Keepers In: McGregor, Harper Very much an area of need, with only the Jak and Oxley (who then went out on loan) in the building. Bruce opted for experience and has been repaid well so far by McGregor, who looks to be good value for money. Should he get injured/suspended, we know what we'll get from Harper, and it worries me a lot less than the Jak would. 8/10 Defenders In: Elmo, Davies, Figueroa Curtis Davies looks like a superb signing - assured, decent in the air, skilled and even creative. A top-class player who has made us forget the departure of the popular Hobbs. We know Elmo's qualities but there have to be worries about him as a back-four RB rather than the wing-back role that suited him so well. Figueroa has settled in OK without too much positive or negative impact. 7.5/10 Midfielders In: Huddlestone, Livermore (loan), (Boyd) Better than we could possibly have hoped back in May, to be honest - Huddlestone's control and passing are a notch above, while Livermore is the perfect complement to him - energetic, unselfish and pragmatic. 9/10 Forwards In: Sagbo, Graham (loan), Gedo (loan), (Boyd) The jury is out, but for now the list looks underwhelming. We know who Bruce wanted - Hooper or Austin, then Long, along with a few others along the way - but it hasn't happened and it leaves the current lot looking rather like consolation prizes. Let's hope one of the trio can step up between now and January. 5/10 Overall: Despite last night's disappointment and the worries up front, the additions of Huddlestone, Livermore, McGregor and Davies all look like masterstrokes. 7.5/10 Your thoughts?
Keepers- fine. Defence- Chester needs to stop diving in and giving the opposition freekicks on our box ,and Elmo isn't a defender. I'd play Rosey there and Elmo further upfield. Davies and Figueroa are classy players. Midfield- Best part of the team. Confident and have all the ability to keep possession and play the ball around, they put their foot in when needed. A few goals would be nice as well. Agreed, that the Jury is still out on the strikers. Sagbo was a fool for getting himself sent off v Norwich. Graham, i'll benefit of the doubt for, and say if he scores a few goals, he'll do ok. I hope i'm proved wrong by Gedo. I dunno where Boyd and Aluko fit in. Overall- not completely happy about last night. We got someone in at least, but leaving the Long deal too late, and it ending up in disaster, is all too common with City. We need to get the strikers firing and we might have a good season. GK- 6 Defence- 7 Mid- 9 Strikers- 5
More than happy with what we've done, except the strikers. It was the most important area to strengthen, whilst WBA pulled the plug, we have had all summer to sort it out. Hopefully Bruce will be on the phone to Carlton Cole and get that all important PL experienced striker in - even on a short term deal. See us through for a season, if he'd consider us.
Very very happy with how we're looking at the moment. We've improved our (IMO) strongest asset (defence) with bargains. Figueroa and Davies have been brilliant. McGregor has really surprised me, I think he's absolutely fantastic and is well worth his £1.8M price tag. Huddlestone and Livermore have given us that important bit of Premier League experience and quality. They've completely transformed our midfield and made given Aluko a chance for his free role behind the striker without having to drop too deep. People are harsh to criticise Graham considering the games we've played. We have played Chelsea and Manchester City away from home and Norwich with 10 men for an hour. I think people are naive to get on Graham's back already. I thought he was one of our best players against Manchester City and he definitely took his chance well (granted it was offside, but he still could have missed!). Sagbo looks a good handful for defences which is always good because un-nerving and annoying defences can lead to them making mistakes and set-pieces will be key to survival this Season. We all know how Gedo can perform and how, given the chance, he'll stick the ball in the net. Natural poacher, and a satisfactory signing considering we could have come out of Deadline Day with nothing.
More than happy with our recruitment, another striker would have just put the icing on the cake. We have a good squad but all now depends on our strikers getting scoring and a few extras scored from the midfield. (was disappointed in the lack of long distant shots at Man City to test Hart). Also need to keep Aluko fit, any word yet on his injury? Just need Aluko/Gedo/Sagbo/Graham to come good. HDM report on the signings:- http://www.thisishullandeastriding.co.uk/story-19744743-detail/story.html?#axzz2df63xYB6
8/10 whilst we struggled to bring in any real fire power up front. Sagbo and Graham have all the attributes needed, its now time for one of them to stake their claim on that central striker role. I imagine Gedo will be used as a super sub initially until\unless he proves to SB he is anything more.
10, we've strengthened every single area of the team without spending stupid money on wages or transfer fees, couldn't (realistically) ask for anything more within our financial budgets.
It would appear we had 5m + to spend on a striker. We could have done something with that! There's always January.
We left Long late but WBA were never going to allow him to leave until they had a replacement. With Odemwingie leaving, and Lukaku missing the turn off on his way to Everton that didn't happen. Overall the quality of play from front to back is looking good but I am concerned about where the goals will come from.
Keepers - 9/10 Defenders 8/10 Midfielders 8/10 Strikers 7/10 Overall 8/10 well done to the Allams and Sir Steve Bruce.
Excellent summary. Agree with all of that except Graham. Jury is still out there. Overall though 9/10 except for Strikers. Defense/MF close to 10/10 with McGregor, Davies, Figueroa, Thudd, and Livermore. Gedo much better than Graham IMO and if he can recapture his pre-injury form should be a real goal threat. SB has been brilliant with his signings/loans
To paraphrase RoKo :- Keepers - 9/10 Defenders 8/10 Midfielders 9/10 Strikers 6/10 Overall 8/10 well done to the Allams and Sir Steve Bruce.
This was a very tough window for Bruce to get any quality and for that reason he has done brilliantly. We are at best 2nd favourites for relegation so imagine how hard it would have been to convince ambitious players to come here especially England hopefuls like Huddlestone and Livermore. No one should compare the quality of the players we got in to more established club's dealings. We aren't established and people should be realistic about who we had any chance of getting. 10 out of 10.
For the budget Bruce was given, 10/10. McGregor looks far superior to Stockdale, and ended up being cheaper. Curtis Davies looks a sound piece of business. Thud & livermore will make THE biggest difference to our survival prospects. At least one of Danny Graham, Sagbo or Gedo will come good.
