Learning from our mistakes

So another transfer deadline comes and goes.

I always think this day of the season is the first time you can really sit back and take stock of the start the team has made and whether we have come out of the transfer window stronger than when we went into it.

Firstly let’s look at the start to the season.

We have qualified for the EL group stages and have a group that looks like it will be a tough battle to get through but certainly doable. The Lazio games will be absolute brammers.

We progressed to the Betfred Quarter Finals, albeit needing extra time to dispose of Dunfermline, this wasn’t a good day and probably one of the games where a lot of fans had seen enough from Lennon.

However, what followed was 4 wins from 4, a 6-1 aggregate win over the Swedish champions to qualify for the EL. A 3-1 win against Hearts in the league and a 2-0 win at Ibrox.

The latter of those results has put us 3 points clear at the top of the table with a hefty goal difference advantage already, standing at 9 goals. The manner of our win at Ibrox showed that even with 3 or 4 key players out, we’re still a much better side than Rangers which is reassuring given the hype surrounding the Madrid B team so far this season.

Now on to the transfer window and the following players have left for good or on loan.

Tierney, Lustig, Boyata, Izzy, Benkovic, Burke, Weah, Toljan, Ralston, Henderson and Atchison.

There’s obviously a lot of outs so we had to ensure we tried to improve with the ins and I feel that the evidence so far suggests we have on the most part.

We’ve brought in:

Julien, Boil, El Hammed, Bauer, Elanyoussi, Frimpong, O’Connor, Alofabi, Taylor, Forster and Connell.

That leaves us with this:

GK - Forster, Gordon, Bain.

RB - El Hammed, Bauer, Frimpong
CB - Jozo, Julien, Ajer, Biton, O’Connor
LB - Boli, Taylor, Connell

CM - Brown, McGregor, Kouassi, Biton
AM - Christie, Rogic, Ntcham

RW - Forrest, Shved, Morgan
LW - Johnston, Elyounoussi, Sinclair, Hayes

CF - Edouard, Bayo, Griffiths

Goalkeeper - absolutely in a much stronger position with big Fraz in there.

Right back - Not even up for debate to be honest, terrific work done there.

Centre back - tough one, we loved Benkovic and Boyata was good last year when fit but he never fully won everyone over. Julien looks a top signing and Biton has been a revelation there so far, throw in Ajer and Jozo and I’d say we are stronger now.

Midfield - as you were really, a defensive mid or Turnbull would have been nice but we’ve retained Ntcham and a happy one by the looks of it, could be a key part of our work this summer, happy with what we have.

Wings - Much, much stronger. We’ve still to see much of Shved and it may take months for that one to get going but Johnston undoubtedly looks a better player this season, Elyounoussi is a quality signing and we still have Sinclair and Hayes as back up. Morgan, meh

Strikers - Difficult one to gauge, Edouard has taken his game to another level and it was so important to keep him. Griffiths back is good but he still looks way short of fitness and even ability to be good enough should something happen to Edouard. Bayo it remains to be seen but he could prove useful now and again.

Overall it’s been a pretty good window, I just wish we did most of it prior to Cluj and we’d have had a good chance at the CL.

Anyway, credit to Lennon and the board for the position we’re now in for a big season

NNH