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?!

 

[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.

[goose]

1/10 absolute shit show but in no way surprising.

[Takashi Miike]

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

[El Scorchio]

Overall- shocking. A Sullivan masterclass in how to show no ambition and fuck your club. Sat on his hands and on the fence the whole month trying to blame everyone else for his unwillingness and inability to bring anyone in. As ever it was a half measure. It was just like last summer when everyone knew we needed midfielders and he sat there and did nothing until it was clear after two games we'd finish 20th unless he did.

To be fair in terms of who did come through the door, the two strikers are the only true plus point as in players who actually improve the first team and the squad. If we are to stay up by the skin of our teeth it'll be down to them. Neither look like scoring really but they run their arses off for the cause and create opportunities for others. Pablo I cannot make head not tail of as his workrate is exceptional and he looks tidy one moment but an absolute donkey the next, but Taty has been a little unlucky not to bag one or two.

Traore- yeah fine. We need backup for Bowen and he ought to help late on in games with running and strength and keeping some pressure off our defence. I'm not blaming him for Todibo getting himself sent off. 

Disasi- yeah fine. He will be better than Kilman. He might displace Mav which would still improve the team.

Lamadrid- Fuck off Sullivan. A player he's gone rogue to put time and energy into signing who isn't ready for a year on a six month loan when we need immediate impact says it all. If ever there was a transfer to sum up David Sullivan in terms of what we needed vs what he produced, then this is it.

In terms of players out, why did we give Igor back as we only loaned one more player in the end? Shocking ineptitude. Paqueta and Fullkrug fair enough. The cunts. Most of the others are just fodder who wouldn't have contributed. The fact Sullivan trimmed down the squad clearly for financial reasons when we needed to do the opposite is another indication of his shocking ineptitude and failure to read the room.

The main gripe about this window is what we didn't get and how it unfolded. All half measures and stopgaps. Palace and Forest and even Wolves did far better business. We came away with half of what we needed and even the Disasi signing was absolute last minute when we KNEW we needed a centre back urgently all window. We needed at least one more attacker. We needed another midfielder. It's an embarrassing farcical mess as usual pinned solely on the dwarf no matter how he tries to spin it as everyone else's fault. Why didn't we go for Laschelles? He's gone to Leicester. They aren't coming up. Him on loan or a cheapie would have been fine as cover and on talent he's instantly our second best defender at the worst. Why didn't we go for Gomes when he was willing to go to Wolves? These are not expensive short term transfers.

Lack of ambition, lack of ideas, lack of strategy, self imposed lack of money. All down to Sullivan. No actual investment. In fact I am pretty sure we made a bit of money in that window.

Fucking shocking given our precarious position. Absolute dereliction of duty. The day cannot come quick enough when he fucks off out of the club.

[RBshorty]

For Sullivan. 7 out of 10. (Still didn't get Bowen out the door. Have to take that hit in the Summer.)

For the Fans. 3 out of 10. Apart from a quick payday and a move in the summer. You ain't coming here for a seat on the Titanic.

Remember Folks.

PRIMED FOR THE DROP.!

COYI.

[claypole]

It would be a successful window if none of the agent 'mates' got their pockets filled with club cash

[Massive Attack]

Being in the position we are, it was always going to be difficult to attract the best players. 

And yet even lost cause Wolves managed to bring in Angel Gomes this window. Not easy granted but still achievable. I think he could have been a decent signing costing little replacing Paqueta.

[Iron Duke]

Being in the position we are, it was always going to be difficult to attract the best players. I think we have done okay in the circumstances. The damage was done in previous transfer windows. We have been made to pay for poor signings under the last three managers.

[Mad Dog]

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outs?  Aside from Irving and guillerme who would have been useful in championship next year im glad the others have fucked off and frankly good riddance 

The 2 new guys up top i like

The Chelsea twat cant be worse than kilman (can he?), but probably an overpaid merc

Traore looks utter shit and I dont know why we bothered with him (hope im wrong)

Frankly though after we were cut adrift after forest it didnt matter who we got