The transfer window has been shut. Jack Crosland gives you the round up
The Championship Transfer Window
Although Bolton chose not to take part, an otherwise exciting deadline day did throw up a few surprises amongst our peers in the Sky Bet Championship. The likes of Derby, Middlesbrough and Sheffield Wednesday, to name a few, threw around the sort of money Neil Lennon goes to bed dreaming about. There is certainly no shortage of talking points when discussing the 2014/15 transfer window.
Naturally, we start by analysing The Wanderers` dealings throughout the summer and despite a reported net spend of -£2.5m, the window wasn`t actually that bad. Ben Amos has started the season looking as assured as he was in his loan stint at The Macron. Still very young for a goalkeeper and with years of working alongside world class goalkeepers at Manchester United, I would argue Amos could turn out to be one of the most astute deals the club has pulled off in recent years (although there isn`t much competition). A potential backline of Pisano, Derik, Prince and Casado gives the Bolton defence a much more continental feel if nothing else, a couple of N`Gotty-esque performances suggest the ‘Fresh Prince of Bolton` will fit in well in a white shirt at least. Derik Osedealso comes with a lot of potential and after swapping training with Cristiano Ronaldo to training with Liam Feeney, I`m confident he will prove to be another clever signing by Lennon.
Attacking wise there is still much room for improvement. Stephen Dobbie has already paid back his relatively low cost after scuppering Dougie`s day out at The Macron however he is very much a supporting character in the long run. The same game saw, hero of preseason, Gary Madine turn villain as he saw a soft penalty saved. He definitely has qualities that could lead to him becoming a very solid second-tier centre forward despite being void of confidence at present. He will improve. Wellington Silva is a very good loan signing for a Championship side. Undoubtedly he will both enthral and enrage at times throughout the season but he is just the sort of player that will create space for the likes of Zach Clough to operate in. Max Clayton is still to return but there is no doubt a striker would transform the side into a very solid outfit. Let`s hope the Andy Kellett sale will allow a foray into the ’emergency loan window`.
With Clough, Vela and Mark Davies all still in the ranks the window was probably a success, realistically. Not all clubs can say the same. The gift that keeps on giving, Mr Freedman, broke his own rule once again and signed a player from his old team Crystal Palace. Michail Antonio abandoned ship at the last minute leaving Dougie scrambling for last minute panic deals. My heart goes out to him.
Elsewhere Burnley broke their transfer record bringing in Andre Gray leaving Marvin Sordell further down the pecking order and eventually facing a ‘mutual` termination of his contract. The man who cost Wanderers over £3m in 2012 has suffered a disastrous fall from grace since his days as an England youth international. At least he doesn`t have to suffer Joey Barton`s company.
Ex Bolton misfits were also in the news this window. BenikAfobe was courted by Premier League Norwich but eventually the move never materialised. If anyone would have told me that Jacob Butterfield would eventually command a £4m transfer fee during his unsuccessful loan spell I would be sceptical however that is exactly what Derby splashed out on the attacking midfielder. Joe Mason was also linked with a £4m move to Wolves. Not content with Afobe and ALF their pursuit of a third ex-Bolton striker eventually proved unsuccessful. Could be worse for them though, there`s another Wanderers that could do with just one of them.