Yes yes, admit it, you've been click-baited by the title...except I will now try to detail WHY this transfer window has been an unqualified success (especially if compared to others in our recent past.)
Let's first of all recognize the TRUE significance of what happened between 10pm and the 11pm deadline last night.
For the first time ever, Daniel Levy gave up the ghost, gave in and paid the asking price for Sissoko. Bear in mind, this deal had been around for some time and Levy (knowing the player wanted Spurs) thought he could 'Do A Daniel' and wind the price down as the clock wound down too. Ashley wouldn't budge. Levy was left to either 'win' as he usually does (i.e. not back down) or sigh, admit 'defeat' and give the manager (in this case Pochettino) what they wanted. This is enormous. IS 30 million too much for Sissoko? Absolutely! In reasonable money, he is a 15 to max 20 million player at most. Thank Manchester, Roman and Sky for this horror hike.
As for the player, look, he is an excellent addition squad-wise. First of all, aside from Poch liking him, do you not think Hugo has been asked what his take on the man and his character are? Secondly, aside from Dembele, we do not have anyone who has the power, strength and speed to simply get the ball deep and drive up the field with it. When the Moose doesn't play under Poch, the entire side suffers, and as such, it is vital we have someone who plays like him so as we never, ever miss that brute presence. Wanyama is a fine player but different. Sissoko is a driver, and for me (laugh as you wish) on form he reminds me of YaYa (yeah yeah ugh if you wish). This means that the likes of Christian, Erik and Dele can benefit from his bullwork and the space it creates. Big stuff, very important.
The other great thing about this window is that aside from N'Koudou (who most of us have only seen on youtube) every other signing is an upgrade on who we have let go (I personally wanted to keep Mason but we can see why he was sold to Hull as Sissoko was always on the table) and you can finally see a proper squad of players with two strong for every position, yet enough room in the squad for youth to get a chance too.
Would it have been nice if Isco had decided not to be a coward and make the move? Of course! But if he'd rather prevaricate and trim his pubes in Spain than play in the CL and at top stadiums like , oh I don't know, WEMBLEY, then enjoy those Madriddy splinters in your bum lad. We won't remember you in two seasons.
I believe Poch is very happy with us and where we're at, and I have believed for sometime that he and Levy have been on growing, glowing terms. I think we saw full confirmation of that last night. So I say WELL DONE TO ALL CONCERNED. Would we all have liked an Isco? On paper, absolutely. But In Poch We Trust, and finally, as we saw with Daniel GIVING IN to Ashley last night, so does the chairman. A fine conclusion.
p.s. Sissoko will have a greater impact on our season than Mane on Liverpool's...who wants that bet?
