Just mulling over the signings we made this window and thinking about last season's loanees (and previous years), the latter being key to our survival and long gone.
Loanees are always a loss when they leave and have to be replaced.
I'm OK with using them, but when they are your star players, it makes it hard in the following window and doesnt always help you progress long term.
Will the loanees this year have the impact of the last few seasons? They don't look to have the calibre of some of our previous loanees, many who were youngsters from PL clubs.
8 signings (So far) this window, 4 permie, 4 loans. Ramsey and Siopis look key in the middle of the park longer term. The jury is still out on Goutas, while Meite is yet to hit his straps, but has a good record at this level. Given all were frees, looks to be good business.
Ike Ugbo, Karlan Grant, Josh Bowler and Alex Runarsson are the loanees. None are a Philogene or Kaba, a Giles or a Wilson.
Maybe none will be such a loss when they go.
Even if you can buy them, it's paying for something you already have.
Saying that, Runarsson is out of contract at the end of the season so maybe we'll get him for free.
So, Ugbo, Grant and Bowler.
I'm not expecting miracles this season, but feel that squad wise, we'll be better placed to kick on at the end of this year than at the end of last year.
Just hope we have a manager last long enough to build something.