Summer Transfer Window 2025 Thread

[Bally1989]

Isn't it amazing how some people are so quick to defend incompetence?

Our window, so far, has been a massive failure. That can change - but it's not certain that it will given our history of ignoring the right side for so long, whether it be a replacement for Coleman or a winger.

Skepticism should be the default - until proven otherwise. Lose on Monday night, and this place will go up like a tinder box. That won't be "bed-wetting" - that will be the inevitable result of justified frustration at the inadequate performance of the "competent professionals" running the club.

We're way behind where we needed to be (and expected to be) even allowing for the reality that one window was never going to solve all of our issues. We've barely scratched the surface, and the Grealish deal is looking like an act of temporary appeasement with each passing non-event of a transfer window day.

Superb post.

 

[Zatara]

Belief isn’t evidence. Belief isn’t fact. Belief is prejudice and wishful thinking, often dressed up in mumbo jumbo. You are better than this speculative agenda Zat. Conspiracy theories are for Davek

If you like i could write it in a Rafael-Facts format?

Theres no conspiracy theory here, Moyes, Hammond and Kinnear have failed this window.

How else would you put it other than factually?

Playing newly promoted clubs away at the very start of the season u
Is never easy

I don't know where the idea is coming from that this is an easy game for us.

If it is seen that way naively imo by some it is because of the work of DM from February to May of last season.

The window has been such a mess that to encourage any signings on the fence the team has to win games now.

Thats what its come down to.

Leeds, Brighton and Wolves have to be good results.

If not then 3 things will happen:

1: Fans will question why the window has been a mess and that its impacted the start of the season

2: Players holding out for better offers will look at the results and may hold out until the next window.

3: The owners will wonder why £93mil in transfer fees has been spent to back a manager on a short term contract with the expectation he delivers.

Dont think it is an easy game but still think we have enough to win, why i want to start grealish have him and ndiaye both sides.

The players selected will be interesting.

Personally, I wouldnt start any of the new signings aside from Alcaraz.

 

[Bally1989]

Why can’t people deal with the truth and facts why defend a football club that’s constantly let us down?

Why not ask for better.

Do likes in the internet do it for you or is it deeper that if you admitted the facts that would mean you might have to do something other than happy clap?

Will that make you feel like a “kopite” what is it?

 

[MaximusEvertonius]

I’d 100% start KDH and Grealish.

 

[Rita_Poon]

Not saying this will happen but really hope this stupid PL experience mantra doesn't mean we don't consider any alternatives from abroad if we don't budge on Dibling. Just seems we're backing ourselves into a corner with that combo of approaches.

Barry
Alcaraz
Aznou
2 English speaking keepers, a CM from chelsea formerly of leicester, and a loan from city.

Some of the support take things a little to literal without looking at the total picture.

 

[mikel_88]

I think Juventus were always signing Conceicao. They werent getting a better player for €30mil and 3 months ago i believe it was in the media that they were in talks to proceed.

This recruitment committee is Hammond, Kinnear and Moyes.

Hammond seemingly fails to do the deals
Moyes fails to provide realistic targets
Kinnear fails to sign off the funds

Clearly Moyes works with the scouts, his contacts and suchlike and proposes the players to the other 2.

So far its been a failure and for months some of us have been saying:

1: Not to have Moyes in control of recruitment
2: To keep Thelwell
3: Why is Hammond joining

Id love to have been wrong but the window has been an utter shambles.

This reminds be of the famous Koeman window.



You seem to be obsessed with other people. Perhaps try to read a book or take a course.



We know there are 3 people in the committee. Him, Hammond and Kinnear.

How did managers sign players for many years? They work with scouting teams, as Thelwell will have also done.




I actually think that was a brilliant target and may still be achievable.

But we were only ever going to get him for a big fee and big wages.

This would be a major coup but its one that we'd have had a chance with.

Turned down forest earlier in the window because want champions league football. Will agree is poor from the recruitment team, just cant agree on conceicao. Just dont think we have a chance think he will happily sit out this year at lyon then look to impress at the world cup and get a move. Both deals might have been unrealistic but sometimes have to take a chance, same with delap. Is just about making sure have other players targeted

 

[mikel_88]

If you like i could write it in a Rafael-Facts format?

Theres no conspiracy theory here, Moyes, Hammond and Kinnear have failed this window.

How else would you put it other than factually?



The window has been such a mess that to encourage any signings on the fence the team has to win games now.

Thats what its come down to.

Leeds, Brighton and Wolves have to be good results.

If not then 3 things will happen:

1: Fans will question why the window has been a mess and that its impacted the start of the season

2: Players holding out for better offers will look at the results and may hold out until the next window.

3: The owners will wonder why £93mil in transfer fees has been spent to back a manager on a short term contract with the expectation he delivers.



The players selected will be interesting.

Personally, I wouldnt start any of the new signings aside from Alcaraz.

If fit grealish has to start as is levels above anything we have, kdh id agrue at this moment better than alcaraz. Then well beto/barry is a flip of a coin would prob go better cos of experience. But have to see more to be convinced

 

[GoldenToffee]

I’d 100% start KDH and Grealish.

Yes—he will. There are 10 names guaranteed to start:

Pickford, O'Brien, Keane, Tarkowski, Garner, Gueye, Dewsbury-Hall, Ndiaye, Grealish, Barry.

The only question is whether Mykolenko is fit or Aznou starts.

 

[MaximusEvertonius]

I rate Alcaraz. But just the sample size of Kiernan was enough to convince me he’s the starter with Charly as the backup.

 

[toffee66]

If you like i could write it in a Rafael-Facts format?

Theres no conspiracy theory here, Moyes, Hammond and Kinnear have failed this window.

How else would you put it other than factually?

If you’d tried to only make that argument rather than throwing about speculative stuff about Moyes giving Hammond impossible tasks etc. I would have met you half way and conceded where we are going into the Leeds game is sub-optimal.

FWIW if you ask Leeds fans about Hammond then in their opinion (opinion not fact, hence this caveat) he has previous for ‘over-negotiating” and prolonging or killing deals so the “blame”, as that seemed to be what you were going for rather than understanding, is certainly shared across those three and more.

Not being able to keep Thelwell/not having the full recruitment team in place in time for this window cannot have helped but how much it has hindered we do not know. It definitely means both Kinnear and the owners will figure in the post window review that is done at every top club.

Hopefully lessons get learned. Hopefully a few weaknesses get fixed in the next 15 days. I think we can agree on that.

 

[NeilMorepies]

We don’t ask for much.
At least one competent player for each position on the pitch..

Not we have 4goalies and a third of the squad playing in one position on the left wing.

 

[hetion]

Yes—he will. There are 10 names guaranteed to start:

Pickford, O'Brien, Keane, Tarkowski, Garner, Gueye, Dewsbury-Hall, Ndiaye, Grealish, Barry.

The only question is whether Mykolenko is fit or Aznou starts.

I'm actually not sure he starts Barry. Sounds a bit like he wants him to work to take Beto's place

 

[Zatara]

I’d 100% start KDH and Grealish.

I wouldnt

If fit grealish has to start as is levels above anything we have, kdh id agrue at this moment better than alcaraz. Then well beto/barry is a flip of a coin would prob go better cos of experience. But have to see more to be convinced

KDH is not better than Alcaraz either on the transition or as a 10. He is better as a left sided 8 where Gana plays.

I'd have Beto start as he knows the league and Barry will need time to adapt.

Grealish id bring off the bench depending on how the game was going as i dont think hes had any preseason games.

I rate Alcaraz. But just the sample size of Kiernan was enough to convince me he’s the starter with Charly as the backup.

I think people have gone massively overboard on KDH in the 10 position in one match. Im not sure why.

He needs to play deeper as he is best with people ahead of him.

If you’d tried to only make that argument rather than throwing about speculative stuff about Moyes giving Hammond impossible tasks etc. I would have met you half way and conceded where we are going into the Leeds game is sub-optimal.

FWIW if you ask Leeds fans about Hammond then in their opinion (opinion not fact, hence this caveat) he has previous for ‘over-negotiating” and prolonging or killing deals so the “blame”, as that seemed to be what you were going for rather than understanding, is certainly shared across those three and more.

Not being able to keep Thelwell/not having the full recruitment team in place in time for this window cannot have helped but how much it has hindered we do not know. It definitely means both Kinnear and the owners will figure in the post window review that is done at every top club.

Hopefully lessons get learned. Hopefully a few weaknesses get fixed in the next 15 days. I think we can agree on that.

I think the part you've not addressed is that it is almost certain Moyes is the one who pushed to have a significant say in recruitment and has form for this at his previous clubs, as well as significant failure over a decade.

 

[GoldenToffee]

I rate Alcaraz. But just the sample size of Kiernan was enough to convince me he’s the starter with Charly as the backup.

Alcaraz hasn't really done anything exceptional yet to earn a start, and especially now since we have both Grealish and Ndiaye whose best two positions are both left wing or number 10... doesn't really leave any room for poor Carlitos who can really only play in number 10 role.

Dewsbury-Hall is more or less guaranteed to start every time he is fit, deffo. Much more rounded player than Alcaraz and better in virtually all aspects of the game.

I think Alcaraz would be a liability played deeper or shifted to the wing.

He's still young, can develop more and will anyhow get plenty of games this season as we always love picking up serious injuries early into the season which keep key players out for months.

 

[ObiWanIwobi]

Appreciating that this is a forum and everyone is fully entitled to their own opinions, but I find some of the poster’s on here truly exhausting.