I'm only going to bother with the clubs that could take a European Spot imo but i'd be interested to know who you think has went forwards and who backwards to this point in the window.
Arsenal
A 93m net spend so far but still with a glaring hole at centre half because of their mutinous captain. The CB they have bought has inexplicably been loaned out so they desperately need to find a solution here over the next 2 days. I'm going to say they have improved. They were crying out for a talented inside forward and Pepe has all the tools. A good window could become a great one if they get Tierney and a CB, that would give them a fine chance of top 4.
Chelsea
Definitely backwards, losing their best player and replacing him with potential in Pulisic sees to that. The underwhelming signing of Kovacic being the only deal but the new contract for CHO probably the bigger win. Struggled in pre-season and with a new manager to bed in along with a rag-tag bunch of returning loanees. Difficult to say where Chelsea sit in the pecking order minus Hazard but safe to the squad isn't as impressive as it once was.
Everton
A comparatively small net spend of only 16.5m having received good fees for Lookman and Gueye. The new signings definitely improve the squad, between Delph and Gbamin they should fill the hole left by Gueye. Buying Kean is a gamble but they desperately needed another forward and could end up being an epic signing if it works out. Everton have definitely moved forward but the possible signing of Zaha (in his desire to play CL football ) coming to fruition would represent a leap forward if it could be done.
Leicester City
Maguire leaving for a mammoth fee covers their whole summer spending. Tielemans on the opposite hand is a huge signing for Leicester, bags of talent and only going to get better, Perez at 30m is a rip off in my opinion but he adds depth in that position. The young full back signed Justin if he makes the step up could be a fantastic buy. I think Leicester have moved forward although a partner for Evans needs to be found whether that be from the CB's bought last summer or a new signing over the next 24hrs. Potential to take a big step forward if they spend the Maguire fee well over the next couple of days.
Liverpool
Bought two youth prospects and a reserve keeper on a free. There's a hole at LB cover but then again there are a few utility players who could do that role if required. I get the feeling they are not going to buy anyone of much note. Probably moved ever so slightly forward in improving their back up keeper whilst also shifting a few duds off the books. Boring summer though.
Manchester City
Two buys and a third on the way in Cancelo it appears, there still remains a Vincent Kompany sized whole in their squad, Laporte aside the rest of their CB options are erratic. Angelino back to provide cover for the brittle Benjamin Mendy. Cancelo to rival Walker and the impressive Rodri. The squad has improved overall but it's definitely weaker in the centre of defence.
Manchester United.
140m spent on 3 players none of whom have ever played at a top club. It's a calculated gamble by United to go down the route of home grown potential clearly but i like most expected a much busier summer with at least a couple of current CL quality players brought in. Potentially phase 2 of the plan... They have improved undoubtedly but not taken the strides forward expected. Will they be able to shift some of the players not required to allow themselves another signing or two coming in seems to be the big question. I fancy another signing to be pulled out from somewhere.
Tottenham Hotspur
Difficult to call, the signing of Ndombele was impressive but in reality it's just replaced Dembele. Jack Clarke is one for the future. Now going into the last couple of days minus their first choice RB from last season with nobody seemingly lined up there. Eriksen almost needing to be sold so they don't lose out on a fee for such a big player, i expect Lo Celso to be wrapped up pretty quickly if he is sold which leaves Spurs worse off overall but not by too much if the new signings take to the league. Bigger worries ahead as Vertonghen and Alderweireld enter their final 12 months, Spurs needed to be busier this summer to move forward, much busier.
Wolves
Improved their squad again with the permanent signings of their loanees and some exciting young talent from Italy in Neto, Jordao and Cutrone. Slow and steady improvement seems to be the order of the day and it's continued.
Forwards or Backwards (The Transfer Window)
posted on 6/8/19
Evans was not their best CB last season, Maguire was. What are you basing it on, how many of their games did you watch?
posted on 6/8/19
comment by manusince52 (U9692)
posted 2 minutes ago
Evans was not their best CB last season, Maguire was. What are you basing it on, how many of their games did you watch?
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All of their fans seem to say it was Evans, probably 4/5 at a guess.
posted on 6/8/19
Not all their fans, and those who do say it after they knew Maguire was going. Plus the stats say differently, Maguire's stats were on here the other day ànd are very impressive.
posted on 6/8/19
We went through several CB partnerships last season, but primarily it was between Morgan & Maguire, Morgan & Evans or Maguire & Evans. It was hard to work out at times what our preferred partnership was, and it's true that Maguire generally played when fit. But most of the fans came to the agreement (to our own surprise, before the end of the season and any rumours about Maguire going) that the defence consistently looked better when Evans was in it.
But that may be because Morgan & Maguire never looked comfortable as a partnership. Both looked happier next to Evans, who could adapt his game to play with either.
If all that translates to "Evans was our best defender", I can understand why they say that.
posted on 6/8/19
And for what it's worth, I think we've moved forward in this transfer window. I don't count Tielemans as being part of the squad as he was only on loan. Signing him has been a big coup for us. Perez, meanwhile, is a targeted signing to fit in with a pressing style while also being able to contribute to goals and assists totals. We paid £30m because it was his release clause and there was interest from elsewhere. That may be a little on the high side, but I think he ticked a lot of boxes for what Rodgers wanted and there weren't other similar options. Unique always costs more if you want it.
posted on 6/8/19
Some may see it as standing still as Maguire out and Tielemans in. On Perez, many don't rate him in here. He may turn out a good buy but there is a big question mark next to him. If he turns out to be what is needed, then you'll definitely have improved.
posted on 6/8/19
Coutinho to Arsenal on loan is the newest Twitter trend.
posted on 6/8/19
CurrentlyInChina - The point about Tielemans vs Maguire is what they're replaced with. There is certainly a question to be answered about who replaces Maguire, but we have a couple of younger players who might step up, while Morgan could end up being wheeled out for another season. Maguire's ability to step forward with the ball was useful but he isn't considered to be irreplaceable for us. (He looks more important for Man Utd and I think he'll do well.) Tielemans on the other hand looks massively important to how we want to play. Our biggest problem last season was a central midfield that lacked cohesion. Ndidi's great at breaking up play but as an attacking force he's very poor. Maddison is creative but isn't a classic centre mid and could be taken out of games because we couldn't get the ball to him in decent positions. Tielemans, if he plays anything like we've seen of him last season and in pre-season, can provide that link, bring people into the game, control the midfield play and also has goals an assists in his locker. Ndidi can sit while he plays.
Long story short, we've sold a player who was good but replaceable and bought one who we were crying out for. Our team needs a Tielemans while it merely desires a Maguire. Man Utd needed a Maguire. Fair dues.
On Perez, I think we could end up seeing him like we do Albrighton - even if he's not producing we'll get maximum effort out of him every match. (The kind of thing that annoys so many Leicester fans about Demarai Gray). I reckon he'll be a good team player at least, and if he can reproduce his most recent form for Newcastle then he'll be well worth the otherwise expensive-looking £30m. But time will tell.
posted on 6/8/19
Genuinely think Benkovic has all the tools to be a solid CB there, expect the manager does too since he took him to Celtic and then made sure to take him back down with him.
posted on 6/8/19
Many of us are quite excited about Benkovic. We just have to find a way of getting him fit.