Stam and Yorke were amazing signings. I would say Blomqvist was ok. Not sure I’d give it a 10. More like a 7. He was useful as he allowed us to rotate and rest Giggs. But in that season he had 1 goal and 2 assists in the prem I think.
I still think this season edges that window because of the quantity of players we’ve brought in and the fact they’ve all worked. Stam was best defender in the world I agree. I think Martinez’s impact has been just as good or close in different aspects of the game with him being one of the best defenders in the league.
It's difficult and both wrong to compare the two.
Firstly the Stam/Yorke summer we were already a top top side, so it was far easier to have a good window. But I still agree with the poster saying it as the best. It is the one window for me we addressed exactly what we needed to complete our side. Both players were the perfect signings and transformed us at either end of the pitch. Johnsen for me is one of our most under rated centre backs in my lifetime....but our cb options were not that great at the time. ALso, probably get shot down for this, COle was a very good striker for us, but he missed a lot of chances and didnt seem to have formed a godo partnership for me with anyone at the club sinc ehe arrived....that changed totally.
Of course go back to last summer and we needed to clear a lot of players and buy a lot of players, all with a new manager who didnt really know his squad. Nigh on impossible to do in one window....but our squad is still far from complete for me. We still have double figures worth of players on or books that shouldnt be here for me and we are still at least 3 (double the amounts for me) players short from a side that compete for the title, so despite improvements how can it be our best window? We cant finish above third, Solkjear did just a couple of seasons earlier.
The main reason really cant say this is our best window is simple though. We are still in the same season, its simply far too early to judge all of these players. Been a few players we have signed, who have had excellent first seasons they havent quite lived up to or dropped massively from in there careers here.
If we judge it that way: 2007/8 season would be up there . Tevez, Nani, Anderson, Hargreaves
Anderson had a solid first season and looked liek he had the potential to be oru new Keane/Robson. Tevez was superb, but his time here was short lived. Nani showed bags of poential and Hargreaves when fit looked to complement and solidy our midfield. I'm still fond of all of those players and there times here, including Tevez....but none of them really are remembered as greats here for various reasons.
I think all this summers signings have done well and Martinez especially looks like a fantastic signing for me. But Eriksen is ageing, Casemeiro wrong side of 30, Dont think we can judge this summers window in terms with others for a godo couple of seasons or so as some may fade and som emay not fill the potential.
Just the same as its too early to judge Ten Hag, lets not forget how carried away we got with SOlkjear early in his career.
I do think there has been genuine improvment this season and ths signs are promising, so not saying this from a negative non believing standpoint. What I am comparing to is Mourinhho and his first season achievement and the promise of Pogba, Ibrahimovic and Bailly (again looked a great window over that season....and wasnt) or Solkjears first few months and two windows wigning Maguire, Bissaka and Fernandes (sounds folly to sa now but the signs were good if think back at the time).
I like Ten Hag a lot so far, Casemeiro has been even better than I expected, especially on the ball. Didnt know Martinez but abslute star. SO that in itself is good....if I am to be unbiased and negative though....think people are over playing the impact of Eriksen this season, Malacia has been decent and Antony I have liked all season, but its still potential and a lot of people on here have slated him until the last couple of weeks.
I think the marks given to the signings are probably a little generous overall and this summer gone we didnt sign a striker when the Greenwood situation, Martial performances and ROnaldos age and summer behaviour...it should have been a priority then, we are now probably needing to sign two....we also had a terrible midfield and signed two thirty year old. Lets not forget we have had to get in two loan signings this season as we are so short of quality for a season in two areas. That is why for me, as a short term judgement, it definately isnt our best window, how an it be, we havent fully address our needs both in and out as big as they were
