3, maybe? Sold Kane, didn't replace him, failed to move on virtually anyone. Vicario, Maddison and van de Ven look like decent signings. If we can shift some more deadwood to Turkey or whatever, then it might get to 4.
None of us were expecting miracles in just one transfer window . It’s hopefully a progressive step and more work will be done in the background in anticipation of the next transfer windows.
That's oddly specific . Presumably, you're happy with Maddison, van de Den, maybe Vicario too? But you're unhappy with the replacement (or lack of?) for Kane and the inability to shift deadwood?
We have however spent the full amount we got for Kane since he was sold. It’s our biggest ever net spend I think.
I edited it to 4.7 on reflection. Delighted with Maddison as he’s the player we’ve been missing since Eriksen. Micky has so far looked good if a bit raw. Vicario I had huge concerns over but has put in two really good performances in three games. I like Johnson but feel he’s not what we exactly needed, though do believe he’ll be a good signing. Hoping for sort of Aaron Lennon vibes from him. As for negatives: We sold Harry Kane for a fee that does **** all for us. We haven’t tried to replace him which means Richarlison is our first choice striker which genuinely infuriates me. I know sometimes I like to play on dark humour with some of our players but legitimately ****ing hate that pigeon. We’ve barely shifted any deadwood. We didn’t sign a much needed second CB. We’re an injury away to Maddison, Romero, Bissouma and Udogie (plus others) from looking complete horseshit. Daniel Levy has reaffirmed himself as a massive ****.
You wanna know what the crazy thing is? I wouldn't rate our window that much higher than yours. Crazy, ey? Ours was a 6/10 at best. We've brought in Rice, Havertz, Timber and Raya. Rice has been our best player so far. Timber started very well, but is out for 90% of the season. Raya is competition for Ramsdale and he's obviously a quality player, but it wasn't an essential signing (IMO). Havertz is a ridiculous and unnecessary risk, particularly given the outlay. We recouped about £75m-£80m (maximum) in player sales and loan fees - which was way less than expected. Too many players, who were expected to leave permanently, went on loan due to a lack of interest/affordability from prospective clubs. We currently have 6 available defenders for 4 positions - 2 of whom are injury-prone. Not getting another defender (even on loan), when we've known for 3 weeks the extent of Timber's injury, is borderline negligence. We are still light in midfield, in my opinion, especially with this galaxy brain approach that Arteta has decided to adopt by playing people out of position. We don't have reliable cover for Saka, either. So yeah, this isn't a squad that is anywhere close to competing on multiple fronts. It's hard for me to be optimistic about the season ahead.
VdV and Veliz account for most of that and those deals didn’t go through until we were certain Kane would leave. In total we’ve spent more than double what we got for Kane.
We can still register free agents So if we want that second CB, there's a few out there... Sergio Ramos Matija Nastasic Steven Caulker Axel Tuanzebe Surely at least one of them has a less aggravating outlook on their immediate future than Eric Dier does...
We were signing a new CB regardless of Kane’s departure. Even if we say Veliz’s fee is down to being a potential long term Kane replacement, there’s still then a solid £25m or so from Kane’s sale that we should’ve spent. We’ve left Ange up **** creek. We just need to hope he does a Pochettino and raise the games of many players whilst hoping we don’t get many injuries too, especially at CB and Maddison, as that means one of Sanchez/ Dier or Lo Celso having to play.
The Good 1. Vicario looks decent 2. VDV looks agree prospect 3. Maddison is quality 4. Johnson is a good addition as is Solomon. 5. Kuluchevski looking better than last season (he signed permanently this summer). 6. NOT buying Longlet 7. NOT buying Gallagher 8. Loaning out Tanganga and Reguilon. 9. Selling winks 10. Getting a couple of highly rated young players (Alejo Véliz and Ashley Phillips). 11. Rodon and Spence going out on loan. The Bad 1. Selling Kane 2. NOT selling or loaning out Lloris, Dier, Hoejberg, Lo Celso. 3. Sessengon being too injured to sell or loan out. The Ugly 1. Ndombele being too ****e to selling/loan/giveaway in a raffle 2. Richarlison being our only out and out striker until at least Xmas. 7/10 window
Havertz was definitely the head scratcher for me. I see him as your Richarlison, huge money for likely little return. I don’t know how you personally view it too as you watch far more than me (obviously) but from an outsider looking in I feel you needed a proper striker. Jesus isn’t a good enough goal scorer and Nketiah is a sound backup level player but naturally not someone you’d want starting every week, he impressed me in your Amazon doc too, especially when he had a go at Lokonga for moaning about game time, seems very much a “team first, individual second”, type of guy.
