• 2 Sep 2023, 2:56 a.m.

    I totally accept the "too many players" thing, but the step up in quality is startling.

  • 2 Sep 2023, 7:35 a.m.

    On McKenna, if you watch Cooper's press conference on Thursday he is absolutely glowing about him and says he thinks he is doing well and is capable of stepping up and being a top premier league defender. Now there could be some psychology going on there, perhaps even some salesmanship, but he made it sound like he was firmly in his plans. Don't forget too how short we have been at centre back given the injury records of Felipe, Boly and Niakhte, we like to play 3 sometimes, and that McKenna is left footed which makes him something of a rarity. As has been pointed out, AO and Muriello are both very young for first team centre backs too.

  • 2 Sep 2023, 7:43 a.m.

    So we made 13 signings this window. Which is nice, because the song still scans. (Not that that matters to football crowds anyway.)

  • 2 Sep 2023, 10:11 a.m.

    I think those two are in a transition phase, not going straight in but being acclimatised for next season when Felipe, Boly and McKenna, as well as currently Worrall although I hope he gets a new one, are out of contract.

  • 2 Sep 2023, 10:32 a.m.

    So 5 or 6 quality signings becomes 13. And we didn’t even get our first choice in Hendo.
    Disappointed to lose Brennan and his understanding with MGW.
    But excited to see CHO and what he can do with MGW.

    Also frustrating that we didn’t secure a loan for G Shelvey, Mighten or McDonnell, or moves for J Shelvey, Dennis, Arter (altho I wouldn’t be against reintegrating Dennis into the first team, if there is space!)
    A lot of money on two young centre halves. Remember how surprised we were on spending £5m on a young PSG defender three years ago!

    It’s another huge turnover and going to need the same patience with SSC to craft a team and harmonious dressing room from it, especially with no cup games until January.

    Anyway know what the 25 will look like?

  • 2 Sep 2023, 10:45 a.m.

    The volume and quality far exceeds what I expected. The danger is assuming that they will all hit the ground running....they probably wont. It will need the hat-trick of miracles from SSC, and I hope sufficient patience is extended to him. He's shown that he's a coach who can handle integrating new players into a team way better than the average. The squad now looks very strong, so it will be all about meeting different expectations.

    I like Brennan, and he's been amazing for us. I hope it's a good move for him personally. I think it's a good move for us. Time will tell, but it's allowed us to substantially upgrade our first team.

    I have no idea who we actually have on the books, never mind who we are going to use, and how.

  • 2 Sep 2023, 10:56 a.m.

    Our full list of over 21 players I think is (we're probably hoping the Saudis bail us out a bit on this):

    Vlachodimos
    Turner
    Hennessey
    Horvath
    Shelvey

    Worrall
    Felipe
    Niakhate
    Boly
    McKenna
    Biancone

    Toffolo
    Montiel
    Aurier
    Williams
    Aina
    Tavares

    Sangare
    Dominguez
    Yates
    Danilo
    Mangala
    Kouyate
    Shelvey
    Arter

    MGW
    CHO
    Konate

    Awoniyi
    Origi
    Wood
    Dennis
    Larsson

  • 2 Sep 2023, 10:58 a.m.

    Then we have under 21s in:
    Murillo
    Omobamidele
    Aguilera
    Elanga
    Mighten

  • 2 Sep 2023, 11:04 a.m.

    So we need to drop 8(!). Assuming no Saudi sales:

    Hennessey and Shelvey.
    Toffolo.
    Shelvey and Arter.
    Konate.
    Dennis and Larsson.

    Not as bad as I thought.

  • 2 Sep 2023, 11:13 a.m.

    Konate and Larsson?

    Home grown, presumably on fairly low pair contracts?

  • 2 Sep 2023, 11:24 a.m.

    Maybe some element of rose-tinted glasses but I detect signs of two trends in this window. First we have become recognised as a team that can be a stepping stone into the premier league for a better level of player, secondly there seems to be evidence of forward thinking. Both of which are positive in terms of establishing a long term presence in the big boys league.

  • 2 Sep 2023, 11:31 a.m.

    A beautiful glass half full post on what has been a very good window.

  • 2 Sep 2023, 1:20 p.m.

    Fair enough.

  • 2 Sep 2023, 1:33 p.m.

    I'm pretty sure Joe signed a new deal a week or two ago.