Rate the Transfer Window - January '18

[Zezti]

Here we go again, the last RtTW from the summer got around a 6.75/10 rating on here. How are we feeling this time?

INS £47m:
- Cenk Tosun (£27m - Besiktas)
- Theo Walcott (£20m - Arsenal)
- Eliaquim Mangala (loan - Man City)


OUTS £15m+?:
- Ross Barkley (£15 - Chelsea)
- Aaron Lennon (£? - Burnley)
- Sandro Ramirez (loan - Seville)
- Kevin Mirallas (loan - Olympiakos)
- Ademola Lookman (loan - RB Leipzig)
- Muhamed Besic (loan - Middlesbrough)

Probably some youth transfers that I've missed but I think that's the gist of it. Quite an active window for a January. I think it's been pretty good. Obviously, the lack of an actual left-back is still an issue but Mangala is apparently left-footed so wouldn't be surprised to see him shoehorned into that role.

Can Mangala actually be a downgrade after some of the defending we've seen this season? I doubt it. Somewhat pleased to have him as an option. Will have to wait and see how he does. City fans don't seem to rate him, but they were probably Chelsea fans last season anyway.
Walcott has been great so far. Proper happy at getting him in. Hints of a good partnership developing between him and Coleman. Colecott...? Walman...? Theomus...? Seao..?
Cenk I hope hits the ground running soon. He's a Champions' League level striker and surely has a lot to offer.

Personally, I think the loan move for Lookman could work well. Would rather he stayed and got a run of games but if he gets game time in the Bundesliga that should do him well.
Sandro, I feel the loan could be good but would rather he went Italy or Germany. We know he can do it in Spain and I think going back there is a sign of him giving up here. Hope I'm wrong.
Besic didn't really have a place in the team and made sense for him to move.
Lennon I was a bit surprised at but Walcott's performances have more than made up for his departure. Same goes for Mirallas. Barkley's mov-?... Nevermind.

I'd give it a solid, on-the-fence, 6. Wage bill lightened, goal scoring threat added, but still no left-back.


Here's a reminder of what GoT thought of the last window...
Summer '17 RtTW results

yeah I gave it a 5

 

[argietoffee]

We have Sammy Lee on the sideline.

My shrink now sees me three times a week.

 

[Azzurri]

Like Walcott. Desperately needed a good centre back, not sure if Mangala’s that but he’s left footed which helps. I think he’ll do alright. Tosun I don’t have a good feeling about, based on next to nothing, but we’ll see. Not signing a left back is, obviously, a complete disaster, and heads should roll.

Managed to get a few off the wage bill/get some game time/get rid of bad apples. Shame we couldn’t offload Schneiderlin and get Klaassen a loan.

Probably say 4, although I voted 3 by accident. Soz.

 

[TheBigIguana]

If Theo continue to be boss and Tosun isn't turbo gash it could be better but right now I'm saying 5. The left back thing is still a problem

 

[Furey1878]

Voted 7 but probably 5/6 in reality. Not signing a left back is borderline criminal.

Walcott is a great signing though, Tosun we’ll have to wait and see. Mangala; not amazing but at least adds pace and an actual left foot to our back line.

Happy with the Mirallas, Sandro and Besic loans. Lookman being loaned is annoying but at least he should finally get a chance at a good level.

Wish Lennon all the best at Burnley, always had a lot of time for him but we’ve upgraded with Walcott so decent business.

Barkley going is a massive blow still, gonna take a while to get over that one.

I’ll probably leave it at 6/10 to retain a positive outlook.

 

[GBH73]

The signing of Walcott makes this window a 6/10 for me. Glad Mirallas has gone as well, but not signing a left back is a major cock-up.

 

[kithnou]

Can't ask for much more from January, as we once again try and cover up a poor Summer window.

 

[ilikecheese]

Gave it a 4.

Thought we got fleeced for Ross and frankly £15mil in Monopoly money is nothing. I would have rather we held out for more, failing that send him home.

Lookman going on loan is frustrating. Seems like a game changer.

Sandro...meh. Should have been in the U23's IMO this whole time.

Lennon. Good luck to him with Walcott incoming it makes sense.

Happy to see the back of Kev. Loved him a few years ago but his attitude is poor.

Besic...probably for the best. Let's see ifvhe can get a run of games and stay healthy.

Happy getting Walcott. No idea about Tosun. Mangala seemed ropey as F to me but who knows it might work. City paid £42 mil for him so obviously there must be something there.

Not getting a proper left back makes absolutely no sense.

 

[deipnosophist]

My opinion is probably a bit coloured by Walcott's immediate impact but I rate it a 6.5 which I've rounded up. A bit generous?: possibly, since the Turkish bloke I don't have a clue about and I am equally in the dark over our Man City loaned player.
Good to get some of the wage drain off the books I guess, pity Klaassen didn't go to Napoli.

But as the window closes, I feel a lot less nervy about possible relegation battles than I did at the start of January so I guess that's a subjective plus.

 

[Charles Hawtrey]

Should rerun the poll in May... a maypoll

 

[Agent Blue]

Voted 7 but forgot that we didn't do that swap deal with Inter for Schneidercrab so 6 really. Theo is the bargain of the window and shows how stitched up we were in the summer on prices. Mangala should be OK and he is a left footer, any defensive cover can't be worse than what we have atm. Not sure about Tosun yet but only time will tell, really hope he does well. Allerdyce's window miles better than Koemans last one but could have been better.

 

[DanEFC92]

Went for a generous 6. Bitterly disappointed in a. Lookman not getting any game time b. Then loaning him out to a German club.

Barkley transfer saga was another let down. And not getting in a left back is borderline negligence.

But Walcott and Tosun are positives. Mangala decent cover too.

 

[CRIMHEAD]

Don't hold the January Barkley deal against this window. Hated selling him to begin with, but he screwed us out of 20M.

Walcott, Tosun, and Mangala could help, quite a lot honestly.

 

[KaiserEFC]

We got 50% of the players in the positions we needed, therefore it’s a 0. Standard Everton, not being able to get the basics right.

 

[Armaghtoffee]

I voted 7 as a forward and more pace was brought in with Tosun and Walcott. Mangala will hopefully address the big hole in front of Pickford but god knows who he will be paired with (Keane and Holgate only hopefully).

Failure to promote Garbutt or buy a left back is a total disgrace though. Not as if Baines has years left and we are protecting his longer term position.

The sight of Sandro, Lookman and nearly Klaassen heading out should be addressed with Walsh now as an urgent performance review.