Matt1878 wrote: ↑Sun Dec 28, 2025 10:48 pm
Thats a good write up.
I think N/A because we havent used them much, is a default negative for me. Given our off-field turmoil, as you mention, its not really a time for speculative long term signings. Also you consider retention, which I agree was good, but it doesnt take into account the issue with failing to plug gaps.. (full backs obvs). My view
1. Grealish 7 great, but limited long term potential.
2. Barry 5.5
3. KDH 8.5 love him, little diamond, great age.
4. Aznou 3 (10 million that could have gone on a prem ready FB)
5. Dibling 5 cost a lot of money, not played.
6. Alcaraz 6, back up to KDH, solid enough signing.
7. Röhl 5 injured , not contributed.
8. Contract renewals 8 Keane, Gana, both good.
9. Squad gaps 3 fullbacks been glaring.
Total 51
Without giving weighting to one signing over another, the Average is 5.7. I'd say 6 is about right personally.
I think our team performance 1st half of 25/26 is about on par with our performances the 2nd half of 24/25. KDH is the one signing who has so far proven his long term 1st team worth.
Just a couple of points, largely agree to yours here but think your scores are a bit low based upon what we could have realistically expected. (EDIT: sorry for the essay/ramble)
Can we judge Grealish's long term value to us if we can't consider Dibling's? Dibling's 'large' fee is reflective of his future value to us.
With the ball I think he'll be superb (especially with good players around him, which he just has not had here or at Southampton). Without it, he needs to work on it.
His signing is considerably better than those from times past for similar value that we completely lost out on. There is at least a semblance of a plan with him, how long the manager takes to get him integrated is not a huge issue for me, and think it's actually beneficial to his long term progression. He cant be expected to be played ahead of two of the best wide players in the league, and he's not yet been exposed to maybe where he might end up, more central. The time will come, and he'll likely be ready (and we won't need to dip into the transfer market when it comes). Asset.
We also don't know who we went in for and missed out on (excl Tete), ie. which club and/or player turned us down. I'd much rather have gone for exciting and new/future than a moderate £ who is on the way down, we've already got that with Grealish and some other first team players and would find ourselves in the same position in 12-24 months. The value and resale had to be there. A mix of experience is fine.
It worked with Branthwaite, he was far from ready, and injury aside it's been a masterstroke. Had we not thought of the future when we were in a much worse position just think where we'd have been now. Had we judged him as harshly (we did) at the time of his signing...
With the kids I would include a 'weighting' along with the 'rating', as you say. Minimal pressure or expectation on the kids, but on KDH and Grealish, definitely full weighting.
I suspect we're holding out for high quality full backs given we'd missed out on stop-gap-but-solid Tete. Yes we have taken a punt on a kid international but I think he'll be second choice behind who will be the more experienced new starter, and hopefully ultimately the incumbent. (We should never have sold Digne)
We could have gone for average/good, Van Ewijk who had been mentioned but it would have been 20m+ (EPL tax), even if he wanted to come to us, as Coventry were actually after £15m from Wolfsburg for him. He'll be in the league in 6 months anyway so probably would have turned us down. I've not heard many other names mentioned (apart from the fanciful or unlikely) that were available and wanted us. They might now. List of reasonable ready-to-go full back targets that fit the profile for circa 20m please?
We hadn't the budget for a complete overhaul in one window, just impossible. And I think some are impatiently judging it less than 6 months in.
Had we not signed a striker when we signed Barry (and Beto perhaps moreso) the fans would've ripped down the new stadium. It's like that with fullbacks now, understandibly.
Moyes accepted we could get by with what we got even though he obviously wanted more, and wanted it yesterday, like we all do.
Retention of Branthwaite and NDiaye was massive. (actually, 10/10)
Lucky we kept Keane and Gana as you say. We were apparently already scouting for a young CB replacement. (Bournemouth's 18yo Serbian who played against us was one option Moyes was considering)
6/10 would suggest to me we could have had a much more fruitful window. I'd like to know more about what that picture might have looked like, and how we might have acheived it.
