MANCHESTER UNITED – Net spend: £122m
With the Glazer debt squeezing the club for nine years they have acted only when they thought their lavish sponsorship deals and a return to the top-four were in jeopardy. Our squad had become bloated with mediocre players. Louis van Gaal is a manager with the balls to carry out the first wave of culling and added six quality players. I can see Di María playing a more central role as we still haven’t addressed the problem of who will partner Herrera in midfield and the gaping hole at the centre of our defence should have been a priority. I expect Falcao to play as the central striker with Rooney behind him.
Shaun O’Donnell Observer reader
NEWCASTLE UNITED – £25m
After a promising early blitz, our transfer window closed with its usual whimper. Pardew keeps us dangling with hopes of deals for a much-needed proven striker, playmaker or central defender, but his credibility is now zero. Six of the new signings played against Palace but even this weak display could not persuade “My Cashley” to splash more cash. Of the new boys, Colback and Janmaat look the most promising, but offloading potential match-winner Hatem Ben Arfa is a huge mistake and has just further antagonised Pardew’s growing band of critics. It’s going to be a long season!
David and Richard Holmes Observer readers
QUEENS PARK RANGERS – £21m
It was inevitable incomings would be dominated by people Harry Redknapp knew, but the relief was that they weren’t all ancient: Steven Caulker, in fact, could be the heart of the defence for years, especially if Rio Ferdinand can stay fit enough to teach him something. If his knee is up to it, Sandro could be an excellent signing. More or less everyone who came in seemed to be an upgrade. We’re still waiting for a sight of Eduardo Vargas – if his work permit issues aren’t resolved, the Rs will be very short up front. Danny Simpson was bafflingly sold to Leicester but it was our best window in years.
Michael Hann @MichaelAHann
SOUTHAMPTON – Profit: £31m
The window was like a game of two halves. Defensively we were torn apart every time the opposition attacked – metaphorically speaking, of course. Losing Lambert, Shaw, Lallana, Lovren and Chambers had us fearing the worst. But the appointment of Ronald Koeman was sound and the signings of Pellè, Tadic, Bertrand, Gardos, Taider, Long, Forster, Alderweireld and Mane have given us reason to be positive again. This is a new-look squad – but I think we’re going to be just fine.
Ben Gammon @GoMarchingIn
STOKE CITY – £0.5m
Despite the lack of cash spent, I would say it’s probably been our best transfer window since the inception of the new regulations. Bojan was the headline-maker, and his time will come. Sidwell and Bardsley look very solid free transfers. Teixeira will be one for the future. Moses has looked a revelation in the couple of games he has played, and I would be very keen to see him sign permanently in January. It’s also nice to have Assaidi back. Mame Biram Diouf has already written himself into Stoke City folklore with that goal at Man City. Fantastic window, fantastic times.
Rob Holloway Observer reader
SUNDERLAND – £10m
It reminded me of childhood Christmases: you did not get everything you wanted but the pillow case was still full, with some surprises. Gus Poyet now has his own squad and the scattergun approach of the previous regime is a distant memory. Players such as Jack Rodwell, Will Buckley (left) and Ricardo Álvarez should be a real asset. The Borini saga dragged on and on and it seemed clear by mid-August that he wasn’t coming. Shame. The players who have left had little to offer with the exception of Jack Colback, so no disappointments there.
Pete Sixsmith salutsunderland.com
SWANSEA CITY – £1.5m
Keeping Wilfried Bony is our biggest achievement. He’s a prolific goalscorer, a real fans’ favourite. We also got Lukasz Fabianski, on a free from Arsenal. I think he’s a great signing. He’s very confident whereas his predecessor, Michel Vorm,didn’t really exude confidence - and that spread to the defence, who started leaking goals. Gylfi Sigurdsson is a big signing. In the deal Spurs got Ben Davies and Michel Vorm, and we got Sigurdsson. Two players for one, but we got the best part of that deal. Sigurdsson is great for us. He seems to fit the Swansea way of playing, like a glove.
Ugo Vallario Swansea City Travel Club organiser
TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR – Profit £6m
Eighteen players left by various means. Six new boys, all defensively minded. I don’t see the wisdom in not strengthening the strikeforce. We managed only two goals in eight games against the top four last year. Whereas we could do with at least one player to score 20 a season, the three we’ve got only managed that between them last year; Adebayor scored most of those and he is hardly Mr Reliable. Sorry to see Sandro leave. Dawson has physically left us but I wish we could somehow bottle his spirit and desire.
Dave Mason Observer reader
WEST BROMWICH ALBION – £13m
Overall, I am happy with the work we have done. We needed two new full-backs, two new left-backs, a centre-half, two strikers and two pacy wingers, and we have those. However, only Lescott is known to be Premier League class. There are lots of players new to this division so it is hard to say how they will settle. They have pedigree from their respective leagues, time will tell if they make the grade here. Blanco and Varela, the pacy wingers, will be key to Irvine’s likely counterattacking style. Getting Lescott fit and playing well is vital too. Those three signings are key for me.
Richard Jefferson @richbaggie
WEST HAM UNITED – £31m
On paper it seems a good window. We’ve shifted out underachieving squad players, lowered the age of the team and finally got enough strikers in. Loaning Alex Song from Barcelona is quite a coup, while if Amalfitano can match his goal for West Brom at Old Trafford it could be exciting. Zárate shows promise as a link player; £12m striker Enner Valencia is unproven here but has an international track record. Kouyaté looks strong in midfield and Cresswell has settled in well at left-back. The big question is can Allardyce knit them into a team?
Pete May hammersintheheart.blogspot.co.uk
