By Hugh Southon
With four players signed and more on the way, this summer transfer window could hardly have been more different to last year’s!
There were many moaners – me among them – that Andy Carroll and Stewart Downing’s arrival was all well and good but nothing like enough… and so it proved.
Much criticism was aimed at the manager and the board – justifiably – and the season itself, injuries apart, proved the complainers correct.
But from very early summer the owners and manager agreed that this time around, whatever money was available would be spread across the team – strengthening in key positions.
David Gold – in an interview with this site – had said: “We know it wasn’t a good window and this summer we will be aiming to produce a squad where there is pressure on every player for the shirt – that’s how the money will be spent.”
Yet there remain some across the forums who are asking: “Where’s the big signing!”
I’m not trying to knock people’s aspirations – it’s what makes the dreams go round but personally I’m delighted to see the new policy in action. A club like ours will see at least 20 p;er cent go on players games if they know they are in a battle for the shirt!
The first signings have seen us strengthen at the back middle and front with and I’d be very surprised if we didn’t go back for Dundee United’s Andy Robertson as the next possible signing.
I was told on Friday that the day had been spent trying to sign a number of targets and that we can expect that to be stepped up next week.
It’s all good, as we like to say but there is just one small – or should it be – large worry in my head!
Does the comment that there will be pressure on all places, as mentioned by David Gold apply to Andy Carroll.
If it doesn’t it should – in the meantime we await the next few days with baited breath.
Zarate, Kouyate, Cresswell and…..?
Poyet from all we hear
Let’s wait til he’s signed before making statements which may or may not be premature. (Touche!)
If you must 🙂
Is Poyet a homegrown lad ?
You are spot on! I couldn’t agree more! Spreading the kitty around to strengthen the squad as a whole is the right thing to do.
Although AC and downing IMO were undoubtably good signings they were only two players and the team was too weak in too many areas for them to make the difference their fees demanded. Oh and being unlucky with injuries didn’t help the cause either!
Anyway, that’s all water under the bridge now and we must move on and learn from these mistakes!
Although I am encouraged that we might be going back for Robertson again,(if he is good enough for Ray Stewart …!), it is in the final third of the pitch just like last year in which our season will be defined.
Talk is of signing another striker and strengthening the midfield. That would be good as It is well known we need an attacking midfielder and a second striker.
Which brings me nicely to the point. For the type of striker we sign(if any), will define the whole style of play at the club.
If we can sign an out and out striker (ie, bony) then we sill see a very attacking line up indeed! If however we sign a back up/ wide forward then expect a slightly better version of last year.
Personally now we are better balanced at the back and we finally have that defensive enforcer in midfield, I would like to see us blow everything on an out and out goal scorer and play him with Carroll!
Even at the expense of that attacking/creative midfielder we have been desperately looking for!
But whatever happens its nice to have a transfer window where we can look forward to it in expectation rather than hope! COYI!