Top 3 Deadline Day Deals

The door was slammed shut on one of the most intriguing transfer windows in years at 11pm last night. The total amount spent by British clubs finished at £630m, blitzing the previous record of £500m set in 2008. Clubs up and down the UK were moving back and forth spending a fortune on taxis and chauffeurs and attempting to woo players from all over the globe.

Everton and Liverpool were the most productive Premier League clubs, and experienced deadline day master Harry Redknapp did some shrewd business bringing in Benoit Assou- Ekotto and Nico Krancjar which in my opinion are stunning pieces of business and will surely lead QPR back into the Premier League. Had these signings been made last year they may well have stayed up.

Manchester United provided the customary entertainment and had thousands glued to their TV screens waiting for them to make their major signing, which after an episode of Men In Black and a serious cock up in Madrid they managed to bring in Belgian Giant Marouane Fellaini for the giant sum of £27.5m

All in all it was an excellent day for the football fans and summed up the excitement of the English Premier League. Now the dust has settled around the grounds and the journalists have gone home which signings represent the best value and business acumen?

Here are my top 3…..

3) Gareth Barry – Manchester City to Everton (Loan)

Manchester City midfielder Barry moved to Everton in one of the last deals of the day on a season long loan. Reports are also suggesting that City are also subsidising 60% of his £120k per week wages which represents great business by Martinez. The experienced midfielder has found his opportunities limited at City since the arrival of Pellegrini and an array of new talent. Barry is highly regarded at City and the fans have all spoke of their delight that he has been able to secure first team football. Barry’s main aim must surely be to stay in contention of an England place and make it to the world cup in Brazil next year. All in all a fantastic signing by the toffees and which will add some stability to the midfield with Fellaini leaving for United.

2) Peter Odemwingie – West Brom to Cardiff City

This choice may ruffle a few feathers and bring back memories of a ridiculous attempt by Odemwingie to engineer a move to QPR in the last transfer window. That episode ensured that he would never play for the Baggies again and would give him a reputation similar to that of a mercenary.

His inability to engineer that move, rather than backfire has seen him land somewhat elegantly on his feet. Premier League newcomers Cardiff snapped up the Nigerian on a £2m deal that will see him remain in the Premier league and will guarantee first team football. It is easy to forget given his loyalty issues that he is a actually a very good striker while despite his age has the engine and desire of a 21 year old. He managed a not too shabby 30 gaols in 87 games.

He will provide Cardiff with some much needed pace up front and a proven goalscoring record. Nice work Malky!

1) Mesut Ozil – Real Madrid to Arsenal

Nothing much you can say to this other than WOW!!! What signing by Arsene who stuck to his word and brought in some world class talent. This has to go down as the biggest deadline day signing since Robinho left Real Madrid for Manchester City in 2008. At £42m the deal may seem pricey but given his age, experience and his ability this may turn out to be a bargain.

Ozil chipped in with in with 10 goals and 29 assists in 52 appearances for Real Madrid last season earning acclaim from all over Europe with his elegant attacking style. He will fit perfectly into an Arsenal team built around attacking intent and will surely help end the Arsenal silverware drought.

All in all a stunning piece of business especially as they had to beat off a better offer from French champions PSG. I expect big things and can’t wait to see him in action. I’m just glad his first game wont be against my team!

http://www.facebook.com/toggablogga – Please like my page guys for daily blogs

I’m also on Twitter @toggablogga1

Related articles

• Why Marouane Fellaini will be a good signing for United (futbolterritoryblog.wordpress.com)
• Record £630m for transfers: See List of all the beta beta transfers wen happen before dem close market (proudlymumu.wordpress.com)

Arsenal Make One Last Rooney Bid

Sources in London and France are reporting that Arsenal have made one last “Take it or leave it” bid for Manchester United Striker Wayne Rooney. Hot on the heels of signing Mesut Ozil, Arsenal are looking to strengthen further.

It is understood that Arsenal made a joint bid for Mesut Ozil and Karim Benzema with the latter electing to stay in Madrid and fight for his place. It now appears that Arsenal have funds remaining and are willing to offer £35m for the England International.

Manchester United have not accepted or turned down the offer as of yet but it is believed that they are exploring the possibility of another potential signing before responding to Arsenal, which has been seen as a sign of encouragement in their chase for the striker.

http://www.facebook.com/toggablogga – Please like my page for daily blogs and updates

Top 4 Most Over Rated Premier League Players This Season

Where there is ability there is inability. Where there is hype there is over hype. The English Premier League is the home to many world class footballers from all corners of the globe.

It is also littered with more garbage than a Mcdonalds’ car park. Here are toggablogga’s  5 most over rated and over paid footballers this season;

4) Samir Nasri – Manchester City

France International Nasri first appeared in the Premier League in 2008 joining Arsenal from boyhood club Marseille. While at Arsenal he produced some scintillating football and scored 18 goals in 86 games for the Gunners. He signed for Manchester City in 2011 for £24m and started off brightly notching up 4 assists on his debut against Tottenham in City’s 5-1 win in 2011. He was a member of the Premier League winning side in 2012 and chipped in with 6 goals in 48 appearances. However the season after the real Samir Nasri started to show itself. Languid and lazy performances topped off by jumping out of the way to allow Robin Van Persie to score a last minute free kick in the derby signalled the start of a poor period for Nasri. Roberto Mancini publicly slating him for his effort in training and influence in the dressing room also contributed to his problems. For all Nasri’s ability his bad attitude seems to be the attribute on which he conducts himself  which in all honesty appears to be part and parcel of French footballers. For this reason Nasri makes it onto the list. Must do better Samir!

3) Chris Smalling- Manchester United

23 year old Smalling started his career at Millwall. After 5 years in the Lions academy he was deemed surplus to requirements and released . He was picked up by Maidstone United where he went on to play twelve games scoring one goal. He signed for Middlesbrough from Maidestone originally but went on to cancel his contract as he was concerned about homesickness. In 2008 he went on to sign for Fulham and spent four years there before joining Manchester United in a £12m deal. It appears that his homesickness problems disappear when his salary hits five figures a week. I don’t have anything particularly bad to say about Smalling, i simply don’t see anything in his play. The fact that he is deemed the future of the England set up concerns me and confirms how much the quality of the national team has dropped.

Smalling has no pace, he doesn’t seem to be able to pass further than fifteen yards and he looks terrified on the ball. He possesses good height but stats show he fails to win the ball in 62% of his aerial encounters. I hope for his sake he can address his shortcomings or Middlesbrough may be signing him once more.

2) Jack Wilshere – Arsenal

I apologise to my Arsenal fan followers, but I simply don’t see it? Don’t get me wrong Wilshere Is OK, to make your Premier League debut at sixteen you must have something about you but the whole “New Gazza” hype is nonsense.

The first statistic I’ll throw at you is that in 79 games for Arsenal and Bolton he has managed just two goals. A poor return for an attacking midfielder in a team as attacking as Arsenal. In twenty seven international games from Under-16 to the senior team he has managed just one goal. His assist record is better however somebody dubbed “The new Gazza” needs to have an all round game.

Another reason for my scepticism is his ability to constantly be injured, which is probably the only attribute he shares with Gazza. Calf injuries, groin strains and bruised toes are synonymous with Wilshere and hinder is ability to gain any momentum.

In short, I’m far from impressed and the reliance on players of this calibre for England and for an institution like Arsenal concerns me.  “Hit the road jack!”

1) Tom Cleverley – Manchester United

London boy Tom Cleverley has to top the list of most over rated players. How on earth does this boy make it into the Manchester United team let alone the England team? What does he contribute? What does he do? I’ve never known a more pointless footballer be so revered by an England set up. He cannot run, he cannot pass and it appears the only attribute he shares with Paul Scholes, who he is being touted to replace is that he can’t tackle for toffee. His England affiliation can quite clearly can only be explained by the fact he wears a red shirt and plays for United.

After relatively successful loan spells at Watford, Leicester and Wigan, Cleverley has established himself as a regular at Manchester United which based on United’s midfield troubles isn’t too difficult. Opinions from the terraces are divided on Cleverley with most United fans I know not convinced with him. His statistics in the Championship within his loan spells are impressive (big fish in a small pond), but the step up to the Premier league seems to be a step to far. The fact he appears to be the first name on the England team sheet is more than a little worrying and again reflects how the quality of the England set up has dropped in recent years. In Fifty one appearances for United he has bagged four goals and chipped in with eight assists.

All in all, Tom Cleverley makes a better Championship footballer than a Premiership one and is living an extremely charmed life with the champions.

Related articles

• ‘It’s time for Jack Wilshere to deliver’ – an Arsenal fan’s Premier League season preview (standard.co.uk)
• Samir Nasri: ‘I’m more mature now’ (sportsmole.co.uk)
• Nasri: Critics hurt me last season (soccerway.com)

Arsenal Submit Offer For Mesut Ozil

 

Sources in Spain are confirming that Arsenal have made an offer for Real Madrid playmaker Mesut Ozil. The German International’s future at the Bernabeu has been subject to debate in recent weeks with the impending signing of Tottenhams Gareth Bale.

it is believed that Arsenal submitted an offer just under a week ago that was originally turned down because of the uncertainty around the Gareth Bale transfer. Real Madrid have now confirmed the signing of Gareth Bale this evening for a record €100m and are now prepared to sell in order to recoup some of the transfer fee. It is thought that now Bale has signed, Ozil and Argentinian Angel Di Maria are surplus to requirements.

There is no official word of how much Arsenal’s new bid is worth, however it is speculated that an offer of £18m would kick start advanced talks between the two clubs.

Ozil joined Real Madrid in 2010 from Bundesliga side Werder Bremen for €15m. Last season he made 51 appearances and scored 10 goals in all competitions.

Please like my Facebook page http://www.facebook.com/toggablogga

Thanks

Related articles

• Arsenal Join Race To Sign Real Madrid Midfielder Mesut Ozil (totalfootballmadness.com)

Salomon Kalou Keen On Arsenal

Lille midfielder Salomon Kalou is on the verge of signing for Arsenal according to reports in France. It is believed that Arsenal have been locked in talks since Wednesday to complete the deal before the transfer window shuts on Monday night.

Kalou is believed to be happy at Lille but is keen to return back to the English Premier League where he enjoyed so much success at Chelsea. While at Chelsea Kalou won one Premier League, four FA Cups, one League Cup and the UEFA Champions League.

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has made it public that he feels he needs to add reinforcements and the signing of Kalou would signal the start of a late surge into the transfer market. It is believed that an offer worth £2.6m offer has been accepted however personal terms have yet to be agreed.

Like my Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/toggablogga for daily blogs and news

Torres To Arsenal?

 

 

Word on the street is Arsenal have enquired about Fernando Torres. I think he would be a superb signing for the gunners and would find his top form again under the watchful eye of Wenger. A bid in the region of £6m would be enough for Chelsea to part with a striker they paid £50m for 2 years ago.

The Torres signing comes hot on the heels of Mathieu Flamini’s return to the club he began his career.

This has quite possibly got to go down as the worst signing of the season so far. I can’t even begin too imagine how embarrassed Arsenal fans are at the moment, especially as neighbours Tottenham Hotspur are taking over North London with some stellar signings. Christian Erikssen is a massive coup, the boy is a class act!

Signing Torres would go some way to softening the embarrassment to a degree but if I were a betting man I’d say Tottenham will finish higher than Arsenal this season by a long stretch!!

 

Related articles

• Fernando Torres: Five possible destinations (sportsmole.co.uk)
• Arsenal legend Adams shocked by Wenger’s lack of spending (tribalfootball.com)
• Mathieu Flamini rejoins Arsenal permanently and becomes Gunners’ second summer signing (mirror.co.uk)
• Report: Mathieu Flamini signs two-year Arsenal contract (sportsmole.co.uk)