With the transfer window set to "SLAM SHUT!!!!!!" on Friday, who do you think has done well, and who will be rummaging around on yellow tie day?
WEST HAM UNITED
A couple of weeks ago they looked like they were in crisis, with Moyes and the board working on different agendas. However, 2 weeks in football is a short time. First came Edson Alvarez, then James Ward Prowse and finally Mohammed Kudus. Add Paqueta and Bowen and that looks a seriously good midfield on paper. They went for Harry Maguire, but ended with Mavropanos - although rumours they may go back for Maguire.
The one weakness they may still need addressing is striker - while Antonio has started on fire, only him and Ings across a Europa season seems light, unless Mubama steps up.
ASTON VILLA
Moussa Diaby is already proving his quality, while Pau Torres is a solid signing at the back, and someone the manager knows and trusts. Tielemans and Zaniolo offer depth in midfield. They seem to have addressed the areas needed and they have recovered well from a Day 1 nightmare.
LIVERPOOL
Dominik Szoboszlai already looks settled into the team and is a big improvement on what they had last season. Alexis MacAllister seems an astute signing for the price. The jury is still out on Endo, who was far from their first choice. Could they add a younger DM to the mix by Friday? Still question marks over the CBs and with Konate injured once again could they be in for a CB as well? Attack looks loaded.
MANCHESTER UNITED
Hojlund yet to play due to injury, Mount out injured, only Evans in to the backline, and 2 keepers signed. Out of the top teams United look the most in need of Friday madness, especially after picking up a couple more injuries.
CHELSEA
Another window of lots of business. 2 keepers, 3 DMs and 3 strikers in and a lot of money spent. A mixed start to the season, and still some big waged players to get rid of. With Chelsea you can never write them off buying more this week.
ARSENAL
Most of the business done early, but the injury to Timber could mean we go in for another versatile defender (perhaps on loan). We are open to be reactive to the market, as shown by the Raya signing, so we cannot be ruled out for further signings.
TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR
The sale of Harry Kane makes Spurs likely to do business this week, with a striker probably on the agenda. Vicario, Maddison and van den Ven were identified and signed in pre-season, but they could still be in for another CB if they can move on some of the defenders they already have.
MANCHESTER CITY
Lost a fair bit of experience in Gundogan, Mahrez and Laporte with their academy players looking to step up. 21 year olds Gvardiol and Doku have come in, although Kovacic is at the other other end of the age scale. You can never rule City out of the transfer window, but Guardiola seems happy with his squad.
NEWCASTLE UNITED
Sandro Tonali was their big signing, and should do well alongside Bruno Guimaeres. Harvey Barnes and Tino Livramento come with PL experience, although the latter is coming back from a year out injured. Another club you cannot rule out of more signings, we are yet to really see the expected massive spend that Saudi owners and Champions League football threatened.
BRIGHTON AND HOVE ALBION
Massive income from sales this summer, but as is their way, they have looked for bargains. Very experienced James Milner and Mahmoud Dahoud have come in, while 21 year old Joao Pedro became their biggest outlay. Expect some under the radar signings to come in this week, as they prepare for their first European adventure.
AFC BOURNEMOUTH
One of the most active, Justin Kluivert is the name that stands out. Alex Scott is a highly rated 19 year old, unfortunately injured thus far. Max Aarons and Tyler Adams seem fair signings, while Hamed Traore, Milos Kerkez and Romain Faivre also have signed.
BRENTFORD
Flekken has come in for Raya, Schade has been made permanent to cover for Toney, and Collins seems a good signing at CB. One of the quietest teams in this window, will that change this week?
BURNLEY
13 new signings, James Trafford perhaps the most headline worthy.
EVERTON
Ashley Young came in, Arnaut Danjuma and Jack Harrison have been loaned in and not a lot else. A club in crisis, awful start to the season with them yet to score as they have fallen to 3 defeats. They need signings, and a lot of them. But is the money there? If any team is going on a bargain hunt on deadine day it is the Toffees.
Crystal Palace, Fulham, Wolves, Sheffield United, Nottingham Forest and Luton Town have all done business as well.
Who has had the best window??
posted on 28/8/23
comment by D'Jeezus Mackaroni (U1137)
posted 1 hour, 5 minutes ago
Net spend isn't what you have spent tbf.
It is like someone asking how much you spent on your car and you saying nothing because your wages were more.
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Ignoring net spend as a business is about as retarrrrded as you can get.
posted on 28/8/23
comment by D'Jeezus Mackaroni (U1137)
posted 1 hour, 7 minutes ago
Net spend isn't what you have spent tbf.
It is like someone asking how much you spent on your car and you saying nothing because your wages were more.
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More like 2 guys have the same car collection buy the same car for 1 million.
1 buys it outright 1 million cash
The other trades 10 cars from their collection in to buy it.
posted on 28/8/23
comment by Two Balls, One Saka (U19684)
posted 3 minutes ago
comment by D'Jeezus Mackaroni (U1137)
posted 1 hour, 5 minutes ago
Net spend isn't what you have spent tbf.
It is like someone asking how much you spent on your car and you saying nothing because your wages were more.
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Ignoring net spend as a business is about as retarrrrded as you can get.
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Cool, I am sure the businessmen aren't ignoring it. But in terms of the discussion net spend isn't that relevant.
posted on 28/8/23
In response to the last five years spending equating to replacing doors and windows on a castle made with gold, to be fair only six players from 2018 are still at the club (and one of those is Phil Foden, who came through the ranks).
So a net spend since then of £250m in comparison to other clubs during the same period isn’t bad, especially considering what City have won since.
posted on 28/8/23
Net spend was the rage a few years ago when City went on a spending spree.
Now confined to the anals of history since other clubs have started spending like drunken sailors.
posted on 28/8/23
If Chelsea and Brighton finish on equal points in 5th/6th place the reason it's considered a success at Brighton and failure by Chelsea is because of net spend.
It's far more important in terms of qualifying expectations and judging the players and management than simply how much is spent gross.
posted on 28/8/23
comment by Boris 'Inky’ Gibson (U5901)
posted 3 hours, 41 minutes ago
Can't really see it working out for Chelsea this season.
I reckon 4 players is the max you can sign in 1 window if you want to maintain any rhythm you might have had.
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We never had any rhythm to maintain.
I saw a stat over the weekend that showed we'd signed 9 players. Unlike many other reports though it also covered the fact that 19 have moved on through sales, end of contracts etc.
From the games I've seen so far I would say we have more rhythm than last season.
I wouldn't put us forward for window of the season though. I also think it's too soon to judge anyway and not just because it hasn't closed yet.
posted on 28/8/23
comment by Two Balls, One Saka (U19684)
posted 6 seconds ago
If Chelsea and Brighton finish on equal points in 5th/6th place the reason it's considered a success at Brighton and failure by Chelsea is because of net spend.
It's far more important in terms of qualifying expectations and judging the players and management than simply how much is spent gross.
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I would say it was because Chelsea have a team full of £100m+ midfielders, mega expensive forwards and expensive defenders.
Liverpool expectations went up when they signed an £80m keeper and £80m centre back, even though they did it at a profit from the sale of Coutinho.
A club could put out an 11 that cost £1bn against a team that cost £10m - yet the team that cost £10m could have a net spend of £10m and the one that cost £1bn could have a net spend of £0. Why would you expect the £10m team to beat the £1bn team?
posted on 28/8/23
comment by D'Jeezus Mackaroni (U1137)
posted 26 minutes ago
comment by Two Balls, One Saka (U19684)
posted 6 seconds ago
If Chelsea and Brighton finish on equal points in 5th/6th place the reason it's considered a success at Brighton and failure by Chelsea is because of net spend.
It's far more important in terms of qualifying expectations and judging the players and management than simply how much is spent gross.
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I would say it was because Chelsea have a team full of £100m+ midfielders, mega expensive forwards and expensive defenders.
Liverpool expectations went up when they signed an £80m keeper and £80m centre back, even though they did it at a profit from the sale of Coutinho.
A club could put out an 11 that cost £1bn against a team that cost £10m - yet the team that cost £10m could have a net spend of £10m and the one that cost £1bn could have a net spend of £0. Why would you expect the £10m team to beat the £1bn team?
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Still if you constantly have to sell your best players it's harder to maintain success than being able to spend without consequence.
Liverpool had a star player, sold him and invested well, if they hadn't, there was no do-over for them. Plenty of clubs have sold stars and drifted back to mediocrity.
posted on 28/8/23
comment by RipleysCat (U1862)
posted 2 hours, 58 minutes ago
In response to the last five years spending equating to replacing doors and windows on a castle made with gold, to be fair only six players from 2018 are still at the club (and one of those is Phil Foden, who came through the ranks).
So a net spend since then of £250m in comparison to other clubs during the same period isn’t bad, especially considering what City have won since.
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Yep we’ve bought and sold very well the past few seasons.