Tottenham Hotspur worked diligently on transfer deadline day, but to no avail.
Only the deals to send Aaron Lennon to Everton and DeAndre Yedlin on loan to Sunderland were concluded, while the club failed to bring in either a defensive midfielder or striker.
Both were, and remain, positions of need for Mauricio Pochettino's team.
Chairman Daniel Levy was heavily involved in Spurs' efforts to recruit West Bromwich Albion's tempestuous forward Saido Berahino, and his failure seemed to reflect poorly upon him.
Fans and journalists alike attacked the chairman over the costliness of his perceived brinkmanship in negotiations with Baggies chairman Jeremy Peace.