Toughest window in a long time that one.

[Mojo]

Our transfer window:

 

[Bladezz]

I’m sure the bedwetters and lovetohaters will be in the wings with stones in hands really to have a pop and listen you are entitled to have an opinion, just like I am entitled to have mine. We don’t have to agree with each others opinions, but don’t make it personal with one and other.

That window was always going to be a tough one, but in hindsight with the window shut, we have achieved a great deal.

This squad had a core that have been fruitful and had achieved former success for us, but it was aging and the cracks were well and truly showing. Our owner self admittedly couldn’t really afford to overhaul things, so he kept the core in tact and papered over the cracks with some pretty decent loans and a few questionable signings and hoped to for the best.

Contracts were expiring and as widely documented on here, a good few players were heading out of the door. For what it is worth, a large percentage were the right moves, whilst a couple I am sure we would have liked to have remained.

In terms of acquisitions and replacements, we’ve mopped up some of the finest talent in the EFL. The business was swift and the thought processes behind all of the players coming in are evident to see. I personally believe that we have probably assembled the most talented midfield in the clubs history on paper and if it comes together.

With everything going on behind the scenes, we have to be appreciative and congratulate all concerned for ensuring that we recruited the quality to ensure that we are competitive until the transition of the club takes shape.

We all have opinions of what else we should have potentially tried to do before the window closed, I like most would have liked another striker in through the door. We are a little light still, but the core is still fantastic and still carry us well enough until January. We also have talent in abundance and potentially the opportunity to explore players in more advanced positions.

The youngsters breaking through are ambitious and have really gone for it in the last month or so to give themselves the opportunity. Brooks and Peck have been stand out, others around them are taking not and are upping their game. I’m not saying the are ready, but having them in the fringes and giving them the opportunity as and when we can surely won’t hurt them in the long run.

Now let’s get this takeover stuff sorted so that we can concentrate solely on being a football club again. The transition has started, we have no option but to buy into it and support the team in the same respect that we always do.

UTB!

We had 2 loan spots and didn’t use them. That’s just stupid whichever you look at it.

It’s a relatively cheap alternative and has produced us our best results over the years. We should have used them it will cost us. Just how much we don’t know.

 

[nopigfansintown]

We spent fuck all on arrival in the PL last summer , losing our best 2 players in the process and duly went down.
We are receiving parachute payments which puts us in a better position than most of our Championship rivals.
And yet we have a striking dept barely worth the name.
A 3 year contract to a 32yr old , an unfit Stoke reject and Brewster.
We have two empty loan slots , sold Trusty and let Slimane out , but didn't manage to loan a striker who went to Stoke feckin City.
Yes , I would say that's negligent management.
What happens when our 6'5" striker - the big bloke around whom we've designed our shape - gets injured ?
Do we have a replacement in the building ? NO.
We have Campbell & Brewster , neither of whom are anything like Moore.
The former is unfit , the latter is made of biscuits and neither has ever played as a lone striker.
A few days ago Wilder was talking about using the remaining loan slots and that was before the two outgoings today.
What the actual fuck ?
It doesn't take much to spot our Achilles heel this season.
And it's not asking a lot to bring in one line-leading striker on loan.
Lack of firepower could well undo all the other good recruitment.

Extrapolating further (which we surely must do if we aren't a promotion favourite this year):

JRS, Gilchrist and Souttar aren't ours. In terms of permanents we are therefore weaker up front, in central defence and in midfield. We have strengthened at left back, goalkeeper and the ten position (O'Hare).

We've failed to move our biggest depreciating asset (Anel) on this widow (two years on his deal). We failed to keep the player we desperately needed to keep (Mcburnie).

I think our wing, forward and left centre back options are too weak to challenge this season. If we can stay in touch until January, get lucky with injuries, have youngsters step up and add the right players in the next window things can change

 

[Kozzy_is_my_Dad]

Clappers.

 

[cooperblade]

I'm the same. There isn't a player who has left who I wish was still here, including Baldock. We'll always have question marks over Osula's potential but he didn't really do anything for us other than run fast and shoot poorly wide/straight at the keeper. But £10mil is a bid we couldn't turn down and none of us on here thought we'd get anywhere near that for him, let alone make profit on Trusty.

I'm pleased that we got rid of some of last season's poor signings, who I thought we'd be stuck with. We sold Trusty and Traore, and Norwich's manager wanted to work with Slimane again. No complaints there.

If only we could have gotten rid of Grbic and Coulibaly too. They're the only remaining deadwood.

I think keeping McBurnie would've made an enormous difference. He'd have been perfect for the system we're playing now, would've been a significant upgrade at centre forward, could've covered a couple of spots and would've given us the option to occasionally bombard teams with two big lads up front.

Given there was no transfer fee involved, making him a reasonable offer when he wanted to stay seemed like a no brainer. Appreciate his availability hasn't been great but we've signed players this summer with questionable injury records and made moves that have made Brewster and RND important squad members so we're obviously confident that we can improve our record with injuries.

 

[Tony_Kaufman]

I think keeping McBurnie would've made an enormous difference. He'd have been perfect for the system we're playing now, would've been a significant upgrade at centre forward, could've covered a couple of spots and would've given us the option to occasionally bombard teams with two big lads up front.

Given there was no transfer fee involved, making him a reasonable offer when he wanted to stay seemed like a no brainer. Appreciate his availability hasn't been great but we've signed players this summer with questionable injury records and made moves that have made Brewster and RND important squad members so we're obviously confident that we can improve our record with injuries.

His recent interview confirmed that he wanted to leave. It had nothing to do with what we offered him. He wanted a change and a fresh challenge. There was nothing we could do to make him stay.

 

[Bladesince59]

But have we been taken over yet? Who is our new manager?

 

[Grizzly blade]

It feels like we’ve not quite finished the job to me.
We made some decent signings, the highlights of course being OHare on a free- wages etc may be high but he is a game changer.
Cooper- if injury issues are behind him and we get a full season is a great piece of business. I’m expecting a huge improvement in the keeper performance.

Burrows will be hit and miss, I think his success or failure will depend on his ability to manage the pressure and expectation of the step up from Peterborough.

Others have a whiff of risk about them, Campbell was hit and miss when fit, however we’ve picked up a very unfit version of him who’s going to be several weeks away. Plus when you talk of strikers they need game time to find form so I just don’t see him really getting going.

Shackleton and Mccullum were useful additions with experience, as was Moore.

Loans wise Souttar is the stand out and for me likely to be the most impactive of those we took on. Gilchrist will be up and down as he learns the role and faces some decent wide players.
Palace lad will be another who will need to manage expectation and pressure…with the hype that came with him I was expecting a Saka MKII…my expectations dropped after the Barnsley game but it was also his first game.

We’ve kept Hamer despite his numerous Leeds medical…Blaster too is of course a positive.

But it’s the lack of depth to cover injury and suspension that is the worry. We have little at the moment to turn to when we need changes mid game, or injuries bite.
RND is miles off the pace, all of the kids bar Peck won’t be entering games and making a positive impact, while Peck will get minutes here and there as games go on.
As others have said, all teams struggle with injuries to keep players but in our case the drop from ours to their replacements is huge.

We are going to need a miracle by recent standards in terms of injury prevention to remain competitive

 

[Greystones Blade]

Does anyone have a list of out-of-contract players who might be available? I think John Egan hasn’t got a club for example….

 

[BigBed]

GK Cooper - Davies - Grbic
RB Gilchrist - Seriki - Sachdev
CB Souttar - Anel
CB Robinson - Norrington
LB Burrows - McCallum - Boyes
CM Souza - Shackleton - Davies
CM Arblaster - Peck - Coulibaly
CAM Hamer - Marsh - Hampson
CAM O’Hare - Campbell
CAM RakSakyi - Brooks
ST Moore - Brewster - Oné

For me there’s not a better starting 11 in the division, and keeping that midfield 3 is fantastic business and it shouldn’t go unnoticed how hard it must’ve been to keep hold of them. Very happy with every signing we’ve made.

Unfortunately though, it’s clear that if we suffer an injury to the keeper, the centre backs, the midfielders or the striker then the quality would drop dramatically. It’s unfair to judge them on cup games as not playing with the other good players in the team. Moore would be a massive loss and at his age I’d be amazed if he goes all year with no injuries.

Bogle, Osula, Jebbison, Trusty leaving for a rough total of around 24m I think is great business, especially in a window that we knew we had to sell players.

For me I’m happy with the window, could’ve been better definitely, but couldn’t been a lot lot lot worse.

Our defence and attack look even worse when you put it down like that!
I'm disappointed Wilder didn't bring in a Trusty replacement and a Striker atleast, and I think that will bite us on the arse over the next few weeks.

 

[Sheffsteel]

Burrows Cooper and O'Hare, are good additions.
The first 11 will be decent but over the season with injuries and suspensions the overall squad will be tested I would have added a CB and a striker. For whatever reason we didn't get them.

Agree we were desperate for a striker and centre back so it’s amazing we didn’t resolve this. However think you’re understating our position.

Burrows was player of the season in league 1 whilst Cooper and O’Hare are underdress 2 of the best players in the Championship. All the right age too.

These were fantastic additions a lot better than “good”.

Also our 1st 11 isn’t “decent”, it’s up there as being the best first 11 in the whole league. We’ve already shown, PNE match and 1st half against QPR that when we click most of this league won’t be able to live with us.

The extreme positivity and the extreme negativity on this thread isn’t a surprise because both are true. It’s been the weirdest window I’ve ever known.

We’ve made so many impressive signings, the problem is we’ve not finished off our work. It’s as though the plug has been pulled right at the end so our squad building is incomplete.

As someone else said at least we’re on our way towards a great squad and maybe we’ll bring in several players in January.

The problem we might find tho is that if we fail to gain promotion next season then we might lose a Hamer or Arblaster next season.

 

[Mojo]

His recent interview confirmed that he wanted to leave. It had nothing to do with what we offered him. He wanted a change and a fresh challenge. There was nothing we could do to make him stay.

Only cause we faffed around for so long. Could have signed him up long before las palmas came in for him

 

[Sheffsteel]

His recent interview confirmed that he wanted to leave. It had nothing to do with what we offered him. He wanted a change and a fresh challenge. There was nothing we could do to make him stay.

McBurnie splits opinion and I’m still unsure if I rate him or not. At times he couldn’t trap a bag of cement and his main asset seemed to be his “nuisance value”.

However we’ve seen with our own eyes that some Premier league defenders struggled to handle him and he had the odd really effective game but he also had several really poor games too.

Also let’s not forget McBurnie had a bad injury record so it was still a risk to keep him. Still think he’s a good player to have in the squad tho because he’s different.

 

[cooperblade]

His recent interview confirmed that he wanted to leave. It had nothing to do with what we offered him. He wanted a change and a fresh challenge. There was nothing we could do to make him stay.

I don't believe he was telling the complete truth in whichever interview that was.

 

[Stretch]

Morning lads and lasses.

I was in transit to Rhodes overnight, so was offline for most of the 'drama' (in this case, meaning nothing happened). I haven't had time to scroll through all the posts this morning, so apologies if I am just re hashing what others have said, but here is my take.

This isn't the first time we have failed to get players through the door when we have needed them, and if I am sure of one thing, it won't be the last. Regardless of our recent success or failure, we just rarely seem to be the club that really smashes it in a transfer window. The lack of funds from our current owner and the delay in getting new owners into place, is just the latest in a long line of historic circumstances that often (but not always) seems to hold us back just enough from getting most of the things we need, never mind want.

There have been some really positive moves in this window. The squad badly needed pruning, and radically freshening up with younger players. Cooper, Soutar, McCallum, Burrows, Glichrist and Rak-Sakyi are all terrific signings, whilst Moore, Shackleton and Campbell should do a good job at this level if we can keep them fit. Combined with the inferior players we have let go, then Wilder & Co have almost achieved a complete re set in one window, which takes some doing. However the word "almost" doesn't quite do justice to the fact that we are still 4-5 players short of having a really competitive and resilient squad for circa 50 championship and FA cup games.

I particular the decision not to strengthen defence and attack could turnout to be downright negligent over the next 4 months, especially when we have let Osula and Trusty go for decent sums, and we could find ourselves literally limping into the January transfer window. More worrying for me however is that it seems to expose a railing back on the assurances given to Wilder, who seemed confident of getting a few more in before the deadline. Were the taps shut off again, with just hours left to strengthen the squad and with the takeover now seemingly done and dusted? Or was it more due to a poor transfer strategy, where we focused on too few targets but then could not match the offers from other clubs?

Frustrating and overall it's a 6/10 window for me. Better than average but just not enough quantity to match the quality we have signed. I suppose that one more positive to consider is that it gives the young lads more chances to develop. I have really liked the look of Sariki, Sachdev, Hampson, Marsh and One, so let's hope they can make a positive contribution and develop into proper matchday squad players.

Anyway, onto Watford. I intend to listen in (or watch if I can figure out how over here) with a fat Cuban cigar and a very cold beverage, whilst trying to avoid the worst of the sun. I am not built for this weather, but the wife insists on dragging me abroad once a year.

UTB

 

[Tony_Kaufman]

I don't believe he was telling the complete truth in whichever interview that was.

He was out of contract so why lie?

 

[Booker4]

I’m sure the bedwetters and lovetohaters will be in the wings with stones in hands really to have a pop and listen you are entitled to have an opinion, just like I am entitled to have mine. We don’t have to agree with each others opinions, but don’t make it personal with one and other.

That window was always going to be a tough one, but in hindsight with the window shut, we have achieved a great deal.

This squad had a core that have been fruitful and had achieved former success for us, but it was aging and the cracks were well and truly showing. Our owner self admittedly couldn’t really afford to overhaul things, so he kept the core in tact and papered over the cracks with some pretty decent loans and a few questionable signings and hoped to for the best.

Contracts were expiring and as widely documented on here, a good few players were heading out of the door. For what it is worth, a large percentage were the right moves, whilst a couple I am sure we would have liked to have remained.

In terms of acquisitions and replacements, we’ve mopped up some of the finest talent in the EFL. The business was swift and the thought processes behind all of the players coming in are evident to see. I personally believe that we have probably assembled the most talented midfield in the clubs history on paper and if it comes together.

With everything going on behind the scenes, we have to be appreciative and congratulate all concerned for ensuring that we recruited the quality to ensure that we are competitive until the transition of the club takes shape.

We all have opinions of what else we should have potentially tried to do before the window closed, I like most would have liked another striker in through the door. We are a little light still, but the core is still fantastic and still carry us well enough until January. We also have talent in abundance and potentially the opportunity to explore players in more advanced positions.

The youngsters breaking through are ambitious and have really gone for it in the last month or so to give themselves the opportunity. Brooks and Peck have been stand out, others around them are taking not and are upping their game. I’m not saying the are ready, but having them in the fringes and giving them the opportunity as and when we can surely won’t hurt them in the long run.

Now let’s get this takeover stuff sorted so that we can concentrate solely on being a football club again. The transition has started, we have no option but to buy into it and support the team in the same respect that we always do.

UTB!

I agree with most of what you have said but with this new formation I would argue we only have one striker who can play the lone striker role and that's obviously Moore. So if Moore gets injured I would say we'll have to change formation to allow for two forwards such as Campbell and Brewster but both would benefit from playing with moore or to play in behind rather than together.

So in essence the lack of suitable alternatives to Moore is going to be a real problem if Moore is injured or suspended.

I'd like to know why we've been unable to bring in anyone this week when our rivals Leeds and Burnley have significantly strengthened their team and we've just weakened our squad depth. Very disappointed in that but rather typical of previous ends to transfer windows.

 

[Keen Blade]

All we had to do to give ourselves a shot at promotion was to get competition/cover for Moore.
If we don't get promotion this season our chances in the future are much diminished due to finances.
So I can't understand why we didn't.

 

[ghandi]

I’m sure the bedwetters and lovetohaters will be in the wings with stones in hands really to have a pop and listen you are entitled to have an opinion, just like I am entitled to have mine. We don’t have to agree with each others opinions, but don’t make it personal with one and other.

That window was always going to be a tough one, but in hindsight with the window shut, we have achieved a great deal.

This squad had a core that have been fruitful and had achieved former success for us, but it was aging and the cracks were well and truly showing. Our owner self admittedly couldn’t really afford to overhaul things, so he kept the core in tact and papered over the cracks with some pretty decent loans and a few questionable signings and hoped to for the best.

Contracts were expiring and as widely documented on here, a good few players were heading out of the door. For what it is worth, a large percentage were the right moves, whilst a couple I am sure we would have liked to have remained.

In terms of acquisitions and replacements, we’ve mopped up some of the finest talent in the EFL. The business was swift and the thought processes behind all of the players coming in are evident to see. I personally believe that we have probably assembled the most talented midfield in the clubs history on paper and if it comes together.

With everything going on behind the scenes, we have to be appreciative and congratulate all concerned for ensuring that we recruited the quality to ensure that we are competitive until the transition of the club takes shape.

We all have opinions of what else we should have potentially tried to do before the window closed, I like most would have liked another striker in through the door. We are a little light still, but the core is still fantastic and still carry us well enough until January. We also have talent in abundance and potentially the opportunity to explore players in more advanced positions.

The youngsters breaking through are ambitious and have really gone for it in the last month or so to give themselves the opportunity. Brooks and Peck have been stand out, others around them are taking not and are upping their game. I’m not saying the are ready, but having them in the fringes and giving them the opportunity as and when we can surely won’t hurt them in the long run.

Now let’s get this takeover stuff sorted so that we can concentrate solely on being a football club again. The transition has started, we have no option but to buy into it and support the team in the same respect that we always do.

UTB!

I suggest you stop taking the pigs go to medication of deludamol.

 

[Berkshire Blade]

We've had 500 million in TV money plus more via other sources and we have a much more flawed squad than post league one promotion.



Thanks Prince!

 

[mattbianco1]

The fact we still have Anel, Souza, Hamer and Arblaster is quite fantastic. That means its a good one.

Other teams will be envious of us

 

[Nagima]

Agree we were desperate for a striker and centre back so it’s amazing we didn’t resolve this. However think you’re understating our position.

Burrows was player of the season in league 1 whilst Cooper and O’Hare are underdress 2 of the best players in the Championship. All the right age too.

These were fantastic additions a lot better than “good”.

Also our 1st 11 isn’t “decent”, it’s up there as being the best first 11 in the whole league. We’ve already shown, PNE match and 1st half against QPR that when we click most of this league won’t be able to live with us.

The extreme positivity and the extreme negativity on this thread isn’t a surprise because both are true. It’s been the weirdest window I’ve ever known.

We’ve made so many impressive signings, the problem is we’ve not finished off our work. It’s as though the plug

I would wait a little longer before claiming our first 11 is up there with the best in the whole league. Souza Burrows Hamer Cooper O'Hare and Anel if his head is right I can agree with you.

Souttar Gilchrist Brooks RNB are not yet at that level.

Striker options of Moore, Campbell and Brewster are no where near good enough for a team to challenge for the top spot of the league. QPR and PNE will struggle this season. When we get to 10 games we will have a better picture on how good we really are.

 

[Overthehills]

I suggest you stop taking the pigs go to medication of deludamol.

I suggest ChatGPT in order to receive assistance in forming a sentence. I’m dyslexic and seem to manage much better than you. If you feel the need to insult in order to feel better about yourself, at least do it right you chode.

 

[ghandi]

I suggest ChatGPT in order to receive assistance in forming a sentence. I’m dyslexic and seem to manage much better than you. If you feel the need to insult in order to feel better about yourself, at least do it right you chode.

I think you need to lighten up.

 

[dexter101]

Only cause we faffed around for so long. Could have signed him up long before las palmas came in for him

Potentially but last summer going into the PL, how many of us would have been over the moon with offering mcburnie a big, long term contract...

I think we may have been very realistic in what we offered contract wise and if it isn't what the player wants then it's no ones fault, just doesn't happen.

It's all very well saying should have just done a year extension or something but there's also no way of knowing what the player is asking for.

 

[Overthehills]

I think you need to lighten up.

I think you need to look at yourself if you think it is okay to randomly throw insults at strangers for no apparent reason

 

[Flumps]

It's quite simple. We've made good signings but they won't be good enough for alot of people around here.

Windows closed but I think Leeds and Brighton are still swooping in on Haner and Arblaster. I'm not sure what time think to be honest. When have we not had a season that was basically 'make do with what we've got' but apparently this time round we're annoyed it's happened. I'm way too bored and way too tired of this constant fear our fans have. Just try and enjoy the bloody season and watch the football, concern yourself far less with what's going on in the background because we know absolutely piss all. Some of you lot will turn yourselves grey worrying about what you don't know.

 

[Tony_Kaufman]

Morning lads and lasses.

I was in transit to Rhodes overnight, so was offline for most of the 'drama' (in this case, meaning nothing happened). I haven't had time to scroll through all the posts this morning, so apologies if I am just re hashing what others have said, but here is my take.

This isn't the first time we have failed to get players through the door when we have needed them, and if I am sure of one thing, it won't be the last. Regardless of our recent success or failure, we just rarely seem to be the club that really smashes it in a transfer window. The lack of funds from our current owner and the delay in getting new owners into place, is just the latest in a long line of historic circumstances that often (but not always) seems to hold us back just enough from getting most of the things we need, never mind want.

There have been some really positive moves in this window. The squad badly needed pruning, and radically freshening up with younger players. Cooper, Soutar, McCallum, Burrows, Glichrist and Rak-Sakyi are all terrific signings, whilst Moore, Shackleton and Campbell should do a good job at this level if we can keep them fit. Combined with the inferior players we have let go, then Wilder & Co have almost achieved a complete re set in one window, which takes some doing. However the word "almost" doesn't quite do justice to the fact that we are still 4-5 players short of having a really competitive and resilient squad for circa 50 championship and FA cup games.

I particular the decision not to strengthen defence and attack could turnout to be downright negligent over the next 4 months, especially when we have let Osula and Trusty go for decent sums, and we could find ourselves literally limping into the January transfer window. More worrying for me however is that it seems to expose a railing back on the assurances given to Wilder, who seemed confident of getting a few more in before the deadline. Were the taps shut off again, with just hours left to strengthen the squad and with the takeover now seemingly done and dusted? Or was it more due to a poor transfer strategy, where we focused on too few targets but then could not match the offers from other clubs?

Frustrating and overall it's a 6/10 window for me. Better than average but just not enough quantity to match the quality we have signed. I suppose that one more positive to consider is that it gives the young lads more chances to develop. I have really liked the look of Sariki, Sachdev, Hampson, Marsh and One, so let's hope they can make a positive contribution and develop into proper matchday squad players.

Anyway, onto Watford. I intend to listen in (or watch if I can figure out how over here) with a fat Cuban cigar and a very cold beverage, whilst trying to avoid the worst of the sun. I am not built for this weather, but the wife insists on dragging me abroad once a year.

UTB

What will we miss in Osula and Trusty leaving? They were hardly going to be starters this season, and weren't exactly first teamers last season. £16mil for two fringe players is fabulous business. It's weakened the squad, not the first team as they were unlikely to start anyway. But that said, we've gained Campbell and Souttar/Gilchrist, all of whom have/will played for the first team.

 

[Lucky1979]

We had 2 loan spots and didn’t use them. That’s just stupid whichever you look at it.

Loan window from prem clubs is still open?

 

[Alex Cheeseright]

We spent fuck all on arrival in the PL last summer , losing our best 2 players in the process and duly went down.
We are receiving parachute payments which puts us in a better position than most of our Championship rivals.
And yet we have a striking dept barely worth the name.
A 3 year contract to a 32yr old , an unfit Stoke reject and Brewster.
We have two empty loan slots , sold Trusty and let Slimane out , but didn't manage to loan a striker who went to Stoke feckin City.
Yes , I would say that's negligent management.
What happens when our 6'5" striker - the big bloke around whom we've designed our shape - gets injured ?
Do we have a replacement in the building ? NO.
We have Campbell & Brewster , neither of whom are anything like Moore.
The former is unfit , the latter is made of biscuits and neither has ever played as a lone striker.
A few days ago Wilder was talking about using the remaining loan slots and that was before the two outgoings today.
What the actual fuck ?
It doesn't take much to spot our Achilles heel this season.
And it's not asking a lot to bring in one line-leading striker on loan.
Lack of firepower could well undo all the other good recruitment.

I've been saying that we are a few injuries away from our season going downhill fast. If we have one or two injuries we'll be okay top 6. Five or six plus we are starring at the bottom 3.