[Borders Baggie]

So a rather underwhelming transfer window comes and goes.
It's easy to blame Peace, Garlick, (Burton if he actually does anything) et al but the whole window scenario is a farce.

Clubs have a month to get things sorted but more often than not, signings are subject to moving players out hence everything compresses into one manic day and you get the Adebayor - Cole problems which means Ideye doesn't get a move to the Middle East.

Selling clubs know that buying clubs are usually desperate to fill a certain position so quote inflated and unreasonable fees for middle of the road players.

Players / agents know clubs have limited time to get things signed and sealed so look for enhanced contracts.
If true, what does it say about M Olsson if he wants a 'relegation' clause in his contract? If anything, any clause should be in the clubs favour as the said players haven't done their jobs.

On the positive side, teams around us have done very little as far as I can see. Burnley, Leicester, QPR, Villa not done anything & Hull sign an unknown striker from a Russian club!! We all know the worries that brings!!

Hopefully what we have is enough to see us survive, starting at Burnley on Sunday.

[Worldclassalbion]

The good thing was JP was backing TP last night. We cant help that Wet Sham are run by a couple of Barrow Boys and Olsson obviously wanted more than his worth.

Fletcher is a major signing for anyone out of the top 6.

COYB

[silverbaggie]

All a bit of a damp squib IMO.

I just hope that TP is happy with what was achieved but, to be fair you can't help it when the Barrow boys change their minds at the last minute and bring it all down like a pack of cards. I also find Olsson's attitude puzzling as he's already been relegated once.
It's a bit like a house sale chain. Someone changes their mind or can't complete and everyones b*****ed.
Perhaps we should try to avoid this kind of situation in future!!

I think that Darren will be a good acquisition for us. Hopefully he is now fully recovered from his colitis problems.
There's no doubt he is a leader on the pitch and could be a future Captain for us. (Brunt knockers please note)

One small problem is that he is cup tied and can't play against the Hammers but, so would Cole have been had we been allowed to sign him.

I do worry a little about the mindset of Ideye and Dorrans who have both seen a potential fresh start elsewhere snatched away from them at the eleventh hour.

As someone else has already said, fortunately there appear to be at least three teams who, on current form, are worse than us.

Oh well every cloud has a silver lining.

[talkSAFT]

So a rather underwhelming transfer window comes and goes.
It's easy to blame Peace, Garlick, (Burton if he actually does anything) et al but the whole window scenario is a farce.

Clubs have a month to get things sorted but more often than not, signings are subject to moving players out hence everything compresses into one manic day and you get the Adebayor - Cole problems which means Ideye doesn't get a move to the Middle East.

Selling clubs know that buying clubs are usually desperate to fill a certain position so quote inflated and unreasonable fees for middle of the road players.

Players / agents know clubs have limited time to get things signed and sealed so look for enhanced contracts.
If true, what does it say about M Olsson if he wants a 'relegation' clause in his contract? If anything, any clause should be in the clubs favour as the said players haven't done their jobs.

On the positive side, teams around us have done very little as far as I can see. Burnley, Leicester, QPR, Villa not done anything & Hull sign an unknown striker from a Russian club!! We all know the worries that brings!!

Hopefully what we have is enough to see us survive, starting at Burnley on Sunday.

That's a good post, Borders.
Can anyone tell me - I just can't remember - why we have the 2 ridiculous "Transfer Windows"?
I just don't get the logic. Predictably it all came down to the last minute, and I remember some years ago a deal failed because at 22:59 a Club's Fax machine broke down!
It must have been torture for Dorrans, Ideye, Cole, etc who had all had their near-future mapped out, and agreed terms, only for another player at another Club to let them down.
What IS the point of "The Window"? Why not just scrap it?

[Worldclassalbion]

Does anyone remember when football was football with no Silly rules and no foreign billionaire owners who know nothing about the beautiful English game or leagues. No one. Hardly knew who the Chairman was. It was a game sadly now it's unrecognisable and its a business. I'm Not exactly an old fart, a mere 47 (and a half). I really don't like what it's become but that's life. The rich clubs become richer, the lower league clubs struggling. It's all wrong and these Feckin Morons at Wet Sham need culling. Nurse!! Bed Pan!!

[drewks]

There maybe doom and gloom merchants,or happy clappers amongst the Albion fans,but we have to remember that without the support of the fans,we would have no Club.

Over the past couple of seasons we,the Supporters have had hardly anything to cheer about either on or off the pitch.Yet,we still continue to support our Team.I expect to see us pulling together again as we get over yet another disappointing transfer window.This forum provides that avenue.I don't mind posters having a go,they are entitled to,but I expect them all to be here in months to come,still supporting the Club no matter what! We have signed Mac and Fletcher.I can remember the times we were signing players like Williams and Townsend.We have come a long way in the past 10 years or so,I cant believe anyone at the Club wants us to lose our Premiership place,so I am sure the powers that be did their best! I suppose the real question is,are the powers that be good enough? Ashworth was a massive loss to us and no one who has been bought in to do his job has come anywhere near the success we had in previous recruitment targets.

Peace and Pullis have not yet got it right on or off the field.We have two targets left,have a good run in the FACup and stay in the Premiership.Like it or not,we have to back the present playing staff and Management Team to get us through the rest of the season. COYB

1) There is no doubt that everyone at the club would've done their best to bring in the players identified to better the squad. It didn't happen due to facts beyond their control, so we are not 'a joke' or similar - that's life.

2) Apparently, according to the club website  Olsson didn't make it to the ground in time - so no truth in this 'relegation clause' rumour.

3) After thinking about it, IMO Fletcher is a fantastic signing; his experience BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY his leadership qualities will, I think, get everyone more motivated and pulling together both on & off the pitch. Just what we need - maybe TP's 'deputy'?

4) Great post above, Pie! Let's appreciate what we are - we're a Premiership club that has just secured 2 excellent players in the January transfer window. It could've been more but, hey, are we known for actually SIGNING players in January?
Let's get totally behind the club and the players, and put some distance between us and that dreaded dotted line!  

[talkSAFT]

"Steve Coppell, former manager of Reading in England's Premier League, and others have called for the transfer window to be scrapped in favour of the previous system, where deals could be struck throughout the season until the closing weeks. Coppell said that the transfer window breeds panic and encourages "scurrilous" transfer activity adding that "I cannot see the logic in a transfer window. It brings on a fire-sale mentality, causes unrest via the media and means clubs buy too many players" adding that "The old system, where if you had a problem you could look at loans or make a short-term purchase, was far better than this system we have at the moment".
Former England Manager Sven-Göran Eriksson has also questioned the value of the transfer window, commenting: "You do wonder at times if it is right to have a window, it was easier when it was open all the time and perhaps fairer for the players. I am sure much of the business being done on the last day is a little bit desperate and that is not right. I think it was better before, but then I am old".

In January 2015, FIFPro said that the current transfer window system is "failing football and its players", one of the main issues being that players are released from clubs without explanation or compensation. "


COME ON, GORDON TAYLOR. WHY ARE YOU GETTING THAT ENORMOUS SALARY? JUST ASK THE QUESTION: WHAT'S THE POINT OF THE "WINDOW"?
(IF IT WAS TO COOL DOWN INFLATIONERY TRANSFER FEES, IT JUST HASN'T WORKED).......AND YOUR PLAYERS (DORRANS, IDEYE, COLE, ETC ETC + FAMILIES) HAVE JUST HAD A NERVOUS BREAKDOWN, WAITING UP AT 11 O'CLOCK FOR THEIR FATE.
I DON'T NORMALLY SYMPATHISE WITH THE OVERPAID, BUT THEY'RE ONLY HUMAN, AND DESERVE BETTER.

[Lets-talk-about-Teix]

Been critical of Peace in the past, but taking a step back for a second, we have signed McManaman for £5m and Fletcher who must be on around 50k a week. Compare this to this time last season when Mel wasn't even allowed to bring in his own staff.  

I don't know what Pulis is mindset is like at the moment, but he will just have to get on with it. There is still more than enough in the squad to keep us up, and the failure to sign another couple of players shouldn't be used as an excuse. Hull, Villa, Burnley, QPR. None of them have had fantastic windows. No other Albion HC has been backed in January. Like I say Pulis should be able to get on with it.

Playing players in their correct positions would be a good start.

[Salopbaggie]

Well I cant say I like it, but what is, is what is and we just have to get on with it.  

While I would scrap the window as well, I don't buy into the argument that serious clubs wait until the last day to do business or can only start looking while the window is open.  What have the scouting staff been doing the rest of the year?  (Time to "make Dan Ashworth an offer he can't refuse", at least we know he can do the job).

Sadly I do not think the players we have brought in, although they are decent players can play in the positions where we are at our weakest.  It will take any PL manager about two seconds to do there team talk "hit them down the left side they have no real midfield or defence on that side"

Anyway, time to move on, so a few things that we could try, one which needs to be done as a matter of urgency,  get JL back in the centre.  

Maybe look a bit harder at playing 3 CB's with two flying FB's Gamboa & Poc, especially against the poorer teams.  Remove Brunt (who I have been a fan of for years) from being the first automatic name on the team sheet.  Consider swapping Berahino and VA around, this will allow Vic to play to his strengths of holding up the ball and allow SB to play in his more natural position which IMO is through the middle.  (Vic to hold the ball, play back to Fletcher for the killer pass through to SB).  Not an ideal solution, but may make the best of the players we have.

I am not saying this would work, I just think against out relegation rivals it may produce some more fruitful results.

[Stairs]

Carlton Cole is angry and finds himself confined to West Ham unless he can push for a loan away from the club next week, which seems unlikely considering West Ham’s reported reason for keeping him.

This suggests that West Brom could still add a player or two to the squad this week, even if not Cole, using the loan options.