02 Sep 2015 11:32:05
ED002 now that the transfer window has closed & if you have any time may I have your opinion on a few things please?
1) it seems like a lot of deals seem very inflated regarding fees i.e. sterling,martial,firmino,de Bruyne. now I'm not saying these transfers won't work out in the end & at the end of the day a player is only worth what a buying club is willing to pay but having said that do you think these inflated prices are panic buys or just how we can come to expect transfers in the coming years?
2) could you share your opinion on the window itself? I have read & heard many managers complaining saying that the window should close before the start of the season do you think that that is a viable & a good option to stop all players heads being turned before season starts?
3) could I get you to share your thoughts on who has donethe best business? I don't understand all transfer fees & everything else but man city's outlay seems extremely high with not much coming back the other way whilst I understand we have spent a fair few bob but have re-couperated a few bob too. then on the end of the spectrum arsenal have only spent 10ml or there abouts but might seem light according to the gunner fans. can i just ask what you think of the window in all?
{Ed002's Note - (1a) They were not panic buys as such. Liverpool found a mug buyer for Sterling who were willing to pay way more than he is worth. (1b) Hoffenheim couldn't get a German side to pay the release clause for Firmino and Manchester City agreed a price but stepped away. Liverpool came in and managed to negotiate the truly ridiculous €41M potentially rising to €50M - another mug buyer was found. (1c) Martial - Guy Hillion had Chelsea in there talking about him when they were discussing loans with Monaco and they would have gone to €20M - probably a fair price and certainly their limit. Manchester United has paid well over the odds for him. (1d) Kevin de Bruyne - it is hard to see how he will be used with David Silva at the club still. PSG also discussed a move to Paris with his representatives. I expected to see Bayern Munich look for an early agreement with Wolfsburg to take de Bruyne as a replacement for Ribery in 2016, they had made their interest known, and for him to stay in Wolfsburg next season. This was also the solution sought by Volkswagen. However, I imagine Bayern backed away from such an investment - probably because of changes coming over the next year. Not a panic buy but a little strange and expensive. He was unhappy at Chelsea and I hope he has grown up a little.
(2) The seasons vary across Europe - shutting it when the season starts will be hardest on the leagues with most teams in the top division - including England. Personally I don't feel strongly about it either way. People bleat a bit at then end of every window but no one seems keen to push to change it.
(3) Liverpool has reasonably done well - but at a vast cost that will require some work to address before June. There seems to be a lack of thought about transfer policy still. Manchester City did well getting all but one of their four primary targets - but at a significant cost that will need work to address before June or a very good explanation. Manchester United filled the positions they were looking at, but critically not centre back. Arsenal should have added a striker and a centre back but didn't - critically they are waiting on a defensive midfield player who is first choice but injured. Took the stance of not spending for spending's sake. Chelsea failed with getting in a centre back and with their efforts on Pogba. They bought in cover, Pedro and a decent LB all at good prices. They have added some very, very good youngsters keeping one in the squad and have bought a couple of youngsters back from loan who are now in the first team squad. They need to go back and address the CB situation and will go back after Pogba or their plan B. Spurs should have sorted out the Berahino situation and have let Lamela go to Marseille. West Ham fans are pleased with their business - although I don't know anything of a number of the players. Payet is certainly the stand out buy. Newcastle look to have done well - Thauvin is a very good player but Ed001 tells me not impressing him so far. Stoke continue to spend wisely - they are going to be tough to beat once they settle. Ranieri looks to have done well at Leicester. Everton have gone down the route of buying a couple of fringe South American players - not convinced. Palace have invested well. Watford have gone for the mass changing of the guard - I don't know enough to tell. Swansea are a decent side who looked to have improved. Norwich still need a bit of a shake up. Sunderland don't convince me. West Brom have strengthened. Aston Villa are trying to get to a decent level of consistency. I have probably missed a few sides.}