It was definitely an interesting start to the football league season, with hyped-up teams like Middlesbrough, Norwich and Southampton all falling to defeat. But back to business: in my last blog I looked at the transfer activity of the Premiership clubs from Arsenal to Manchester City. Now to complete the job.
City’s arch-rivals Manchester United have been building for the future. Mexican striker Javier Hernandez looks a great buy, with pace to burn and natural scoring ability (even with his face!). But Sir Alex Ferguson has already hinted that Hernandez is too similar a player to Wayne Rooney to play alongside him. But with Hernandez, Owen and Macheda all eager to step in, Rooney and Berbatov know they need to perform. Chris Smalling from Fulham is a handy defensive option, but also one for the future, as his performances for the Cottagers last season indicated he has a fair way to develop. And now the Portuguese striker known as Bebe has signed from Vitoria Setubal: from the Homeless World Cup to Old Trafford is some story, but I reckon we’re unlikely to see too much of him this year. Zoran Tosic, the Serbia winger, has departed; as has Ben Foster. A promising ‘keeper, it was a shame the way he imploded at times last year. Nothing wrong with letting him go, I think, but I’m still surprised no other ‘keeper has been signed – if van der Sar and Kuszczak were to pick up injuries (stranger things have happened), United would be in a pickle. All in all, Sir Alex is largely asking the same squad to win back the title. Is that enough?
Most football neutrals are delighted to see Newcastle back, for the fun and the drama they bring to the league. They dominated the Championship like few before them, but there is undoubtedly a step up, so transfer activity is essential. After the signings of Dan Gosling from Everton and James Perch from Nottingham Forest, two players to bring youthful energy and drive to that midfield, Newcastle secured Sol Campbell on a free transfer. This came just as it was revealed that centre-back Steven Taylor would miss several months of the season, undoubtedly a blow. Campbell’s best playing days might be passed, but he brings leadership and experience, be it on the pitch or in training. His (and the likes of Steve Harper, Kevin Nolan and Peter Lovenkrands’) Premiership nous might just prove vital. Newcastle’s only outgoings have been two released players, the veteran Nicky Butt and the much less experienced Fabrice Pancrate.
Stoke will be looking for another solid finish under the capable Tony Pulis. They don’t need to make wholesale changes, so haven’t. Midfielder Florent Cuvelier has arrived from Portsmouth on loan, plus goalkeeper Carlo Nash from Everton on a free. The big signing, though, is £8 million striker Kenwyne Jones from Sunderland. A formidable physical presence up front, he might just be perfectly suited to Stoke’s very direct style of play. Players on their way out include defender Andy Griffin and goalkeeper Steve Simonsen. It looks to me like Stoke have come out of the transfer window very well so far, so their fans are certainly entitled to optimism.
As for Sunderland, Steve Bruce looks like building a successful Premiership side. Darren Bent has been a wonderful signing for them, and if he can reproduce last season’s form, the Black Cats can look forward to an exciting year. One new addition is talented Paraguayan midfielder Cristian Riveros, who will want to carry his good World Cup form into the Premiership. There have been a number of defensive signings: goalkeeper Simon Mignolet, Argentine defender Marcos Angeleri from Estudiantes and three centre-backs already known to Premiership fans – Titus Bramble from Wigan and the loans of John Mensah (from Lyon) and Nedum Onuoha (from Manchester City) – undoubtedly pleasing captures for Bruce. Mensah was immense at times for Sunderland last year, and is another who had a good World Cup. On the way out has been striker Daryl Murphy (to Celtic on a free), but certainly the bigger loss is that of tough-tackling Lorik Cana, who signed for Galatasaray. Goalkeeper Marton Fulop, stuck behind Craig Gordon in the squad, has moved on to Ipswich. And now Kenwyne Jones has moved to Stoke, there will be even more pressure on Bent to get crucial goals. The loan signing of promising Danny Welbeck from Manchester United should soften the blow.
Tottenham have made just the one signing: Brazilian midfielder Sandro. They’ve kept all their key players from last year (Adel Taarabt has gone to QPR, where he was on loan last season), including Robbie Keane, returning from Celtic with renewed confidence after an excellent spell there. Spurs’ forward line is a match for pretty much anyone in the league, and in Luka Modric have a real gem of a playmaker. The defence is more of a concern, with Michael Dawson about the only experienced centre-back fit on a regular basis. With one eye firmly on European football (assuming they reach the group stages), will they be strong enough to hold off the challenges of the stronger Liverpool, Manchester City, even Everton?
West Bromwich Albion are back again. Keeping Graham Dorrans appeared their biggest priority this summer – they have, so far, resisted West Ham’s interest. New signings (a must for promoted sides) include defenders Gabriel Tamas from Auxerre and Pablo Ibanez from Atletico Madrid and versatile midfielder Steven Reid free from Blackburn. In the last few days they have also captured goalkeeper Boaz Myhill from Hull, a very useful addition, as is left-back Nicky Shorey from Aston Villa, who also adds much-needed Premier League experience. All looks good for West Brom, then? Actually, no. The losses of midfielders Borja Valero, Jonathan Greening and Robert Koren appears to leave the Baggies short in that area. The dependence on the admittedly capable pairing of Dorrans and Chris Brunt to supply their strikers, not to mention a questionable defence, may be their undoing.
West Ham have been relatively strife-free after Avram Grant’s appointment as manager. Robert Green, Matthew Upson and, most importantly, Scott Parker are still there, only the forward pair of Ilan and Franco leaving. Coming in are potentially very useful squad member. Midfielder Thomas Hitzlsperger has been on the fringes of the Germany squad and has Premiership experience with Aston Villa. £4 million signing Pablo Barrera is capable of adding spark to that midfield as he does for Mexico. Frederic Piquionne has joined from Lyon; performing relatively well in the Portsmouth horror-show last year, he could certainly pinch a few useful goals. Tal Ben-Haim also follows Grant from Portsmouth, and should provide much-needed defensive steel and experience. I think this West Ham team is certainly capable not only of survival but surprising a good few people too.
Wigan just about made it last year. This season could be even more difficult. Roberto Martinez has brought in striker Mauro Boselli from Estudiantes, creative midfielder James McArthur from Hamilton and defenders Antolin Alcaraz and Ronnie Stam from Club Brugge and FC Twente respectively. While Rodallega remains a threat up front and the likes of Diame and Figueroa are solid players, I wonder if the loss of Titus Bramble and the releases of Richard Kingson, Paul Scharner and Mario Melchiot might deprive Wigan of some of the grit gained by seasoned campaigners needed to survive.
Mick McCarthy has done well this transfer window. Defender Jelle Van Damme has been brought in, as well as Steven Mouyokolo from Hull. Also from Hull comes Stephen Hunt – the Irish midfielder has the skill and persistence to cause Premiership defences problems. Also in attack comes in Scottish centre-forward Steven Fletcher from Burnley. Impressive for the eventually-relegated Clarets, Fletcher will hope to form a potent partnership with Kevin Doyle. Striker Chris Iwelumo has gone to Burnley and midfielder Andrew Surman to Norwich, neither too much to worry about. Looking at the Wolves squad, I wouldn’t expect anything spectacular, but a relatively solid defence (Jody Craddock crucial in there) and the goals of Doyle (and Fletcher?) should keep Wolves safe from the drop.
Bring on the Premiership 2010-2011!!
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