Yahoo Sport 
The Yahoo Sport Question of the Week: “On a scale of 1-10, how happy are you with your club’s transfer business now that the window is firmly shut?”
From a despondent four-out-of-ten from a Blackburn fan disillusioned with their “absent owners”, to an unimprovable ten-out-of-ten for Mourinho’s recruitment at Old Trafford, friends of Yahoo Sport assess their club’s transfer window business.
Misha Sher, Head of Sport & Entertainment, EMEA, MediaCom, www.mediacom.com
Manchester United – 10/10
Absolutely delighted with the business we did this summer. It’s been painful watching the team completely lose its style and swagger since Fergie’s retirement. I’m baffled at how much money we’ve spent in the past 3 years to get the product that we did on the pitch. There didn’t appear to be any thought into what the team required, both in terms of ability and personality. You looked at that team and with an occasional exception of Rooney, didn’t see anyone who could be counted on to drive the team forward.
It’s a different story now. Not only did we strengthen the all-important spine of the team with truly World Class players, we brought in personalities that will elevate the dressing room and the fans. One only has to look at the body language of Pogba and Zlatan to get the sense of United of old. We are a team brimming with confidence and you sense that no matter how the game is unfolding, this team will fight to the last minute, as we saw in the last game against Hull. Speaking of which, I do hope that Mourinho has big plans for Rashford. He is an unbelievable talent and should warrant a place in the team. I know other fans have a genuine soft spot for Rashford and Lingard and want these home grown players to play a big part in United’s season. We’ve always prided ourselves on having our own, home-grown players in the team and I hope Jose appreciates the importance of this for our club. Looking up and down the team, we don’t appear to have any weaknesses. Having Luke Shaw back and playing is equivalent to a new signing. Juan Mata is off to a great start and offers us something different, especially going forward. Let’s hope he is not shipped off at Christmas like he was under Mourhino at Chelsea. Mikhtaryan is a terrific signing and hopefully won’t take long to adapt. If he produces anything close to his form at Dortmund, he’ll be getting fans out of their seats on regular basis. All in all, it was a solid transfer window with real intent. We did our business early and that has been key to getting off to a good start. It won’t be easy given the business our rivals have done but I really fancy our chances this season.
David Garrido, Presenter, Sky Sports Spanish football and Sky Sports News HQ, www.skysports.com/watch/sky-sports-news
Sheffield Wednesday – 8.5/10
I’d give our efforts a strong 8.5. Sheffield Wednesday have signed quality over quantity this summer, and yet still eight players have joined us to properly strengthen the squad. In some areas we’ve done more than I expected, for example midfield where David Jones, Almen Abdi, Adam Reach and Will Buckley (loan) have arrived - for me, Abdi is the key, he really is a game-changer. Reach was a club-record Deadline Day signing, so I’m expecting plenty from him down the left-hand side. His capture does perhaps mask a slight issue, though - Reach can cover for Daniel Pudil at full-back, which is where we’re a little short, but he’s much more of a winger than a defender. Centre-back is also a slight worry - we had Vincent Sasso on loan last year from Braga and he plugs the gap, but if Tom Lees gets injured, then we look significantly weaker in defence. But if we do have a slight frailty at the back, we should be frightening going forward - I’m backing striker Steven Fletcher to thrive at this level, so 15-20 goals from him, along with Fernando Forestieri’s contribution, can drive us towards the play-offs again, if not automatic promotion. We haven’t spent the amounts that other teams have, Newcastle and Aston Villa in particular, but we have definitely got value for money. All in all, I can’t complain - an already-decent squad has been improved well.
www.twitter.com/skysportsnewshq |
Simon Caney, ex Editor of Sport and MATCH magazines
Manchester United – 9/10
For any Man Utd fan, the score has to be somewhere around a 9. This is an unusual sensation, given the shambles of recent transfer windows that saw Ed Woodward tootling around Europe on a succession of increasingly improbable goose chases, getting into all manner of scrapes along the way but rarely coming home with any actual footballers.
But to be fair, this summer has been different and we can only assume that the presence of Jose Mourinho has had a positive effect. The big signing, in terms of money, is Paul Pogba, and while we will ignore that he was in fact a United player not so long ago, he looks a perfect fit for the Premier League. I think he’ll set the place on fire and is exactly what was required - some steel in midfield. In attack, Zlatan Ibrahimovic can have a Cantona-esque impact, certainly for a year or two. His huge ego will demand that he proves himself in England and the early signs are very good indeed - he is playing with a real hunger. Maybe the best of the lot, however, will prove to be Ivory Coast defender Eric Bailly, who already looks immense. Last season United sometimes resembled the Keystone Cops at the back, but Bailly is already drawing comparisons with Nemanja Vidic and with Luke Shaw returning from injury, the defence is immeasurably better.
The only cloud concerns the talented young players who have been allowed to leave: the likes of Will Keane, James Weir and Nick Powell have gone on permanent deals. United fans love to see youngsters coming into the first team but this is very much not the Mourinho way - he buys success rather than nurturing it. But then, if he wins the league all will be forgiven.
Matt Stanger, Editor, The Set Pieces, www.thesetpieces.com
Blackburn Rovers – 4/10
Considering we lost our captain, Grant Hanley, and best defender, Shane Duffy (despite his two own goals and red card in the defeat at Cardiff), it’s difficult to be enthused about Blackburn’s transfer dealings. With Jordan Rhodes and Marcus Olsson both sold back in January, that’s four key players who have departed in the last two windows. Like rats abandoning a sinking ship, some might say, when you look at our league position.
It’s been a dreadful start under Owen Coyle. We have picked up only one point in five Championship matches - which included a 4-1 hammering at home to Norwich on the opening day - and have conceded 16 goals in seven games in total. As a former Burnley manager who struggled in his last few roles, Coyle was not a popular choice to replace Paul Lambert. There has been little to change the supporters’ opinion so far.
But being fair to Coyle, he has worked tirelessly in the transfer market despite being denied funds by absent owners Venkys. One wonders if he knew what he was letting himself in for. There have been 12 new arrivals, with free transfers Danny Graham, Anthony Stokes, Gordon Greer and Charlie Mulgrew (on a questionable three-year contract) providing experience but not the quality to challenge at the top end of the division.
A fee has been paid only once: around £250,000 for Bristol City left-back Derrick Williams.
It is in the loan market that Coyle has really shown the breadth of his contacts. Jack Byrne is a promising arrival from Manchester City, as are fellow Premier League youngsters Martin Samuelsen and Sam Gallagher. Tommie Hoban, who impressed on his debut against Fulham, and Marvin Emnes could also prove to be shrewd additions.
I’m sticking with 4/10, however, simply because the longer Venkys’ reign continues, the further Rovers are going to fall.
www.twitter.com/thesetpieces | www.facebook.com/thesetpieces
Ash Davidson and Jonny Shepherd, Co-Founders of Bread And Butter Football, www.breadandbutterfootball.com
Liverpool – 7/10
Ash: As a Liverpool fan, I want to give the window a 7. Given the amount of goals conceded from that left back position throughout last season – why no left back?! I am very happy with Matip on a free transfer, Karius who looks a fantastic goalkeeper (even if he has a broken hand, he may still be better than Mignolet), Mane looks electric, although his fee was high, expecting a typical Liverpool flop signing. Gino looks a little lost currently and Klavan has had a nightmare against Burnley, so that could be interesting to see how he recovers. Oh, and Balotelli has finally gone. Somehow we managed to raise £70m from the fringes of the squad, too! Not bad Jurgen. Stronger in some areas. Still weak at left back.
Arsenal – 6/10
Johnny: I’m an Arsenal fan, so 6. Chuffed with Xhaka, very happy with Mustafi, Perez isn’t the top tier striker I wanted us to sign but undoubtedly improves our squad. With all of the outgoings, though, I would’ve wanted a couple more incomings. Gutted Jack has gone out for the season, may regret losing Gnabry, gutted we’re still spunking money on Theo every week. But hey, at least the tea lady at the Emirates is still taking home a wage…
www.twitter.com/bbfootballuk | www.facebook.com/bbfootballuk
Tom Hocking, News Editor, When Saturday Comes, www.wsc.co.uk
Sheffield Wednesday – 7/10
I’ll say it was a seven out of ten. We signed David Jones, Almen Abdi, Adam Reach and Will Buckley (on loan) to provide plenty of midfield options, while striker Steven Fletcher on a free looks shrewd – despite his no doubt substantial wages. We also kept hold of Fernando Forestieri against all odds and a number of key players from last season signed new contracts. However the defence still looks weak, with very little cover at centre-back or in either full-back positions.
In general, though, the amount of money clubs such as Wednesday, with no parachute payments, currently need to spend just to compete near the top of the Championship is terrifying. It wouldn’t surprise me if we’re close to breaking Financial Fair Play rules, and I doubt we’re the only ones. It’s a problem caused by the obscene wealth of the Premier League not being allowed to filter down fairly and evenly through to the rest of the pyramid.
www.twitter.com/TomHock1 | www.twitter.com/WSC_Magazine
John Henson, Founder of Proven Quality, www.provenquality.com
Arsenal – 7/10
Arsenal’s transfer dealings are generally the subject of seemingly limitless derision, but the achievements of the club in the summer transfer window look to be solid.
After a lengthy period of constraint and self-imposed under-investment, the club has changed tack in recent seasons and brought some top class talent to the club.
Faced with a weakened defence, the acquisition of a central defender was the most pressing of requirements, and the purchase of German international Shkrodan Mustafi along with youngster Rob Holding looks to have fit the bill.
Granit Xhaka was an early arrival and has already impressed with his distribution and physicality, something critics have often pointed to as something Arsenal lack in the centre of the pitch. Lucas Pérez joined from Depor and while not the global superstar many were calling for, will offer something different to Giroud up front (or on the right-wing).
Departures from the club were minimal, but have generated some of the largest discussion. Youth product Jack Wilshere apparently turned down a loan move to a number of European clubs, instead choosing Bournemouth. After joining the first team at the age of 16, Wilshere is the Arsenal academy graduate with the highest potential in many years, but a series of serious injuries have seen his career stall and his play time limited. Wilshere will miss the quality of training partner he is accustomed to, but if he can stay fit and play a decent number of games for the South Coast side, restarting his career at his playing club remains a possibility.
The other departure was the permanent move of Serge Gnabry, another young talent with potential abound to Werder Bremen. This deal may have been forced on the club by Gnabry’s unwillingness to sign a new contract, and the loss of such a player for a relatively small fee is not what you hope for.
Overall, 7 out of 10 would seem fair for having strengthened the spine of the team in a meaningful way.
www.twitter.com/provenquality | www.facebook.com/provenquality
Mark Metcalf, football author and historian, www.spiksley.com
Sunderland – 3/10
Like most Sunderland fans, I was totally underwhelmed by the club’s transfer dealings. We only just stayed up last season and that is now the best we can hope for this season.
A key player for us last year was the on-loan Yann M’Vila and it was clear he was keen to sign for us permanently from Rubin Kazan. It appears he is available on a free in January and rather than spend £7m now, the club has decided to wait ‘till 2017.
The £7m sum appears to represent what was a considerable part of new manager David Moyes’ transfer budget. Apparently the limited funds Moyes had is because the club is in serious debt. I say ‘apparently’ because the club treats its supporters with contempt when it comes to sharing any serious information with them and so we don’t know. Owner Ellis Short has only ever done one interview and the local media very rarely pursue a story that might in any way embarrass the club.
Sunderland needed but didn’t sign a striker to support Defoe up front. The little man was brilliant at the end of last season and should have gone to the Euros. If he gets injured or goes through a bad patch we are seriously going to struggle to score goals. Stopping them is also going to be difficult after Vito Mannone was injured as we appear to now have only Jordan Pickford to rely on between the posts.
Moyes spent £5.5 million on McNair and Love from his former club Man Utd. It is early days, but both look like they are going to take time to become Premier League footballers. Adnan Januzaj also arrived on loan from Old Trafford and it is now up to him to show the talent he clearly has or play at a lower level.
Didier N’Dong has arrived in a record transfer deal for the club; I don’t know much about him or Papy Djilobodji, who cost £8.5 million from Chelsea, but I was very impressed by Javier Manquillo at the game at Southampton last weekend. He has arrived from Atletico Madrid, a top class club and personally I’d like to have had a couple more from there than those that have arrived from Manchester!
www.twitter.com/markmetcalf07 | www.twitter.com/SpiksleyBook
