Premiership Transfer Window Review - Part One
The January transfer window gave Premiership clubs the opportunity to add new players or ship out those surplus to requirements. David Walker looks at who came and went and how these moves will impact on each team’s success. Arsenal The Gunners have invested in the next generation of young talent after a disastrous season. Vassiriki Diaby joined from Auxerre and Togo striker Manuel Adebayor arrived from Monaco but the most talked about transfer was the capture of Southampton’s 16 year old Theo Walcott. The transfer fee could rocket to £12 million. Quincy Owusu-Abeyie and Jeremie Aliadiere joined Spartak Moscow and Wolves respectively while David Bentley joined Blackburn permanently. Such change is vital to both Arsenal’s immediate and future success. They currently lie in sixth place but a massive 25 points behind leaders Chelsea. The bookmakers aren’t convinced and offer them at 12/1 in the “without Chelsea” market to win the Premiership. Aston Villa After a pre-season transfer investment with very little to show for it, there have been no more funds made available. The Villains, despite spending £11 million on new players in the summer, are only seven points clear of relegation. Kevin Phillips has scored just three goals, Milan Baros has netted five and defender Wilfred Bouma has been something of a £3.5 million misfit. Poor home and away form could see a bit of value in the 22/1 relegation odds. Birmingham City Struggling in the bottom three is never the best position to be in when trying to attract new players but with goals in short supply, two new attacking options arrived in January. Striker Chris Sutton arrived on a free transfer from Celtic after scoring 63 goals in 130 league appearances and Brentford’s DJ Campbell, 24, signed for £500,000. Campbell may be an unknown quantity for top flight defences but his two goal salvo which dumped Sunderland out of the FA Cup will send out a warning to Premiership managers. The bookmakers are not convinced Steve Bruce’s side are relegation fodder just yet, at 4/6 to stay up or 5/4 to go down. Blackburn Rovers Rovers may be out of both Cups but are making good progress in the league under manager Mark Hughes. Unbeaten in their last six matches and sitting in eighth position is marked improvement from last season’s flirt with relegation. Arsenal striker David Bentley made his loan move a permanent transfer and scored a hat-trick in the 4-3 win against Manchester United on February 1. Rovers also boosted their bid for a UEFA Cup place with the loan signing of Liverpool striker Florent Sinama Pongolle and Martin Olsson from Hogaborgs for a nominal fee. Bolton Wanderers There wasn’t much evidence of the usual wheeling and dealing at the Reebok Stadium with only Matt Jansen’s free transfer arrival from Blackburn. Despite losing five players to African Cup duty, manager Sam Allardyce has kept faith with his current squad. January has seen more interest in Big Sam’s future at the club following Sven Goran Eriksson’s decision to quit as England manager after the World Cup. He is one of the favourites to take over the role and can be backed at 5/1. Charlton Athletic After a slump in form which saw the Addicks lose seven out of 10 Premiership matches from the end of October to New Year’s Day results are beginning to improve and they are unbeaten in their last three league matches. Marcus Bent arrived with a bang following his £2.5 million transfer from Everton by scoring the equaliser in a 1-1 draw at Chelsea. Manager Alan Curbishley will hope he can ease the goalscoring burden off 11-goal Darren Bent who can be backed at 20/1 to finish the season as the Premiership’s top goalscorer. Chelsea With a 15 point lead at the top of the Premiership and having spent £53 million on new players this season so far, it is not a big surprise that Chelsea have been quiet in the transfer market. One new player arrived in the form of Portuguese winger Maniche, making a loan switch from Dynamo Moscow although defender Wayne Bridge has headed out of the Stamford Bridge exit door to join West London rivals Fulham on loan. The Blues are unbackable now as far as Premiership success is concerned with odds of 1/66 the most generous available. Frank Lampard is available at 12/1 to finish as the Premiership’s top goalscorer. Part two will look at the transfers impacting Everton, Fulham, Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United, Middlesbrough and Newcastle United. David Walker runs free bets and UK poker websites. A free email course: "Seven Days to Better Betting" is available at both of these websites. |
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