Rate Our Summer Transfer Window

[Barry]

I rated it 6.

This is possibly too generous, but we're did bring in one unquestionable level raiser and mostly avoided losing key first team players which is really important compared to our to rivals.

Elsewhere... Yeah not so great. Trossard for Tzolis feels like for like and hopefully good business although it's a risk this season anyway. Martinelli was a decent fee but no direct replacement could weaken us. Hopefully Eze - only signed last season - steps up and performs there but we'd still lack width.

Konsa is a decent defensive addition - I would have preferred a more natural attacking RB, but White appears fit again so we might get away with that one.

Meslier is a head scratcher - like why did we need him at all? Not a huge issue, but neither backup keeper is that impressive if Raya goes down.

The "Big Attacking Signing" is where we clearly failed; the obvious level raising options either stayed with their current clubs or went to PSG. Positive for me is that we tried for the right options - Vini, Yildiz, Alvarez - exactly the calibre of player we need. Personally not convinced that Rogers/Fofana are significantly better than Eze. Barcola might be the one we missed but even then there's question marks... I don't know, it's a fail either way really.

 

[Sungod]

THE GOOD STUFF​

1. Bruno — apparently we now have one of the best midfielders in the PL and a Top 5 midfielder in the world. Not too shabby.
2. Konsa — casually helping turn our defence into the best in the world. Who needs defenders when you can just build a brick wall?
3. Tzolis — bargain of the window. Actual value for money FC. What is this madness?
4. Andria Bartishvili — potential.
   Could be the next superstar... or we'll be loaning him out to 14 different clubs by 2032. You never know.
5. Jesus sold.
   Hallelujah.
6. Nelli sold.
   Another one bites the dust.
7. Trossard sold.
   The annual "we need to sell someone before deadline day" ritual has been completed.
8. Reiss' contract terminated.
   Sometimes the best signing is the player you finally stop paying.
9. Didn't overpay for Rogers.
   Look at us showing financial restraint. Someone check if Edu secretly came back.
10. Didn't buy Madrid divas like Vini or Alvarez.
    No Galáctico tax. No "€150m because he's wearing a Real Madrid shirt" nonsense.
11. Didn't panic-loan Rashford.
    Deadline day Arsenal somehow resisted the urge to throw a dart at the wall. Progress!
12. No Chelsea rejects.
    The Chelsea Recycling Centre is officially closed.
13. No panic buys.
    We actually walked away from a player instead of going:
    "Well... we've got 6 hours left, might as well pay £80m."
14. Ethan secured a loan.
    Go get some minutes, lad.
15. Didn't overpay for Barcola.
    Another player we didn't spend stupid money on. At this rate, we're going to finish the window with actual money left.

---

THE ONLY NEGATIVE​

We didn't sign a marquee LW.

But...

WHO WAS ACTUALLY AVAILABLE?!

We could've panic-bought some random winger for £100m, slapped "MARQUEE SIGNING" on him and called it a day.

Instead, we apparently decided:

"Nah. If the right player isn't available, don't buy one."

Absolutely disgusting levels of common sense from this club.

So yeah, no shiny new LW...

But I'll happily take that over Panic Buy FC™.

Overall: 8.5/10 window.

Could've been better.

Could've been much, MUCH worse.

At least we didn't sign a Chelsea player. That's the real trophy.

 

[Tourbillion]

THE GOOD STUFF​

1. Bruno — apparently we now have one of the best midfielders in the PL and a Top 5 midfielder in the world. Not too shabby.
2. Konsa — casually helping turn our defence into the best in the world. Who needs defenders when you can just build a brick wall?
3. Tzolis — bargain of the window. Actual value for money FC. What is this madness?
4. Andria Bartishvili — potential.
   Could be the next superstar... or we'll be loaning him out to 14 different clubs by 2032. You never know.
5. Jesus sold.
   Hallelujah.
6. Nelli sold.
   Another one bites the dust.
7. Trossard sold.
   The annual "we need to sell someone before deadline day" ritual has been completed.
8. Reiss' contract terminated.
   Sometimes the best signing is the player you finally stop paying.
9. Didn't overpay for Rogers.
   Look at us showing financial restraint. Someone check if Edu secretly came back.
10. Didn't buy Madrid divas like Vini or Alvarez.
    No Galáctico tax. No "€150m because he's wearing a Real Madrid shirt" nonsense.
11. Didn't panic-loan Rashford.
    Deadline day Arsenal somehow resisted the urge to throw a dart at the wall. Progress!
12. No Chelsea rejects.
    The Chelsea Recycling Centre is officially closed.
13. No panic buys.
    We actually walked away from a player instead of going:
    "Well... we've got 6 hours left, might as well pay £80m."
14. Ethan secured a loan.
    Go get some minutes, lad.
15. Didn't overpay for Barcola.
    Another player we didn't spend stupid money on. At this rate, we're going to finish the window with actual money left.

---

THE ONLY NEGATIVE​

We didn't sign a marquee LW.

But...

WHO WAS ACTUALLY AVAILABLE?!

We could've panic-bought some random winger for £100m, slapped "MARQUEE SIGNING" on him and called it a day.

Instead, we apparently decided:

"Nah. If the right player isn't available, don't buy one."

Absolutely disgusting levels of common sense from this club.

So yeah, no shiny new LW...

But I'll happily take that over Panic Buy FC™.

Overall: 8.5/10 window.

Could've been better.

Could've been much, MUCH worse.

At least we didn't sign a Chelsea player. That's the real trophy.

8.5/10? You're having a laugh.

 

[Barry]

THE GOOD STUFF​

1. Bruno — apparently we now have one of the best midfielders in the PL and a Top 5 midfielder in the world. Not too shabby.
2. Konsa — casually helping turn our defence into the best in the world. Who needs defenders when you can just build a brick wall?
3. Tzolis — bargain of the window. Actual value for money FC. What is this madness?
4. Andria Bartishvili — potential.
   Could be the next superstar... or we'll be loaning him out to 14 different clubs by 2032. You never know.
5. Jesus sold.
   Hallelujah.
6. Nelli sold.
   Another one bites the dust.
7. Trossard sold.
   The annual "we need to sell someone before deadline day" ritual has been completed.
8. Reiss' contract terminated.
   Sometimes the best signing is the player you finally stop paying.
9. Didn't overpay for Rogers.
   Look at us showing financial restraint. Someone check if Edu secretly came back.
10. Didn't buy Madrid divas like Vini or Alvarez.
    No Galáctico tax. No "€150m because he's wearing a Real Madrid shirt" nonsense.
11. Didn't panic-loan Rashford.
    Deadline day Arsenal somehow resisted the urge to throw a dart at the wall. Progress!
12. No Chelsea rejects.
    The Chelsea Recycling Centre is officially closed.
13. No panic buys.
    We actually walked away from a player instead of going:
    "Well... we've got 6 hours left, might as well pay £80m."
14. Ethan secured a loan.
    Go get some minutes, lad.
15. Didn't overpay for Barcola.
    Another player we didn't spend stupid money on. At this rate, we're going to finish the window with actual money left.

---

THE ONLY NEGATIVE​

We didn't sign a marquee LW.

But...

WHO WAS ACTUALLY AVAILABLE?!

We could've panic-bought some random winger for £100m, slapped "MARQUEE SIGNING" on him and called it a day.

Instead, we apparently decided:

"Nah. If the right player isn't available, don't buy one."

Absolutely disgusting levels of common sense from this club.

So yeah, no shiny new LW...

But I'll happily take that over Panic Buy FC™.

Overall: 8.5/10 window.

Could've been better.

Could've been much, MUCH worse.

At least we didn't sign a Chelsea player. That's the real trophy.

Elite stuff this mate, keep on trucking!

 

[ThlRama]

As I wrote elsewhere, considering the suboptimal form of Saka over the last 18 months, Barcola would be expected to immediately become our best winger if he came here, slotting into what has long been our weakest position. Being champions and CL finalists, it's hard to imagine we couldn't attract him. That was a crime I hope we don't pay. Eze isn't and won't be a LW btw, he could only play the Cazorla role on the left at best, but this wouldn't suit our current style, he must only play centrally. No CF either, overpaid for Konsa. 5/10.

 

[HattoriHanzo]

I thought 4/10, but I will give 5/10 because we got rid of all deadweight (G. Jesus and his huge salary-£265k per week, Vieira, Nelson, Martinelli, Nørgaard)
We all know what is negative, attack (especially LW)
Somehow we ended up weaker in this area, which is unacceptable.

 

[Mitch]

All this negativity despite signing more proven talented players than we have done in a window since 1995. Imagine how low people would rate all the other windows since in that 30 years

Even our LW situation isn't as bad as some makeout, I can see Tzolis and Eze getting more G/A than Trossard (G6 A6) and Martinelli (G1 A4).

 

[remains]

Now I’ve got over the disappointment of not signing a forward I’ve given it a 7. Bruno is an elite signing that I wouldn’t have thought would be possible at the start of the summer. Konsa a top signing too.

We know they wanted to sign an attacker and I think they got caught cold by the huge spike in transfer fees. Rogers the big miss for me as it sounded like we could have done the deal at a more reasonable fee and didn’t pull the trigger.

We will see now which of our attackers are ready to step up.

I will say that after the CL final and the rhetoric put out by the club I was expecting a 9 or 10/10 window so it is very disappointing we weren’t able to do that, although they did at least try to bring in top attackers.

 

[Topside]

6/10 for me got rid of a lot of dead wages off the books Nelson (partly paid off), Vieira, Nørgaard, Jesus.

Signings of Hincapie (obligation), Konsa strengthen our already impressive defensive core, Bruno G at 75m will prove to be astute business and Tzolis may also at 34m.

Of course I agree we missed out on a real top attacker but last thing I want id 70m plus spent on a player the manager isn't sure about.

 

[Rex Caudillo]

The only guy I feel we “missed out” on is maybe Rogers if we could’ve wrapped him up early for 50 - 80M as the reports said.

Even then he’s not too me a gigantic needle mover and would’ve have rather kicked the tires on Vinicius and Alvarez.

There’s a need up front but no one was truly available who to me looked good. Maybe Ndiaye but he’s not guaranteeing you a title by himself.

 

[Dodero]

Well, we still need another winger... So, Sancho to Arsenal? Who says no?

 

[Fallout]

6/10

I'm very happy with the Tzolis deal

I'm not happy with the prices paid for Konsa and Bruno given their age profiles, though I believe both will have a big impact this season, and at least they play in positions where you can have a bit more longevity career-wise

The lack of a marquee forward signing is primarily what makes this an okay but not great window

However, I understand why the club didn't feel the need to pull the trigger on overpriced players who were available in the market, and I'm okay with the Martinelli sale ... I think we have enough depth to navigate until January and we can try again

 

[Kuroske]

A solid 7. Got a level raiser in Bruno, a back up CB that will replace Saliba for 75%. We have to see what Tzolis can bring. Eze is promoted as the starter LW. A year should be enough to learn what Arteta ask on that position. Got rid of all deadwood and other clubs need to pay premium now if they want to buy one of our players.

I am positive on the next two transfer window, we will get a player that everybody will jump off their seats.

 

[Kuroske]

The only guy I feel we “missed out” on is maybe Rogers if we could’ve wrapped him up early for 50 - 80M as the reports said.

Even then he’s not too me a gigantic needle mover and would’ve have rather kicked the tires on Vinicius and Alvarez.

There’s a need up front but no one was truly available who to me looked good. Maybe Ndiaye but he’s not guaranteeing you a title by himself.

Nah we missed out Gordon. He was the prefect signing for less than 100m.

 

[Rex Caudillo]

Nah we missed out Gordon. He was the prefect signing for less than 100m.

He was always choosing Barcelona though. Every player would.

 

[bergholt]

Well, we still need another winger... So, Sancho to Arsenal? Who says no?

everyone in the world except Sancho and his agent?

 

[El Duderino]

THE GOOD STUFF​

1. Bruno — apparently we now have one of the best midfielders in the PL and a Top 5 midfielder in the world. Not too shabby.
2. Konsa — casually helping turn our defence into the best in the world. Who needs defenders when you can just build a brick wall?
3. Tzolis — bargain of the window. Actual value for money FC. What is this madness?
4. Andria Bartishvili — potential.
   Could be the next superstar... or we'll be loaning him out to 14 different clubs by 2032. You never know.
5. Jesus sold.
   Hallelujah.
6. Nelli sold.
   Another one bites the dust.
7. Trossard sold.
   The annual "we need to sell someone before deadline day" ritual has been completed.
8. Reiss' contract terminated.
   Sometimes the best signing is the player you finally stop paying.
9. Didn't overpay for Rogers.
   Look at us showing financial restraint. Someone check if Edu secretly came back.
10. Didn't buy Madrid divas like Vini or Alvarez.
    No Galáctico tax. No "€150m because he's wearing a Real Madrid shirt" nonsense.
11. Didn't panic-loan Rashford.
    Deadline day Arsenal somehow resisted the urge to throw a dart at the wall. Progress!
12. No Chelsea rejects.
    The Chelsea Recycling Centre is officially closed.
13. No panic buys.
    We actually walked away from a player instead of going:
    "Well... we've got 6 hours left, might as well pay £80m."
14. Ethan secured a loan.
    Go get some minutes, lad.
15. Didn't overpay for Barcola.
    Another player we didn't spend stupid money on. At this rate, we're going to finish the window with actual money left.

---

THE ONLY NEGATIVE​

We didn't sign a marquee LW.

But...

WHO WAS ACTUALLY AVAILABLE?!

We could've panic-bought some random winger for £100m, slapped "MARQUEE SIGNING" on him and called it a day.

Instead, we apparently decided:

"Nah. If the right player isn't available, don't buy one."

Absolutely disgusting levels of common sense from this club.

So yeah, no shiny new LW...

But I'll happily take that over Panic Buy FC™.

Overall: 8.5/10 window.

Could've been better.

Could've been much, MUCH worse.

At least we didn't sign a Chelsea player. That's the real trophy.

Genuinely have to ask if this is a bit?

 

[Sungod]

Genuinely have to ask if this is a bit?

In my positive book, not signing a super LW is only 1.5 stars less than perfect.

It is what it is.

Edit: I feel we had best window for non oil club considering our squad.

 

[Entropics]

Genuinely have to ask if this is a bit?

AIs will never rate something below 7 unless you explicitly tell them to be brutal (in that case they never drop below 4)

 

[rotateta]

You’re being way too generous there. The number 1 priority was raising the level of the attack, or at least drastically improving it. Instead we have gone backwards. You can’t give 7 for this just because we signed good players in other areas.

I gave a 7 too.

I strongly believe you can give a good mark for pivoting to strengthening other positions when there are no options available in your worst position.

I have said before that rogers was the perfect storm, Cole palmer friendship, villa chelsea dodgy dealings, and expectation of playing out of position meant he joined Chelsea rather than us.

If we did not have eze already, we may have been all in for a similar player.

Tzolis looks like a find hence as high as 7 for me. I think too easy to rate a window just because you have spent really big.

Bruno will add, konsa will too even if I would have much preferred an out and out right back instead.

Another reason for a positive rating is we have a nicely balanced front line imo, one that tells eze and madueke they have to succeed at lw this season or they are out, in a strange way it gives them backing too to not sign a fofana or similar who would be third sub.

The decision not to sign for the sake of it also gives dowman chances to make the squad regularly, I like that we are a little leaner, but not too lean, up front.

Hopefully as well some kids get chances in meaningless cup games.

Finally, saving back some money means we can add in january if required. If there is a form lw we may be able to pounce.

7 Is a good score but getting monga or godts would have made it better.

I am interested to see what we do in january as we may need more pace up front for champions league, however as per before I kinda like us putting faith in likes of madueke first half of the season - give him the confidence to prove the doubters wrong (of which I am one).