Well, window is closed and it was distinctly underwhelming in comparison to Paraage's rhetoric about going to be aggressive, have enough money to do what is needed blah blah blah.
We got rid of some peripheral players and these loanee hangers on like Lllorente and Roca, but also lost our best players through a mix of ridiculous contract clauses and choice.
In terms of finances, 130m in and 30m out, we've been utterly shortchanged and I have no doubt that next window we will hear the same "we have no money" stories.
In terms of doing our business quickly so that we can prepare, we have done anything but, and in terms of signing first choices, don;'t tell me Schmidt was a first choice but it took months to get to 2.5m deal.
So what did we achieve in terms of inbounds?
Well we retained Rodon, so that isn't like an addition compared to last year.
We brought in Bogle, who has been really poor so far, but fills a needed position..
Cairns, the cheapest of cheap goalkeeping backup solutions, just replacing another third choice keeper.
Rothwell, another cheap option in terms of a loanee, hopefully a more forward minded attacker, have yet to see any real output.
Largie, the most expensive signing, was in last year of his contract, one can only hope he hits ground running and can help provide lost goals of Summerville AND Rutter.
Tanaka, last minute cheap deal, again in last year of contract, again, can only hope he'll do well.
Solomon, another cheap loan option, but with experience in England, I think this might be a good one for us, we have to wait and see.
Schmidt, another cheap, last minute addition, again no experience of England, one can only hope it works out.
Overall an extremely meagre shop and one hopes that our better record of transfers last summer than previous years continues, but it feels we were scratching around for players when we should never have been in that position.
I think unless you're real quality, its hard for players to come in from abroad and make an instant impact.
Gruev, Rutter, Rasmus, Koch, Llorente, Aaronsen.....none of them hit the ground running, I can only think of Gnonto who did well to start, so this is big gamble that these can all step up.
Talking of Aaronsen, he's delivered more in a couple of matches than he did in a year for us and won us 4 points, 4 points that might well make teh difference at end of season, so for me, despite not wanting players like him who wanted away, it's some positive news from the summer.
Other good news is that we didn't see anyone at end of window, we didn't see Gnonto or Melsier exit leaving us either depleted and I see that as a small sign of intent, albeit a very small sign.
When the 49ers do decide that the fans are worth talking to, I'm sure we'll here about the financial rules, hamstrung by contracts, how we got our primary targets, yet we'll conversely hear how we couldn't get our targets because all off transfer issues that only ever affect Leeds United, issues that every other club seems to conveniently navigate.
Farke has not had his life made as easy as it should have been, but he's been dealt his hand now and one has to hope these signings are not the dross we've been handed in years past, that he can get them up to speed quickly and that they deliver.
This is a one shot season for Farke now, I'm sure if we dont go up he's not here next year.
One final note. The club has to sort out Liam Cooper situation. I understand he is a free agent right now, if he hasn't got a club, if I was Leeds I would offer him one last temporary deal with the understanding that he could leave at any time if HE wishes and he is granted a testimonial.
He's been through 10 years of mainly sh with us and deserves to not be ignored/forgotten the way that he has been.
Good, bad or ugly window?
posted 2 weeks, 5 days ago
At least we kept Willie, that's huge.
posted 2 weeks, 5 days ago
Just listened to Schmidt interview, like him already!
posted 2 weeks, 5 days ago
So, yeah, underwhelming perhaps. But holes filled and far less gaps in positions than we have seen in past years. Adaptable players, interchangeable players, none more so than Willy, who I really enjoyed watching roam v Sheff Wednesday.
Excited to see Solomon if he can stay fit. Ramazani, thr same, seems to be an exciting prospect.
As typing, just read that Willy has signed until 2028. Great news.
Back on track...the war chest we all imagine was there and not used, will still be there in January. What we have is too good for this league to handle, in theory. But to freshen things up in January, as we have failed to do in thr past, will hopefully see us over the line this time around.
posted 2 weeks, 5 days ago
comment by westcliffWhite (U9751)
posted 2 minutes ago
So, yeah, underwhelming perhaps. But holes filled and far less gaps in positions than we have seen in past years. Adaptable players, interchangeable players, none more so than Willy, who I really enjoyed watching roam v Sheff Wednesday.
Excited to see Solomon if he can stay fit. Ramazani, thr same, seems to be an exciting prospect.
As typing, just read that Willy has signed until 2028. Great news.
Back on track...the war chest we all imagine was there and not used, will still be there in January. What we have is too good for this league to handle, in theory. But to freshen things up in January, as we have failed to do in thr past, will hopefully see us over the line this time around.
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I thought Gnonto couldn't be faulted for his effort the start of this season and I applaud him for that after last season and just seen the news of extended deal, let's hope this is start of no nonsense contracts, but we have to wait and see on that.
The inbounds are in now, there is potential there, and for all his strange substitution timings, Farke knows how to get out of the division AND create a real team spirit, as Ken bates once said "our promotion season starts now!"
posted 2 weeks, 5 days ago
comment by Jonty (U4614)
posted 5 minutes ago
comment by westcliffWhite (U9751)
posted 2 minutes ago
So, yeah, underwhelming perhaps. But holes filled and far less gaps in positions than we have seen in past years. Adaptable players, interchangeable players, none more so than Willy, who I really enjoyed watching roam v Sheff Wednesday.
Excited to see Solomon if he can stay fit. Ramazani, thr same, seems to be an exciting prospect.
As typing, just read that Willy has signed until 2028. Great news.
Back on track...the war chest we all imagine was there and not used, will still be there in January. What we have is too good for this league to handle, in theory. But to freshen things up in January, as we have failed to do in thr past, will hopefully see us over the line this time around.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
I thought Gnonto couldn't be faulted for his effort the start of this season and I applaud him for that after last season and just seen the news of extended deal, let's hope this is start of no nonsense contracts, but we have to wait and see on that.
The inbounds are in now, there is potential there, and for all his strange substitution timings, Farke knows how to get out of the division AND create a real team spirit, as Ken bates once said "our promotion season starts now!"
----------------------------------------------------------------------
I must admit, despite him being the 'star' that I would have accepted leaving, I am buzzing this morning with Gnonto signing a new contract. You are 100% right that he has had a great start, committed start, and his interview on LUTV this morning shows a man who wants to be here and is settled and at home. What a turnaround and fair play to the player and the fans that have supported him on the pitch after the early season shenanigans last year, though I suspect they were agent instigated rather than player.
A solid 3 points today and I think we can look forward to kicking on after the break.
posted 2 weeks, 5 days ago
Having been to every home game so far Gnonto has nowhere near had a “great start” to the season. He’s had one great 45 mins last time out.
Hopefully he can build on that and hopefully Farke sees him as more than just a wide player.
posted 2 weeks, 5 days ago
Some great points made in the article and follow up comments.
Westcliff's comment on the January transfer window is a key point. Generally our lack of activity in these periods (2022 and 2024) spring to mind) has been pivotal. A tough time to do business as we have had a our fingers burnt, but if handled well opportunities to make the final touches to squads at the halfway mark to be ready for the run in and a test for our recruitment team to identify players and clubs who might be willing to deal with us. I feel Ipswich's business in January proved decisive and got players in and contributing right out of the gates at that time.
On Gnonto I liked the way he played in that second half against Wednesday and wonder if he could be the number 10 we arguably missed out on last night. Great news on the new contract which means one way or the other next summer he either stays to spearhead a premiership campaign or could be sold for a good fee to help pay the next batch of player installments if as the parachute payments step down again.
posted 2 weeks, 5 days ago
On the Sergio Leone theme:
The Spaghetti Western ( or transfer activity if you want the analogy) were done on the relative cheap. - They have become legendary and Iconic in terms of Cinematic history.
Hopefully we can experience a parallel sort of experience where the beginnings look relatively underwhelming but the future will show otherwise.
posted 2 weeks, 5 days ago
On paper the squad, assuming our new bargain bucket signings aren't duds, looks a lot more balanced and going by the Shef Wed performance a tad more exciting to watch.
I've already stated a few times I don't trust our owners intentions anymore their actions have certainly spoken louder than words on that score and clearly put their investors at the top of their priority list which is of course their right and a direct consequence of the style of ownership we have in control of the purse strings.
The financial numbers Jonty has stated above will be music to Wil Ferrel, Jordan Spieth etc and I sincerely hope Parraig and his crew now pack up and eff off and handover the reigns of power to Red Bull who at least will not be scrimping and scraping on key player acquisitions to appease their shareholders/investors and I am certain if another Hamer scenario should arise the deal will be wrapped up quick smart and competently and not in the chaotic disorganised scattergun fashion we have all witnessed this summer.
posted 2 weeks, 5 days ago
It's been bad, let some key players go and not really replaced them. For me that's been our story. I think of Roofe when we sold him, never replaced. I think of Pablo, he was never replaced.
On the other side, the team and squad we had last year weren't good enough. They bottled 2 massive opportunities for promotion. So a clear out is necessary and a rebuild to happen. I'm not sure however that the rebuild message has sunk in