TRANSFER WINNERS
MANCHESTER UNITED - Champions Delight!
We begin with the champions, who have boosted their squad with three key buys this season - Ashley Young, Phil Jones and David De Gea. While the first two are unquestionable solid buys with an instant positive ROI, the third is still a work in progress. At 20 years old and manning the post for a big club, De Gea will eventually grow to be a legend in the likes of Peter Schmichael and Edwin Van Der Sar.
So why are Man United winners with only three major buys? Because they have successfully transitioned their young players from loan players at smaller Premiership or foreign clubs to first team players. Tom Cleverly, Danny Welbeck, Chris Smalling, Gibson and the Da Silva twins are all like new signings at the club. Wes Brown, John O'Shea, Owen Hargreave and Paul Scholes will not be missed. Edwin Van Der Sar would certainly be missed for a few seasons as young De Gea adjusts to Premiership life.
MANCHESTER CITY - Money Talks!
Gael Clichy, Sergio Aguero, Savic and Samir Nasri. It doesn't get any better, especially when you know they are coming to join Edin Dzeko, David Silva, Carlos Tevez, Mario Balotelli and Yaya Toure, to name only a few. This season would be considered a failure if they end up as runners up.
The out going player list is also solid, but nothing compared to the recruits. Adebayor, Bellamy, Wright-Phillips and Santa Cruz will certainly make another team happy, but will not be missed at City.
CHELSEA - The Bridge Stays Strong!
Juan Mata, Lukaku, Romeu and Merieles (a last minute coup) are very solid signings. Outgoing players worthy of mention are Yuri Zhirkov and Yossi Benayoun. With all due respect to both players, they can't hold a candle to the incoming crew.
Oh, by the way, they also have a new Manager in Andres Villa Boas. They last time they had a Manager with a similar resume, they won two Premiership titles. Watch out!
LIVERPOOL - The Magnificent Seven!
Ok, maybe one or two may still be questionable, but King Kenny's signings - Stewart Downing, Charlie Adam, Jordan Henderson, Doni, Jose Enrique, Sebastian Coates and returning fireball, Craig Bellamy, look like very solid buys. Sebastian Coates will be an interesting prospect to watch. At 6ft. 6in., the half Scottish Uruguayan (his Dad is Scottish, a connection Kenny Dalglish's legacy may have exploited) certainly stands out. Question is - will he stand as tall against the Premiership's big strikers?
When you compare them to the out going crew of David Ngog, Joe Cole, Christian Poulson, Emilio Insua, Milan Jovanovic, Kyrgiakos, Phillip Degan and Dani Pacheco, you can bet on them to do better than last year's sixth place finish.
Perhaps the only players worthy of 'mourning' at Anfield are Aquilani and Merieles. Alberto never really was given time to show his quality and Raul Merieles cannot be faulted for wanting to reunite with his ex-Porto Manager and compatriot at Chelsea.
Good luck to Raul. Liverpool-turned Chelsea players have not been able to reproduce the same form that saw them succeed at Anfield - Torres and Benayoun are easy examples of that. Raul may just be the one to break the duck and help El Nino get back to form with his precise passing.
ARSENAL - Basement Bargains!
Arsene Wenger is not one to be described as 'variable'. No surprise, he stuck to his economic policy of buying late and cheap. However, he did one thing different this time. He actually bought matured players for a change. Mikel Arteta, Yossi Benayoun, Per Mertesacker, Gervinho and Andre Santos are all household names and over the age of 23.
Also factor in the speculated amount of money spent on this experienced bunch (less than $32 million) and you understand why Wenger has a degree in Economics. His other degree - Mechanical Engineering can be seen in full display on the pitch, as his players are known for their 'PlayStation -type' football.
Too bad he didn't bring them in before the 'Manchester Massacre'. Also, Gary Cahill was a miss. He should have added $2 million more for the England international who is enjoying the finest form of his career.
STOKE - Does Tony Pulis have a thing for big strikers?
You bet! Adding Peter Crouch and Cameron Jerome to an already big pair of Kenwyne Jones and Mamady Sidibe is only stating the obvious. Want more proof? He was after the signing of Nick Bendner and David Ngog also in the off season.
In addition to his massive front line, he has also fortified the back line with Jonathan Woodgate and Matthew Upson (where was Arsenal on this deal?). He still needs creativity in the middle as Wilson Palacios will not be enough to address it.
With his big brutes, Tony has an eye on lifting the Europa Cup. If I were a betting man, I will put my money on his team.
QUEENS PARK RANGERS - Journey Men and Second Chancers!
QPR has brought in a mixed bunch of exciting players and misfits. Hopefully, the good eventually out weighs the bad for the ultimate expected outcome - Survival.
Jay Botheroyd, DJ Campbell (ex-Blackpool), Shaun Wright Phillips, Joey Barton (when he's not fighting) and Luke Young, can be considered good buys. Anton Ferdinand, Armand Traore and Kieron Dyer are a waste of money and space. I guess Neil Warnock is hoping their experience will count for something. Good luck with that thought. If you can't play, you can't play.
At least they were smart enough to get rid of Paschal Chimbonda. He's been sealing from the league for years, masking as a full back.
ASTON VILLA - Balanced Transfer
So they lost Ashley Young to Manchester United, but bought Charles Nzogbia. They lost Brad Friedel, but brought in Shay Given. Stewart Downing was sold to Liverpool, but they also got a 'still decent' Jermaine Jenas. Luke Young was sold to QPR, but they acquired Alan Hutton from Tottenham.
The only exit Alex McLeish did not replace was Reo-Coker, who left for Bolton. He doesn't count since he was released anyways.
Not bad at all.
BOLTON - Kept Cahill and brought in more fire power
Arsenal's loss for Gary Cahill is Bolton's gain. I know Owen Coyle desperately needed the Cahill money to buy before the transfer window closed. But who's to say he would have got the money anyways? Ulimately, it's a blessing he kept Gary Cahill and added David Ngog and Gael Kakuta to his strike force.
Tuncay Sanli, Tyrone Mears, Dedryck Boyata, Nigel Reo-Coker and Chris Eagles make up the rest of his acquisitions this Summer. Johan Elmander is probably the only player heading out the exit worth mentioning.
Well done, Owen.
TRANSFER LOSERS
1. EVERTON - Got rid of their entire strike force except Louis Saha. I guess no one wanted him due to frequent injuries. Also lost a gem in Mikel Arteta. They may be forced into the relegation battle at the end of the season. David Moyes will have to put a rabbit from the hat, which he has done before. Footy Bozz is watching this one closely
2. TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR - Harry Redknapp and Mr. Levy are flirting with danger. Adebayor, Brad Friedel and Scott Parker are not going to save them from becoming a middle of the road club after enjoying top 5 status in the last two years
3. WEST BROMWICH ALBION - Roy Hodgson's days are numbered. Acquiring Zoltan Gera from his old club (Fulham) will not save him. Remember when he did that with Paul Konchesky at Liverpool? What a disaster! Also, there's a reason why no one wants Ben Foster. He's a combination of occasional brilliance laced with catastrophic mistakes. Shane Long and Tchoyi is a good combo, but they not better than the Peter Odenwingie and Jerome Thomas combo that scored lots of goals last season.
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