Deadline Day Closes With Disappointment

I’ve always been excited by the prospect of players moving clubs and none more so than on transfer deadline day, although judging by how many times I’m disappointed by the lack of activity or a big name player moving, I’m not sure why.

For example, the closing of the January transfer was once again a massive disappointment this year and in future I believe it should be called the loan window, as January was dominated by players moving temporarily in order to gain first team football.

This is a shame, as for the entirety of the month I have been scouring gossip columns online excitedly reading up on possible transfers featuring world class players, but in the end I have to settle with Asmir Begovic’s transfer from Portsmouth to Stoke for £3.25 million.

If you’re unsure of who he is, he was Pompey’s reserve keeper. Hardly a transfer that sets football fans pants on fire with excitement.

The lack of activity almost seemed to suggest that the clubs had reached an agreement not to involve themselves in overpriced deals for players that will probably be half the price when summer rolls around.

Instead loans have become the deal of choice, as clubs look to tighten the purse strings.

Of course there is always an exception to the rule and once again it is Manchester United, who splashed out a reported £10m on Fulham’s young centre-back Chris Smalling.

Not all teams have the deep pockets of United though, as some clubs are £716m in the hole and are run by the Chuckle Brothers.

In amongst the dross of very average players moving between very average clubs there were still one or two diamonds (or at the very least cubic zirconium) in the rough.

Eidur Gudjohnsen’s return to the Premier League could provide Tottenham’s attack with a touch of class and a cool an experienced head, as they push for a Champions League place.

There weren’t too many surprise moves but Robbie Keane’s switch to Celtic was one of them and he should flourish in non-league football (affectionately named the Premier League in Scotland) just so long as he doesn’t have to face the mighty Kilmarnock every week.

My deal of the month though has to be Mido’s return to the Premier League with West Ham, after a spell with Egyptian side Zamelek, as he is reportedly being paid the relative pittance of £1,000 per week. This displays the guys desire to play in the league and I genuinely hope that Weight Watchers favourite weight-fluctuating footballer succeeds as a Hammer.

Most of all though, I hope that future transfer deadlines fulfil their promise and give fans something genuinely interesting to talk about.

Posted By Dan Mobbs - Wednesday February 3, 2010.
Tags: Transfer Window, Robbie Keane