Rate the transfer window...

[stubbo-admin]

So our last chance to affect the run in through squad make up has been and gone...but was it a net positive or negative?

We started the window with a squad somewhat 'unbalanced' to coin the Manager's phrase....bloated with substandard squad fillers picking up big wages and unlikely to get meaningful game time.  At the same time we had a Brazil international on the books and a young Brazilian winger who surely deserved more game time despite only being 19.  

At the end of the window we have more senior forwards, but key areas of the squad still look weak.  So are we better off, or was it the usual Sullivan cluster fuck?

1. Goalkeeper

Ins: N/A
Outs: N/a

No change in goal. We still have a first choice keeper who hates the ball in the air and is if not the root cause, at least contributes to our high ball susceptibility, and a second choice no one trusts with stunted arms.

Rating: C...no stronger, no worse. Would ideally be stronger.

2. Defence

Ins: Disasi
Outs: Igor

Say what you like about our new "French International", but he's an upgrade on Igor and comes in at a time when the cupboard was bare. Whether he's Craig Dawson reincarnated, or more Roger the Relegator remains to be seen, but technically we're stronger here now, with the new man a much better box defender and aerially dominant. Will it ultimately make our defence any better remains to be seen, but it is an improvement, all be it minor.

Rating: C+...better, but with the leakiest defence in the league, we needed major surgery and not just some Botox.

3. Midfield

Ins: N/A
Outs: Rodriguez, Irving, JWP, Paqueta

Whether you put Paqueta in attack or midfield really dictates the outcomes of those sections, but with a lack of open play goals and assists to his name in recent seasons, midfield feels more appropriate. Arguably, midfield has been a successful window with deadwood on big wages shifted, a sizeable fee received for an unhappy underperforming maverick, and all players of note retained.  Trouble is the wages saved won't save our season, and the fee received for Paqueta is only useful if reinvested in an improvement, who given he got notable game time when available, means we're an option and potential match winner down. Where's the money gone Sullivan?

Verdict: D... we're weaker, all be it from the loss of players who were not great performers, but Rodriguez had helped us see some games out, and Paqueta in glimpses was still a potential difference maker. Not replacing him when it was clear he was off a dereliction of duty. We all know we won't see that transfer fee again 

4. Attack

Ins: Pablo, Taty, Traore, Lamadrid
Outs: Fullkrug, Guilherme

Rightly or wrongly, the loss of Guilherme can't be seen as anything but neutral since he was getting no game time, was untrusted by three managers in succession, and should have been part of the U21 squad despite his inflated fee. Fullkrug's departure for me is a welcome exit. The 'big' German came with a reputation for injury and physicality...only delivered on half of that, and ultimately was a huge waste of money with an overinflated opinion of himself.

The arrival of Taty and Pablo has brought renewed energy to the side, allowing us to defend from the front in the first hour of games, and whisky they don't look like prolific goalscorers has had an undoubted impact in improving the side. Traore it's too early to call, but so far he's cost us Todibo for 3 games by starting a ruck, and looks like his 'roids addiction has got the better of him...he'll likely have more impact in the Rush Green quasi-gymnasium than he will on the pitch. As for Lamadrid....welcome lad. Nice goal for the U21s. Good luck when you return to your parents club ...glad to have helped your development.

Verdict: B+...we're notably stronger up top, no weaker out wide, but really needed a other bench wide option to affect games, and the drop off when Pablo or Taty Go off knackered harms the side's ability to play a 90 min game.

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So where does it leave us? For me it's a C+ window. We are stronger in terms of the first XI and marginally so in terms of our bench options. But will it move the needle and bring us back from the precipice of relegation? Fucking unlikely.

Jarrod Bowen....suit up! The future of West Ham is once again resting solely on your shoulders!

BSOut....where's the money gone Sullivan?!

 

[honky cat]

Massive

Had they added the likes of:

CM - Gomes - Loan to perm

CH - Harwood-Bellis - Around £15M (or Cresswell for around £20M)

Winger - Sterling - Free 


Then I would have felt a lot better thinking we had maximised what we could in the window with realistic attainable signings. Sterling recently turned 31, has a load of experience and I'd suspect would lift the general mood in the Squad with his star appeal that I think the players would take to. Not saying he'd be anywhere as good as he once was, I just think he'd be the best available for costing no transfer fee which Sullivan is loathe doing and could add something in support of both Summerville and Bowen. 

​​​​​​But would these players come to West Ham? 
This is what i have been asking for years. I've seen clubs that on the face of it seem to offer 'less' than west ham, but manage to attract better players. The usual suspects will say its because of sullivan etc, but there has to be more to it.

[Massive Attack]

For me there were two main failings in the window, probably driven by one main action.

1 - the failure to replace Paqueta with a creative midfielder
2 - the failure to get any kind of cover for Fernandes

I think you can lay the blame for both those failings on us paying way over the odds for both Taty and Pablo.

Whether we did that in order to force the deal through at the start of the window, or to line Mendes pockets...who knows. I don't dislike either player....but they were clearly too expensive and that money could have worked harder for us.

If I had a 3rd criticism, it's that we have a domestic and a foreign loan slot available, and neither have been used.

I don't really see the outgoings as being of huge significance. I'd have kept Rodriguez as I think he had utility and was trusted for a specific role. But can understand his departure. We were bloated in central midfield with 3 players that added neither variety or real utility and the chance to cull there was a good opportunity to take.

Lastly, Disasi feels like a lazy option. Not disappointed he's here....more just disappointed that was the best we could do. Makes you wonder why we bother with a scouting or data setup at all.











 

 

Had they added the likes of:

CM - Gomes - Loan to perm

CH - Harwood-Bellis - Around £15M (or Cresswell for around £20M)

Winger - Sterling - Free 


Then I would have felt a lot better thinking we had maximised what we could in the window with realistic attainable signings. Sterling recently turned 31, has a load of experience and I'd suspect would lift the general mood in the Squad with his star appeal that I think the players would take to. Not saying he'd be anywhere as good as he once was, I just think he'd be the best available for costing no transfer fee which Sullivan is loathe doing and could add something in support of both Summerville and Bowen. Gomes and either Centre Half in particular I think would have added a lot of quality and reliability in both positions well up to speed.

[Manuel]

Leaving two loan slots free is borderline criminal really, particularly with the big save on wages. Can only assume it was a case of ''can't be asked''.

[onsideman]

Surely Disasi is an improvement on Igor... I reckon by a considerable distance, been having a little look into him and despite what some have said on here I've read a few comments that he was decent at Villa. 

On the subject of not replacing Paqueta, it isn't really a failure as they in my opinion never wanted to and always intended selling him despite their protests, the reason they wanted to sell and loan back which was never going to happen but they needed the money for the two forwards. Let's not forget they tried to sell him to Villa in the last window. 

I think Disasi can be an improvement on Igor and still be a  lazy and disappointing choice

As far as not replacing Paqueta is concerned, whilst failure is perhaps the wrong choice of word if, as you suspect, it was never intended,  it could obviously still be classed as a mistake. 

[fraser]

Surely Disasi is an improvement on Igor... I reckon by a considerable distance, been having a little look into him and despite what some have said on here I've read a few comments that he was decent at Villa. 

On the subject of not replacing Paqueta, it isn't really a failure as they in my opinion never wanted to and always intended selling him despite their protests, the reason they wanted to sell and loan back which was never going to happen but they needed the money for the two forwards. Let's not forget they tried to sell him to Villa in the last window. 

[onsideman]

For me there were two main failings in the window, probably driven by one main action.

1 - the failure to replace Paqueta with a creative midfielder
2 - the failure to get any kind of cover for Fernandes

I think you can lay the blame for both those failings on us paying way over the odds for both Taty and Pablo.

Whether we did that in order to force the deal through at the start of the window, or to line Mendes pockets...who knows. I don't dislike either player....but they were clearly too expensive and that money could have worked harder for us.

If I had a 3rd criticism, it's that we have a domestic and a foreign loan slot available, and neither have been used.

I don't really see the outgoings as being of huge significance. I'd have kept Rodriguez as I think he had utility and was trusted for a specific role. But can understand his departure. We were bloated in central midfield with 3 players that added neither variety or real utility and the chance to cull there was a good opportunity to take.

Lastly, Disasi feels like a lazy option. Not disappointed he's here....more just disappointed that was the best we could do. Makes you wonder why we bother with a scouting or data setup at all.


 

Hard to argue with that 

[stubbo-admin]

For me there were two main failings in the window, probably driven by one main action.

1 - the failure to replace Paqueta with a creative midfielder
2 - the failure to get any kind of cover for Fernandes

I think you can lay the blame for both those failings on us paying way over the odds for both Taty and Pablo.

Whether we did that in order to force the deal through at the start of the window, or to line Mendes pockets...who knows. I don't dislike either player....but they were clearly too expensive and that money could have worked harder for us.

If I had a 3rd criticism, it's that we have a domestic and a foreign loan slot available, and neither have been used.

I don't really see the outgoings as being of huge significance. I'd have kept Rodriguez as I think he had utility and was trusted for a specific role. But can understand his departure. We were bloated in central midfield with 3 players that added neither variety or real utility and the chance to cull there was a good opportunity to take.

Lastly, Disasi feels like a lazy option. Not disappointed he's here....more just disappointed that was the best we could do. Makes you wonder why we bother with a scouting or data setup at all.

 

[Beef&Tomato]

B+ from me.

[Manuel]

If we survive all well and good but will need a good few recruits in the summer which i doubt we will see.

Come on, this board have generally spent money and backed managers, we spent circa 110 mil on four CB's. Just poor recruitment has been the issue.

[Sydney_Iron]

Would agree that this window was as much about getting ready for the championship as well as hoping we can survive this season?

Let's face it the incoming wouldn't have got much interest from top half teams in the PL! If we survive all well and good but will need a good few recruits in the summer which i doubt we will see, be another 17th or better will do from the board, if we go down then we have a decent start in recruiting the type of player required and have shifted some of the dead wood this window, so the summer clear out and incoming will be less.

All still a bit depressing 

[Massive Attack]

It's clear evidence of relegation preparation rather than survival preparation. Clear the decks as best he could, whilst also re-balancing the books rather than the Squad which is still not balanced. Another CH needed (he only replaced Igor for Disasi to stand still), another creative attacking midfielder for Paqueta departure and cover for Summerville.

Getting in the 2 inexperienced workaholic goalshy Strikers early on didn't pull the wool over my eyes knowing what we still needed and how much was left in the kitty come the end of the window closing. That's why they get marked down so much and it's not the first time he tries it on with a razzle dazzle window that flatters to deceive..

[El Scorchio]

What has been somewhat mostly overlooked is Sullivan’s clever slight of hand with the money which sums the penny pinching cսnt up. At the close of play we actually managed to spend £10M+ less than we raked in. Only Sullivan could do that and more should be made of it. In our desperate need of players he still manages to get in £10M. To me that's shocking, not just the amount of players left that could well leave us short before the season's out should injuries kick in.


 

This. In our position, for him to make a profit is disgusting and just sums the man up.

[honky cat]

After the Forest game i dont think anyone on here thought we had a hope of staying up. The club would have been mental to spend big money and no one wants to join the sinking ship. As it was, getting paco in (manager if we go down?) and pablo & taty (championship players?) has made an instant impact and now we have a chance. So things started looking up after Sunderland, time for a bit of an about turn - but who can we get in during the last week of the window? Its too late. The players we need today are the same players we've needed to get for the past 2/3 years. This window has been decent given the position we found ourselves in at the beginning of the month, the past 3 years dealings overall have been dogshit. 

[Massive Attack]

What has been somewhat mostly overlooked is Sullivan’s clever slight of hand with the money which sums the penny pinching cսnt up. At the close of play we actually managed to spend £10M+ less than we raked in. Only Sullivan could do that and more should be made of it. In our desperate need of players he still manages to get in £10M. To me that's shocking, not just the amount of players left that could well leave us short before the season's out should injuries kick in.

 

[Come On You Irons]

I don't know how anyone can argue that it was a poor or bad window.

We got rid of a diving, cheating, showboating liability for £35 million who didn't want to be here and was clearly a toxic influence on the squad.

We managed to ship out on loan and old German injury prone crock of a "striker" who didn't want to stay and fight for the course showing himself up to be an absolute melt, and immediately replaced him with a younger and more energetic and enthusiastic striker.

We got rid of Deadwood deadbeats from the squad in Irving, Rodriguez and Guillherme.

And we managed to keep Bowen, Summerville and Fernandes and sign an upgrade in attacking midfield (Pablo), an upgrade in central defence (Disasi) and an understudy for Bowen (Traore).

The only thing I am disappointed in is that we didn't get a quality central midfielder in at least on loan.

[eusebiovic]

5/10 Bang Average 

Actually I was far too generous... that's always been my problem

[Sydney_Iron]

Only positive was that for a change we actually got some players in early! But that's about it.

And you can bet the farm that had we been mid table then the club would have sat on their hands, pleaded poverty and we would have signed no one, The incoming all stink of desperation to me and getting to that 17th spot, which is all that matters to the club and the extent of our ambition

 

[Keep dreaming]

3/10

Relegation management 

[eusebiovic]

5/10 Bang Average 

[Jean-Luc Paul Goddard]

It's the sort of transfer window you'd be okay about if we were wallowing in mid table mediocrity with little hope of getting into Europe or getting relegated. As it is, it's absolutely pathetic if this is supposed to be an attempt to improve our chances of staying up.

I'm an optimistic sort and haven't given up all hope but we're very much relying on Nuno to get his shit together.

[El Scorchio]

Lascelles 

Trying so hard to get a bite off anyone aren't you.

Bless.

[Mad Ferret]

Lascelles 

[El Scorchio]

I rate it as decent.

The toxic Paqueta finally fucked off and we got decent money for him.

The useless Irving, Rodriquez and Guillherme all bombed out.

Two hard working strikers in.

The useless Igor out and an upgrade in Disasi in.

Cover for Bowen with pace and power on the bench.

What more could we expect in our position?

We could have expected quite a bit more both in terms of quantity of players and in some respects quality of players. He's done the bare minimum required if even that.

Another attacker, another midfiender, another centre back. Nonsense that it couldn't be done. Wolves got Gomes, Leicester got Laschelles. Both those players would have been gettable. Both are clearly either open to relegation or in Laschelles' case going to to championship with no prospects of promotion.

Both would have improved us. And there was all month to get in a centre back when it was so glaringly needed. Why did it have to come down to the last moments of the window? I expect Disasi might not have come in at all if Todibo hasn't been sent off.

And the last act of stupidity- why send Igor back to create an extra loan opportunity if you aren't even going to take it and loan two more players? That's fucking stunning levels of idiocy. Yeah he's not good but it's a body to sling on if you get desperate. 

[Come On You Irons]

I rate it as decent.

The toxic Paqueta finally fucked off and we got decent money for him.

The useless Irving, Rodriquez and Guillherme all bombed out.

Two hard working strikers in.

The useless Igor out and an upgrade in Disasi in.

Cover for Bowen with pace and power on the bench.

What more could we expect in our position?

[El Scorchio]

1/10
F-
absolute

I'm surprised but not shocked at the general acceptance of the latest dealings. It's how they've driven the club to such a low point, the majority now don't give a shit. Why am I so pessimistic? We've let far too many players out of the door at the wrong time, but I've said this relegation was engineered months ago. We've paid what is it for these two non scoring strikers, £50m? On what planet do those two cost anything more than ten a piece? We've got that spanish sumo now as our only other alternative out wide, and brought in a defender that hasn't (admittedly no fault of his own) played any games since last April. even so, he's probably still better than Kilman. those cunts in the boardroom have killed the club, and going by responses on this thread, killed most of the fight in the fan base

I don't believe relegation has been engineered at all and I think it's the last thing they want. It's entirely down to ineptitude and ego. Relegation would be a disaster for them financially and reputationally. They have just made bad decision after bad decision through hubris and arrogance and stupidity and put us in a dreadful unsustainable position on the pitch and on the balance sheet, and it's finally come round to bite them. Employing poor managers, buying bad players for far too much money, thinking they are smart enough to succeed without any sort of long term strategy and owners actively working against each other.

They will be shitting themselves about this until May when our fate is decided and they will be doubly shitting themselves about going down if it happens. The only good outcome of relegation is if they finally fuck off with a lot less money than they planned to.