And yet another January transfer window is over. Admittedly, this year's was a bit more mental than ever. Over £215million was spent this year, a record for a January transfer window, and there were some massive deals done in terms of the fate of some clubs. So who were the big winners and losers of the January transfer window?
Well, the big deals all kind of merged and saw Chelsea emerge as the winners of a tussle that included Liverpool and Newcastle. Chelsea are the big winners for a simple reason; they bought one of the world's best strikers in Fernando Torres: ruthless on his day, consistent goalscorer at the highest level and almost with a point to prove at Stamford Bridge. In one foul swoop, Roman Abramovich has both allayed fears he was going to leave the club and put them back in the title race. Torres is the player to revive Chelsea, making the British transfer record £50 million fee worth it for the London club.
But it's Liverpool who have missed out. Losing your best player is a brutal blow, especially so late in the window and suddenly considering the quick turn of events, and I'm not sure they replaced him wisely. Out of Luis Suarez and Andy Carroll, who would you spend more on? An established international who featured at the last World Cup and attracted top interest in a stellar spell at Ajax, or a young English hopeful who has had a good six-months of Premier League football and one international cap. Well, the big cats at Anfield put out £22.5million for the international, and a whopping £35million for Carroll, which boggles the mind. Fair enough that they have got a 22-year-old striker with many good attributes, but a record for an English player is hardly justified after such a short time in the spotlight. It's a ridiculous sum, but I know one person who doesn't think so; Mike Ashley. The Newcastle chairman must be rubbing his hands, although I doubt the disillusioned Magpies fans will be as pleased.
Elsewhere, other clubs got decent deals out of the window. Moneybags Manchester City saw their strikeforce strengthened with the capture of Edin Dzeko, a proven goalscorer who will boost their chances of silverware this year. Aston Villa have rid themselves of any small relegation fears by signing Sunderland's Darren Bent in a controversial move and midfielder Jean Makoun, and they can have a relatively good season now. Blackburn have done okay; a couple of decent acquisitions and getting rid of bad boy El-Hadji Diouf is always a bonus. Fulham, Bolton Wanderers, Birmingham City and Stoke City are also stronger teams after January, while Sunderland have done okay since seeing Bent leave; Sulley Muntari and Stephane Sessegnon have softened the blow. But now onto the losers.
West Ham haven't strengthened enough for me. Robbie Keane has the potential to be one of the signings of the season, but the hard-working but lacking Gary O'Neil and the laughable Wayne Bridge are poor signings and will not save the Hammers. They are seriously lacking in midfield and defence; someone like Jamie O'Hara would have boosted them greatly. In the end, O'Hara has gone to Wolves, but their lack of transfer activity on other fronts means they are still facing a major battle to stay in the league. Newcastle will greatly miss Carroll, but the serious lack of investment seen at Arsenal, Manchester United, West Brom and Wigan Athletic could come back and haunt them before the end of the season. So that leaves just one team, who I consider to be the major winners of the January transfer window.
Blackpool have set the Premier League alight this year. Their attacking football has been brilliant to watch and they have got their rewards for that; five away wins for a newly-promoted club is a fine return. And beyond manager Ian Holloway, captain Charlie Adam is the reason they are doing so well. His passing has been extraordinary, his influence is irreplacable and he rightly attracted the interest of Manchester United, Liverpool and Tottenham this month. But the move never materialised; and that makes the Tangerines the real winners of this manic transfer window. They could have got up to £6million for Adam if they wanted to cash in, but compared to the £40million they would bank if they stay in the Premier League? It's a no-brainer. And fair play to Holloway and Karl Oyston for sticking to their guns, in a move that should see Blackpool stay up. And my, they deserve it.
And here's why he's so sought after, great dead-ball skills as he shows against Cardiff in last season's play-off final.
NWR
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