Whilst I am sure there will be some activity in the January window, my god do we need it to get rid of that shocking midfield pairing, I fear that we have now missed out on a key selling point to the player. We are now no longer ‘so close to the Premier League last season and challenging this season’, we look like bottom half average at best. Huge regression, and I struggle to see how that would attract too many players who would really drive us up the table.
Certainly cannot see Brekalo coming in. Maybe Callum Styles, and it is just absolutely crazy to me how we didn’t sign him for the reported £2m release fee, yet spaffed away double that on a defender that is getting splinters in his arse!! (Yes I know they are actually comfy seats).
This Summer’s transfer dealings have (admittedly in hindsight) been very poor. £2m on a player where we don’t play a system that suits his best attributes. £600k on a goalkeeper who does not seem to be anywhere near displacing Wilson, Thomas started well but has looked as though he has some errors in him, but I think he will be ok. The £4m on Kitching just seems to be a ridiculous overspend, and I wonder if a £4m bid for McNally or selling Hamer to Burnley for £12m + McNally would have been better had that been possible.
Then we come to the strikers; Simms, I was never a fan of signing having heard about his lack of work rate from the Sunderland fans…and yes he did have a good game today…but we already had a goal poacher/hanger in Godden, and service/crosses into the box from wide has been poor in recent seasons, with the goals either having come from Gyokeres driving from the side into the box, or Hamer driving in. Cannot think of many occasions when a goal has come from the wing back driving to the byline to cut back.
Wright…well it was completely out of the blue and seemed to be almost a panic buy!