D-Day

In March 2000, Albion fans witnessed the most significant transfer deadline day in the club's history. Teetering on the brink of relegation to the third tier of English football, new boss Gary Megson brought in five last minute signings: Des Lyttle, Neil Clement, Georges Santos, Tony Butler and returning club hero "Super" Bob Taylor. All five were in the starting line-up on the last day of the season when we clinched a vital win against Charlton to ensure our safety; two years later, Clem and Super Bob would be a catalyst for sending us up to the Premier League.

It's far too early to judge how today's business measures up against that lofty standard set by Megson thirteen years ago, but the emotional ride it's sent us on is easily comparable. From the despair of finding ourselves bottom of the league on Sunday night, we were buoyed first by the signing of right midfielder Morgan Amalfitano, then goalkeeper Lee Camp. Then came the throes of excitement as the names linked to us came thick and fast: Fabio Quagliarella! Jermain Defoe! And finally, the Holy Grail of rumours; the return of Romelu Lukaku!

With Odemwingie on his way out of the door and Shane Long poised to sign for Hull City, Albion's head office must have been a madhouse. Certainly, when Stephane Sessegnon signed for us late in the evening and gave his first interview, he looked more than a little like an escaped mental patient. But despite their best efforts, the club couldn't quite tempt Lukaku to pull on the stripes again; our consolation prize, announced an hour or two after the deadline, was incoming Everton powerhouse Victor Anichebe.

It may well be another thirteen years before we see Albion go this transfer-mad on a deadline day. In the meantime, there's the small matter of seeing whether our new acquisitions can dig us out of the hole we've abruptly found ourselves in...