As some of you may know I'm a Chelsea fan so I have no bias towards or against you guys so I just call it as I see it. I believe you guys along with Stoke have definitely come out of this window with the best buys, I have been very impressed with what Fernandes has done in such a short space of time. I think it's 12 signings you've made and it will go along way to securing your PL survival. I must confess that I don't know a great deal about Murphy, Perone or Tranni so I will leave them aside. Bothroyd - A bit of a gamble as he has unproven at PL level but given the fact he came on a free it isn't a bad thing, has had his problems in the past but seems to have matured. DJ Campbell - I think this is one of the best pieces of business anyone has done all summer, he was one of the top English strikers and at the age of 30 has plenty of experience. Also a local boy as well so works a treat all round. I had my doubts about him at this level when Birmingham side, but he really stood out in a Blackpool team that struggled all season. Dyer - Injury prone but may still have something to offer, doesn't have the pace he had before the injuries picked up but on a free it's not exactly a bad signing. Barton - Has an explosive temperament and I personally wouldn't want him at my club but as a player he has undoubted quality going back to his City days. He could and should really be pushing for an England place. Natural leader that won't accept 2nd best as well, the sort of character you want in a relegation battle. Luke Young - Very sound full back and can play either side, plenty of experience as well, for less than half a million or whatever it is you paid that seems a bargain. Traore - Not the best buy in the world but he really shouldn't be judged on that United game, United are the best team in the Prem at the moment and he was alongside lazy senior players that didn't give a rats ass about helping him out or tracking back to try and stop Smalling and Nani's runs. Ferdinand - Inconsistent but on his day pretty solid, could be a good move for him. SWP - Had him at Chelsea and always liked him, very good at running at defenders and mazy runs etc. A bit hit and miss but more often the former than latter. Puncheon - Good signing even if it is a loan, quite a good little player and looked impressive when at Millwall and I thought he linked up well with DJ when at Blackpool. All in all a good window for you guys, best of luck for the season. Only ourselves, Man Utd, Man City, Liverpool, QPR and Stoke will come out of this window with a sense of real confidence I think.
Cheers DL, some right crackers in there, it'll give us a chance! PS so impressed with your article, I tweeted it
A good assessment District. There's a fair chance we'll be in the relegation mix towards the end of the season nevertheless. I guess the six pointers for us are Everton, Wigan, Norwich, Swansea and Blackburn. But interested in views - West Brom, Aston Villa or Fulham in there too?
Ha we're not all that bad. I think come May there are some clubs that may rue letting some of those players go.
Wouldn't argue with your assessment DL, it'll be how quickly they gel and, perhaps more importantly, if Taarabt can step up to the plate both in his teamwork ethic and skill level. If he does a top half finish may be possible.
I wouldn't say it is an impossibility for top half providing the players gel well etc. My dark horses for top half are Wolves, Newcastle and maybe West Brom but we'll see
Agree with Wolves being a top-half possibility. Roger Johnson was the bargain signing of this window, a player I'd love us to have picked up for £5 million especially considering some of the dross that have cost a lot more.
I'd think Sunderland would be pretty happy with their signings. Very good article. PS: You missed out Gabbidon
Damn it I knew I missed someone out Jury's out on Gabbidon but he has got plenty of experience at this level, like Anton very Hit (Everton) but can be very miss (Bolton) Good to see another person from Merton on here as well
Totally agree, one of my housemates is a Wolves ST and funnily enough in May I said if they got Dann and/or Johnson in defence they'd easily be a midtable team Another thing is most of their points came from teams in the top half and they conceded probably more stoppage time goals than any other team. I read stat table at the end of last season and Wolves would have been midtable if games ended bang on 90 minutes. Roger Johnson will stop them leaking as many goals. If they do half as well against the teams in the bottom half then they won't even need to think about relegation.
