So how are we all feeling now the window has closed.

[Twitcher]

2 hours ago, atomicfox said:

Time will tell but I'm feeling a little optimistic and I've not had that feeling about the team for some time

The success of the window can only be judged on how the new players perform.

I'd have rather sold BEK, and I'm surprised we didn't accept the offer from Real Betis for Daka, but I guess it depends what it was.

Also maybe Alves should have stayed.

Not a disaster though.

Edit: Also depends on the deals themselves which we just don't know. For example, we might not be paying any of Will Alves' wages, or we might be paying 50%. 

Edited 1 September 2025 by Twitcher

[ealingfox]

Feels like an 8/10 window because of how low they've set the bar and expectations, more like a 4/10 window in reality.

[Simonb]

Not too bad a window. We all knew we wouldn't be spending.

 

Begovic is ample backup for Jakub with Mads leaving. 

 

Decent fees in for Justin who'd been out of form for three years and Kacey aswell who wasn't exactly amazing. Wilf bought in a fee too

 

Jordan James was very good 2 seasons ago and im hoping he comes in as that player, if so he upgrades the midfield straight away.

 

Carranza cant be any worse than the 2 we have and is a fresh option, the best we could probably get with our current situation without an immediate large outlay.

 

The only position im worried about is the 10. Ramsey looked decent on loan at borough but has since had a big injury so may come in quite rusty. I do like Page, but I dont feel from what ive seen hes quite ready as yet. 

 

But we have what we have now and we run with it. From what ive seen of the competition we make the top 2 without a deduction, should still make the playoffs with one, the squads good enough.

[Bezzanator89]

It was nearly enough a 1/10 first thing this morning, because we managed to sign an ageing backup keeper for Stolarcyzk. And unfortunately, he still is our backup. We were heading towards probably our worst transfer window.

 

Three inbound loan signings in the right areas later, its a 6/10. Carranza's stats are nothing to write home about, BUT he could defy all that after the international break and it might help spur Daka and Ayew into actually scoring goals. The other two are exciting prospects and look forward to see what they can do.

 

Over to you once again, Marti.

[brookfox]

1 minute ago, Simonb said:

Not too bad a window. We all knew we wouldn't be spending.

 

Begovic is ample backup for Jakub with Mads leaving. 

 

Decent fees in for Justin who'd been out of form for three years and Kacey aswell who wasn't exactly amazing. Wilf bought in a fee too

 

Jordan James was very good 2 seasons ago and im hoping he comes in as that player, if so he upgrades the midfield straight away.

 

Carranza cant be any worse than the 2 we have and is a fresh option, the best we could probably get with our current situation without an immediate large outlay.

 

The only position im worried about is the 10. Ramsey looked decent on loan at borough but has since had a big injury so may come in quite rusty. I do like Page, but I dont feel from what ive seen hes quite ready as yet. 

 

But we have what we have now and we run with it. From what ive seen of the competition we make the top 2 without a deduction, should still make the playoffs with one, the squads good enough.

Think a lot of our season (scarily!) rests on Carranza surprising us all. If he takes the 9 spot then I’d fully expect to see Ayew starting at 10 particularly while Ramsey gets up to speed.

[LVFox]

Positive.

 

It doesn’t feel like we are a financial mess with our heads buried in the sand.

 

Marti has a decent, young, energetic squad at his disposal that should push for play offs.

[Jattdogg]

24 minutes ago, Suzie the Fox said:

Think we will get auto promo, but id take playoffs 

I hope so but don't feel we are as dominant as we were 2 seasons ago. Just depends on if any of our promotion rivals are up for it.

 

Throw in points deductions could make getting top 2 tight.

[Suzie the Fox]

5 minutes ago, Jattdogg said:

I hope so but don't feel we are as dominant as we were 2 seasons ago. Just depends on if any of our promotion rivals are up for it.

 

Throw in points deductions could make getting top 2 tight.

Agreed! No where near as strong as last time, but seen alot of improvement under Marti and we yet to see what the new guys will bring. We also have the resurgence of the 'hmm' players.  

 

Points deduction is going to suck big time but ifs/buts.. might not get one ... might be small ... dunno, guess cross that bridge as and when. 

[Simonb]

22 minutes ago, brookfox said:

Think a lot of our season (scarily!) rests on Carranza surprising us all. If he takes the 9 spot then I’d fully expect to see Ayew starting at 10 particularly while Ramsey gets up to speed.

Yea exactly that with Ayew.  And if im honest, im not too against it. A little experience with Ayew being in there, and if im being truthful, the only times hes looked OK ish is when Daka came on and he dropped in. 

 

That being said, the quicker Ramseys up to speed and starting being Carranza the better. I have a feeling he'll do fine, as long as we're creating opportunities 

[Simonb]

7 minutes ago, Suzie the Fox said:

Agreed! No where near as strong as last time, but seen alot of improvement under Marti and we yet to see what the new guys will bring. We also have the resurgence of the 'hmm' players.  

 

Points deduction is going to suck big time but ifs/buts.. might not get one ... might be small ... dunno, guess cross that bridge as and when. 

I think it'll be a hell of a lot tighter this year than the last 2. Can see there being 6-8 teams being in with a realistic top 2 finish going in to the last 10 games, and not much separating them come the final whistle on the final day. 

 

Nothing much to fear though. Birmingham have added heavily, but that was to a league one team and we finished above Ipswich and Southampton and they've both weakened a reasonable amount too.

 

Decent enough window for us 👌 

[Cropwellfox]

Think it’s a window where we’ve been very keen to show willing to the authorities which seems to be a big change of attitude, whilst we aren’t under embargo we’ve definitely gone a different direction than last time we were relegated. 
 

Including Souttar, Page and Monga I think we are at 24 players who would be included in the ‘permitted player’ rules where the limit for clubs under sanctions is 23, no permanent transfers in other than a one year GK or perm fees paid, majority of players sold PSR full book value etc. 

 

who knows if it’ll make any difference as and when punishment comes our way but I imagine there’ll be plenty of cries of ‘we are trying our best’

Edited 1 September 2025 by Cropwellfox

[dillonpanthers87]

Gutted that 

Woyo Coulibaly

 

has left us

 

[dillonpanthers87]

Ok we have the best striker in the world. HOOLIAN CARRRRANZA

[Guest Bilo]

Probably not as strong as last time in the Championship, but it's certainly more sustainable with some big wages off the books and some decent fees in.

 

If we can get promoted this season, we'll have a reasonable amount of wriggle room in the transfer market with players like Page, Monga and Nelson having had plenty of minutes and growing together. 

 

It'd have been great to get some more off the wage bill or even a couple of fees, but we still can't be too thin. Vestergaard, Faes and Soumare are at least good options at this level even if they're unlikely to play every week. 

 

None of the signings are obvious red flags due to being loans on the one hand and based on pretty clear logic on the other. James and Ramsay are good and proven at this level with Begovic having bags of experience and being a leader, therefore a more than ample deputy to young Stol.

 

7/10 due to not getting a more convincing striker option like Ivanovic or another winger like Solomon or Rak-Sakyi, but I do feel as though as we have solid options there.

[The boy Linacre]

Optimistic

 

We can’t be anything else, I presume we all want to be promoted, let’s hope what we have added helps us get there, we are in a much better financial position.

MAYBE Rudkin has learnt from the last 2 summer windows

Last year was a true disaster, possibly the worst ever

This somewhat readdressed that car crash, but still transfer work to do, but we are a weaker playing squad than 2 years ago.

Fingers crossed, let’s get behind them

[Finnegan]

Hard to say until we see Carranza and Ramsey in action. 

 

Before deadline day I couldn't see us threatening the top two at all and I wouldn't have even put money on us being top six. 

 

But if these three bring some enthusiasm and optimism to the squad and if Carranza turns out to be the tidy finisher we hope, with Fatawu, Monga, Ramsey and Mavididi setting him up? There's definitely potential there. 

 

With the window closed, we might also get the likes of Faes and Winks back on board. I don't give a shit what the fans think of them or how much people are sulking about them, they are potential match winners at this level whether you like it or not and if Cifuentes can get them in the mood we'll be looking good. 

 

I'd say I'm settling on cautiously optimistic. 

 

That'll probably shatter when JJ does his acl on international duty, Ramsey turns out to be nowhere near ready for a return and Carranza makes Ayew look like Pele. 

 

[Suzie the Fox]

I think alot of it depends on how the incomings fair, i am hopeful as we have masively reduced the wages and not bought over-rated shite. Also makes good for our accademy lads, if we can stay up there in the top 6. 

[ARM1968]

Flaccid

[LeePhilpottsBaldSpot]

Overall it's a balanced squad with a good mix of youth and experience.

 

GKs: 7/10... Jakup, Begovic

RBs: 8/10... Ricardo, Hamza

LBs: 7/10... Kristiansen, Thomas

CBs: 7/10... Okoli, Veste, Faes, Souttar, Nelson

CM: 8/10... James, Soumare, Skipp, Winks

RM/LM: 9/10... Fatawu, Mavididi, Monga, Reid

AM: 7/10... Ramsey, Ayew, Page

ST: 6/10... Carranza, Daka, Evans

 

It doesn't feel like a squad that will dominate like Enzo's did, but should be good enough to be there or thereabouts.

 

Keeping Fatawu is huge - he can be the best player in the leaghe. Hopefully Carranza and Ramsey can bring back the best in Mavididi too...

[gurru991]

I think some good business has got done & some bigger wages off the books.   The beauty of it is that if we are close come December we will have the Winter window to address any shortcomings 

[Dan]

The league couldn't have fallen much better for us so far. It looks extremely open and we're starting in a decent position having now strengthened somewhat too.

 

In short yes I do think we can get promoted. Not saying it's anywhere near a given like two years ago, but it's possible.

[1972 Fox]

58 minutes ago, LeePhilpottsBaldSpot said:

LBs: 7/10... Kristiansen, Thomas

Really? More like 4/10.

[LCFCCKEANO]

Wonder if the plan is to see how Souttar recovers, then move Faes/Vesty in Jan to make funds for a couple of signings

[Tom12345]

I would have liked Alves be given a real chance this season in the second tier, but it seems he is not fancied. Still feels sorry for him that ***** broke his leg just as he was getting into the first team. That has set him back 2 years already and not counting the potential for him to never get to his full potential because of it.

 

I am pleased as the poster said that some refresh was done. While acknowledging their contribution, it was time for Justin and Ndidi to go and for new blood to come through.

 

The only blip is that Bilal has gone. I hope though Rudkin has inserted a sell on clause in the sale contract so that we get a slice of the future profit because I am pretty sure Bilal has a bright future and will be sold for double in a few years time.

[Tom12345]

11 minutes ago, LCFCCKEANO said:

Wonder if the plan is to see how Souttar recovers, then move Faes/Vesty in Jan to make funds for a couple of signings

It is really time for Vesty to go. His lack of speed is constantly exposed including in the Championship.