[Albion] Post transfer deadline day reflections

[Perkino]

Well happy, as long as we don't get injuries or suspensions for 2 players of similar positions at the same time then we are covered with the 18 man squad

 

[greyseagull]

If someone had said to me at the end of the Transfer Window we would have signed on permanent deals:

Bobby Z
Tomer Hemed
Liam Rosenior
Uwe Hunemeier
Connor Goldson
Jamie Murphy
Elvis Manu
Gaetan Bong
Jack Harper
Vahid Hambo
Niki Maenpaa
A re-signed Lewis Dunk
A Kazenga Lua Lua who seems to be finally fulfilling his potential
A fully fit Dale Stephens, Beram Kayal, and Sam Baldock
Shipped Chris O’Grady out on loan

All of these with still the option to sign one or two loanees, then I would say I am more than happy.

 

[Blue Valkyrie]

Isn't that because we have yet to see any of them play in a 4-4-2? I am sure at least 1 of those + Crofts would do well as backup. It is another unknown, but I am sure we have enough there to certainly get us to January - they can always look again then if none of this lot are good enough.

Good point. I suppose it is unfair to predict failure without trying them. An unknown, as you say, and let's be optimistic about Crofts anyway.

 

[spence]

I'm extremely confident that we will have a top four finish this season. My only worry is that we are still suspect in defence. Hamed is beginning to show what he can do, Baldock looks a completely different player from last year, Stephens and Kayal are looking good in midfield, Kaz, Elvis, March and Murphy on the wings and with Hambo and Harper still to come, this is going to be an exciting season. It's nice to have Bobby back but has to ask how involved he will be? Bournemouth exceeded everyone's expectations last season, so can we. A win against Hull on Saturday, will put us 6 points ahead of them. Happy days are here again!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Defence is actually our strongest point.

 

[Munkfish]

If someone had said to me at the end of the Transfer Window we would have signed on permanent deals:

Bobby Z
Tomer Hemed
Liam Rosenior
Uwe Hunemeier
Connor Goldson
Jamie Murphy
Elvis Manu
Gaetan Bong
Jack Harper
Vahid Hambo
Niki Maenpaa
A re-signed Lewis Dunk
A Kazenga Lua Lua who seems to be finally fulfilling his potential
A fully fit Dale Stephens, Beram Kayal, and Sam Baldock
Shipped Chris O’Grady out on loan

All of these with still the option to sign one or two loanees, then I would say I am more than happy.

You would have also gone WHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO?

 

[trueblue]

I saw Will Hoskins setting up Ryan Harley for Exeter on the League Two highlights this week. I'm pretty happy with what we have now.

 

[Bozza]

If someone had said to me at the end of the Transfer Window we would have signed on permanent deals:

Bobby Z
Tomer Hemed
Liam Rosenior
Uwe Hunemeier
Connor Goldson
Jamie Murphy
Elvis Manu
Gaetan Bong
Jack Harper
Vahid Hambo
Niki Maenpaa
A re-signed Lewis Dunk
A Kazenga Lua Lua who seems to be finally fulfilling his potential
A fully fit Dale Stephens, Beram Kayal, and Sam Baldock
Shipped Chris O’Grady out on loan

All of these with still the option to sign one or two loanees, then I would say I am more than happy.

You're missing the step where you do searches for:

Tomer Hemed
Uwe Hunemeier
Connor Goldson
Jamie Murphy
Elvis Manu
Gaetan Bong
Jack Harper
Vahid Hambo

...to find out who they are.

 

[LamieRobertson]

Not one 'loan' player on the books..that in itself is quite a turnaround

 

[Stat Brother]

If someone had said to me at the end of the Transfer Window we would have signed on permanent deals:

Bobby Z
Tomer Hemed
Liam Rosenior
Uwe Hunemeier
Connor Goldson
Jamie Murphy
Elvis Manu
Gaetan Bong
Jack Harper
Vahid Hambo
Niki Maenpaa
A re-signed Lewis Dunk
A Kazenga Lua Lua who seems to be finally fulfilling his potential
A fully fit Dale Stephens, Beram Kayal, and Sam Baldock
Shipped Chris O’Grady out on loan

All of these with still the option to sign one or two loanees, then I would say I am more than happy.

Esp when you take into account the calibre of players many on NSC would have been happy with 6 weeks ago.

#gettheteambacktogether.

 

[Betfair Bozo]

I'm extremely confident that we will have a top four finish this season. My only worry is that we are still suspect in defence.

Stop worrying! Bruno has been right back to his best (see what I did there) and we have Rosenior who can deputise as well as offer plenty of options as we saw at Ipswich, Bong looks excellent so far and we now have 3 very much proven centre backs as well as Goldson who could be as good as any of them (who knows?) Calde is still around to cover any of the positions in a crisis. No need to worry about us defensively.

 

[KZNSeagull]

Good point. I suppose it is unfair to predict failure without trying them. An unknown, as you say, and let's be optimistic about Crofts anyway.

That's the key bit. Not just about Crofts - about everything.

 

[Mackenzie]

Ince?
Holla?
JFC?

Partnered with either Kayal or Stephens, I'm sure any of the above will look a whole lot better than they have done in the run-outs they've had in weaker teams this season

If we lose Kayal or Stephens, and Crofts isn't his old self, then I think we'll need to change to a midfield three.

 

[Bozza]

My only worry is that we are still suspect in defence.

Still?

When have we been suspect in defence? Last season we had something like the 4th best defence in the division. If it wasn't for our defence, and I include Stockdale in that, then we would be in League One right now.

 

[Simster]

Still?

When have we been suspect in defence? Last season we had something like the 4th best defence in the division. If it wasn't for our defence, and I include Stockdale in that, then we would be in League One right now.

Quite.

We're not really suspect anywhere at the moment. We might be short of a bit of cover but I'd say our first 15 or 16 stand up to any other 15 or 16 in the division, including Derby and Middlesbrough. Just to reiterate, not only are we very consistent at the moment, but we've just beaten a major top 6 contender. Away from home. Comfortably.

 

[dazzer6666]

I'm quite staggered about how much better this has been handled......keys for me are :
-experienced, astute manager who obviously has the backing of the board (probably came in on his own terms), knew what he wanted and seems to be a great judge of a player. Tactically very smart too (eg Rosenior on the wing.....)
-no loanees. They are all playing for the shirt and it shows. Marked difference in passion is obvious
-'old' players getting a new lease of life under the new regime (much down to CH again I'm sure), KLL and Bruno in particular, and Stephens being fit again
-fantastic partnerships forming

Looks like TB and PB have taken the lessons of last term on board. Very happy days.

 

[spring hall convert]

I hope you are right, but my view is that those 3 are more suited to a midfield 5 than a midfield 4.

I agree, they've all got strengths but for completely varying reasons I don't think any are a CM in a 4-4-2. Ince is probably the closest to it.

 

[spring hall convert]

It's been a fantastic window. Not just the quality of what we have brought in but the way in which the club went about it's business. Well done all.

 

[Honky Tonx]

Still?

When have we been suspect in defence? Last season we had something like the 4th best defence in the division. If it wasn't for our defence, and I include Stockdale in that, then we would be in League One right now.

the only reason we survived the drop was because Millwall and Rotherham were so bad (how did we fare against both of those teams?). Against both Fulham and Ipswich this season at times our defence looked at 6s and 7s.

 

[Wrong-Direction]

I'm quite happy with how everything's gone

 

[Aristotle]

Unless Crofts' recovery has gone very well, we need a central midfielder who can play in a 4 man midfield to cover an injury to Stephens or Kayal.

I'm surprised this hasn't been mentioned more.