02 Sep 2026 11:24:02
Where to start
Tielemans ranked in the top 10% last year for
Tackes and interceptions
Tackles won
Through balls
Progessive passes
Passes into the final third
Yes he felt like an opportunistic purchase but he is class.
Carlos Baleba was rubbish last year apparenty, but he still ranked in the top 20% for interceptions, ball recoveries, and possession won in the final third, and we know he has a much higher ceiling.
Santos is seen as an unknown quantity, yet his stats have him in the top 5 for pretty much everything.
We didn't buy Anderson, or Tonali, or Fernandes, but we have done very sensible calm business.
For CF and LW, Rashford staying complicated that, and he can play in either position.
The LB situation is puzzling, that does feel like a dropped ball, but maybe we come back to it in January.
I like the calmness and lack of pazazz and that we are not prepared to enter auctions, I know that doesn't please everyone but there have been some stupid fees for players which I think teams may come to regret.
We have a wealth of attacking options, we have massively strengthened the midfield, and we remain challenged at the back. The world isn't ending.
02 Sep 2026 12:19:45
The weird thing is, we all knew the top targets and the prices they would command. United clearly had no idea, and when it became obvious that top midfielders were costing over £100m, they bulked and scrambled to find some players further down the list that they could get cheap. That is essentially the story of our transfer window.
02 Sep 2026 12:21:12
I agree, Tony. The massive overreaction on social media is crazy. Posts above saying that we've done nothing in the window when we have made some really good signings.
I'd have liked a left back, but only one that's good enough. Panicking is why you end up with Alex Telles etc.
Yoro needs game time and will now cover right back whilst Maz plays left back when Shaw is out, with Amass perhaps getting a chance. I'm ok with that. Glad the window is over and now we can get on with the season.
02 Sep 2026 13:11:14
We have made 2 good signings, GDS2, and one that none of us know about, with Santos, who looked good pre-season, and time will tell.
They have improved the middle of the pitch, great, it's been needing improving for years.
But we've got one senior left back who is known not to be able to compete a season when it's not 1 game a week, and the cbs are either injured or not good enough.
Maguire shouldn't be starting games. Yoro needs to develop, you pay big money for him, play him, and I don't mind if he's gna play and develop, he will make mistakes, part of learning the game.
I think, ultimately, that's where we will struggle is in defence, keeper aside.
02 Sep 2026 13:20:07
I think the midfield is improved, but not getting Hall early in the window was a massive mistake. We waited until Newcastle solved their PSR problems by selling their best players, then enquired for Hall. Next summer, if he has a great season, he will cost even more.
02 Sep 2026 13:32:04
Newcastle aren't in Europe, so they can spend up to 85% of their revenues on squad cost. Did they have a PSR problem?
02 Sep 2026 15:16:21
Be honest, if the window had just been about to open and you were told we were going to sign Tielemans and Santos, you can honestly say, hand on heart, you would have been happy with those?
Don't forget hand on heart in those replies.
02 Sep 2026 16:56:18
I think we did drop the ball at LB. It's a glaring weakness. But, Maz is a competent back up full back on either side. There was no point going to Balde if we had Dorgu, and let's see what Amass can actually do.
The fact we got desperate and went for Ait Noti though is a concern.