from where Im sitting I think our new signings are looking pretty decent . It's early days but Charles and Garcia in particular are really starting to look the part . Palacious is inexperienced but has obvoious skill and can contribute a lot . The new centre back had a really promising debut yesterday as well. we will no doubt find out on Tuesday if Larsson and Angel are any good . The squad was looking very comfortable and friendly ,which Is great but maybe quite a few of them needed to get out of there comfort zones .
All in all well done the club . I have a feeling Arbeloa is going to prove a lot of people wrong as well.
bring on Man utd !!
No idea about Larsson and Angel, but I already love Garcia, what a player we have on our hands. Same with Charles. Affengruber, well what can I say, what a debut. Palacios has got loads of talent and will only get better as he adapts to English football.
Agreed Colin.
It's odd really as there are literally hundreds and hundreds of pages on here bemoaning the Director of Football and highlighting the errors he's made (and he has) with recruitment over the last few years.
There was the mad trolley dash when Slavisa was here, but since then you can only agree that things have improved.
The players that we bought this window: Garcia, Palacios, Angel, Larsson, Charles, Kusi Asare and Affengruber were brought in for less than £90m, showing exceptional value in a stupidly overpriced market.
Charles looks exceptional, so much time on the ball and can play it long or short, Garcia seems to have real quality about him (just wish someone would play a few more of his runs in), Affengruber has grabbed headlines for his debut, Palacios has been neat and tidy (unfairly criticised IMO) and look forward to seeing Angel tomorrow night. Asare may turn out to be a shrewd buy too. I watched him last week in the game v Braintree and 2nd half he was unstoppable.
So, a new bunch of talent, for not a lot and importantly both bringing the age down and potentially having some future sell on value. What's not to love?!
Definitely signed some great players.
I think we maybe have too many CMs now and are a little short on the wing in terms of squad depth.
We are all agreed then and think medium to long term squad wise we are really strong ,strongest since we were promoted with a lower average age and our manager i can see his vision and trust him.
Quote from: Jim© on September 14, 2026, 09:52:23 AMAgreed Colin.
It's odd really as there are literally hundreds and hundreds of pages on here bemoaning the Director of Football and highlighting the errors he's made (and he has) with recruitment over the last few years.
There was the mad trolley dash when Slavisa was here, but since then you can only agree that things have improved.
The players that we bought this window: Garcia, Palacios, Angel, Larsson, Charles, Kusi Asare and Affengruber were brought in for less than £90m, showing exceptional value in a stupidly overpriced market.
Charles looks exceptional, so much time on the ball and can play it long or short, Garcia seems to have real quality about him (just wish someone would play a few more of his runs in), Affengruber has grabbed headlines for his debut, Palacios has been neat and tidy (unfairly criticised IMO) and look forward to seeing Angel tomorrow night. Asare may turn out to be a shrewd buy too. I watched him last week in the game v Braintree and 2nd half he was unstoppable.
So, a new bunch of talent, for not a lot and importantly both bringing the age down and potentially having some future sell on value. What's not to love?!
I worry about Palacios not ability wise but he is quite light
in size also Angel seems to play in the same area of the pitch.Larsson looks box to box so Palacios may struggle for starting time.But he has definite talent.
Charles and the Austrian look good.
Palacios looks good for the money.
Garcia looks really dangerous but he essentially cost £50m - he has to deliver a lot to justify that.
Larsson TBC.
Besides that we need to get/see more from the other marquee signings we've made in the last couple of years. We've got a long way to go before we aren't getting hit for amortisation of the £150m we spent on Anderson, Bobb, Kevin, Berge and ESR. We need to see a discernable long term strategy which in practical terms means Arbeloa also integrating most of them into a formidable first XI this year.
Quote from: hovewhite on September 14, 2026, 11:39:56 AMWe are all agreed then and think medium to long term squad wise we are really strong ,strongest since we were promoted with a lower average age and our manager i can see his vision and trust him.
totally agreed ::thumb:: time will tell but can see good times ahead ::wine::
Charles and the Austrian are the two best signings, Garcia a close 3rd, however Garcia will need to score goals to prove his worth as a sole striker, he needs to be returning a good 15 goals this season.
Quote from: hopper on September 14, 2026, 10:57:21 AMDefinitely signed some great players.
I think we maybe have too many CMs now and are a little short on the wing in terms of squad depth.
Reed and Cairney unlikely to get much game time barring a few injuries. Iwobi moved back to LW. That leaves four players competing for two positions.
Quote from: Bassey the warrior on September 14, 2026, 02:31:04 PMQuote from: hopper on September 14, 2026, 10:57:21 AMDefinitely signed some great players.
I think we maybe have too many CMs now and are a little short on the wing in terms of squad depth.
Reed and Cairney unlikely to get much game time barring a few injuries. Iwobi moved back to LW. That leaves four players competing for two positions.
But Reed and Cairney are still there though so it's more like 6-7 depending on Iwobi's utility. It's great that the midfield is looking stacked compared to last season, but maybe one or two too many bodies.
Quote from: hopper on September 14, 2026, 03:38:16 PMQuote from: Bassey the warrior on September 14, 2026, 02:31:04 PMQuote from: hopper on September 14, 2026, 10:57:21 AMDefinitely signed some great players.
I think we maybe have too many CMs now and are a little short on the wing in terms of squad depth.
Reed and Cairney unlikely to get much game time barring a few injuries. Iwobi moved back to LW. That leaves four players competing for two positions.
But Reed and Cairney are still there though so it's more like 6-7 depending on Iwobi's utility. It's great that the midfield is looking stacked compared to last season, but maybe one or two too many bodies.
We signed two CMs on the last day so there wasn't time to find a move for Reed. Maybe we can sell for a nominal fee in Jan as he's out of contract next summer
Quote from: Bassey the warrior on September 14, 2026, 04:25:09 PMQuote from: hopper on September 14, 2026, 03:38:16 PMQuote from: Bassey the warrior on September 14, 2026, 02:31:04 PMQuote from: hopper on September 14, 2026, 10:57:21 AMDefinitely signed some great players.
I think we maybe have too many CMs now and are a little short on the wing in terms of squad depth.
Reed and Cairney unlikely to get much game time barring a few injuries. Iwobi moved back to LW. That leaves four players competing for two positions.
But Reed and Cairney are still there though so it's more like 6-7 depending on Iwobi's utility. It's great that the midfield is looking stacked compared to last season, but maybe one or two too many bodies.
We signed two CMs on the last day so there wasn't time to find a move for Reed. Maybe we can sell for a nominal fee in Jan as he's out of contract next summer
I know that - hence we have too many... It seems the club likes Reed as a leadership figure so maybe he could move into coaching.
Yeah, pretty good window return. Three apparent starters in Affengruber, Garcia and Charles.
Larsson, Angel and Palacios remain to be seen, could be useful minor contributors, and perhaps cup game participants. Might need some experience at lower levels, maybe loaned out winter window.
But to acquire 3 starters I would say is pretty good.....