I suppose it speaks to the expectations of the fans these days that I can say that I am rather disappointed with City's work in the transfer window. Wayne Bridge, Shay Given, Craig Bellamy and Nigel De Jong. Do you consider that a good month's work in the transfer window? Even taking into account that De Jong's acquisition effectively creates five new signings with Kompany moving into the back four.

I didn't expect a true superstar to arrive but I did expect more players to come in from the Bundesliga. In fact this seems like a good time to look at my pre transfer window predictions.

1. City will sign more than 6 players and at least one will be an English international.â.¨At least 2 players will join City from the Bundesliga

Well I certainly missed on this. Yes Wayne Bridge is an English international but I thought we'd see three from the Premier League, 3 from the Bundesliga and the chance of a player or two from Spain.
â.¨
2. None of the megastars that City have been linked with in the press will join.

The prediction I had the most confidence in even though the flirtation with Kaka was interesting.

â.¨2a (I'll hedge and say there is one megastar that City have not been linked with recently that I think will join)

The player I had in mind was Henry who had fallen under the radar there for a while. Alas the former Arsenal great appears to have found his footing in Spain, more's the pity.

â.¨3. Liverpool will sign a former Manchester United player

Turned out Liverpool didn't sign anyone but it was Heinze who I had in mind as he has slipped down the pecking order in Madrid and Liverpool need a replacement full back.

â.¨4. Aston Villa will sign an English International striker as Martin O'Neil continues to build a shadow England team.

This one was easy. With Couch, Defoe and Hesley all rumoured to be leaving their respective clubs, (where's Meat Loaf when you need him, "cos two out of three ain't bad") you had to figure that MON was going to snag one of them given the transfer policy since he arrived in the Midlands.

â.¨5. Despite their denials in advance Chelsea will sign at least one player in the transfer window.

They left it late and even then only on loan but Chelsea had to buy some more attacking options and Quaresma fit the bill.

â.¨6. Newcastle will not offload Michael Owen in the transfer window.

I felt strongly about this, and it is also the reason Santa Cruz isn't a City player. The price of relegation is too high a price to pay for cashing in on a player - a mistake I suspect Portsmouth will rue when all is said and done.â.¨

7 Sammy Lee will use the phrase "very very" in any interview he gives; although to be fair that stands for any part of the season.

ok I admit it, a bit of a cheap shot but you'd think with all the money in the game that those that need media training could afford it. Sammy Lee may be a nice fellow but he makes Deers looking media savvy when ever he gets in front of the television head lights.

â.¨8. Stewart Downing will not join Spurs.

And for the same reasons as Michael Owen above even though in the days prior to the transfer window both were heavily linked with moves away from their respective clubs.

â.¨9. Manchester United will look to bring in a replacement for Owen Hargreaves who is not cup tied in Europe.

I think Old Purple Nose just lost the Champions League with his failure to act. Hargreaves was bought to help in those away games against continental opposition late on in the Champions League and the irony of course is that United then played Chelsea in the final. If United play English opposition in the semi final and final then they have a good chance to win but otherwise I feel this failure to act will cost them.

As always I welcome your feedback at wallace.poulter@gmail.com