If the transfer window is open, it’s Doom-and-Gloom™ season at Stamford Bridge – despite signing Alvaro Morata, Antonio Rüdiger, and Tiemoué Bakayoko. The club, but more specifically the board, are drawing criticisms from the head coach, players, and fans for not replenishing the pantry fast enough for Head Chef Antonio Conte with choice ingredients for a title defending side (i.e. like one tasty Brazilian wingback Alex Sandro).
While we throw a pity party in our Blues bubble, eagerly awaiting the conclusion of the Danny Drinkwater Saga, perhaps it’s better to understand how the rest of the Premier League’s “Big Six” have fared during this transfer window. While we could do this using our own filter, why not see how those covering and supporting other clubs feel?
In order to do this, we assembled the Premier League writer’s equivalent of the Superfriends Guardians of the Galaxy:
- ARSENAL: Paul DeBruler, Contributor at The Short Fuse, @misterpdb
- LIVERPOOL: Noel Chomyn, Editor at The Liverpool Offside, @LFCOffside
- MANCHESTER CITY: Lewis Steele, Contributor at City Watch, @LewisSteele_
- MANCHESTER UNITED: Adam Joseph, Host of “I Don’t Give A-Dam”, @AdamJosephSport
- TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR: Bryan Ashlock, Editor at Cartilage Free Captain, @BryanTHFC
They shared their thoughts on their club’s departures, current signings (as of the weekend of August 11, 2017), and work left to be done by window’s end. Here’s what they had to say.
Who is the hardest departure to the replace, and do you feel your club has adequately addressed it?
ARSENAL:
Arsenal haven't had any seismically huge departures via sale this summer. There are a lot of people kinda upset that Wojciech Sczcesny left for Juventus, but Wenger had pretty much written him off last season, so it's hard to say that's a huge loss. The biggest loss, and the hardest to replace, was via injury — Santi Cazorla, who missed most of last season and is set to miss the first part of this one (and is set to be 33 in December). Without him pulling the strings, Arsenal are a different, lesser team. He hasn't been adequately replaced at all, and that's what cost Arsenal a lot of points last season.
LIVERPOOL:
We haven’t lost many this summer, and don’t really expect to—even if the Catalan press are probably going to talk about Philippe Coutinho until the window shuts—so there’s really only one noteworthy departure, and that’s cult hero Lucas Leiva. And given he filled in last season at centre half and in midfield and we haven’t signed a player for either position yet—and we needed signings at both even before he left—it’s safe to say he hasn’t been properly replaced.
(Ed.note: Since NoelC’s hopeful words, Coutinho has submitted a transfer request, which Liverpool are denying ... so far.)
MANCHESTER CITY:
In terms of footballing ability – no one needed replacing, as most of the players through the departure door were older, deteriorating fringe players. However, in a title challenge you need a big figure or two in the dressing room, and Pablo Zabaleta will no doubt be a tough one to replace. You don’t have to be an expert on City to know ‘Zaba’ was a firm fan favourite, and his passion and love for the club on and off the pitch will be hard to replace. However, we seem to have bought good characters in Mendy and Walker. It is also time for someone like Stones to step up and be more of a leader.
MANCHESTER UNITED:
I wouldn't say it's a departure, but Manchester United have started to fill the voids of Rio Ferdinand, Nemanja Vidic & the aging Michael Carrick. Eric Bailly and Victor Lindelof are the long-term defensive pairing of the future, but the worry is beyond Nemanja Matic's signing the club lacks a long term successor. That's been a long term concern and it is certainly one of mine, but Matic will do excellently for now.
TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR:
The only real departure of note from Tottenham's 2016-17 squad thus far is Kyle Walker so he is, by default, the hardest to replace. I think we all know that the club have done nothing to replace him, which is clearly inadequate. I think, what makes Tottenham's failure to sign another right back most egregious is that Spurs have known since April that Walker wanted to leave. Now, here we are in August, Kieran Trippier has been injured, and Spurs are looking at beginning the season with Moussa Sissoko starting the season as right wingback. So, yeah... Spurs have screwed the pooch on this one.
Which of the signings, if any, are you most excited about and why?
ARSENAL:
The obvious answer is Alexandre Lacazette. I'm really looking forward to seeing how his mobility and quickness changes (and hopefully sharpens) Arsenal's attack.
LIVERPOOL:
We haven’t lost many, and we haven’t added many, either. But then we have added Mohamed Salah, and based on pre-season he’s looked like he could make a bigger impact than Sadio Mané did for the club last season and will end up another player Chelsea were foolish to let go of. So. We’re excited about that.
MANCHESTER CITY:
I’m really excited about Bernardo Silva. He looks quick, tricky, and with a brilliant footballing brain. David Silva won’t be around forever, sadly, and Bernardo looks a natural heir to David’s throne.
MANCHESTER UNITED:
Romelu Lukaku. Nothing more exciting than goals in football, and the Belgian guarantees you at least 20 a season. His link up play and ability to latch onto the chances Paul Pogba creates is of particular excitement too. Their off field bond should certainly extend to on the pitch, and that's something to get excited about if you ask me. Particularly with United's pathetic tally last season as a team.
TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR:
I am most excited about... well, ummmm... next question.
Are there any signings that were a "replacement, not an upgrade” players whose purchase doesn't make sense to you?
ARSENAL:
Nope! As of this writing, Arsenal have only brought in two players: Lacazette and Sead Kolasinac, and they were both needed upgrades.
LIVERPOOL:
Not really. Jürgen Klopp headed into the summer looking for quality over quantity and targeting three players who would improve the starting eleven along with adding depth at left back. And, unfortunately, so far we’ve only managed to bring in one of those star starters along with a bit of depth at left back.
MANCHESTER CITY:
Not really. Last season, I felt like Bravo was a bit of a downgrade on Joe Hart, but this season it looks like we have got it right in the new keeper Ederson. No doubt he will make a few mistakes early on as he learns the league, but in the long run he is a great buy.
MANCHESTER UNITED:
Not at all, but fans will obviously be a little nervous that upgrades have arrived slowly and perhaps not in the areas required. The rebuild continues at Old Trafford and that does take time, last summer was about top shelf quality and this one feels like adding to that somewhat. Players who fit Mourinho's ilk - Lukaku, Lindelof and Matic certainly do that.
TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR:
Does Moussa Sissoko still count? No? Alright, next.
How many more signings does your club need to complete before September 1, 2017?
ARSENAL:
Midfield depth remains a concern. There are no urgently needed first XI upgrades (assuming that Alexis stays), so a couple solid-but-not-spectacular midfielders, to help Arsenal cope with the Thursday/Sunday grind the Europa League brings with it, would be helpful.
LIVERPOOL:
We need two more. Last season, Liverpool’s Best XI—plus one or two more—proved they could beat anyone. This summer, the goal was to keep the core intact and turn it into a Matchday 18 capable of beating anyone. We still need, at an absolute minimum, a centre half and central midfielder to get to the point we have that.
MANCHESTER CITY:
If you put the starting 11 on a piece of paper, and then their replacement in case of rotation or injury underneath the name, we are very nearly at a point where we have two world class players per position. I think we need a centre-half as we can’t rely on Kompany’s fitness, and maybe a forward to rotate with the likes of Sané, Jesus, Sterling, etc.
MANCHESTER UNITED:
Ideally two, realistically one. Another midfielder or full back would be ideal, and definitely another attacker. Ivan Perisic's potential move has dragged on, and barring another Lukaku/Morata type of smokescreen I'm not sure who else is on the radar bar Gareth Bale. I hate leaving business late in the window but I hope it's not still carrying on until deadline day. That rarely works out well long term.
TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR:
With the squad as it is currently constructed, at least three. Spurs obviously need another right back. They also need another central midfielder and and another attacking midfielder. If I'm wishcasting a little, I'd say Spurs should also buy a central defender and another striker.
What’s the one player, currently linked to signings with your club, who would represent perfect business and completely change your thoughts on the entire window?
ARSENAL:
I don't think there's such a thing as "perfect" business, but if Arsenal were to be able to pry Jean Michael Seri away from Nice, that would be a very good capper to a decent summer.
LIVERPOOL:
Virgil van Dijk. That’s not a hard one. We wouldn’t complain if Naby Keïta somehow ended up at the club, either, even if that looks done as done. In May, when the season ended, the club’s top targets were Salah, Van Dijk, and Keïta. We’ve landed Salah and look to have missed out on Keïta. Van Dijk is still in play and we need to get that one over the line.
MANCHESTER CITY:
Kylian Mbappé and Alexis Sanchez are two names that just won’t go away. One of those would make this summer the perfect summer and take us to the next level.
MANCHESTER UNITED:
Fabinho. He seems indispensable at the moment to Monaco alongside Thomas Lemar, but his versatility, jack of all trades (master of many) and overall steel and class would be a welcome addition to the club. Manchester United simply don't have a player like him, and there aren't many out there. He changes the landscape of this window completely for United.
TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR:
See, the weird thing about this summer is that Spurs just haven't been linked with as many players as usual. I think basically any competent right back is going to be good, but it's not going to change how I feel about this window. Signing Ross Barkley would change how I feel about this window, but not in a positive way. There's rumors, likely just paper talk, that Mateo Kovacic is on the outs at Real Madrid and Tottenham are "interested." Keita Balde has also been linked, though mostly through nebulous ITK sources. Either of those signings, plus a right back, would make me feel great about the window, but I'm not naive enough to think either will actually happen.
Rate your team’s transfer business on a scale from 1 to 10. Bonus points for coming up with a tasty food analogy to describe the window.
ARSENAL:
On a scale from 1 to 10, where 1 is a truck stop in the middle of Arkansas and 10 is the best Mexican food you've ever eaten, I'd give Arsenal's transfer business this summer so far about a 6; it's a solid red-sauce Italian restaurant, one that you wouldn't be afraid to take your parents to, but nothing that you'd necessarily Instagram to show off to your friends.
LIVERPOOL:
As the window stands today, it’s about a 3 or 4. We’re treading water at best. We’ve signed Salah and that’s great, but we’re pretty much where we were last year for depth—and last year we collapsed mid-season while only being worried on one competition because we didn’t have enough depth. This year we’re back in the Champions League. It’s not over yet, but ending the window with the same functional depth but more games to go around would make this a raw chicken left out in the sun for a week kind of window. That’s not very tasty. Sorry. But if the window were to close today, it wouldn’t have been a tasty one for Liverpool.
MANCHESTER CITY:
8.5 out of 10. The steak is excellent but the chips need a bit of BBQ sauce to complement the meal.
MANCHESTER UNITED:
I hate judging transfer windows in a vacuum, but in terms of the squad's needs? Let's say a 6.5 out of 10. Think of it in terms of going to your favorite steak house. The last time you went was sensational, maybe the best you ever had! This time just doesn't quite hit the spot the way you thought it would. It was still good, but there was something missing - and that's the thing you remember about it.
TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR:
2? I guess. The only reason it doesn't get a 1 is because we got a ton of money for Kyle Walker. The total failure to have a right back ready to sign either immediately before or immediately after the Walker transfer was completed is absolutely farcical. If I really wanted those bonus points, I'd say that Spurs refused to go eat anywhere outside of their comfort zone, and insisted on a fast food hamburger. It turns out fast food hamburgers cost $30 now, so we starved to death instead of just ordering Chinese.
Thanks again to Adam, Bryan, Lewis, Noel, and Paul for giving us a better understanding of their club’s business this window!
It’s clear that yes, Chelsea have struggled and missed out on targets, but so have our title rivals. No one has had a perfect window – and the one with the closest to it, Manchester City, still hasn’t ticked all the boxes. If I’m describing Chelsea’s window through the use of a food analogy, it’s this:
You’ve just donated most of your non-perishable goods to charity (thank goodness for tax write-offs!) and planned to treat yourself to a fancy dinner from the Brazilian steakhouse down the road. But as you’re about to hit confirm in UberEats, they’re no longer accepting any more orders. You’re left making a dash to the only place left open for some well-done pieces of pizza, which is serviceable staple, but not what you were dreaming of at all.
Now you know how those covering their club’s respective dealings feel, how would you rate Chelsea’s business this season?
Poll
As of August 15, 2017, how would you rate Chelsea’s transfer business on a scale of 1 to 10?
This poll is closed
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3%
1
-
4%
2
-
13%
3
-
20%
4
-
31%
5
-
20%
6
-
5%
7
-
0%
8
-
0%
9
-
0%
10