O’s Summer Transfer Window

Much too early to say. What recent signings have truly excited us the day they were announced, not including returning players like Idris and Theo? Hardly objective of course, but I can only think of three:

Moncs: Even for those of us who liked him it's impossible to argue that he was good value for money (without speculating about his influence on the dressing room and other unknowns).

Agyei and Graham: Both been injured for half the time they've been here and we did fine without them.

Some of our best current players arrived with little fanfare, if any at all. We've largely made the sort of signings we always make: younger players who've shown glimpses of potential and experienced players with a point to prove. As usual, some will work out, some won't.

My concerns are longer term:

1: Spent half a million on improvements to a stadium we don't own without yet knowing the impact of the Sky deal on attendances. Seems like a poorly timed investment to me.
2: 16 players out of contract at the end of the season. Given the above, will we have the budget to extend the contracts of some our more valuable assets and adequately replace the losses?

Yes and no.

Clubs need academies but not every player is going to be good.

A good example is that if you have a star defender you'll need a centre back and two full backs to make a defence. And a keeper and midfield in that youth team with the star defender.

We'll never get the star defender as they'll either go first team, overseas for development or another Premier League team.

We just get left with the fodder.

Like that Arsenal player last year.

I look at a window, not only the incoming but the outgoing. Not convinced we have improved overall.

No complaints about the 4 CBs, remain our strength. Claire and Currie look like upgrades. At the back we are fine. Up front no real strength change numbers wise with Kelman/Ruel, DJ /Forde. No real improvement but not gone backwards.

But have we sufficiently covered the loss of Idris and Moncur? And Pratley who looks even more of a part timer thus far in the league . Not too sure we have. Time will tell of course.

But a decent enough squad and looking around should be good enough for a comfortable, interesting season.

Good comment,I think comfortable is the operative word and one we would all settle for with the amount of money sloshing around in the third tier.However...................................................

Loan players are now a key part of squads.  But a core of contracted player’s helping continuity is ideal if we are to avoid the annual mass exodus.  Come June the transfer committee are going to have to work overtime, lots of changes to come.

I’d say overall we are stronger. At the back as you say, but the Galbraith, Obiero, Brown of this season are much better than beginning of last season.
Subjective, but I reckon the ‘new’ Kelman will eclipse the Ruel of last year, DJ/Forde I’d agree we haven’t gone backwards.
Idris and Moncs?
I see Galbraith as Moncs successor, Idris, well difficult to replace but could Donley be the answer. I hope so.

I understand that, but the return on investment was surely based on the assumption that we'd sell out the extra 500 seats, plus higher attendances equalling more spend on pints n pies, etc. Ticket sales instead appear to be down on last season.

Poll is now locked . Thanks to all who responded . The verdict is ( maybe like our transfer window ?) a bit of a mixed bag. 60% felt the club’s activity was not “ good” with 40% feeling it was.
Time to reflect between now and January.😀👍

When I was looking at the window I ignored those already with us. Not too sure to include them is valid when viewing changes, same for those back from injury or Theo who is now injured.

Just the outs and ins.  Looking only at the changes I struggle to see improvement overall.