Jury in or out on Albion's transfer window?

With the transfer window slamming shut on Monday night, I found myself on the cusp of the jury being out and feeling somewhat underwhelmed.

With Jordan Rhodes opting for Middlesbrough and Ross McCormack kissing and making up at Fulham, the arrival of a tried and tested domestic striker didn’t materialise. Instead, Chris Hughton opted to ‘shop abroad’ with 23-year-old Czech forward, Jiri Skalak, signing for the Albion.

He is, we’re told, an international striker but, to be fair, down the years, previous acquisitions have had the same description, only to ultimately disappoint.

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As the week has progressed, Chris Hughton has been quick to state that he will need time to settle in. Given the ongoing intensity of the promotion battle, how much time are we actually talking?

Any purchase, even the aforementioned Rhodes or McCormack, would have been a gamble. Given the situation, this is a huge punt but, if it comes off, it will be looked on as a masterstroke by the manager.

I still don’t think we can rule out the possible return of Glenn Murray on loan from Bournemouth either. The current sticking point being the 93-day period being able to incorporate the play-offs. Once that window is entered don’t rule out Muzza back in the blue and white stripes.

Elsewhere, I have to say I’m disappointed at the temporary departure of Rohan Ince to Fulham. Then again, that re-iterates that it’s all about opinions and clearly he’s well and truly down the pecking order now.

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Another loanee departing the Amex for the time being is Elvis Manu, who has joined Huddersfield for the regulation 93 days.Elvis is one of those players who appears to have polarised supporters’ opinions.

On one hand, his parents showed great imagination in naming him after the King. On the other, I would like to understand the rationale of the scout who recommended the Albion sign him.

Sorry but he doesn’t do it for me, and I know I’m not alone. Hopefully, different surroundings in Yorkshire might mean a change in fortunes. But if things do go right at our end of the table, could we really see him in Albion’s 25-man Premier League squad in August?

While the frantic transfer dealings were panning out on Monday, elsewhere ITV aired some of the most distasteful and uncomfortable television in recent years.

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The producers, and possibly even Philip Schofield and Holly Willoughby, should take a long hard look at themselves for their treatment of the legendary Frank Bruno.

For his part, Bruno’s management also need to take some of the blame as well. Putting a man who is clearly not well on TV and all but creating a Victorian freak show leaves a nasty taste in the mouth.

He was in his time a national sporting icon. With his appearance on This Morning and the subsequent media furore, he’s turned into a joke and the worst kind.

Talk of a comeback is delusional. Thankfully the British Boxing Board of Control were quick to issue a statement saying he would not be granted a licence under any circumstances. It shouldn’t have got that far, but think of the publicity ITV ended up getting, all at the expense of a good, honest man, who’s in a dark place.

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What next, cue Phil “And, after the break, Badger Baiting with Russell Grant?”

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