No messing around, job done in good time and everyone knows where they are. I like that.

Also I didn't realise that both Clarke and Philogene are J R, the opposition won't know which direction the shots are coming from...

The incoming business looks good; the squad-management side looks considerably less tidy.

The squad has quite a few places occupied by players who aren’t necessarily going to be important first choices. That could be costly when there are only 25 senior registration places.

Walton, Taylor, Mehmeti, McAteer (and Akpom) occupying senior places. That’s not to say all five should have been dumped — most are perfectly useful squad players. But collectively, those places matter if you consider:

LB: Davis only specialist LB
RB: O'Shea + Furlong + U21 Ouattara
CB: O’Shea, Diop, Greaves, Kipré.
RW: Fatawu (Macateer adequate back up?)
ST: Flemming, Emersonn, Akpom.

Taylor and Philogene are currently ruled out, Matusiwa too...

@TomCruise - You can't hire an entire squad of proven Prem-quality players in one window. Neither practically nor financially.

@Tomcruise, personally I think Walton is a top quality goalkeeper and an adequate number two, I think he'd perform well if given the number one. Matusiwa, Taylor and Philogene are not far away and again I perso ally think they are adequate players as back ups. Akpom had a great pre season but he'd be my number 3 striker with who we have available

TomCruise, I make it 6 that are unlikely to see much in the way of game time. Yes I'm rather worried about the defence too. But I guess the thing is, we've spent the last few weeks like the little kid in a sweet shop, eye's lighting up at everything in the jars in front of him. Sadly for him he'd never get all the sweets he'd like, and so it is here. We go with what we have till January at least.

Some people are never happy. We made 14 signings in 1 window and basically filled all the places we needed barring a couple. There's another transfer window in January and you can imagine Ashton, Gary and the recruitment team are already looking at that for the last few positions they think we might need and also potential outgoings

If you look at the squad we have a good amount of people that can cover all positions for now, I do agree that the defence might just need bumping but that can come in the January window which will probably be the teams main focus in that window. We do have (kind of from most natural to least):
RB - Furlong, O Shea, Ouattara, Matusiwa
CB - Diop, O Shea, Greaves, Kipre
LB - Davis, Ouattara, Furlong, Greaves

@Bluepool - I take back what I said about Walton, agree that he is a quality keeper. Good point.

@Guthrum - Not asking to replace a full squad but think we could have done with another defender and right midfielder.

@Trevski - Am happy with transfers!

Trevski. Since when has Matusiwa been a rb?

No. 1, 9 and 30 players on the U21s. What epic and fabulous names! Love it!

Wall Egelie and Outsrra not in squad lists?? Both under 21.

@blues1 im sure I saw it in a interview when he first joined that he can play in that RWB role if needed. I might be mistaken though

Reading through that list, wow there are some pretty impressive names among them.

Some people! reminds me of the song by queen, " i want it all " The club, Ashton and everyone involved in the recruitment should be applauded on the business done! When the World Cup was on several were moaning that we hadn't signed anyone, turns out we waiting for some real quality!

So for those moaning about the lack of defenders signed heres a question, LB or CF on final day? Or who did we sign that we shouldnt have signed and kept money available for defenders?
I reckon TA refusing to join us altered available funds. Personally i am pleased with ZF as a final day Signing!

Although GON says he doesn’t have a problem with Mehmeti staying, I can’t help but think if he had left then we might have been able to make another signing. Taylor/Palmer injured too has probably saved them until January transfer window. Ogbene coming back in January means he won’t be in the 25 man squad so probably go out on loan again. GON’s comments last week suggested he was looking to bring in two new players before window closed but could only bring in one. Skysports reported new transfers were dependent on outgoings. Although we managed to send out a few who weren’t going to make the cut, Mehmeti staying probably but the brakes on signing another player in addition to Flemming. We were looking at that defender from Wolves and Flemming. When we knew there wasn’t going to be any more departures, we had to prioritise signing another striker over a defender.

TomCruise for my response:
Walton - Definitely good enough for prem in my eyes as he proved before when sitting behind a more shonky and inexperienced defence
Taylor - Again, did not out of place 2 years ago, never let us down, has improved every season with us, and was best CM at the Club at end of last season.
Mehmeti - Unproven, untested, but someone who has risen with each new level he has reached. WHo would bet against him cutting ait at Prem level, even if it will likely only be off the bench
Akpom - If we had just bought a former golden boot winner directly from Ajax this window, we would be excited! As it is, we have the experience of an out-of-shape and out-of-position Akponm from last season in mind. Anyone who has seen in him in pre-season will testify he is a completely different animal this season. And of course, I have seen negative comments about last weekend, but to judge him on a half of football when the whole team was on Tilt for half of it, is surely unfair !

My big concern remains O'Shea. He is no RB (we have options) and still do not see him as a captain....went missing 2nd half against Man U....when we needed BOTH.

I think mcateer could do a good job right back if needed. . There is no position set in stone

Wonder how long it has been since our entire registered squad have been permanent signings with not a loanee in sight? Instead we are sending players on loan to Valencia!!! Excellent recruitment / retention of players.

I guess one or two might make the move in January to make room for defensive depth but guess with the spend this summer we would need to use our loan slots for those.

Hopefully we stay up & next summer can retain most of the best players & strengthen the defence and add better back up players at RW & No 10. For now really impressed with the players we have brought in and the depth at GK, midfield and the forward line. Especially pleased that we managed to land 2 players I wanted all summer : Enciso and Flemming. Those who listened to the press conference yesterday, both GON & ZF himself will know what options this gives us at both no 9 & no 10.

DissBoy I think that earlier on in the window they expected Jaden plus at least one of Taylor or Mehmeti to move on, with a big fee for Jaden and profits on the other 2. This would have freed up squad places and provided funds to add the defenders or right sided players that people are wishing we signed. But with the money available and who they have loaned out overall very impressed. In a perfect world I wish we had room to keep Ben Johnson until we can afford to strengthen the full back positions but with those 3 players opting to stay sadly no room in the squad.

For those saying that either or both of Walton or Palmer should move on I cant see how this creates a squad place. You need 3 keepers registered : 1 in the team, 1 on the bench, 1 to cover in case 1 of the first 2 gets injured.
If one of the above moved on we would have kept KVO in the squad, probably as 2nd choice.
If both then we would have had to keep Van O & register Button (heaven help us if we actually had to come on during a PL Match.