This was one of the most hapless transfer windows I have ever experienced.
Having taken over at numerous clubs that have been relegated in my career, I was used to dealing with want-away stars and the exit being busier then your average high-street but this...this was ridiculous...
The club has been picked clean.
The pace of the departures was continuous through-out the entire window as one-by-one almost my entire first team departed the club. With three of the clubs biggest stars leaving for big money transfers just days into the window it certainly set the tone for the remainder of it as I tried in vain to keep them at the club.
With my defence, midfield and even goalkeeping icon Tim Krul departing the club, only a handful of players remained loyal to the club including strikers Charlie Austin and Adam Armstrong. At least that's one area of the pitch I wont need to work on?
There is however one positive about selling nearly Thirty Players...
...My transfer budget is now huge.
From: Tottenham Hotspur
Cost: £5.5 million
Having impressed within the sticks for Stoke City, Butland secured a big money transfer to table topping Spurs before being wasted on the side-lines of the squad. Just two seasons later and a transfer listing ensure we would snap up one of England's best keepers for a knock down price. A superb signing to get things started.
From: Manchester United
Cost: £8.25 million
One of the brightest young English talents has been squandered by current Red Devils manager, Roberto Martinez but a quick transfer across the country could be just what the exciting midfielder needs. As a player with bags of potential I will be quick to throw Marcus in the deepend to get him back on track to the very top of the game.
From: Derby County
Cost: £9 million
Another exciting English talent joins the club in the shape of Derby's Will Hughes. As an avid Derby fan myself I can vouch that the blonde midfielder certainly has moments when he looks like a potential Leading Premier League midfielder. With him now under my wing it will be my chance to ensure he lives up to his much talked about potential.
From: Benfica
Cost: £3.5 million
An exciting Argentine prospect is next to arrive at the club as we bring in Damian Tocalli. Having earned rave reviews for his performances with Argentina's youth team, I was surprised to see Benfica let the incredibly talented winger leave for such a knock down price. The Nineteen year old goes straight into my starting eleven.
From: Valencia
Cost: £3.6 million
The left back position was weak in the squad even before the recent exodus of players but with the arrival of young Spaniard, Toni Lato we now have a player who could quite easily tie down the position for the foreseeable future. With blistering acceleration and iron-clad determination he is certain to make an impact down the left alongside Tocalli.
From: Bayern Munich
Cost: £5 million
Bayern became a hotbed of activity in the transfer window as they listed numerous young hopefuls, with us able to ****** just the one in the shape of Gianluca Gaudino. The Spanish and Italian named German was certainly one **** of a capture for a Championship club with his impressive all round ability sure to make him a leading player in the league.
From: Rome
Cost: £8 million
Continuing my trend of bringing in young prospects the next arrivals is one of the hottest talents to emerge from South Africa in...well forever. Mbhele might be just nineteen but he is already shaping up to be one solid centre-back. An impressive tackling ability and strength that defies his age sees him straight onto the team-sheet.
From: Swansea
Cost: £2.9 million
I was in desperate need of wing-backs for the coming season and when Swansea listed Welsh right-back Aaron Lewis, I jumped at the opportunity. He might not be as exciting a prospect as the rest of my signings but the Twenty One year old is more then capable of making a difference in this division and beyond.
From: RedBull Leipzig
Cost: £375k
With Marcus Rashford in the side, the lead role for my solitary central attacking midfielder was locked down but the team is in desperate need for depth as Polish prodigy, Kamil Wojtkowski arrives to provide us with cover. However with three full caps already to his name the exciting midfielder is not just here to make up the numbers.
From: Malmo FF
Cost: £850k
Aside from apparently having the eyes of a soulless demon, Magnus Mattson is also a defender filled with potential. More adept in the physical side of the game, Magnus will be a tough man to shake off when it comes to winning the ball in those important situations. With a threadbare squad the young Swede is in for a baptism of fire.
That was one **** of a transfer window.
With the majority of my first team departing, just ten players arriving to replace them and with a majority of those unless just old enough to start shaving, it seems me and the boys are both going to be in for one extremely testing season ahead.
Bring it on....I guess.
