[Albion] Good Window?

[trueblue]

The summer is the big one when it’ll be hard to keep together one of the best midfields in the league. For now, not much wrong with the squad bar lacking a naturally left-sided defender with Colwilll out. If we go out and sign too many experienced players it only blocks the pathway for the youngsters who’ve shown promise. Will be better to make those big decisions in the summer.

Loving RDZ. His demeanour worries me slightly. Feels like a guy who is so demanding on himself and everyone that he may only stick around a couple of years. That would be an issue for breaking our transfer boundaries to suit him - but that might be what needs to happen to satisfy his ambitions. Hope I’m very wrong - just a gut feeling.

 

[Justice]

The summer is the big one when it’ll be hard to keep together one of the best midfields in the league. For now, not much wrong with the squad bar lacking a naturally left-sided defender with Colwilll out. If we go out and sign too many experienced players it only blocks the pathway for the youngsters who’ve shown promise. Will be better to make those big decisions in the summer.

Loving RDZ. His demeanour worries me slightly. Feels like a guy who is so demanding on himself and everyone that he may only stick around a couple of years. That would be an issue for breaking our transfer boundaries to suit him - but that might be what needs to happen to satisfy his ambitions. Hope I’m very wrong - just a gut feeling.

He’s only been here five minutes I’ve seen a few people panicking about him leaving. He is currently managing a top six side with a group of players the top PL clubs all desperately want to sign what’s not to like. All managers want more players that’s nothing new.

After the sarcastic Mr history lesson Potter it’s refreshing to have a manager who’s ambitious and wants to achieve success and win things with us.

 

[Perkino]

Except Estupinan who was needed as a direct replacement for Cucurella, who was the last player we signed as a first team starter? We tend to bring in players for the squad that are willing to fight for a place and wait for their opportunity. RDZ may not stay for very long so signing specific players outside our resale model was never going to happen.

I'm disappointed we didn't manage a permanent deal for Colwill and got a little excited about Vinitha rumours for a few hours but overall keeping Caicedo is a brilliant window

 

[Cheeky Monkey]

He’s only been here five minutes I’ve seen a few people panicking about him leaving. He is currently managing a top six side with a group of players the top PL clubs all desperately want to sign what’s not to like. All managers want more players that’s nothing new.

After the sarcastic Mr history lesson Potter it’s refreshing to have a manager who’s ambitious and wants to achieve success and win things with us.

Cant get my head around why people are so neurotic about RDZ, it’s just ridiculous. Get a grip, he’s fine, he’s happy, stop analysing nothing.

 

[Cheeky Monkey]

The non-BHA highlight of this window is that Potter is now going to be under incredible pressure to get things working with a bunch of obscenely overpriced and overpaid mercenaries and he won’t get long to do it. Oh for the days of working with down-to-earth humble, but highly effective pros like March, Gross, Dunk, Webster, Wellbeck, Lamptey and Lallana eh, Graham? Fantastic bank balance but you sold your soul.

 

[BN41Albion]

To be honest I just trust in TB et al.
We all know the score when it comes to our transfer business. Trust the process. Since RDZ took over its almost like we've made two new incredible signings with Ferguson and Mitoma breaking through. That's how we work.

 

[peterward]

The only slight thing for me is that we have a realistic chance of Europe this season and of winning the FA Cup. Next season it is unlikey we will have Mitoma, Ali Mac or Caceido - we will definitely be weaker because of it, as they are all world class. It really is our big chance this season to achieve something, so it's a shame not to have made one or two additional signings where needed to add some strength to the squad for the coming months. I hope Tony doesn't regret not 'going for it'.

Both Mitoma and MacAllister seem decent, humble fellas who are enjoying their football. Wouldn't be at all surprised to see bids for both, but feel confident the club won't allow both to go and likely neither........ "give us 1 more season" could happen? Caicedo maybe after this, but hopeful he'll get improved contract and will sign here.

 

[Monsieur Le Plonk]

Trossard and?

Obviously Mwepu was well before the window. Who else did we lose?

Guessing he’s referring to colwill injury

 

[Springal]

January signings were never going to happen, we already appear to have a good enough team to push for top 6. We now have midfielder worth £75M.

It’s probably difficult to make signings when considering we could be in Europa League, Europa Conf League - or not in Europe at all. We also have Moder due back from injury and a few players on loan who must be close to being in the squad next season.

So bigger picture / longer term I don’t think we needed to do any business

 

[Hugo Rune]

Everton beat us!

 

[dolphins]

Everton beat us! View attachment 156501

Seeing it displayed like that makes Chelsea's spend even more bonkers and, at a time when so many are struggling, pretty obscene.

 

[chickens]

From the team perspective I feel it was a great window. We waved goodbye to Tross, but I can’t blame him for wanting a shot at being part of a title winning squad, and he’s given us several good years of service.

We kept Caicedo, which is great for the team, and gives a reality check to clubs who feel we’re only there to feed them at their whim.

Added to that, we have three young talents who will hopefully develop into something special.

Like others, my only concern is that De Zerbi should not feel unsupported, and it may be that by not acquiring at least one of his preferred targets there’s an element of tension between head coach and board.

I like to think that this will dissipate in the summer, and that we’d back the coach at that point in time. I think we all want De Zerbi to feel that this is home.

 

[southstandandy]

The non-BHA highlight of this window is that Potter is now going to be under incredible pressure to get things working with a bunch of obscenely overpriced and overpaid mercenaries and he won’t get long to do it. Oh for the days of working with down-to-earth humble, but highly effective pros like March, Gross, Dunk, Webster, Wellbeck, Lamptey and Lallana eh, Graham? Fantastic bank balance but you sold your soul.

Can you imagine if Chelsea now lose even 1 more game this season with that squad!

How embarassing will that be! A couple of losses and Potter will be walking the plank. With the money they've spent they should be winning practically every game.

 

[Ⓩ-Ⓐ-Ⓜ-Ⓞ-Ⓡ-Ⓐ]

Can you imagine if Chelsea now lose even 1 more game this season with that squad!

How embarassing will that be! A couple of losses and Potter will be walking the plank. With the money they've spent they should be winning practically every game.

I think he'll be given this season no matter what. It's a difficult job to bed in so many new signings. However, if he's not winning basically every game next season though I can see him getting the boot before Christmas.

 

[Johnny RoastBeef]

Can you imagine if Chelsea now lose even 1 more game this season with that squad!

How embarassing will that be! A couple of losses and Potter will be walking the plank. With the money they've spent they should be winning practically every game.

They've spent over £600m since Todd Boehly took over. Hopefully they'll do an Everton, who have spent over £500m since Moshiri came in.

 

[Not Andy Naylor]

Good window, possibly a great window if it means that the development of potential stars such as Sarmiento and Enciso isn't held back by an overpriced striker. We'll see how they both get on, of course, but I'm quite optimistic. The statement to the rest of football in holding Caicedo to his contract is as important as anything.

 

[RandyWanger]

I know the party line is 'we kept Caicedo, Mac, Mitoma etc' but I can't help feeling disappointed that we didn't strengthen. Not because I don't think our squad is good enough, but purely because at the tail end of the season we're going to have a bit of congestion with our re-arranged fixtures and hopefully a long cup run. Can we sustain this or was 9th always the target and would RDZ be happy with 9th? He seems very motivated and driven. His Liverpool reaction to me was telling, we won, but he didn't reach our potential and wasn't happy.

We have less options with Tross gone, Lallana is a sick note, and no one knows what Caicedo's state of mind will be like and if we can rely on him. The way Mac plays the game he's going to pick up cards and probably some niggles (especially if other teams target him the way Liverpool did)
Dat Man Welbz can't last, Evan is brilliant but young and needs to be managed. This injury could also get set back. Undav is still a bit unknown at this level.
Injury or suspension to Dunk, Webster or JP leaves us very light back there.

Other than that, we're okay.

 

[trueblue]

The non-BHA highlight of this window is that Potter is now going to be under incredible pressure to get things working with a bunch of obscenely overpriced and overpaid mercenaries and he won’t get long to do it. Oh for the days of working with down-to-earth humble, but highly effective pros like March, Gross, Dunk, Webster, Wellbeck, Lamptey and Lallana eh, Graham? Fantastic bank balance but you sold your soul.

The spending is a pretty clear message that they intend - no, they NEED - to finish in the top 4,ey'despite all the guff about looking at the long term. I think they'll probably improve rapidly but, if they don't, will be interesting to see when they hit the panic button. There are going to be some unhappy players for sure once the squads are submitted for the rest of the campaign. Mr Potter's famed man management skills are going to be tested to the max.

 

[Dick Head]

 

[Billy in Bristol]

The Athletic did their Transfer window review
https://theathletic.com/4141526/2023/02/01/transfer-window-review/?source=dailyemail&campaign=601983

When it came to this

The most underrated signing of the window was…​

Most writers had a Brighton pun or two including...

"I know nothing about Buonanotte, Jamie Mullins and Ayari, who signed for Brighton for a relative pittance. But I wouldn’t bet against any of them signing for a title-chasing club at a 10-fold mark-up sometime soon…"