The Magnificent Seven

Please say a big hello to : Darren Bent, Kelly Youga, Darren Ambrose, Chrissy Powell, Jonathan Spector, Gonzalo Sorondo and Alexei Smertin. HELLO !

As two of these signings are free transfers and three, when Smerts eventually arrives, are loan deals, initially at least, it means that transfer fees paid stand at less than 4m with 2m of that re-couped from the sale of Konchesky to West Ham. With Euell almost certain to depart for around 2m it means that Curbs has managed to increase the squad size by five at no actual cost other than wages. With Curbs having around £7m to spend on transfers speculation is mounting that he is going to spend big on a particular transfer target, quite possibly a striker.

So far Curbs has managed to address most of the concerns from last season. He has plugged the central defence area with the signings of both Sorondo and Spector, the latter of whom also provides cover for both full back positions. He has significantly strengthened central midfield with the arrival of Smertin as 'enforcer' whilst Ambrose can play anywhere across the middle although he is primarily right-sided. Darren Bent should provide a much needed cutting edge up-front and will hopefully solve our goalscoring problems.

Elsewhere, the return of Chris Powell is welcome for his tunnel celebrations, his enthusiasm and the news that he is to be involved on the coaching side of things. Kelly Youga is obviously one for the future and it will be interesting to follow his progress in the reserves.

All in all, a productive summer on the transfer front which hasn't quite finished yet. The signings have given the squad and, in most cases, the team a more balanced look and has more than addressed those areas which needed addressing. If we can add a top class forward and perhaps another midfielder as cover for Smertin then we can indeed be very pleased with the restructuring that has taken place.

After a slow start, unfulfilled promises of early signings and a couple of setbacks (Stead and Gardner) praise must go to Curbs and Richard Murray for all the hard work that must have gone into bringing all these players in. Now, where's that striker ?