I have given the window a 4. It is a very good window on paper but it cannot be a 5 as many of out key signings are players we already had. If aby of then have a bad attitude now, particularly Che, we could struggle for goals. But that is a fairly small if. Good window and now we go win the league.
I bookmarked this page earlier on in the transfer window: Transfer Rumours - Summer transfer rumours 2023 | Page 160 | Not606 SR have been accused of selling players too easily, just interested in making a quick buck, not backing the manager, leaving us with a bang average Championship team. Please, to the people who have been really fierce critics of SR, tell me, what do you think of our squad now the window has shut? Do you really think they don't want promotion with that squad they've built over the summer? Martin has been given the freedom and the resources to build the squad he wants. Wilcox has been an absolute revelation. For all they got wrong last season, SR have got the big calls right this summer. They haven't yet fully redeemed themselves, but hell, the feel good feeling is back around St Mary's again. Now let's get back to the PL (sorry Libby).
Pending any late surprises… it’s a 4/5. Given that a 5 would have involved retaining JWP and Tella i’d say it has gone as well as we could have hoped. A lot hinged on the striker situation, retaining Adams on top of signing Stewart has boosted the score. Some ridiculous players for the Championship, be hard to imagine we will get a better chance than this season to get back to the PL.
One thing I will say that's disappointed me ij the last week. We were promised a Tella replacement, and that never happened. That's disappointing. Unless the replacement was Ryan Fraser like a lot of us suspected, of course.
With the benefit of hindsight, it’s clear that the main problem with recruitment under SR up until the Martin/Wilcox partnership was Rasmus Ankersen. Now he’s a step further away from direct involvement in football matters, there’s a completely different atmosphere, from the boardroom down to the fans.
Regardless of whether we go up or not (and in theory we probably should) this is going to be a fun season and I'm just going to enjoy it for what it is. What will be will be. After giving SR some (not unreasonable) stick last Summer where they arrogantly over relied on youth and left us short up top, they seem to have undoubtedly learned the lessons from last season and like you I'm inclined to believe Wilcox has made a huge difference there. Only place we're really a bit light imo is FB if we were to lose KWP (and to a lesser extent wide players) but you'll never get everything and there's undoubtedly enough there to challenge for automatic promotion. No doubt we'll spend in January too if its needed and we're in a promising position.
Personally (and I know some disagree), I'm very happy it's Sulemana. I think he's going to have a lot of fun this season.
