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Seven out, four in - Summer 2010 is over Wednesday, 01 September 2010 17:48 Written by Tannochsidebear

So there we have it then, the end of the transfer window for another summer.

How have we fared? Well we have lost 7 first team squad players plus 2 kids who have not reached first team status and we have recruited 4 players in their place.
Following on from net outgoings in the past 3 windows also, it is well known that our squad is much reduced and very thin in places for the battles ahead both domestically and in the big boys playground of the UEFA Champions League, starting in a fortnight with the tough task of a trip to Old Trafford.

We have lost some good players who have seen us through these last 2 titles in Boyd, Thomson and Novo as well as some useful squad players in Wilson, Beasley and Smith and we have also loaned out another backup striker who has been long term injured in Velicka.

Coming in is strikers Jelavic and Beattie on permanent deals and 2 loan deals for Weiss and Foster.

On the face of it we are 2 matchday strikers out and 2 matchday strikers in, one winger out and 1 winger in, one full back out and one full back in, and the loss of Wilson has been offset by the return from loan of Webster. Only Thomson's departure has not been directly replaced, but we have decent cover in central midfield as well as the loss of Velicka who did not get much action in 2 years anyway due to form, fitness and injuries.
So all in all we are not that much changed for the campaign just started than the one we ended up as easy Champions, so we should not be far away from retaining our title again.
Compared to our modest movings, our nearest rivals have had quite a time of it again this summer. After Mowbray tried (and failed) to build a new squad last year, it seems the lunatics have really taken over the asylum down Piggery Park. An astonishing 24 players have left the Paedo-dome this summer, with at least 19 of these having first team experience. Incoming has been far more documented, with a whole new first 11 being brought in by the Lurgan Lunatic, with a keeper, 4 defenders, 3 midfielders and 3 forwards coming in with only domestic football to look forward to throughout the long Scottish winter.

How "Cup-specialist" Lennon (3 cup ties so far and 3 defeats) manages to gel this latest band of mercenaries into the next Dream Team to the watching fans dressed as empty seats at the Paul Gadd Arena will go a long way to determining if Walter will get it as easy this season as last, or if our lack of numbers hits us harder than before.
 
From the numbers game alone, the January 2010 window also saw both clubs reduce their numbers. We let Mendes and Rothen go without bringing anyone in, while Timmy brought in 6 and let go 10. 

We have been hearing for a while that our rivals size of squad may be too strong for us this season, but how many players can they possibly have left? That is 34 players let go in the last 2 windows, with 17 coming in. 

What worries me about our title chances is only that the games after CL matches are always more difficult to get victories in. This is not unique to us, as a lot of clubs throughout Europe have noted this. If we can be neck and neck at the top by Christmas and are eliminated from Europe, I will be confident of number 54 coming to the World record holders. Any further participation in Europe in February (we can dream!) would mean we would have to strengthen in January.

Of course, should the papal visit be the only bright day of 2010 for the all-inclusive club from the east end and we are 6 or more points clear at the top by the end of the group stages of the CL, then surely the pressure will be too much for the mentally unstable sectarian bigot currently in the hot seat at our rivals, and the fun and games could well be starting all over again!

We can only do our business properly and look after ourselves, and we must now re-group with our new players in place, and hope that they are good enough to carry our hopes successfully towards another title.