And then there was one (greatest window ever)

Now that Mads has left, Brad Collins is the only member of Conway’s famous “best ever transfer window” intake left at the club. I thought it’d be a nice time to look back on those signings!

Successful: Andersen, Collins

Somewhat successful: Chaplin, Sibbick

Some use: Thomas, Halme, Oduor

Oh dear: Wilks, Schmidt, Diaby, Radlinger, Bahre

It’s hardly a hall of fame. And I’m not even mentioning the s***show of selling the entire backline plus Moore!

Bahre was ok in league 1 but rarely useful after we made him captain (remember that?).
Diaby was ok but ultimately blew it with his failed drugs test.
Schmidt scored a big goal for us under Struber but wasn’t up to it and cost a fair wedge.

Looking back, is it even worse than it felt at the time?

 

I think only Wilks and Radlinger were truly useless for us from that list. So not worth the hyperbole of “best transfer window ever” but I think the incomings were overshadowed by who we lost.

 

Wilks had talent just didn't use it. Schmidt was one of the worst signings I've ever seen

 

Diaby and Wilks are both Championship players, might not have worked out for us but I don't think it's fair to call them bad signings, they clearly have ability.

 

Wilks was undoubtedly more talented then Schmidt, but in terms of what they did for our club, I think Schmidt did better.

 

Wilks could be better then Ronaldo, but for us he was pap, ergo he was ultimately a bad signing.

 

Schmidt only scored a few goals for us but they all were crucial to our survival and he made the assist for Oduor’s goal at Brentford

 

From what I can see, only Andersen has since been sold for a profit.

Likely break even for Wilks, Chaplin maybe Sibbick. All the rest either ran their contracts down, or we paid off. (Not sure what will have happened to Diaby's contract, assume just terminated?)

In playing terms, that transfer window has to be viewed in context of the sales as well. We sold our two centre halves and top scorer, and our goalkeeper and backup centre back left on frees. And we felt that this group could come in to replace them as we moved up a level. It was an absolute disastrous window, and we had to fork out a fee for Solbauer to give us any chance.

 

He scored an important goal. But so did odajayi doesn't make him a good player either. Schmidt went missing 95% of games and it was like having 10 men. He now plays in the Austrian 2nd tier. I think that tells you all you need to know about his ability, I just can't believe we paid a fee for him.

 

I can't believe Conway managed to oversee a summer transfer window that was even worse 2 years later.

 

It wad the worst window ever just on sales alone pinnock 2.5 million? Then to sell Moore so close to the window ending and buying schmidt who at the time we paid a reported decent fee for just looked like desperation