Daniel Harris says Manchester United's transfer window was just about a pass, given they didn't sign players in the three positions they most needed cover.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's side were busy on deadline day, completing deals for 33-year-old striker Edinson Cavani, Porto's 27-year-old Brazilian left-back Alex Telles, Uruguyan youngster Facundo Pellistri, and a future deal for highly-rated Atalanta winger Amad Diallo Traoré.
They followed midfielder Donny van de Beek, who has arrived earlier in the transfer window from Ajax.
Football journalist Harris was on OTB AM earlier and gave his take on United's new acquisitions.
"I can see why United bought the players they've bought, but they needed to fill three positions - they needed a better centre-back than Victor Lindelof, a better midfield player than Nemanja Matic, and a right-winger ready to go straight into the team.
"If you look at it in that sense the board have really let down Ole Gunnar Solskjaer. They obviously tried to sign Jadon Sancho but ultimately refused to pay the money."
DONNY VAN DE BEEK (Ajax)
"Looked a good player before United signed him, and has looked a good player since they've signed him when he's been on the pitch.
"He's been made to look an even better player by how badly Paul Pogba has played so far this season."
ALEX TELLES (FC Porto)
"I've only seen him play a couple of times, but I'm nevertheless certain he's a superior player to Luke Shaw. That is a start.
"Whether he's as good a left-back as United would like is something I'm less certain about. The way I think United should play - 4-3-3 - defenders need to be able to defend one-on-one.
"That is my concern with Telles - he's really good going forward, his delivery is really good for crosses, although he seems more the player to swing the ball onto somebody's head, and it's not entirely certain who that is going to be.
"I'm concerned whether or not he has the pace to defend one-on-one. He's 27 and there wasn't competition for him, it would suggest that perhaps he isn't at the level of player you want to buy and if he was, given it was a one-horse race, why did it take until now to get him?"
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EDINSON CAVANI (free agent)
"He makes sense as a signing in some ways. You don't have anyone to go in front of Martial and Mason Greenwood so instead you buy someone from whom they can learn who will hopefully be good for some goals you otherwise wouldn't have got.
"A player of Edinson Cavani's drive and pedigree... nothing we've seen from him suggests he's going to [turn up for the money].
"They could have got him in June and been training with United since then... to do it now smells of panic."
AMAD DIALLO TRAORE (Atalanta, arriving January) and FACUNDO PELLISTRI (Penarol)
"They did pay a lot of money for him [Diallo], but wherever you look you see the people that have seen him play say he is a serious talent... and should go onto be a really good football player.
"I understand why they've done that - whether he can turn up in January and be good enough to make a difference from January to May, I've absolutely no idea, nor does anyone really.
"Likewise with Facundo Pellistri. They're trying to build a team that will be good in say three years."
United's transfer window - Daniel Harris rating: 4/10
"They didn't sign the three things they most needed. And so even if the other players are really good, they have not elevated the team in the way they could, should and the manager and players deserved.
"It wouldn't be like this if the Glazers weren't at United."
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