Interesting one, because it's felt like a constant kick in the balls since June but as I sit now and reflect on the actual end result, I think we've done well in some difficult circumstances.
We've moved on a lot of the chod and filler - great fee for Kelly, decent fee for Dubravka, decent fee for Sean, cash return for Kuol, removed Lewis, Wilson, Hayden from the wage bill and at least part of Targett, White and Vlachodimos wages covered for the year. The only ones we're stuck with who we could probably do with moving on is Ashby who I wouldn't imagine is on big money anyway, and one of Krafth/Jama who are in their final year and dependable enough occasional cover for the defence. The Osula fee yesterday looked like unbelievable business but I can sort of see why we're keeping hold of him as we'll be super light during AFCON if not.
The Isak thing has been done to death and I'm not keen to talk about it in loads of detail. All I'll say is £130m is a good fee (good but not outstanding) and it's a relief to get the cunt away from our club in favour of players who'll actually try a leg every week. Here's hoping for an injury prone Andy Carroll style spell at the dippers for the cunt. The negative is the optics around us being a cuck to the cartel but that's for another post & another thread.
Incomings wise, I think we've signed well. Elanga I think will be good for us and we've seen glimpses of his pace and how it'll frighten any defence, but I'm concerned he doesn't help solve the issue of tackling low blocks and his cameo at Leeds was an example of that. We barely ever seem to miss on transfers so I'll back the move, but I have a lingering doubt we could have done with a more technical option rather than a pace merchant. Let's see.
Ramsdale I think will eventually usurp Pope this season due to his better footballing ability. I wasn't hot on the signing at first but when reflecting on our modus operandi of buying "in the dip" (see also: Ramsey) the guy was Arsenal's first choice for two years and has joined teams where playing with 12 men every week wouldn't have kept them up. I expect he'll get a start in a cup game soon and then keep the gloves in the league.
Thiaw I haven't seen much of, but his statistical profile suggests he's very much in the mould of Schar and will be able to phase him out as his legs continue to go. Seems to have a decent background, fee wasn't astronomical, played for Milan and a few German caps, so cautiously optimistic with this one.
Ramsey was on my list when we first got taken over in 2021 and I've posted before about wanting to sign him. Injuries permitting, I think if Eddie does the job on him I know he can I'd expect an England cap before 2026 is out. He's a very, very good player and when he beds in I think he'll help the way we play through the lines centrally and reduce the heavy reliance on the wide players in our attacking patterns.
Woltemade is the most exciting one. Looks big and powerful but skilful and creative too which is a rare mix. Might take a little while to bed in but I think he'll do well for us. Also gives us the option to play with a #10 or deeper lying forward off a focal striker which I like. Big fee and always an element of risk but I think we've invested it in someone who'll continue to grow.
Wissa is definitely an overpay by £10m or so, considering his age, but he's guaranteed to score goals. It's like when we signed Wilson in 2020 basically. Always liked him for Brentford and hopefully in a team that creates chances at the rate we do he'll be filling his boots.
All this without a CEO or Sporting Director too, which PIF need to get their arses in gear with and sort out. We've navigated this window well with a skeleton staff and people filling in multiple roles - we can't do that again.
I'd rate the window at 8/10 with all the above in mind - purely focusing on what we let go, what we got in and the relative fees, ignoring the missed targets and optics around Isak. I'd have liked another midfielder, and one of the striker signings should have been done much earlier as we've already dropped points due to being light in that area. But, I'm happy and satisfied after the window and keen to see what the new lads can contribute.
Does "application" mean launching himself into a ridiculous tackle which was only going to end one way when he knew fine well we had a bare bones striking department? Remember when Bruno managed to walk the yellow card ban tightrope for about eight matches when we were short handed in midfield? That's the balance between putting in effort, but having a controlled aggression that Gordon could do with learning whilst he spends yet another 3 game stretch in the cooler.
