I'm questioning the "our squad gets weaker every window" narrative, so I decided to do a little analysis of our past three transfer windows. I've not considered loans, nor youngsters with barely any first team minutes.
SUMMER 2024
IN:
Balázs Tóth - Goalkeeper
Danny Batth - Centre-Back
Todd Cantwell - Attacking Midfield
Andreas Weimann - Attacking Midfield
Yuki Ohashi - Centre-Forward
Makhtar Gueye - Centre-Forward
OUT:
Leopold Wahlstedt - Goalkeeper
Sammie Szmodics - Attacking Midfield
Sam Gallagher - Centre-Forward
Semir Telalovic - Centre-Forward
Analysis
6 players in for 4. We might not have known it at the time but with hindsight there's no question that we improved both goalkeeper, defense and strikers in this window. Szmodics is the only (although obviously big) downgrade but we did replace him with two good players.
JANUARY 2025
IN:
Augustus Kargbo - Left Winger
Yuri Ribeiro - Left-Back
Adam Forshaw - Central Midfield
OUT:
Arnór Sigurdsson - Left Winger
Kyle McFadzean - Centre-Back
Analysis
Three players in for two. Sigurdsson probably better than Kargbo but injury-prone, too early to call.
Ribeiro a very solid signing. McFadz not playing much by this time and Forshaw is Forshaw.
It's hard to argue the squad got significantly worse this window, I'd actually say better with Sigurdsson not that big of a loss.
SUMMER 2025
Too early to judge yet, but so far we have
IN:
Sidnei Tavares - Central Midfield
Dion De Neve - Left Midfield
Sean McLoughlin - Centre-Back
Ryan Alebiosu - Right-Back
OUT:
Joe Rankin-Costello - Right-Back
Tyrhys Dolan - Right Winger
Andreas Weimann - Attacking Midfield
Dilan Markanday - Right Winger
Danny Batth - Centre-Back
Analysis
4 players in for 5. Although I'd personally have liked to keep Markanday, he hasn't contributed much. Batth and Weimann both did very well here but will they do the same this year at their age? McLoughlin is a solid, younger Batth replacement. JRC handy but wouldn't start in front of Brittain anyway. Alebiouso should be able to replace him.
Dolan is the big one that hasn't been replaced, so I hope we see some more action there.
So far this window, it can be argued we are weaker, but it is far from finished.
Add to this any academy graduates coming up, which looks more likely this year than last, and I just don't believe our squad is consistently getting weaker. In fact you could argue it's getting stronger, younger, and more financially sustainable. At least I'm sure that's what Gestede is thinking.
Edit: Woodrow didn't belong in the list as many have pointed out. Removed.