Thoughts on the window?

[WOJ]

I think this window's been very strong for us, signing GG, Larsson, Affengruber, Charles, Palacios and Manuel have been good signings.
Positives:
Bringing in a number 9 in GG was desperately needed which people havce been crying out for a long time after losing mitro, and he has looked quality scoring in his first 2 games
Charles has looked promising when he's played and I have high hopes for him
Larsson and Affengruber, not too sure on Larsson but Affengruber looks quality, viewed as the best cb in Elche history, had a lookj at his highlights and seems to be very similar to Palhinha but as a  cb
Palacios has shown glimpses of what he can do still very young so clearly has a very high skill ceiling, Manuel I assume the same for him
Not signing a rw may mean Zepa will get a lot more game time and he looked so promising against Wimbledon when he came on, reminds me of the Godo situation when we signed Willian and Godo barely got any sniff at starting and he has been tearing it up at Strasbourg
Keeping Tete, It would've been a shame to lose Tete considering he played well against Wimbledon picking up an assist and attacked well
Josh King looks like he will have a breakout season looked very strong when he's played which also begs the question as to why Marco barely played him
Not signing Tosin - Self explanatory
Negatives:
Losing a lot of prem experience playes like Wilson, Jiminez, Lukic and Diop is tough especially for the low fees we sold them for or letting them go on a free
No Wilson replacement is probably my biggest worry, despite Wilson's tendency to go anonymous if he doesn't have a goal contribution in the game he was our standout player last season and failing to replace him is a big worry
Bobb and Kevin, as much as I love both of them and hope they  both gain form and have a breakout season, they've not been great, 2G/A between the two of them (both from Kevin) has been dissapointing, Kevin whenever he plays seems to do an amazing skill beat his man and then lose the ball, Bobb gets into really good positions and then he'll play it back or pass it out, instead of shooting. Not sure if it's a confidence issue or what but he has to shoot more
No new GK considering our options for keeper are Leno and Lecomte with Benda leaving, has very low squad depth, if Leno were to get injured then we'd be in trouble
Very low physicality in the midfield, the signings of Palacios and Manuel both small technical players will leave a lot of struggles in our midfield with Berge and Charles needing to step up more, which I think will be difficult especially against more physical teams. Our size as well will be a issue as a lot of our players are not the tallest which I vuew as an issue as we have always been terrible from set pieces espeically defending them.
Our corners, we've always been crap at corners but this season it might be more of an issue, losing both of our corner takers in Lukic and Wilson
Anderson - In my honest opinion he's too slow and has not been good enough, for me I did not think we needed to bring him back but I hope that Affengruber Bassey will be our starting backline

I'm not going to critique any of the new signings before they play, as i have always believed to back whoever the club signs, I've seen people on twitter having a meltdown over our window especially with the signing of Manuel but I don't see the need to slate a new signign especially one as young as he is

Overall I'd rate this window a soilid 7/10 no rw, no GK, only one cb signing are probably my only issues.
Curious as to see what everyone else's opinions are on the window and who others think we should've replaced or bought in. And as always COYW

[Somerset Fulham]

I honestly don't know. Changes were shouted for and now we have them. Lots of them.

It's a lot to integrate into a side so the manager has his work cut out but hopefully he can cope with that.

Could be a nine out of ten, it could be a two. Only time is going to tell.

[Stan the Man]

I wouldn't go as far to say we've had a very good window, it has the potential to be decent, but if the newbies don't settle we could be in big trouble - AA has put a lot of faith in the spainish youngsters, let's hope it pays off, I'd take 17th now, and continue the rebuild next summer.

[Bassey the warrior]

Too early to say, but I'm encouraged we've strengthened CM, it's been far too open this season, especially against Chelsea. Charles looks a talent, no idea about the other two.

Putting a lot of hope in this new Austrian CB to hit the ground running. I can't be too dispirited we didn't get a RB because we've kept Tete, who I love.

Regarding RW, it's not technically true we didn't replace Wilson. We clearly signed Bobb in January to take over if Wilson leaves. I'm not ready to write him off just yet. Iwobi can also play there and Zepa looks an emerging talent.

Up front we've clearly improved, Garcia looks a big step up from Jiménez and Muniz.

We didn't have a perfect window, but it's worth noting a lot of other clubs have missed out on improving key positions. Gotta feel for Everton who sold a striker to bring in Balogun and he eventually turned them down. They also sold a RB to bring in Tete, so were forced to bring in Maitland-Niles, who's not a natural defender.

[Neutral Zone Ultra]

7/10

Pros:
I like the look of all of the players we have signed, mostly for good fees.
We look very strong in midfield now with lots of depth.
Three signings were made before our first game.
We offloaded a few players for decent money.
We held on to our most valuable assets (obviously ignoring Wilson).
We don't appear to be sailing too close to the wind financially.
We picked up a good youth player from Celtic for peanuts.
We appear to have backed our head coach.

Cons:
We look light at RW.
We didn't sign a GK and Leno has no real competition.
Starting the season without a recognised RCB.
Not selling Tete given the very good fee we seemed to be set to receive.
Lots of time seemingly spent on players to no avail (Nwaiwu, Ait Boudlal). I know it's partially out of our control but I think we got hung up on these particular players.
I think we slightly overpaid for Charles.
End of window scramble again.
I don't particularly like the way the Garcia deal has been structured in terms of a potential future sale.
De Fougerolles and Kusi-Asare perhaps should have gone on loan (but happy with them for depth).

[JimmyConway]

If they adapt to the system then yes if not it's a big issue. Have not strengthened right back position as neither look comfortable or probably suited to new system. Right wing questionable but hopefully manager realises he can play Iwobi there which at the moment might offer us more threat. I can see a scenario where quite a few of the old guard could get frustrated about game time but that's natural when you have a new boss and a system that certainly does not suit quite a few from previous regime. It's successful from bringing age down whether it's successful on the pitch is to be seen. We can only hope.

[Bassey the warrior]

7/10

Pros:
I like the look of all of the players we have signed, mostly for good fees.
We look very strong in midfield now with lots of depth.
Three signings were made before our first game.
We offloaded a few players for decent money.
We held on to our most valuable assets (obviously ignoring Wilson).
We don't appear to be sailing too close to the wind financially.
We picked up a good youth player from Celtic for peanuts.
We appear to have backed our head coach.

Cons:
We look light at RW.
We didn't sign a GK and Leno has no real competition.
Starting the season without a recognised RCB.
Not selling Tete given the very good fee we seemed to be set to receive.
Lots of time seemingly spent on players to no avail (Nwaiwu, Ait Boudlal). I know it's partially out of our control but I think we got hung up on these particular players.
I think we slightly overpaid for Charles.
End of window scramble again.
I don't particularly like the way the Garcia deal has been structured in terms of a potential future sale.
De Fougerolles and Kusi-Asare perhaps should have gone on loan (but happy with them for depth).

Real Madrid usually structure youth sales by selling 50% rights, which equates to 50% of next transfer fee. For Garcia and Palacios we negotiated than down to 30%. Angel stays at 50% but he only cost £3m.

[Andrew]

My thoughts on the window are as follows:
Much as expected in that it has been spectacularly underwhelming.
Pinning our hopes on so many players that have not played in the Prem. are so young and arrived late as usual is such a gamble. BUT we are used to that with our management.

The squad looks thoroughly unbalanced. If the three newest additions are spectacularly brilliant and remain fully fit things might be OK.

But as it is the squad we have, with a novice manager, looks like a massive gamble and I think it is way more likely that it will all end in tears than spectacular success (whatever that means to a team like ours).

That's my opinion, and I hope I am proved wrong.

[fulhamfan]

6/10

[General]

I'm on the fence tbh, probably leaning towards a 5/10, maybe a bit lower.

In real time I was excited, but I think on reflection I was wanting and hoping for something to happen.. When I reflect and look and the squad, where we're strong vs weak and the quality of the players we've brought in, then there's a fair few quite significant unknowns still.

1. where are the goals coming from?
2. Do the players have the ability to play Arbeloaball (Chelsea and AFC Wimbledon suggest yet, but with caveats)
3. Which of the new players will actually add value and strengthen us.

Of the six signings the only one with top flight experience and a proven pedigree at a good level is Larsson week in week out and as a starter for a top tier team.

Then as a more senior pro Affengruber comes second, closely followed by Shea and Garcia.

Palacios and Angel are largely unknowns.

So in reality we've strengthened knowingly our team with one player, in one position.

If I let go of being strict with the definition, then I'd add Larsson in with Shea Charles and Gonzalo Garcia, all three of which, if they do meet their potential and show it with us, could be first team starters and the basis of what we build our squad around in the years ahead, with the likes of King, Kevin, Bobb (assuming they evolve from where they're currently). For me, if Garcia met his potential, he could be Spain's number 9, which is no mean feat.

Affengruber has potential, but is he a guaranteed starter - i'm not so sure. A bit of competition for Andersen though and a different profile is useful.

Palacios I'm a big fan of, but that's largely based on his potential and eye for a creative, line splitting pass, which he's shown a few times - I think he could be another asset long term, but he needs experience and to get used to the PL and perhaps bulk up. The PL and La Liga are both good leagues, but you get less time on the ball in the PL.

I think it'll help the Real Madrid guys to develop, with the fact Arbeloa and his backroom team have all worked with them before, and there are three of them and they're friends who can help one another adapt.

I put the window down largely as unsatisfactory, the end of it and the transfer deadline day scramble always leaves us short-handed and a sour taste in the mouth, as it was clear we wanted a RW, a higher calibre RCB and a RB, which makes me simply feel like it's fallen short and we're subsequently not where we wanted or needed to be.

Time will tell, but we need to start picking up points, even though we've got a tough start to the season ahead with Liverpool and Man utd in our next three games.

Time to tell if these talented younger players are men or not!

[Carborundum]

Midfield rebuild was needed and we now have so many midfielders it could take until Christmas to try every permutation.  Somehow I don't think it will take that long and am optimistic.

The club has done fine, but my overall take on the transfer window is that the effect of SCR as a drawbridge being pulled up behind six teams has never been more starkly evident.

[Whitestone]

It's impossible to say if this was a good window because of the unknowns, so it may seem odd to some that I felt a bit deflated and disappointed at close of play yesterday. Hopefully the group we have will gel and come November the team will be flying.

Two of the three Madrid boys have really only experienced third tier football in Spain with only a handful of games with the first team. It's hard to quantify how good they are or will be.

We obviously didn't sign some of our first choice picks, but we're not unique in that and we didn't get a RB or RW over the line. Having an injury prone RB in the squad is not ideal and it's clear that Arbeloa wanted to bring in a player that fits his system.

We needed a RCB and we got one but we didn't require a back up RCB. I hope that is not the case with Affengruber because I don't think we can continue playing Arbeloa's way with Andersen as first choice.

As far as I'm concerned the jury's out. Ask me again in three months.

[Angus Telford]

If AA wants to play with pacey wingbacks and we had a good offer for the ageing, relatively slow, persistently injured Tete, but couldn't in the entire window secure a replacement for RWB, well that's pretty poor.

Also wondering where Berge, ESR and Kevin fit in now, and if we've hired a manager whose tactics aren't going to make use of these marquee signings (on top of seemingly writing-off Anderson) then again that would be shocking.

Think I need to see how AA sets the team up over the next few matches, not really sure how the collection of players we've left ourselves with fit together as a team at this point.

[bahay18]

It's certainly a high risk window with so many untried players .

When we signed Garcia and Palacios so early in the window with not too much fuss( for us ), it was really exciting . I guess for me , I then thought it would be followed with a few more mature signings with proven top level game time or maybe even some fringe premier league players looking for more regular starts .

Hard to know which way it goes , it could be amazing or awful , maybe not much inbetween .

[Woolly Mammoth]

My biggest concerns at the moment is that both Kevin and Bobb are currently playing for themselves instead of playing within the framework of the team.
So many promising attacks break down with them in possession of the ball because they do not pass the ball early enough or pass the way they are facing often enough.
Therefore dispossessed cheaply or giving the ball away when under pressure after dwelling on it too long.

[alfie]

It is inevitable it doesn't matter who or when we bought players in there will always be someone having a moan, we should have got him / he is rubbish or to use a word which some love to use dross.

Sometimes it would be nice for those that continuously give out the negative to just occasionally give a bit of positivity, remember that banner that used to hang on the cottage
                "KEEP THE FAITH"

[Neutral Zone Ultra]

It is inevitable it doesn't matter who or when we bought players in there will always be someone having a moan, we should have got him / he is rubbish or to use a word which some love to use dross.

Sometimes it would be nice for those that continuously give out the negative to just occasionally give a bit of positivity, remember that banner that used to hang on the cottage
                "KEEP THE FAITH"

Positivity police strikes again. The banner said "keep the faith", not "you may not under any circumstances express an opinion which isn't 100% positive".

[Holders]

I was pleased that (apart from Wilson who'd set his heart on going) the only significant defenestrations were Raul and Diop. Though I regret the latter, there were others rumoured to be leaving as well.

[alfie]

It is inevitable it doesn't matter who or when we bought players in there will always be someone having a moan, we should have got him / he is rubbish or to use a word which some love to use dross.

Sometimes it would be nice for those that continuously give out the negative to just occasionally give a bit of positivity, remember that banner that used to hang on the cottage
                "KEEP THE FAITH"

Positivity police strikes again. The banner said "keep the faith", not "you may not under any circumstances express an opinion which isn't 100% positive".

My word did you read it, I said "occasionally"

[Neutral Zone Ultra]

It is inevitable it doesn't matter who or when we bought players in there will always be someone having a moan, we should have got him / he is rubbish or to use a word which some love to use dross.

Sometimes it would be nice for those that continuously give out the negative to just occasionally give a bit of positivity, remember that banner that used to hang on the cottage
                "KEEP THE FAITH"

Positivity police strikes again. The banner said "keep the faith", not "you may not under any circumstances express an opinion which isn't 100% positive".

My word did you read it, I said "occasionally"

There are very few posters on here who solely post negative content, and at least a couple of them are known WUMs. I just find it very frustrating that we're constantly told that this board is negative etc etc when it's so far from the truth. Reactionary maybe (in both positive and negative ways), but I don't think any of the above posts are really overwhelming negative. Cautious optimism seems to be the prevailing narrative.