Doeboy » Mon Sep 02, 2013 9:17 pm wrote:Well looks like our dealings are complete bar some surprise deal right at the death. Overall bit of a mixed feeling.
Mignolet is a good keeper and think he will be a sound buy but wouldn't say he is an upgrade on Reina but I think Jose was maybe getting a little stale at us and with being on big wages, the move makes sense.
Toure, Sakho (thought the reported fee was a bit expensive) will bring the power and strength that I thought we missed last season and Llori looks like he has real potential and there is real competition for places now. Also think Cissokho could be a shrewd bit of business. He was hot property a few years back and may have tailed off a little recently but definite player there and again there's good competition on the left and means Enrique knows he hasn't got a free run in the team
In terms of the attacking options we have bought, in Aspas and an Alberto, it's really a case of let's see what they are about and then make a judgement. Got to be honest, I was really looking for some bigger names in these positions and to be fair to the club they do seem to have tried to get hold of them but for whatever reason it hasn't come off. I think Moses is a stop gap we have got in rather than splashing out huge money on someone just for the sake of it who may not be the right player for us. His a decent enough player and I've seen give problems to oppo teams.
We have to give the likes of Aspas, Alberto and Moses a chance and see what they can offer but my gut feeling is they will be good squad additions but not those that will take us to the next level and that is a bit dissapointing. Obviously hope I'm wrong
All in all a pretty mixed window for me and there is disappointment we weren't able to pick up a real established attacking player(s). That's our lot, lets see how we get on now
I think mixed is about right
Mignolet is doing well and hopefully will continue that way -
The purchases for the defence are all solid - a good solid CB who will hopefully improve the defending at set pieces - a young CB who is very highly rated and a LB who will be solid competition for Enrique - Sakho was a bit too expensive but we needed him
The midfield which is our weak link hasn't been improved at all - maybe even weakened slightly with Shelvey leaving. Alberto looks very weak for the prem - he passes the ball ok but just nothing special in him - when you consider he is the same age as Eriksen I would hope for a bit more - but we are missing a lot of power , drive and creativity in that midfield that I think should have been addressed this summer
Up front Aspas again looks just like Borini - lightweight and can't handle the pace and physical nature of the perm . Moses i believe just doesn't have that something special to take us up another level. It's going to be the same front three we ended up with last season and hopefully we keep them fit and they stay on form. Hopefully Sterling really breaks through.
So overall the window looking at the defence is good - elsewhere is poor IMO
