Last week was a miserable failure for making picks as I didn’t go with the instinct or the gut. I knew Man City would be a let down – I said it. I knew Man U would struggle against Burnley – I said it. I said that I underrate Villa and overrate Hull.
Those are excuses for a poor showing.
Well guess what? Now I have a better excuse – after this transfer day deadline, I have no idea who signed with who.
Is Cleverly at Everton or Villa? Loan or sale?
What about Borini? He’s at Liverpool? I thought he started at Sunderland on loan from Liverpool?
Falcao is at Arsenal? Chelsea? What -Manchester United you say? That explains the loan – keep it inside the Financial Fair Play numbers.
So who won and who lost?
Best Signing
Ben Arfa – Hull getting a skilled player from Newcastle with something to prove. I expect this to be a successful pairing of player and club.
Best Risky Signing
Mario Balotelli – No denying his talent. Go big or go home. Literally. if he doesn’t pan out send him home.
Best I Didn’t See That Coming Signing
Danny Welbeck – I don’t and haven’t really rated Danny in a long time. When I first saw him I thought it was terrible that Man United were bringing through great talent (Cleverly made me realize it wasn’t always the case) because I saw a youngster who was fast, big, powerful, and a force and someone who would make the Reds better. Over the years he just never got better. Arsenal without Giroud needed a forward – and truth be told, with all the flair and guile they have, I think they just need a target man. He is no RVP, he is no Henry, but I remember when Ian Wright used to bang them in for fun.. maybe Danny, given the starting position will make a difference. He’s a better option than Podolski.
I expect him to be a positive impact and keep a healthy Giroud out of the starting team (he was already not starting). I expect him to bang in 20 goals this year.
Worst Signing
It’s going to be one of Daley Blind (I played for over-achieving boring boring Holland and LVG likes me), Falcao (who like Supergrass is In It for the Money), or Di Maria. It’s not that they are all bad players, far from it, it just seems that they’re trying to convince us that Manchester United is relevant by spending big and looking relevant. To be relevant you win on the pitch. Should have picked up a ore solid foundation at the back.
Best Under The Cover Of Night Signing
Benjamin Sambouli – Tottenham let in 3 against Liverpool this past week and it’s nice of me not to remind them how many they let in against the Reds last year. The manager knows his stuff and clearly he favours the high-press and would have looked specifically for a player to fit the system (unlike some other managers).
Best Signing That Didn’t Happen
Sami Khedira – recovering from a knee injury, recovering from a World Cup injury and now a torn thigh. Seems the man was born to be hurt!
Di Maria is a top signing but for United to pay 60m for him shows how inflated the fees are these days. He is the best player on that team. Falcao the mercenary has just declared that he wants to stay at United for years to come; that is if no club offers him more than United can afford to pay him. As susual, I hope all of United’s signings become flops and they finish in the bottom half of the table. Truth is however, this will not happen. They will hang on for 6th – an improvement of one place over last season.
Falcao wants to be paid (as do his handlers). Di Maria might be good but does he fit?
I agree that I want them to finish in the bottom half… well three, actually.