Marks out of 10 pant wetters

[11amstart]

7.5

Lets hope they all settle quickly in the area!

[Tom Joad]

Proof of the pudding innit? As I know little about many of them, I'm happy if the boss is. I'm probably the only dissenter over Austin. Good as he has been, I don't see him playing 2 games a week for the next 9 months. I suppose the club did all it could to chase down their targets and one way or another we got CA. At least this time we have a lot of attacking options.

[Mancbaggies]

Spot on swordfish. Anything from 7-9 - depending on whether CA is at it

[fbaggy]

about an 8 from me

[Stevel Knievel]

We'll be playing some lovely stuff and seem to have a good mix of artists and warriors.

Is this about warhammer again?

It’s Wawhamma!!!

[TETLEY74]

Proof of the pudding innit?  As I know little about many of them, I'm happy if the boss is. I'm probably the only dissenter over Austin. Good as he has been, I don't see him playing 2 games a week for the next 9 months. I suppose the club did all it could to chase down their targets and one way or another we got CA. At least this time we have a lot of attacking options.

If we can keep Austin fit and on the pitch he will score goals no doubt at all with that and I have a sneaky feeling Austin will be out to prove a point and if you look at the pictures of the 4 we got today they all look genuinely happy to be here add Sayers and Ajayi, and  Krov in the mix and of course big Slav and for once we look the business, for me Big Slav has the potential to our best manager since SGM and players seem to like playing for him, last but not least and I admit to eating a large slice of humble pie well done to Dowling & Jenkins in this window credit where its due, now over to Big Slav go give this division hell COYB.

[Hopalong]

Pretty impressive, 9 on paper at this level.

Overall we seem to have addressed the shortcomings in the squad, moving to a much younger average age with it's consequential energy and legs (maybe Austin excepting).   We have lost experience and goals but hopefully with the players we have brought in the goals will be spread more evenly throughout the team rather than just being reliant on 2/3 players.  We have also retained key players we may have lost in Phillips, Hegazi and Gibbs.

We've addressed the right full back position with the bonus of the emergence of Ferguson (early days yes) and both he and Furlong could play centrally in an emergency so the defence looks solid, particularly with Slav's more pragmatic approach than Moore/Jones. Townsend seems to have improved as a player and looks more sturdy/solid.

Midfield options - at this level - and without getting carried away - we look as good/better than most in this league and we now have an abundance of riches on the flanks;  Phillips, Burke, Edwards, Diang, Pereira, Willock.  Wow!!  Last year we were so reliant on Phillips and Barnes and once Harvey had gone and Phillips injured we were fooked!  

Strikers - Austin, Zohore particularly,  are as probably as good as you'll get at this level of their type, with Kanu solid back-up, though we do lack that fox in the box type.  Phillips, Burke and Willock can also play more centrally if we hit a crisis.

So many options now depending on the circumstances/challenges we face. 

Obvious disappointments with Ajeti and Gayle but the reasons we didn't get them are valid and not for the want of trying. 

And we still have a considerable amount in the kitty for a rainy day. 

It will take Slaven a while to arrive at his best team and this will evolve over the first ten games or so. 

A big well done to the Board and Dowling for appointing Bilic and for the revamp of what now looks a far more exciting squad. 

Over to you Slav!  No pressure.

[Shabby Russian]

You can never judge a window until a lot of football has been played.

But I would say that the squad is now better balanced than it was and more importantly the club has targeted players in the correct age bracket (Austen apart)

Certainly today's signings are exciting, if you are a fan of wingers (and I am) then you are in lover.

Earlier in the window I was sceptical about signing Charlie Austen, but given the other signings we have made I am far more comfortable with his signing now. if the wingers are any good he should get a few goals this season, maybe more than Gayle last season.

Good moves for both Field and Leko - the right standard of football, and we will definitely know more about them by the end of the season.

Midfield is far better balanced and in the signings we have made there are exactly what we needed. Maybe still a player short, but that's being pickly.

Other concern is at centre half, again may be one short or maybe not if O'Shea is as good as many judges say he is.

Not sure where HRK and Burke fit in this squad, I see them as a bit surplus to requirements. More of a problem with Burke, that transfer fee is both a millstone for him and us - which club in our position wants to give up on a £15m player.

[Cuzer]

8 for me

Letting Field go made little sense without a replacement but as previously posted sure Barry will resign so with him and Brunt adding to what was on show Saturday we should be fine

Defense worries me a little with no Hegazi back until October-November O Shea will need to step up at some point along with Ferguson

That top, top striker still eluded us but overall did a lot better than most in the chump

Cuzer

[Mancbaggies]

Pretty impressive, 9 on paper at this level.

Overall we seem to have addressed the shortcomings in the squad, moving to a much younger average age with it's consequential energy and legs (maybe Austin excepting).   We have lost experience and goals but hopefully with the players we have brought in the goals will be spread more evenly throughout the team rather than just being reliant on 2/3 players.  We have also retained key players we may have lost in Phillips, Hegazi and Gibbs.

We've addressed the right full back position with the bonus of the emergence of Ferguson (early days yes) and both he and Furlong could play centrally in an emergency so the defence looks solid, particularly with Slav's more pragmatic approach than Moore/Jones. Townsend seems to have improved as a player and looks more sturdy/solid.

Midfield options - at this level - and without getting carried away - we look as good/better than most in this league and we now have an abundance of riches on the flanks;  Phillips, Burke, Edwards, Diang, Pereira, Willock.  Wow!!  Last year we were so reliant on Phillips and Barnes and once Harvey had gone and Phillips injured we were fooked!  

Strikers - Austin, Zohore particularly,  are as probably as good as you'll get at this level of their type, with Kanu solid back-up, though we do lack that fox in the box type.  Phillips, Burke and Willock can also play more centrally if we hit a crisis.

So many options now depending on the circumstances/challenges we face. 

Obvious disappointments with Ajeti and Gayle but the reasons we didn't get them are valid and not for the want of trying. 

And we still have a considerable amount in the kitty for a rainy day. 

It will take Slaven a while to arrive at his best team and this will evolve over the first ten games or so. 

A big well done to the Board and Dowling for appointing Bilic and for the revamp of what now looks a far more exciting squad. 

Over to you Slav!  No pressure.

Good post Ath. But Austin is undoubtedly a Fox in the box type. It’s his general linkplay that is his weaker suit

As Shabbs says - look and sound good on paper. They need to do the hard part now - perform