and have all our star players from last year, and youngsters coming through.

Anyone expecting to do multiple deals on deadline day is asking for trouble (especially with agent's corrupt agendas) and merely demonstrates a failed summer campaign and bad planning. Think how Jose must have been sat on his sofa last night with a fine glass of red, laughing at Chelsea and Spurs floundering around to buy overpriced second choices (Drinkwater for Matic astounds me!).

There are perhaps four reasons to sign someone late in the window:
1. Long term injuries to key squad members late in August (such as Lavery and perhaps Stearman) - which may be explains yesterday's movements;
2. A bargain becoming available due to the seller's clubs circumstances (perhaps Lafferty last year being an example);
3. Accepting an unrefusably large bid for a key player late on deadline day - requiring a replacement to be sought (a trap we have fallen into before when unable to find such a replacement);
4. Signing a young loan player from a Premier League club - as you have to wait for most dealings to occur before those clubs decide who may be available (for me the most frustrating aspect of yesterday was not tyingup another PL loanee).

All clubs - no matter how large and influential - suffer from the problems on deadline day - which is why it is prudent generally not to wait (and our early recruitment shows that generally we didn't). Fleetwood agreed a deal for Cole dependent on them signing a replacement - which they couldn't do - so the deal didn't proceed. Just as Man City agreed a deal for Sanchez on condition Arsenal signed a replacement - which failed for the same reason.

For me Birmingham City's approach (being Harry's usual) is very unattractive, and merely excites the short term fans - with little thought for the long term (or even mid term). For example, I would rather keep Brooks and see how he develops, than break the bank to sign Jota (who is a fine player) on big wages, breaking our wage structure and threatening our single most positive attribute - our team spirit.

Would I have liked us to sign another pacy attacker (for me, Sinclair rather than Cole) then absolutely - although a ball winning midfielder appears more necessary (although Fleck's awesome tackle on Saturday maybe suggests not!). But do I think we have done well over the whole window - then too right.

To me - the signing of the additional centreback means basham is earmarked for CM in the games where we want some presence in there. But obviously we stand a better chance of controlling games with coutts and fleck.

Imo we were one pacy forward away from a really strong window. Shame we couldn't get that done really as it's an obvious gap and one wilder wanted to address