The Summer Transfer Window POST MORTEM THREAD

[BringBack_leGin]

This window has been a big disappointment, and definitely hasn't gone the direction any fan, player, coach or the manager and chairman expected. I think Levy messed up by underestimating what it would take to get things done this window, and I think he's fortunate that the team in place is already very good. Additionally, one plus I will take is that we have finally shaken off the 'selling club' tag. Kane, signed on. Alderweireld and Rose, still here. Hopefully Eriksen (mainly as he only has 2 years) and a couple of others sign contracts in the coming weeks, that will make up for the poor transfer window to an extent.

I'd give the window a 4/10. We still finish the window with the best squad we've ever had. That couldn't be said last time because both Trippier and Davies have visibly improved since then, so has Son.

 

[George94]

I don't understand how we went from clear CM targets... to fucking nothing. It seems pretty obvious we were very interested in Ndombele, I still believe we always wanted Kovacic, there was no one in all of world football after them?

We didn't want to pay the market rate for these players.

That really is the answer.

You offer £45-50m for Ndombele, you probably get him. You offer £65-70m for Zaha, you probably get him.

 

[We need another Hoddle]

Dreadful and I offically give up

 

[St José Dominguez]

As soon as I could clearly see we weren't selling anyone before end of today I knew we wouldn't be signing anyone before end of today. I've felt relatively calm about this compared to others and today was of no surprise whatsoever to me.

 

[Univarn]

Most people on this forum saw this coming a mile off.

Same old shit, same old story.

But we were all told to 'stop melting' and to judge Levy and our business at the end of the window.

Well...here we are.

I was one and said I would melt with you if the day came and nothing happened because I didn't think messing up like this was humanly possible... Well I was wrong. Willing to admit it but I can't melt with you guys. I just don't have the heart. Genuinely sad and concerned.

 

[crokey]

I don't understand how we went from clear CM targets... to fucking nothing. It seems pretty obvious we were very interested in Ndombele, I still believe we always wanted Kovacic, there was no one in all of world football after them?

Poch has already said today (and quite rightly) that if we don't get our targets we aren't buying second rate shit anymore.

This is the correct strategy IMO and by definition it means that sometimes we will miss out.

 

[dtxspurs]

We didn't want to pay the market rate for these players.

That really is the answer.

You offer £45-50m for Ndombele, you probably get him. You offer £65-70m for Zaha, you probably get him.

I know, just hoping ITK would chime in on why we just gave up altogether it seems. And I suppose I know the answer with that too as I've been saying all morning no outgoings, no incomings. End of the day Levy just didn't want to get caught with his pants down post window closing trying to give away the deadwood.

 

[barry]

We need to hire a dof who has ansolute power over a designated budget

 

[LukaKranjcar]

Just all so predictable. Thats what annoys me the most, its like we never learn. I dont expect us to go out and break records or hoover up 4-5 £50m pound players but the way we go about our business has to move with the times. Football has changed, whether we like it or not. I understand its difficult to upgrade upon out first 11, we're blessed with some truly world class players, but to come away with nothing just isnt good enough. We should've stuck to our tried and tested method of going for potential if we cant find/afford the finished article. Youth isn't the answer.

This really was our opportunity to cement ourselves as one of the big boys and it feels as though we've not even attempted to grasp it. Bitterly disappointed.

 

[dtxspurs]

Poch has already said today (and quite rightly) that if we don't get our targets we aren't buying second rate shit anymore.

This is the correct strategy IMO and by definition it means that sometimes we will miss out.

But there are more than 2 CM's in all of world football that could have helped this season and for the future.

 

[We need another Hoddle]

We didn't want to pay the market rate for these players.

That really is the answer.

You offer £45-50m for Ndombele, you probably get him. You offer £65-70m for Zaha, you probably get him.

The end of the day, if you want to dance you have to pay the band.

 

[ItsBoris]

Poch has already said today (and quite rightly) that if we don't get our targets we aren't buying second rate shit anymore.

This is the correct strategy IMO and by definition it means that sometimes we will miss out.

Except that we never get our targets because we haggle and try to get them for cheap and then someone else comes in and pays the actual price.

So basically our plan is to let our squad wither.

 

[Good Doctor M]

I'm oddly quite pleased to think we're going into the season with the same squad that's transformed this club over the last few years...

... But on another note... Very, very strange not to have done anything.

 

[Clark28]

Poch has already said today (and quite rightly) that if we don't get our targets we aren't buying second rate shit anymore.

This is the correct strategy IMO and by definition it means that sometimes we will miss out.

I’m glad we’re finally taking this approach.

 

[andy00900]

The only one I’m most gutted about, no two I’m most gutted about is Toby/Martial, I’d love to know what went on here.

Based on what Gards said through the window and news reports I'd guess a combination of United wanting 90M to sell in league(70m for europe) and valuing Toby at 40M, no way we would pay more than what 15-25m on top of Toby. Not sure Woodward would even let the sale happen. Guessing they wouldn't come close to 60M? for toby so we didn't sell.

 

[LeParisien]

Poch wants signings to improve the first team and to put youth on the bench because:

- they are easier to manage and less likely to get the hump.


I guess also because:
- cheaper
- give a clear pathway from academy to first team

So if it is as difficult as you say to sign for the first team (I agree) then we’ve done what poch wanted by not buying for the bench. Brave.

At least the youth thread will be happy for once.

 

[pablo73]

I think everything has pretty much been said, it's beyond disappointing that in the whole of world football we could not find one player who we could afford who would improve our squad. It's incompetent at best. I don't think we will know the repercussions of this window for a while but I can't see how showing a complete lack of ambition interms of improving the squad is going to encourage Poch and our best players to stay in the medium to long term.

 

[tiger666]

The BSoDL are very loyal though. If poch is fired or left it will be his fault not the little innocent Bald C**t.

Come on, we can blame Levy, defend Levy, do whatever but there's no need in this thread to try and score points against other forum users with this anti-Levy vs BSoDL stuff.

 

[brendanb50]

I've generally avoided getting too invested in this window - since the world cup it's been clear that we were either playing it very cagey or were gradually falling short in being able to get our no.1 targets.

Am i fuming like many i've seen on here and twitter - no. Am i disappointed - yes.

For me this was an ideal window to strengthen in many ways - firstly, the investment needn't have been massive - we're talking 2-3 quality additions over 5-6 sideways transfers and back-ups. With the outgoings touted, this looked feasible.

Secondly, the commitment a few our players have made on their new deals (whilst a huge positive) needed a bit of backing up by the club in other ways - showing a bit of ambition and making a statement to our players ahead of a new season in the new stadium. This would have been positive for all involved.

Lastly, we're close to having a great team but there are a few in it on their way down rather than up (i.e. Dembele) we need to bolster some of those areas while we still have the luxury to choose, rather than having that option taken away by injury or by a contract running down (i.e. Toby).

However, all that said - IF the right players aren't there, then i see no point in adding players just to serve as back up/potential - we've done that with a few in the past 3-4 years and all it does is fatten the squad and doesn't add much to our play or results. For me i'd rather see more faith in our youth than that and add quality where possible. If quality isn't on the table (at the right price) then i get why we're leaving the window with nothing, as disappointing as that is.

 

[Deleted member 27995]

I was one and said I would melt with you if the day came and nothing happened because I didn't think messing up like this was humanly possible... Well I was wrong. Willing to admit it but I can't melt with you guys. I just don't have the heart. Genuinely sad and concerned.

I'll piggy back on this. Agreed.

Disappointed and frustrated and that's since half ten this morning. It's happened now.