Summer Transfer Window 2019

[JimmyK]

For the 10% of fans on here who reckon we had a poor window I have one question. What the hell were you expecting from the window.

We went into the summer knowing that we needed to improve the squad in 5 positions. Striker, wide forward, centre midfield, central defence and a back up right back as cover for Seamus. The task was made harder when it became apparent that Gueye also wanted to leave. Replacing Gueye with an exact like for like was impossible as he is one of the 2 best in the world at what he does.

We ended up bringing in 3 quality centre midfielders and lost 1. We brought in possibly the best young striker in Europe after Mbappe. We brought in a wide man who gives us options on either wing and also as cover for Siggy. We brought in a right back who was a world cup winner 12 months ago but is recovering from injury. The only position we haven't covered out of all our targets was centre back.

How on earth does fulfilling 4 of our 5 objectives equate to a poor window?

But let's look more closely at the centre back situation, and compare ourselves to the teams I believe we are in competition with for 4th spot. We have Mina & Keane as first choice with Mason Holgate as back up. We also have Gbamin who can play there, and then we have a very good prospect in Lewis Gibson, should we have an injury crisis. For me, Mina and Keane does not weaken our starting XI from last season, but it would have been good to have another of similar quality to cover/rotate.

But what about our competition?. Chelsea are the one team that has decent cover there, ironically at our expenses as we were unable to bring in either Zouma or Tomori. Arsenal have Mustafi, Sokratis and Luiz as their main 3 with the young lad Holding as back up. Anybody want any of them?. United have Maguire and Bailly (who is injured longish term) and Lindelof as their main 3. Their back ups are Smalling, Jones and Rojo, and I think it's safe to assume from the last 2 days that we donlt want any of their back ups. Leicester have first choice of Evans and Morgan with Soyuncu as back up. After that they're into the kids. Wolves have Coady and Boly as starters with a young lad from Madrid on loan as back up. Even when you look at City, get past ther starters and you have Otomendi and Mangala as back up. Takers anyone?

So yeah, I wish we had another quality defender to call on, but when you look at our peers only Chelsea is in a stronger position than us, and I would say we are probably about the same as United. The others we are in a better position than, plus we are also stronger in the full back position.

There's every chance that Chelsea will have their ban reduced to 1 window too, otherwise they will be demanding parity with Real Madrid from a couple of years ago. Plus when Rudiger get's fit Zouma may see his playing time at Chelsea limited, so I wouldn't be surprised to see us go in for him again in January.

Things really aren't as bad as they appear guys.

It's definitely not been a poor window all in all. Disappointing, because I think we've just stood still, but not poor.

I know I keep refuting these posts in the same way but people keep posting them so...:

All of those teams that you mention have more options and better back up than us. Their first choice players might not be any better than ours, and we might not look at their back ups and think how wonderful they are, but if you're asking me would I feel more comfortable with Lindelöf, Luiz or Otamendi rather than Holgate then I wouldn't even hesitate in saying yes I absolutely would. Also don't mistake people's concerns over Rojo and Smalling for thinking they're not as good as Gibson. They weren't what I wanted, but it's like my daughter saying she doesn't want carrot sticks for a snack. She means she'd rather have crisps, but if it's carrot sticks or nothing, she'll eat every last one.

 

[Eggs]

....reports we were keen to sell Pennington on a permanent transfer but there were no takers. I know a number of us were surprised when he was given a new contract.

 

[hktoffee]

....reports we were keen to sell Pennington on a permanent transfer but there was no takers. I know a number of us were surprised when he was given a new contract.

It’s way too easy to hand out these extensions whether that’s McCarthy, Besic or Pennington.

 

[Bob Elstone]

Talks about Gomes from 5:50. Absolute increadible nonsense being sprouted I wonder how people can genuinely believe it... Worth giving a couple dislikes imo

Tyrone mings picture tho. Yard dog.

 

[Eggs]

It’s way too easy to hand out these extensions whether that’s McCarthy, Besic or Pennington.

...absolutely, I would add Mirallas to that list. The DoFs role is not only buying/selling players.

 

[evertonarntwe]

....reports we were keen to sell Pennington on a permanent transfer but there were no takers. I know a number of us were surprised when he was given a new contract.

bizarre business that, awful defender

 

[Charles Hawtrey]

Ah well... back to boring old football....

 

[Eggs]

It's definitely not been a poor window all in all. Disappointing, because I think we've just stood still, but not poor.

I know I keep refuting these posts in the same way but people keep posting them so...:

All of those teams that you mention have more options and better back up than us. Their first choice players might not be any better than ours, and we might not look at their back ups and think how wonderful they are, but if you're asking me would I feel more comfortable with Lindelöf, Luiz or Otamendi rather than Holgate then I wouldn't even hesitate in saying yes I absolutely would. Also don't mistake people's concerns over Rojo and Smalling for thinking they're not as good as Gibson. They weren't what I wanted, but it's like my daughter saying she doesn't want carrot sticks for a snack. She means she'd rather have crisps, but if it's carrot sticks or nothing, she'll eat every last one.

The wet pants thread

My pants are absolutely soaked and I make no apologies for it. I'm actually disgusted that we only have 2 what I consider senior centre backs on the books after Zouma was sent back and Jags into senior exile to Sheffield. Even if they do manage to stay fit by some miracle there is absolutely...

www.grandoldteam.com

 

[DaChunk]

How much did we actually have to spend this window then? Silva bringing up net spend must be of significance?

 

[Bluerobins]

How much did we actually have to spend this window then? Silva bringing up net spend must be of significance?

I actually think he wanted Rojo myself. It was an odd thing to say though. I can’t work out wether it’s good or bad

 

[Toast]

I actually think he wanted Rojo myself. It was an odd thing to say though. I can’t work out wether it’s good or bad

We've got 2 centre halves.

Mina is always injured, we even bloody signed him injured !

And Keane fractured his skull last season, showing freak accidents happen.

Centre halves get yellow cards and suspensions etc and will deffo miss games.

Not getting cover in this position is absolutely shocking from all involved.

 

[JimmyK]

The wet pants thread

My pants are absolutely soaked and I make no apologies for it. I'm actually disgusted that we only have 2 what I consider senior centre backs on the books after Zouma was sent back and Jags into senior exile to Sheffield. Even if they do manage to stay fit by some miracle there is absolutely...

www.grandoldteam.com

Cheers mate. Happy birthday eh! Hahahahahaha. It's funny because. Well. It's not actually. But keep saying it. The old ones are the best as they so wrongly say. Thanks for the updates anyway, don't know how i'd have coped without you plagiarising news now all summer.

 

[toffee66]

I got a text this morning saying we are looking at two free agent CBs as stop-gap signings (one pretty famous) but I would not bet on Brands doing it unless it is a very favourable deal in terms of signing on fee & wages. Chelsea are hopeful of getting their transfer ban lifted for January and I suspect we will be straight in with a big Zouma bid even if he is first choice then.

Silva’s net spend comment was correcting a reporter who implied we had spent big. He made it to show how we had actually just performed a major overhaul with many departures to reduce the hype that we are ready to challenge. This is year two of a 3 year turnaround. Year one was both learning about the squad and stabilising the club on and off the pitch. Year 2, this season, is transition making sure the foundations are robust and that momentum is growing. Year 3 is, hopefully, triumph.

My best analogy to this season might be 1983-1984 when a team Kendall had completely rebuilt over the past 2 years began to come good late season before kicking on spectacularly. I am not predicting an FA Cup win this season but as another thread says football IS a short-term game so we need to go full on at both cups even if we are in ‘transition’ and see next year as the key opportunity. The triumphant third year can easily elude. I remember thinking after 94/95 and 95/96 we were ready for take off but then the pillock Johnson pissed off Joe Royle, ran out of £ and it all went horribly wrong! In this day and age if we look promising but do not win something it will be hard to keep e.g. Richarlison.

Silva knows all this and is just trying to dial down pressure and expectation on both him and the team.

 

[Bluerobins]

We've got 2 centre halves.

Mina is always injured, we even bloody signed him injured !

And Keane fractured his skull last season, showing freak accidents happen.

Centre halves get yellow cards and suspensions etc and will deffo miss games.

Not getting cover in this position is absolutely shocking from all involved.

I’m not disagreeing with you. It’s his statement I can’t work out

 

[hktoffee]

I got a text this morning saying we are looking at two free agent CBs as stop-gap signings (one pretty famous) but I would not bet on Brands doing it unless it is a very favourable deal in terms of signing on fee & wages. Chelsea are hopeful of getting their transfer ban lifted for January and I suspect we will be straight in with a big Zouma bid even if he is first choice then.

Silva’s net spend comment was correcting a reporter who implied we had spent big. He made it to show how we had actually just performed a major overhaul with many departures to reduce the hype that we are ready to challenge. This is year two of a 3 year turnaround. Year one was both learning about the squad and stabilising the club on and off the pitch. Year 2, this season, is transition making sure the foundations are robust and that momentum is growing. Year 3 is, hopefully, triumph.

My best analogy to this season might be 1983-1984 when a team Kendall had completely rebuilt over the past 2 years began to come good late season before kicking on spectacularly. I am not predicting an FA Cup win this season but as another thread says football IS a short-term game so we need to go full on at both cups even if we are in ‘transition’ and see next year as the key opportunity. The triumphant third year can easily elude. I remember thinking after 94/95 and 95/96 we were ready for take off but then the pillock Johnson pissed off Joe Royle, ran out of £ and it all went horribly wrong! In this day and age if we look promising but do not win something it will be hard to keep e.g. Richarlison.

Silva knows all this and is just trying to dial down pressure and expectation on both him and the team.

Could be Skrtel.