Summer Transfer Window 2025 Thread

[GN!]

It’s really weird to me when people pretend we (presently) have a significantly better first eleven than we had available last season. We may have by the end of the window, I sure as hell hope so. But saying we do now, with such utter conviction is just blind faith.

I don’t think it’s worse, but it also is not a finished article either

 

[Zatara]

Again we’ll all want signings I personally think KDH will get plenty of game time and I think he will make a significant contribution to the team. Is he the headline signing hopefully not but in building a squad he’s certainly a positive addition.

You are right that garner as a rb would be a stop gap measure and his experience at the position is at the underage level. But he has a grounding in the position so it’s an option. That said obviously it would be a break in case of emergency option. I hope we sign an RB, but there does seem to be dearth of options out there

You’ve knocked the aznou signing from the little shown he obviously has some skills and is a developmental type again as a squad building signing it’s promising. I thought he might be able to fill in at RB?

Barry for me is the unknown quantity.

Travers is fine as a backup and again squad depth is fine.

I don’t mind chasing Dibling expensive but there is huge upside.

Undoubtedly we need more signings and ones at the high level but I do think we are trying to get signings done in a systematic manner. Yes we start in a week but I’d rather make the right signings a little late than repeat the mistakes of the past.

Also, you claiming that other poster opinions is a case they think know better than you is a bit petulant isn’t it. This site is largely built on opinions I’d dare say even yours are not infallible.

I just think there is a lot to the point made about giving the new regime time , might be uncomfortable for us but I guess all we can do is have faith that we will be able to work it out. Obviously as the close of the window approaches I think there will be far more clarity in who is available where and what deals can be made, that’s just the nature of it

Firstly:
"Also, you claiming that other poster opinions is a case they think know better than you is a bit petulant isn’t it. This site is largely built on opinions I’d dare say even yours are not infallible"

-- I've not commented on them regarding their responses to me. If you take a look at @Kevsleftpeg posting history over the past few days (and beyond) you will see a condescending tone to almost every other poster.


Onto the football:
KDH i highlighted back in 2023 as someone we should sign. Adds balance with Garner and I thought we should use Onana behind them both.

However, the fee paid is an overpayment. Also, i was under the impression that the target was top half of the table? He's a mid table all rounder who operates best in the position Gana plays.

Is he an improvement on Gana today? For me, no.

On Aznou, ive not knocked him at all. What ive said is that he seems to be a high potential attacking left back. Moyes comments on him do not seem positive at all, as with Alcaraz I believe hes not a Moyes signing and hes going to be reticent to use him (as he was, even with Alcaraz getting motm and goals/assists).

I think Travers is a waste of money. Barry doesnt currently start over Beto.


I see no improvement in the first 11. None.

I also see through Moyes whinging as hes meant to be the one providing player names and working with the scouting department since January.

Kinner as CEO and Hammond as negotiator arent the ones picking unrealistic players (Moyes). Hes coverting his back with the supporters.

 

[Kevsleftpeg]

You are one weird bloke. Alcaraz was available in April. You are then talking about bench options when I had clearly said ‘our first eleven’.

The first eleven now is no better than at the back end of last season, unless you consider KDH a huge upgrade on Garner or Alcaraz - and that is a real stretch.

I mean, this isn’t even controversial.

I'll tell you what isn't even controversial. KDH as a player is over twice as expensive as both Garner and Alcaraz which would indicate to me that he is a far better player. And our first XI was completely fine at the back end of last season. It would have finished 8th with Moyes in charge which would be an excellent performance this season
And the window isn't closed.

 

[Haydn]

The reality is what we've 'done' is signed some good players with a clear desire to sign more in the 3+ weeks that's remaining of this transfer window..

My personal belief is that the level of negativity being projected by some is unfounded at best and unproductive at worst. What's honestly the point if you're just going to moan every July when we havent magically conjured up 6 or 7 ballers who walk into Finch Farm on day one?

A “clear desire” is meaningless, unless it is supported by productive interventions to deliver it.

Meanwhile, until that desire turns to delivery, I’ll share our manager’s frustration at the lack of progress.

 

[Zatara]

You are one weird bloke. Alcaraz was available in April. You are then talking about bench options when I had clearly said ‘our first eleven’.

The first eleven now is no better than at the back end of last season, unless you consider KDH a huge upgrade on Garner or Alcaraz - and that is a real stretch.

I mean, this isn’t even controversial.

Apparently some people think it is

I'll tell you what isn't even controversial. KDH as a player is over twice as expensive as both Garner and Alcaraz which would indicate to me that he is a far better player. And our first XI was completely fine at the back end of last season. It would have finished 8th with Moyes in charge which would be an excellent performance this season
And the window isn't closed.

Oh dear. This is becoming ridiculous.

 

[NeilMorepies]

Firstly:
"Also, you claiming that other poster opinions is a case they think know better than you is a bit petulant isn’t it. This site is largely built on opinions I’d dare say even yours are not infallible"

-- I've not commented on them regarding their responses to me. If you take a look at @Kevsleftpeg posting history over the past few days (and beyond) you will see a condescending tone to almost every other poster.


Onto the football:
KDH i highlighted back in 2023 as someone we should sign. Adds balance with Garner and I thought we should use Onana behind them both.

However, the fee paid is an overpayment. Also, i was under the impression that the target was top half of the table? He's a mid table all rounder who operates best in the position Gana plays.

Is he an improvement on Gana today? For me, no.

On Aznou, ive not knocked him at all. What ive said is that he seems to be a high potential attacking left back. Moyes comments on him do not seem positive at all, as with Alcaraz I believe hes not a Moyes signing and hes going to be reticent to use him (as he was, even with Alcaraz getting motm and goals/assists).

I think Travers is a waste of money. Barry doesnt currently start over Beto.


I see no improvement in the first 11. None.

I also see through Moyes whinging as hes meant to be the one providing player names and working with the scouting department since January.

Kinner as CEO and Hammond as negotiator arent the ones picking unrealistic players (Moyes). Hes coverting his back with the supporters.

I think the biggest improvement is that we are not actively downgrading the squad like we have had to do in previous years, and there has been money to spend, but we are at a very low base and are not attractive as a destination for top players with ambition.

The improvement is that we are not in such a desperate position as we’ve been in for the last 2-3 years.

 

[Zatara]

I think the biggest improvement is that we are not actively downgrading the squad like we have had to do in previous years, and there has been money to spend, but we are at a very low base and are not attractive as a destination for top players with ambition.

The improvement is that we are not in such a desperate position as we’ve been in for the last 2-3 years.

Nail on head really. From being on a downward spiral we have now an opportunity to stabilise (11th/12th) or springboard (8th-10th).

I dont think we should have been after "top players" this window.

As I've repeated, Id have gone for Dibling and Rigg (unlikely when Sunderland were promoted). From there i'd have gone for top young talent with high potential like Aznou, Fofana and others of these types.

For me, the first 11 can finish 11/12th with the right squad players. If the squad players can push the starters and even replace them then 8th could be achievable.

So i'd have gone for the younger players and started building a new squad.

 

[BackRow PE6]

I honestly feel your posts seem to incredibly miss any context of what this club has been for the last few years. If you were posting this stuff say when Martinez, Koeman or Silva joined I could probably understand but for god sake have you not seen the levels of incompetence that the club is capable of?

We’ve all seen how poorly the club has been run over the past 5/6 years by Mosh and Kenwright, effectively taking us from top 6 regulars to relegation scraps, points deduction’s and financial collapse.

That all started with the crazy summer signing anything that moved for big fees to be seen to be being active and having ambition. That continued till the pot ran dry and we had huge signings on big wages leaving for nothing because of poor recruitment.

That is the incompetence we are looking for the new owners not to repeat. If that means negotiating hard on quality targets on sensible wages who have more chance of retaining value to help the club progress in the medium term, I’m on board. Doesn’t mean I wouldn’t like to see a RW / RB in now, but I am glad we aren’t lashing silly money at a bolasie / tosun / Walcott equivalent

Bit harsh to conflate past incompetence with the efforts of the new owners who have swept the decks in their short time here. It just needs time

 

[Curtis]

I wish people instead of having conniptions would actually look at the other teams outside of newly promoted and sky 6 minted clubs to realize this has been a rough market to work in, ultimately it's still the clubs responsibility to bring the needed players by the end of window, if you look at teams like crystal Palace, Fulham, Aston Villa, Newcastle, Bournemouth and Brentford they've barely brought anyone in like 1 or less except Brentford which is 2. We've brought in 5 players including alacarez for close to 80 million, yes we have more work to do but it's not as dire some people believe taking in the context of the situation.

 

[bluestevon]

I honestly feel your posts seem to incredibly miss any context of what this club has been for the last few years. If you were posting this stuff say when Martinez, Koeman or Silva joined I could probably understand but for god sake have you not seen the levels of incompetence that the club is capable of?

Counter argument.

These are completely new owners with zero connection to how we've been ran.
Blue bill who hung around the club is no more.
Moshiri is gone.
Everyone bar one person connected to Bill and Moshiri is gone.
The club debts ha e been paid off or consolidated into very manageable things now.
The new stadium plays it's first game (proper) today.
Moyes a manager who understands the fans and has prior form for getting us competitive is in charge.
We have completely restructured the entire management structure and hired people with solid reputations and in the correct roles.
We have sold no assets.
We are funding investment in the playing side and it seems focused on youth and quality.
We have invested a lot into both women's team and starting to restructure the youth set up.
Commercial desks are being signed regularly that seem at the very top end of the scale and with reliable partners.
The TFG group has a pretty much impeccable record for being genuine business people not any hint of dodgy deals in their past or present.

The negativity is entirely based on factors that no longer are present within the club and blaming almost new people for past people's mistakes.

It's like being cheated on by your ex bird and entering a new relationship and constantly checking the new girls phone and following her around telling everyone you reckon she's cheating on you too.

 

[toffeeblue9]

It’s really weird to me when people pretend we (presently) have a significantly better first eleven than we had available last season. We may have by the end of the window, I sure as hell hope so. But saying we do now, with such utter conviction is just blind faith.

It's not worse, it's basically the same or marginally better with the arguable unknown difference of Barry instead of Beto and KDH in the XI somewhere

 

[Simo]

Counter argument.

These are completely new owners with zero connection to how we've been ran.
Blue bill who hung around the club is no more.
Moshiri is gone.
Everyone bar one person connected to Bill and Moshiri is gone.
The club debts ha e been paid off or consolidated into very manageable things now.
The new stadium plays it's first game (proper) today.
Moyes a manager who understands the fans and has prior form for getting us competitive is in charge.
We have completely restructured the entire management structure and hired people with solid reputations and in the correct roles.
We have sold no assets.
We are funding investment in the playing side and it seems focused on youth and quality.
We have invested a lot into both women's team and starting to restructure the youth set up.
Commercial desks are being signed regularly that seem at the very top end of the scale and with reliable partners.
The TFG group has a pretty much impeccable record for being genuine business people not any hint of dodgy deals in their past or present.

The negativity is entirely based on factors that no longer are present within the club and blaming almost new people for past people's mistakes.

It's like being cheated on by your ex bird and entering a new relationship and constantly checking the new girls phone and following her around telling everyone you reckon she's cheating on you too.

Ah damn, have you been spying on me

Well said btw, let's lighten up boys n girls, the season pretty much starts today, think we'll see a couple more in before Leeds, let's look forwards eh

 

[Look to the future]

I think we’ve got rid of the right players and made some good signings.
We definitely need more quality in certain positions though.

I’m a bit disappointed we’re not unveiling a new signing before the game today.

 

[rxyzyxr]

I’m not your mate, dude
I’m not your dude, mate
Relax

Can't help but roll my eyes when someone says don't call me this or that. If it's not an insult then give over you tart

 

[Hantakun]

Could we be one of the clubs circling? Feels like a Moyes type player - experience, graft, can play across the front line.

Not an exciting prospect but could perhaps do a job if he came semi-cheap?