January Transfer Deadline Day - A timeline of disastrous signings
Transfer deadline day has become a big event - with many people throwing parties and creating drinking games based on which catchphrases Jim White will use. The latest Sky Sports Advert which aims to drum up excitement outlines the pitfalls associated with last minute transfers. The advert (link below) highlights key signings and the time they signed on (or slightly after) the deadline. Below I'll analyze those mentioned and workout if they have been a success or a failure:
20:34 Blind
Signing for £13.8m Daley Blind has made a slow start at Manchester United. Signed as a left back he has played mostly as defensive midfielder. He has suffered a bit through injury but has made a reasonable start to his United career, but Blind has been criticized for his constant side passing and patient play and is seen as one of the reasons United have been so slow in attack this year.
Verdict: Too early to tell
20:46 Suarez
Signing for Liverpool from Ajax in January 2011 Suarez had a roller-coaster career at Liverpool; scoring goals for fun and courting controversy every season! Regardless of the off field controversy, Suarez has to be seen as a success, one of the best players to play in the EPL and Liverpool made at least £40m profit from his sale to Barcelona.
Verdict: Good signing
22:16 Benteke
Signing for Villa from Genk Benteke has scored 31 goals in 68 games - a great return for Villa. While he has struggled this season and has had injury problems, at £7m Benteke has been a steal, and will no doubt move on to one of the top four clubs for a much larger fee banking Villa a good profit. He better start scoring soon though as Villa are struggling for goals!
Verdict: Good signing
22:19 Kranjcar
Returning again as a last minute loan deal to QPR Kranjar has struggled to get a game. He has taken a wage cut to rejoin QPR but realistically has to be seen as a failure this time round.
Verdict: Bad signing
22:26 Sessegnon
At £6m Sessegnon has been a decent signing for West Brom who maintain their mid-table status. In terms of transfer deadline day deals, they haven't overpaid for this player.
Verdict: Good signing
22:29 Ozil
Signing for Arsenal from Real Madrid for over £40m the Ozil signing made big headlines; unfortunately he hasn't lived up to it on the pitch. Despite a good start from the World Cup Winner, Ozil only scored 7 goals in 40 games and has only played 7 games this season (he has suffered from injuries). Ultimately he was signed with the view of taking Arsenal to the next level but they haven't managed that, and he has been heavily criticized for some poor performances in big games.
Verdict: Bad signing
22:42 Dempsey
A fantastic player Fulham the American signed for Spurs for £6m in 2012 and only stayed at the club for a season before moving on to Seattle Sounders. Spurs to this day are still looking for a good striker!
Verdict: Bad signing
22:51 Lukaku
On a transfer deadline day loan deal to Everton Lukaku was a great success scoring 16 goals in 33 games. Surprisingly not given a chance at Chelsea Lukaku has now signed for Everton and is establishing himself as one of the best and most consistent strikers in the EPL.
Verdict: Good signing
22:56 Carroll
Signing for Liverpool for £35m on transfer deadline day Andy Carroll's move was disastrous, with only 6 goals in 2 years, ending in a loan deal and eventual permanent deal to West Ham.
Verdict: Bad Signing
22:56 Torres
A legend at Liverpool Torres £50m deadline day transfer to Chelsea was a disaster where he struggled for confidence and goals. Bought to replace Drogba it's ironic Torres is no longer at the club and Drogba has returned!
Verdict: Bad signing
23:06 Fellaini
Reunited with Moyes at United, Fellaini has struggled to command a place in the starting line up and recreate his form at Everton. At £27m he was a panic buy and must be seen as a failure. Moyes has left United and Fellaini will no doubt follow.
Verdict: Bad signing
23:15 Arteta
A £10m signing from Everton Arteta has played over 100 games for Arsenal and has captained the team. Although Arsenal have struggled for trophies (apart from 1 FA Cup) Arteta has been a good squad player. His first team opportunities are now somewhat limited.
Verdict: Good signing
00:02 Robinho
Robinho's £33m move to Man City from Real Madrid. Making just 41 appearances for the club this has to been seen as a bad move. 14 goals in that period isn't a bad return but he moved on to Milan for £15m - a huge loss for City.
Verdict: Bad signing
00:34 Berbatov
Signing for Man Utd in 2008 Berbatov was a mercurial player for Utd but he won 2 Premier League titles, as well as a league cup. 56 goals in 150 games was an average of 1 in 3 which was a good return for the Bulgarian.
Verdict: Good signing
00:50 Ben Arfa
On 2nd September 2014 Ben Arfa signed for Hull on a season long loan deal. However, by December Hatem Ben Arfa had left the country and was released from his Newcastle contract. He only played 8 games for Hull! In those games, Steve Bruce labelled the Frenchman lazy.
Verdict: Bad Signing
01:06 Welbeck
Signing from rivals Manchester United, Welbeck joined Arsenal for a fee of £16m. He has netted only 4 goals in 16 games for the club and has been outshone by other signing Alexis Sanchez. With a goal ratio of only 1 in 4 it's unlikely Welbeck will be the answer for Arsene Wenger, with the team currently not even in there usual 4th place.
Verdict: Bad Signing
01:30 Falcao
Radamel Falcao has scored goals for fun all his career, but his loan move to Manchester United has been troubled by injury and has seen him score only 3 goals and play only 13 times. With the injury concerns (he's played under 40 games in the last two years), it looks unlikely United will pay the reported £40m+ fee for the Columbian striker at the end of the year.
Verdict: Bad Signing
Out of these 16 transfer deadline day transfers, I'd call at least ten of them bad signings. I guess at the end of the day, offloading certain players at the end of the transfer window can be as important as buying new ones. I'd love to hear who you think are the best and worst transfer deadline day deals so please contribute in the comments section.
20:34 Blind
Signing for £13.8m Daley Blind has made a slow start at Manchester United. Signed as a left back he has played mostly as defensive midfielder. He has suffered a bit through injury but has made a reasonable start to his United career, but Blind has been criticized for his constant side passing and patient play and is seen as one of the reasons United have been so slow in attack this year.
Verdict: Too early to tell
20:46 Suarez
Signing for Liverpool from Ajax in January 2011 Suarez had a roller-coaster career at Liverpool; scoring goals for fun and courting controversy every season! Regardless of the off field controversy, Suarez has to be seen as a success, one of the best players to play in the EPL and Liverpool made at least £40m profit from his sale to Barcelona.
Verdict: Good signing
 |
| Picture from Independent website. |
22:16 Benteke
Signing for Villa from Genk Benteke has scored 31 goals in 68 games - a great return for Villa. While he has struggled this season and has had injury problems, at £7m Benteke has been a steal, and will no doubt move on to one of the top four clubs for a much larger fee banking Villa a good profit. He better start scoring soon though as Villa are struggling for goals!
Verdict: Good signing
22:19 Kranjcar
Returning again as a last minute loan deal to QPR Kranjar has struggled to get a game. He has taken a wage cut to rejoin QPR but realistically has to be seen as a failure this time round.
Verdict: Bad signing
22:26 Sessegnon
At £6m Sessegnon has been a decent signing for West Brom who maintain their mid-table status. In terms of transfer deadline day deals, they haven't overpaid for this player.
Verdict: Good signing
22:29 Ozil
Signing for Arsenal from Real Madrid for over £40m the Ozil signing made big headlines; unfortunately he hasn't lived up to it on the pitch. Despite a good start from the World Cup Winner, Ozil only scored 7 goals in 40 games and has only played 7 games this season (he has suffered from injuries). Ultimately he was signed with the view of taking Arsenal to the next level but they haven't managed that, and he has been heavily criticized for some poor performances in big games.
Verdict: Bad signing
 |
| Image from Daily Mail website |
22:42 Dempsey
A fantastic player Fulham the American signed for Spurs for £6m in 2012 and only stayed at the club for a season before moving on to Seattle Sounders. Spurs to this day are still looking for a good striker!
Verdict: Bad signing
22:51 Lukaku
On a transfer deadline day loan deal to Everton Lukaku was a great success scoring 16 goals in 33 games. Surprisingly not given a chance at Chelsea Lukaku has now signed for Everton and is establishing himself as one of the best and most consistent strikers in the EPL.
Verdict: Good signing
22:56 Carroll
Signing for Liverpool for £35m on transfer deadline day Andy Carroll's move was disastrous, with only 6 goals in 2 years, ending in a loan deal and eventual permanent deal to West Ham.
Verdict: Bad Signing
| Picture from thegaurdian.com |
22:56 Torres
A legend at Liverpool Torres £50m deadline day transfer to Chelsea was a disaster where he struggled for confidence and goals. Bought to replace Drogba it's ironic Torres is no longer at the club and Drogba has returned!
Verdict: Bad signing
 |
| Picture from Sky Sports. |
23:06 Fellaini
Reunited with Moyes at United, Fellaini has struggled to command a place in the starting line up and recreate his form at Everton. At £27m he was a panic buy and must be seen as a failure. Moyes has left United and Fellaini will no doubt follow.
Verdict: Bad signing
23:15 Arteta
A £10m signing from Everton Arteta has played over 100 games for Arsenal and has captained the team. Although Arsenal have struggled for trophies (apart from 1 FA Cup) Arteta has been a good squad player. His first team opportunities are now somewhat limited.
Verdict: Good signing
00:02 Robinho
Robinho's £33m move to Man City from Real Madrid. Making just 41 appearances for the club this has to been seen as a bad move. 14 goals in that period isn't a bad return but he moved on to Milan for £15m - a huge loss for City.
Verdict: Bad signing
 |
| Picture from the telegraph |
00:34 Berbatov
Signing for Man Utd in 2008 Berbatov was a mercurial player for Utd but he won 2 Premier League titles, as well as a league cup. 56 goals in 150 games was an average of 1 in 3 which was a good return for the Bulgarian.
Verdict: Good signing
00:50 Ben Arfa
On 2nd September 2014 Ben Arfa signed for Hull on a season long loan deal. However, by December Hatem Ben Arfa had left the country and was released from his Newcastle contract. He only played 8 games for Hull! In those games, Steve Bruce labelled the Frenchman lazy.
Verdict: Bad Signing
01:06 Welbeck
Signing from rivals Manchester United, Welbeck joined Arsenal for a fee of £16m. He has netted only 4 goals in 16 games for the club and has been outshone by other signing Alexis Sanchez. With a goal ratio of only 1 in 4 it's unlikely Welbeck will be the answer for Arsene Wenger, with the team currently not even in there usual 4th place.
Verdict: Bad Signing
 |
| Picture from Daily Mail |
01:30 Falcao
Radamel Falcao has scored goals for fun all his career, but his loan move to Manchester United has been troubled by injury and has seen him score only 3 goals and play only 13 times. With the injury concerns (he's played under 40 games in the last two years), it looks unlikely United will pay the reported £40m+ fee for the Columbian striker at the end of the year.
Verdict: Bad Signing
 |
| Picture from the Guardian. |
Out of these 16 transfer deadline day transfers, I'd call at least ten of them bad signings. I guess at the end of the day, offloading certain players at the end of the transfer window can be as important as buying new ones. I'd love to hear who you think are the best and worst transfer deadline day deals so please contribute in the comments section.
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