Rate the Transfer Window

[trousers]

On 01/09/2025 at 20:33, trousers said:

I gave last year's window a 4/10, which turned out to be a tad too generous, so somewhat wary about going too high this time around. 

As such, and all things considered, I'll give this one a 6.5/10.

Whilst we've arguably now got the best bunch of creative final-third players in the division, I'm not convinced we have 'best of breed' in the following positions: goalkeeper, centre-back, defensive midfield or centre forward. 

I'm fairly confident we'll match Martin's Championship achievement, i.e. reaching the play-offs, but I've a nagging doubt that we could've / should've done more in one or more of the aforementioned positions in order to to maximise our chances of automatic promotion.

In other words, give me a better keeper, a Fonte, and a Lambert and I'd feel much more confident. 

We march on! COYR!

 

Hmm.... Beginning to think I might have been too generous again...  And as for wanting a better keeper... What a daft notion that was...

[Nordic Saint]

2 hours ago, trousers said:

Hmm.... Beginning to think I might have been too generous again...  And as for wanting a better keeper... What a daft notion that was...

You're not the only one. I gave an overly generous 2. There should have been a minus option.

[Toussaint]

3

[Toussaint]

If not heard of any of the players, now I know why.

[Holmes_and_Watson]

On 03/09/2025 at 10:50, Holmes_and_Watson said:

4 out of 10 for me.

That's partially a reflection on the mess that was needed to be cleared up, rather than on all the work Spors and co did to get players in, and others to get players out the door. 

After all that, I think we're weaker than the last time we got promoted. We've replaced the likes of KWP, Bednarek, Stu and Che with players who haven't performed at that level, or up and coming players. 

That's not to say that the incoming players won't be able to step up. Any rating is subject to change and the recruitment team could well have brought in plenty of gems. It can be tougher to convince players to take a step down to join, rather than keep those that have come down with you. 

But as a snap shot, a quick look indicates it's the difference, for me, of finishing fourth and fighting to get into the playoffs. Hopefully Still and the new recruits won't have the same issues Martin had.

The squad depth is still an issue, despite all of the churn. SR have never really replaced Romeu and more recently Adams. We lack an all round center forward and proper defensive midfielder with technical ability. hopefully Jander will be the latter, and Still's system mitigates the need for the former. Time will tell. There's lots of reservations around our 'keeper position too. Technically, SR solved it by bringing in Ramsdale, but it's Baz and McCarthy again for this season. 

Despite all the gloomy bits, there's no doubt we have an engaged ownership group, still working hard to get their model to work. That makes a difference, when you look at other clubs. 

Player trading is a solid 5 out of 10 for me. Excellent in moving on younger players for a profit (Livramento, Lavia, Tella, Alcaraz, Dibling and Fernandes), but let down by the bloated squad and having to gut the squad on more than one occasion. Arguably, we've not made massive losses on any individual (Sule and TP for example), which was part of the goal. 

SR will be pleased the overall wage bill continues to reach where they wanted it to go, even if we have lost out on some PL seasons, and overall it was a bit bloated. We will have more flexibility should we go back up. 

Mine came in at 4.1/10 (very precise).
Then I read Egg's post about the spine being light. I'd mentioned much the same, without giving it a weighting.
With a very broad weighting, it takes my 4.1/10 down to a 2.6/10 rating against our last promotion side, where 5/10 would have been an equivalent side. 

That's losing your best central defender (Bednarek), not having a defensive midfielder,  and losing both your best attacking midfielder and central forward, in Stu and Che. It should be noted that both sides have Baz, so not great there either. 

4.6/10 in our last promotion season, would have got us 7th (72 points)
2.6/10 in our last promotion season is in the relegation places. (46 points)

That 46 points should be the worst case. That's replacing your better players with players who don't step up. There's no reason why some/all of the new signings won't be able to show they are top championship players with us and ready for the PL.

But it does give a broad indication, that when recruiting for championship level and moving on all of your better PL players, there's an increased risk of it not working out. You could end up pretty much anywhere. 

On the plus side, Charles, Edwards, Azaz and Fellowes all were standouts at their clubs last season. So, there's hope of a higher finish. 
Then there's Still's management supposedly getting us back to winning ways under a much less rigid approach.  

But we're 6 games in with 6 points, projected across the season would give us...46 points.
So, that's right on the lowest end, matching that 2.6/10 window, exactly. 

[Challenger]

Seem to keep buying players that are neither skillful enough, pacy enough or strong enough. How does this keep happening ?

[die Mannyschaft]

4

On paper 7 but in practice a lot lower. But let's see after 6 games. 

[LiberalCommunist]

Not giving up on the Ins. There's some talent in that mix, for sure. But they need direction, and that is seriously lacking right now. 

You can't spend £60M in the Championship and not be under severe pressure. Sort it Will. 

Transfer rating 6, and that's being dragged down by the gaffer senior Weasley.