Was the window a success?

[PSumbler]

Vote in the article at the link

https://planetswans.co.uk/2021/09/01/the-summer-we-didnt-imagine-but-the-one-that-we-were-delivered-how-was-it-for-you/

 

[Dr. Winston]

The whole thing hinges on whether Ntcham; A - Signs, and B - Delivers. It could still go either way.

We've added the ball playing defender most people wanted, and effectively swapped a forward that most thought couldn't play under Martin for one who should be able to.

The big question mark remains over midfield. If ON can add the dynamism that's been missing for more than two seasons then we'll probably be fine until Jan. If he doesn't and we're still reliant on Grimes to do it then we might have a problem.

I'd be happier if we'd f*cked Grimes off for the £2.9m and brought in Fosu instead, but Martin clearly really, really likes Grimes. I hope he's not let down.

 

[Risc]

The whole thing hinges on whether Ntcham; A - Signs, and B - Delivers. It could still go either way.

We've added the ball playing defender most people wanted, and effectively swapped a forward that most thought couldn't play under Martin for one who should be able to.

The big question mark remains over midfield. If ON can add the dynamism that's been missing for more than two seasons then we'll probably be fine until Jan. If he doesn't and we're still reliant on Grimes to do it then we might have a problem.

I'd be happier if we'd f*cked Grimes off for the £2.9m and brought in Fosu instead, but Martin clearly really, really likes Grimes. I hope he's not let down.

Is Rhys Williams a ball player then or are we just assuming that because he's from Liverpool? Genuine question as I only watched him a few times, pace is a big worry for me as Brandon Cooper lacks pace aswell.

All in all I think it has been a poor window, anything midtable or just below with this squad would be a successful season and hopefully the start of a long term rebuild. Not convinced even mid table mediocrity is as straight forward as people think though, that Preston performance a huge worry.

 

[Dr. Winston]

Is Rhys Williams a ball player then or are we just assuming that because he's from Liverpool?

You don't spend the time he has at a club like that unless you can play. To be honest I find the whole "ball player" stuff a bit tedious. To be a professional at any level of the game you're in the top one or two percent of people who can kick a ball. Some are just that bit better. None of the players we already had were incapable of being coached in a more passing style.

Most were expecting mid table and a rebuild anyway, so that's not an indictment. Achieving more than that would put us ahead of schedule.

 

[Risc]

Is Rhys Williams a ball player then or are we just assuming that because he's from Liverpool?

You don't spend the time he has at a club like that unless you can play. To be honest I find the whole "ball player" stuff a bit tedious. To be a professional at any level of the game you're in the top one or two percent of people who can kick a ball. Some are just that bit better. None of the players we already had were incapable of being coached in a more passing style.

Most were expecting mid table and a rebuild anyway, so that's not an indictment. Achieving more than that would put us ahead of schedule.

It's kicking a ball and being able to take the ball under pressure and being able to find a man. As we have seen in every performance to date including Bristol City, our defenders struggle to deal with the high press, which will be coming every single week.

 

[Dr. Winston]

Our defenders are struggling with the high press because there's almost no movement from midfield offering them an out ball. Or if a midfielder does come for it, the defence inevitably gets it straight back. That's a coaching issue, not a quality one.

 

[Risc]

Our defenders are struggling with the high press because there's almost no movement from midfield offering them an out ball. Or if a midfielder does come for it, the defence inevitably gets it straight back. That's a coaching issue, not a quality one.

Because only Grimes has the ability to take the ball to feet from the defence, Flynn Downes also looked promising so I see him slotting in alongside Grimes when fit, I don't see Walsh ever getting a run of games but I hope he can prove me wrong. Playing two pivot type players makes it even more important we have very good attacking midfielders, there's huge dependency on Ntcham as there isn't enough there with the existing players.

 

[PSumbler]

Just as a comparison - the article written shortly after last summer's transfer window shut

https://planetswans.co.uk/2020/10/17/a-busy-day-and-a-strong-window/

 

[Nocountryforoldjack]

Hard k to tell at this early stage but it does feel like quality wise we are weaker. Disappointed grimes stayed, he didn't want to do now we'll have an unmotivated player on our hands.

 

[CurtessECarr]

Let's hope it has been and get behind the new lads. It won't be for the Grimes and Bidwell haters on here.

 

[Best_loser]

Success now is staying up, if we do that its been a success

Anything less than 6 points from the next 4 league games means trouble

 

[Giff]

Our defenders are struggling with the high press because there's almost no movement from midfield offering them an out ball. Or if a midfielder does come for it, the defence inevitably gets it straight back. That's a coaching issue, not a quality one.

Yes, the midfielders need to be taking the ball on the half-turn to widen the angles. I noticed that Downes was always receiving the ball whilst totally facing his own goal against Stoke. This severely narrows his options - if he is pressed the ball can only go straight back.

 

[ARQS]

The whole thing hinges on whether Ntcham; A - Signs, and B - Delivers. It could still go either way.

We've added the ball playing defender most people wanted, and effectively swapped a forward that most thought couldn't play under Martin for one who should be able to.

The big question mark remains over midfield. If ON can add the dynamism that's been missing for more than two seasons then we'll probably be fine until Jan. If he doesn't and we're still reliant on Grimes to do it then we might have a problem.

I'd be happier if we'd f*cked Grimes off for the £2.9m and brought in Fosu instead, but Martin clearly really, really likes Grimes. I hope he's not let down.

Out of interest, where would you have seen Fosu playing for us? Up front or Attacking Midfield?

I am not sure why Fosu in on loan has been something that people have hung their hats on as being the reason why it has been a bad window (not you btw) when he scored 4 and assisted 4 in a free scoring Brentford side last season.

 

[JackSomething]

The whole thing hinges on whether Ntcham; A - Signs, and B - Delivers. It could still go either way.

We've added the ball playing defender most people wanted, and effectively swapped a forward that most thought couldn't play under Martin for one who should be able to.

The big question mark remains over midfield. If ON can add the dynamism that's been missing for more than two seasons then we'll probably be fine until Jan. If he doesn't and we're still reliant on Grimes to do it then we might have a problem.

I'd be happier if we'd f*cked Grimes off for the £2.9m and brought in Fosu instead, but Martin clearly really, really likes Grimes. I hope he's not let down.

Out of interest, where would you have seen Fosu playing for us? Up front or Attacking Midfield?

I am not sure why Fosu in on loan has been something that people have hung their hats on as being the reason why it has been a bad window (not you btw) when he scored 4 and assisted 4 in a free scoring Brentford side last season.

For me, having a player who was an important part of a promotion-winning team the previous season is always a good thing. They must be a good player at this level to have been a regular and they come here with the confidence of winning in this division. Think of Dobbie being loaned to Blackpool in our first PL year. We didn't let him go until March, so he only played 10 games, but he scored 6 goals and helped push them into the playoffs.

That being said, I'm not judging the window solely on Fosu. He would have been a nice pickup, but if it was dependant on Grimes going as rumoured, then there's no use crying about it.

T2C made a good point on Twitter which I saw. We've signed 8 players (9 if Ntcham joins) in one window, a window in which we didn't have our manager until August had started. Combine that with a good number of departures and a difficult financial situation, that's a lot of business done and it looks a good window on paper.

Now it comes down to how good the signings are and how well we utilise them. Until then, we have no idea if it's been a good window or not. But doom-mongers like to announce we're doomed and the more optimistic like to look on the bright side, as always. Whichever way it goes, it won't stop people having the exact same view next window, no matter how wrong they may turn out to be. The joys of being a football fan. :lol:

 

[ARQS]

For me, having a player who was an important part of a promotion-winning team the previous season is always a good thing. They must be a good player at this level to have been a regular and they come here with the confidence of winning in this division. Think of Dobbie being loaned to Blackpool in our first PL year. We didn't let him go until March, so he only played 10 games, but he scored 6 goals and helped push them into the playoffs.

That being said, I'm not judging the window solely on Fosu. He would have been a nice pickup, but if it was dependant on Grimes going as rumoured, then there's no use crying about it.

T2C made a good point on Twitter which I saw. We've signed 8 players (9 if Ntcham joins) in one window, a window in which we didn't have our manager until August had started. Combine that with a good number of departures and a difficult financial situation, that's a lot of business done and it looks a good window on paper.

Now it comes down to how good the signings are and how well we utilise them. Until then, we have no idea if it's been a good window or not. But doom-mongers like to announce we're doomed and the more optimistic like to look on the bright side, as always. Whichever way it goes, it won't stop people having the exact same view next window, no matter how wrong they may turn out to be. The joys of being a football fan. :lol:

That's fair and I would have liked us to have added him but at the same time, he wouldn't have come cheap, even as a loan and given the players we now have, I would prefer us to keep any spare money to spend in January on someone who could hopefully be permanent.

You are spot on with that assessment, though. I can't help but feel people are being totally unrealistic.