Transfer window latest – Swans decide their next moves

The transfer window is now starting to take shape as you would imagine one week in and if you look between the speculative, the ranting and the downright crazy there is a pattern and a plan that is starting to unfold.

We can talk all we like about whether the first week has unfolded the way that we initially planned but the reality is we are now almost seven days in and we have seen four leave and one loan recall shape the start of the window.

Morgan Whittaker’s recall from Plymouth has generated much column inches across the media with speculation ranging wide on the players, the managers and the club views on how well the recall has gone down.  Whittaker has supposedly wanted to be here, not wanted to be here, glad to be back the manager, not liking the manager but at the end of all of that he is here and the manager will be the one who makes the call as to whether he plays or not.  Or at least that is the assumption that it should be safe to make.

There has been speculation as to whether Whittaker was recalled to sell – Russell Martin says that isn’t the case but if an offer came in then – as with every member of our squad – we would have to consider what is best all round.   That option can be removed by Morgan taking part in our next league game so we just wait and see but for now he is a striker who has an excellent record this season that has been added to our squad.   Cannot be a bad thing wherever you sit on the speculative scale.

On the outgoings, Brandon Cooper has left on loan, Jordan Garrick has joined him at Forest Green on a permanent deal and Fin Stevens and Armstorng Oko-Flex have both been recalled by their clubs.  If there is one learn that we have to be using in his window it is our relatively poor use of the loan system over the past couple of windows.  I don’t understand why we keep bringing in players on loan – supposedly to aid their development – and then just having them as squad members.    If we are to have young talent to add depth to the squad then use our own after all we are paying them already to be here.   The loan market is a valuable one at our level but we have to use it better.

One of the best aspects of the transfer window is the constant stream of links that we can see being made and a generic picture that seems to be the louder you shout the more impactful your speculation and link is.  We also know that there is a host of people out there paid to drum up interest in their players so that adds to the speculation and very often you find that the deals that actually are done are kept well away from the public domain (either through intentional or accidental) leaks until most of the final detail has been nailed down and agreed.  Couple that with every club has lots of players on their wish lists and largely plans b, c, d and beyond when it comes to what may happen in the next – what is three and a bit  – weeks of the window.

So expect to see more speculation on the likes of Ogbene, Obafemi, Paterson, Ntcham and even Whittaker and expect to see more names linked – this week we have seen Marc Leonard back on the agenda amongst others who were linked even before the window opened.

I do have to confess in that I enjoy a transfer window but not actually from an excitement as to who we end up with because we’ve seen too many disappointing ones in the past.   In fact even the ones that have excited us have let us down over time so the transfer window is what it will be.   We know we generally have to sell before we buy (we aren’t close to being a sustainable club no matter what Mr Winter likes to tell us) and we also know that we don’t have anywhere near the budget to match the teams that we would like to think we can compete with.   So it’s not actually that aspect that makes me enjoy the window.

The aspect that I enjoy is the speculation.   The wide “I know this to be FACT” statements which ironically are often the ones that prove to be anything but FACTS.   The constant desire that 30 years of the internet has driven to be the first to see something.  In generally starts on Twitter and it explodes.   And when its been read by 10 people and they have told 10 each who have each told 5 more then all of a sudden 500 people “know” and it all eminated from a computer screen in a darkened room probably nowhere near the stadium but came from the former player’s next door neighbour’s milkman’s postman’s brother’s wife’s cousin.  Who probably heard it from the person they sit next to at work.  What is there not to believe about it when 500 people have it from a reliable source.    And that is why I enjoy the transfer window, it’s 99% speculation and 1% fact.  It’s fun and should be taken as such.  Especially when those that are wrong say they were right all the time.

So what do the Swans do next?  I think we are all anticipating some incomings over the next week or so although there is no cast iron guarantee.   There is no doubt that we are speaking to targets (I would be more alarmed if we weren’t) and that some will progress further than others.   But the departures of Cooper, Garrick, Stevens and Oko-Flex will not have filled the coffers with money to strengthen so now its down to what we have, the answer to which is generally not a lot (no criticism, just a statement of fact.)

What will happen though is there will be more links of players in and out and the fun will be working out which 99% is speculation and which 1% is fact.   And what we find it is always the same quiet ones and trusted ones that are right.  Sometimes anyway!

And just laying down the Planet Swans stance.   When we are right, we are right, when we are wrong we are wrong.  It’s just fun to talk about it.

Keep the fun going and enjoy the ride, we love it!  Just smile!

What do you make of the transfer window?  Why not leave your comment using the boxes below or join us on our forums to add to the speculation?