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.

----------

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?!

 

[zico]

So you don’t even watch World Cup finals then?

In recent World Cups I've only watched England and even that has bored me to tears, I don't bother with their friendlies anymore.  Can't remember the last time I watched a WC or Euros game with other nations in it, even Finals.  Haven't seen a Champions League game for years and the last time I probably watched a PL match with two other clubs in it was when Keane and Viera were playing. Haven't watched an FA Cup Final live for donkeys years, yet I could name you every Final and score from 1975 to 1990.. I see MOTD once in a blue moon.

Maybe I am just getting old but modern football just bores me.  It's all the same, with disloyal, over paid cheating prima donnas without half the talent of a Brooking, Bonds or Devonshire.  Side to side, backwards, keeper, side to side again, 30 passes to do what teams of yesteryear did with three or four, and even if something exciting does happen you have to wait 5 minutes for VAR to check it.

I used to be a football nut, loved it, absolutely hooked.  Played or managed both Saturday and Sunday then would always watch the games on Sky in the afternoon or matches shown midweek but it just doesn't excite me anymore.  When England lost in Semis in 90 and 96 I was absolutely gutted, when they lost in the WC SF a few years back and the Euro Final 2024 I just changed chanells and I wasn't over bothered.  

I watched Brazil v Italy 1982 WC again the other night on You Tube and loved it, terrific football, fabulous players and of course Zico my all time favourite.  So maybe I am not getting old it's just modern day football has had the life sucked out of it.  I'm sure I'm not the only one.

[Mad Ferret]

Nope but there again I don't watch much football these days bar West Ham.

So you don’t even watch World Cup finals then?

Some people just watch England, games, and any other game that takes their fancy, it's pretty normal mate

Everyone watches the World Cup final dude, come on.

[Massive Attack]

Wasn't there some tax reason for Toney as to why it would have ended up silly him moving back from Saudi already? I seem to remember it coming up but i can't say if there's any truth in it. 

Think that was the case in the past but think that's expired now. Could be wrong.

I think it's a tax year thing, so he'd have a huge bill to pay if he returned before 6th April

 

 

Fair enough, almost there. Yeah he likely wouldn't risk it on a financial basis unless he was well remunerated with a lucrative deal back here to cover some of that shortfall. I would have at least asked for the question to see how tempted he would be to return on World Cup year with his last England call-up last year back in June if he still harboured hopes of going.

[Mr Anon]

perhaps you still put a wall chart on your bedroom wall Ferret

[Mr Anon]

You've never heard of Disasi?

Really?

Nope but there again I don't watch much football these days bar West Ham.

So you don’t even watch World Cup finals then?

Some people just watch England, games, and any other game that takes their fancy, it's pretty normal mate

[Mad Ferret]

Very underwhelmed with it as only one I had heard of is Traore. 

You've never heard of Disasi?

Really?

Nope but there again I don't watch much football these days bar West Ham.

So you don’t even watch World Cup finals then?

[zico]

Very underwhelmed with it as only one I had heard of is Traore. 

You've never heard of Disasi?

Really?

Nope but there again I don't watch much football these days bar West Ham.

[El Scorchio]

Wasn't there some tax reason for Toney as to why it would have ended up silly him moving back from Saudi already? I seem to remember it coming up but i can't say if there's any truth in it. 

Think that was the case in the past but think that's expired now. Could be wrong.

I think it's a tax year thing, so he'd have a huge bill to pay if he returned before 6th April

Ah cheers! If that's the case then fair play. I'd have taken him like a shot in January though if he were available.

[El Scorchio]

I linked it above pal.

It's there for all to see.

Post my whole post on here for all to see.

Otherwise zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz....

[onsideman]

For example...

 

Wasn't there some tax reason for Toney as to why it would have ended up silly him moving back from Saudi already? I seem to remember it coming up but i can't say if there's any truth in it. 

Think that was the case in the past but think that's expired now. Could be wrong.

I think it's a tax year thing, so he'd have a huge bill to pay if he returned before 6th April

[Massive Attack]

For example...
 

Wasn't there some tax reason for Toney as to why it would have ended up silly him moving back from Saudi already? I seem to remember it coming up but i can't say if there's any truth in it. 

Think that was the case in the past but think that's expired now. Could be wrong.

[Mad Ferret]

I linked it above pal.

It's there for all to see.

[El Scorchio]

viewtopic.php?t=7252

"he seems like an utter donkey. Giraffe on roller skates. Woeful touch under any sort of pressure and off the speed of the game in any sort of tight situation and looks less likely to score than Areola."

Absolute mug.

Nice selective cutting and pasting about as good a job as you did with those Villa Kappa kits which you tried to pass off as ours. 

Now actually post all of it including the thread title.

[Mad Ferret]

viewtopic.php?t=7252

"he seems like an utter donkey. Giraffe on roller skates. Woeful touch under any sort of pressure and off the speed of the game in any sort of tight situation and looks less likely to score than Areola."

Absolute mug.

[El Scorchio]

For example was keeping an eye on Duran who Fenerbache were open to letting him go who I think could have turbo drived us up front. Or even tempt Toney back from Saudi if we used the money for either of them, be it an initial loan which we could have done potentially leading to a permanent transfer in the summer. Not that they are the only Strikers to go for around the world either.

https://onefootball.com/en/news/notting ... y-42349043


Instead we only evet entertained Mendes stock instantly as soon as the window opened for almost a combined £50M.




 

I'm not upset with the two we got. We weren't in a position to buy a sure thing unfortunately and I am probably relieved we got them instead of and for less than one Strand Larsen for example. Can't grumble about the contribution of either of them to the team and results so far.

Except you jumped the gun and made a thread cunting off Pablo after about 2 games.

Except I didn't. I started a thread asking the question is he good or shit.

Try harder.

[Mad Ferret]

For example was keeping an eye on Duran who Fenerbache were open to letting him go who I think could have turbo drived us up front. Or even tempt Toney back from Saudi if we used the money for either of them, be it an initial loan which we could have done potentially leading to a permanent transfer in the summer. Not that they are the only Strikers to go for around the world either.

https://onefootball.com/en/news/notting ... y-42349043


Instead we only evet entertained Mendes stock instantly as soon as the window opened for almost a combined £50M.



 

I'm not upset with the two we got. We weren't in a position to buy a sure thing unfortunately and I am probably relieved we got them instead of and for less than one Strand Larsen for example. Can't grumble about the contribution of either of them to the team and results so far.

Except you jumped the gun and made a thread cunting off Pablo after about 2 games.

[El Scorchio]

For example was keeping an eye on Duran who Fenerbache were open to letting him go who I think could have turbo drived us up front. Or even tempt Toney back from Saudi if we used the money for either of them, be it an initial loan which we could have done potentially leading to a permanent transfer in the summer. Not that they are the only Strikers to go for around the world either.

https://onefootball.com/en/news/notting ... y-42349043


Instead we only evet entertained Mendes stock instantly as soon as the window opened for almost a combined £50M.


 

Wasn't there some tax reason for Toney as to why it would have ended up silly him moving back from Saudi already? I seem to remember it coming up but i can't say if there's any truth in it. I wouldn't have minded Toney at all TBH if he were open to it. I don't know how good Duran actually would be, looking at his record although he is still crazy young. That good season at Villa but not a lot else since. I think Villa did very good business on him.

Yup one or both of those could have been better than what we got (you'd expect Toney would) but you never know, and it's impossible to say. I'm not upset with the two we got. We weren't in a position to buy a sure thing unfortunately and I am probably relieved we got them instead of and for less than one Strand Larsen for example. Can't grumble about the contribution of either of them to the team and results so far.

[Mad Ferret]

Very underwhelmed with it as only one I had heard of is Traore. 

You've never heard of Disasi?

Really?

[Massive Attack]

For example was keeping an eye on Duran who Fenerbache were open to letting him go who I think could have turbo drived us up front. Or even tempt Toney back from Saudi if we used the money for either of them, be it an initial loan which we could have done potentially leading to a permanent transfer in the summer. Not that they are the only Strikers to go for around the world either.

https://onefootball.com/en/news/notting ... y-42349043


Instead we only evet entertained Mendes stock instantly as soon as the window opened for almost a combined £50M.

 

[El Scorchio]

And if I'm being honest..

IF we stay up then the answer is yes. 


but seems to have the first touch of an epileptic being tasered when under any sort of pressure

100%. The calculated gamble would have paid off. I do think the money could have been better spent and ideally on getting in at leaset 1 regular proven goalscorer but if it has the desired effect of keeping us up anyway, then it would have been worth it. Still time to find their shooting boots because we cannot keep relying on just Bowen and Summerville - who is known to break down at some point with dodgy hamstrings the way that he plays full tilt.

Totally agree- and it is very much a calculated gamble because neither had pedigree. Better that than Sullivan buying another Danny Ings I suppose. I do wonder if more 'quality' subsequent signings were promised at the start of the window and mysteriously failed to materialise along with a barrage of excuses. We knew Traore would rock up after Afcon was over and Fulham had their player(s) back but it cannot have been the plan at least in anyone aside from Sullivan's mind to only get a centre back as the window shut. Harwood Bellis was clearly absolute panic stations at the last minute probably due to Todibo getting sent off. Circus indeed

[Massive Attack]

And if I'm being honest..

IF we stay up then the answer is yes. 


but seems to have the first touch of an epileptic being tasered when under any sort of pressure

100%. The calculated gamble would have paid off. I do think the money could have been better spent and ideally on getting in at leaset 1 regular proven goalscorer but if it has the desired effect of keeping us up anyway, then it would have been worth it. Still time to find their shooting boots because we cannot keep relying on just Bowen and Summerville - who is known to break down at some point with dodgy hamstrings the way that he plays full tilt.

[El Scorchio]

And if I'm being honest, the jury is still out for me on whether the £45M plus 130k combined wages were best spent on both Pablo and Taty in our situation. I won't criticise their work rate and it is true they do bring others more in to play, I'm just not sure that'll be enough. They need to add or make goals before the end of the season. Hopefully it will be enough and they soon add goals to their game in the League.

IF we stay up then the answer is yes. They've been a big factor in those two wins despite not scoring and frankly they can carry on not scoring if it means Summerville and Bowen carry on at basically a goal a game and it makes the rest of the team click.
I've already said I don't know what the fuck we've got in Pablo because he does some very useful things off the ball and in easy possession like laying it off but seems to have the first touch of an epileptic being tasered when under any sort of pressure but it's sort of working at least from an attacking point of view and they clearly must start every game when fit and available.

[zico]

Very underwhelmed with it as only one I had heard of is Traore.  Gonzo got it right last night when he said West Ham haven't spent to try and stay up and they also aren't planning for promotion if we do go down.  Once more totally amateur non preparation of effort from the board.  

[Massive Attack]

Igor hardly made an appearance for Brighton or us so why pay him £40 k a week, let Brighton pay him for doing nothing 

Exactly that. He aint demanding anything from anyone, other than possibly a new colouring book in the Creche as the rest of the Footballers get on with it. I will never get over him being caught out fannying about with his Barnet at the Training Ground of all things. Fucking pampered cunts.

Wait for it..

[Massive Attack]

And if I'm being honest, the jury is still out for me on whether the £45M plus 130k combined wages were best spent on both Pablo and Taty in our situation. I won't criticise their work rate and it is true they do bring others more in to play, I'm just not sure that'll be enough. They need to add or make goals before the end of the season. Hopefully it will be enough and they soon add goals to their game in the League.