That was an emotional transfer window. There was some daft bits going on with some clubs, but I think we have reshaped quite well following our transfers out.
My 'Prats Of The Window' award goes to Brendan Rodgers and Liverpool.
When a player and a club sign a 5 year contract, they are both committing to those 5 years for each other. When a player dares to say half way through or even in year 4 that they wish to leave, everybody goes mental, that player is a traitor, a money grabber who is showing no loyalty or commitment.
However when a club do it, it is meant to be acceptable.
Andy Carroll has done nothing wrong at Liverpool. He has taken a while to settle in but he has worked hard despite the pressure and price tag, and had a decent finish to the season. He has declared he wants to stay and fight for his place. So for Brendan Rodgers to publicly tell him to leave and embarrass him to the football world by publicy making him unwanted is a disgrace. And its a bit of karma that they failed to replace him with Clint Dempsey. This is the club that pushed Xabi Alonso out the door to replace him with Gareth Barry only to get Aquilani.
Anyway back to Palace.
Delaney came in first which I thought was a sensible signing. Bags of experience at this level.
All we ask is that he can deal with crosses! So far this season our back line has had worse experiences of a cross than sweet baby Jesus did as a grown man.
And then Goodwillie!!!! (*giggles like a child). Thank god he isn't a keeper so we do not have to discuss Goodwillie handling.
This signing is the one we needed in my opinion. A still young player with bags of potential who has something to prove.
I have already seen the female Palace fans commenting on his looks as he does seem to be a fairly handsome chap, and being a handsome fan, i know our lovely female fans love a handsome chap :)
He has never started 3 games in a row for Blackburn and that fact their fans have been disappointed he has left on loan tells you how they rate him. He will score goals for us.
Leading up to the window closing we saw the usual dramatical cries of how we'd been let down by CPFC2012 (the chaps who saved us) and the predictable tweet of 'we need a goalscorer so sign one Palace'.
I need to sleep with a Spice Girl but doing it isn't as easy as it sounds my friends (As the 5 restraining orders hanging on my bedroom wall will tell you).
The other complaints were 'why are we leaving it to the last minute?'. At this point I was banging my head against the wall. I wish people would think when it comes to football.
Most big business is done at the end of the window in a domino effect. Blackburn spent 8 million on Rhodes at the end of the window (after weeks of negotiating the price), this then allows the availability of Goodwillie, so we sign him at that point.
2 weeks ago Goodwillie would not have been available as Blackburn would have kept him had they failed to sign Rhodes. That is why most business is done at the end.
And for those who say loan signings are a waste of time and bad for the long term, think again my friends. I don't even have to name the names of loan signings who have been fantastic for us. Loan signings are a win win win situation for all 3 parties. It freshens the squad up with extra quality that keeps regulars on their toes and allows us to use players we may not be able to afford permanently.
So as we reflect on the window, I ask you this. Have a look at the squad list and pick your starting 11. Then look at what players you couldn't squeeze into the starting 11. Not bad really?
