Dun, dun, dunnnnn.
As Mountain WAG said, the transfer season is really a soap opera with more twists and turns than a curly-Q straw. Sidenote: I used to love those straws as kid, but who didn’t? I feel like those straws should be something hipsters are into now. I will now commence to search the Portland hipster community for people drinking mate through a curly-Q straw. Carlton Cole could be flying to Liverpool in a helicopter with Ryan Babel going the other way to West Ham…to crib a storyline from last year. Or that could not be happening at all. Either way…keep your eyes and pageviews here to post all the rumors/muck that is fit to post in the comments.
The advent of twitter and social media has only amplified the transfer rumormill. Every Tom, Dick or The Fan’s Attic can just throw something out there and somebody may latch onto the rumor and it spread like a Arizona wildfire in September. However, there is a need to craft the rumor with careful precision. It can’t seem too outlandish and there has to be some hint of reasoning behind it.
So, Cristiano Ronaldo back to Manchester…but the other Manchester is not really credible. Or is it? Manchester City is just crazy enough to throw down 150 million pounds for a player and then sit Samir Nasri whilst Ronaldo takes up his position in central midfield.
Likely, most rumors will involve Arsenal today and bunch of French players, and Tottenham chasing after some striker. Wheeler dealer Harry Redknapp please don’t let us down. Manchester City, Manchester Unite and Liverpool all seem to be set in their respective signings, although they would not pass up a good deal if it came along. Chelsea may be ready to splash a big amount of cash too. They really need somebody that will engage Fernando Torres. Is that person Mata? Maybe…maybe not. But, Modric is surely going to be bid upon one more time.
Around the continent, expect Italian squads to sell a player or two of big name status in order to fund a move for another player. [Looks at Inter. Looks at Tevez. Looks at Sneijder. Looks at Manchester United.]
There will surely be many smaller moves around Europe that will not cause more than a ripple now, but could be vitally important this season or down the road.
But, don’t get your hopes up. Odds are your club won’t be signing that player you are desperately seeking, Susan. As a Liverpool fan, I spent the vast majority of transfer days under the Hicks and Gillett reign doing just that.
Now, Arsenal, go sign Clint Dempsey.
Everton signed a player! Some Argentine guy who led the the Apateura in goals last year. I forget his name. Er, wait….
If the rumored signings are true, I like the new back four of Sagna, Vermaelen, Mertesacker and Santos. If they can remain healthy it should bolster our D. Still not sure where the goals are going to come from, though.
Tony Adams had an interesting article yesterday where he suggested that Arsenal needs to go back to a 4-4-1-1 (circa Bergkamp/Henry) now that Cesc is gone. Kind of agree with him.
@WNF: Stracqualursi. Just call him Traca. That’s one of his nicknames.
Hoping for a striker to round out our decent silly season. The rumors are getting a bit crazy tho. Latest is hijacking Fulham’s bid for Bryan Ruiz.
Everton can be happy, we have our “big name” signing now
@BG is he any good?
@Brian: he played last year for relative minnows Tigre, but scored 11 goals in the Apertura (tied with Silva, who just went to Serie A) and 10 in the Clausura, including a hat-trick against Boca Juniors. That’s by far his best season ever, but he’s only 23.
@Brian: in case you have 9 1/2 mins to kill. He’s not just a “tap it in at the end of the play” striker. He’s got some passing skills too.
You bet I’m drinking this Kool Aid.
Adam Johnson rumored to Arsenal on loan.
@Ryan: Man, I’m pissed NUFC haven’t been after him. He’s a local lad. I think he’s supremely underrated.
Gooners: what can you tell me about Henri Lansbury? He did pretty well while on loan at Norwich last year, didn’t he?
Apparently Fulham and Aston Villa are both in for Alan Hutton. BIDDING WAR!
According to Guillem Balague, City turned down offers from Atletico Madrid, Sevilla, Malaga and Chelsea for Johnson.
Muppet news flash: Bendtner to NUFC as Stoke wrap up deal for Crouch? Sky picking up NUFC hijacking Fulham’s deal for Bryan Ruiz.
Arsenal’s Joel Campbell off to L’Orient on loan. I’m a big fan of his…
Hahahaha. SSN reporter to Balague, stationed in Spain, “Any truth to Spurs being in for Guiseppi Rossi?” Balague, after 5+ second pause, “No.”
@LE – Maybe the bidding will reach Torres levels.
Whoa, settle down there Everton, two players in one day?
Chad – Always going to be tough for him to break into the first team at Arsenal, but he’s solid and will do well for you.
@Ryan, only happens if Arteta goes to Arsenal,
And that deal is now off it appears
Arteta’s Arsenal arrival apparently anesthesized.
*anesthetized
Moyes’ transfer policy is pretty much, “This guy did okay in this league, and he’s cheap, so let’s give him a go.”
NUFC stealing Ruiz from Fulham? NUFC stealing Ruiz from Fulham.
RUIZ WAS SUPPOSED TO BE OURS. Dammit Harry. Get off your ass and do something.
GET IN THE CHOPPER, BRYAN!!!!
Crouchy’s getting his nachos at Stoke apparently… a 5Live reporter just watched him walk into Britannia Stadium. Also reporting SuperJew will be going to Emirates.
Apparently Arteta deal falling through because Arteta wanted 90K a week wages and Arsenal won’t pay it.
Danny Simpson may be off to Villa. Ryan Taylor + Davide Santon may have rendered him surplus.
Ronaldinho to Blackburn…finally.
@LE I’m more disappointed over the lack of Cahill deal, which seems to have fallen through.
TFA: My life is still so changed since you dropped the Dre/Eazy reference. I’m sorry to keep bringing it up but it was a moment of true connection.
Arteta’s Arsenal arrival apparently alive.
NUFC in talks to bring in Berbatov? YESSSSSSSS. Berba and Shola, rocking defenses to sleep.
Come on you stupid fucking Gunners!
@Chris D: Much obliged.
/don’t cry, dry your eye
There’s no way we could replace Cesc & Nasri man-for-man, but if we’re able to transfer in Arteta and loan in Super Jew, I’m gonna be pretty happy.
@TFA –
here comes your mother with those two little guys?
Nufc have completed business in this transfer window…No Ruiz, no Berbatov, no striker. Still, not a bad window for us.
@Arsenal fans, enjoy Arteta, unless he changes his form from the past year you guys are getting another Pienaar
Harry landed our top scorer last year in the last 25 minutes of the window. Anything can happen.
If anyone wants to feel better about themselves search Arteta or Kenwright on twitter
Arteta is the perfect signing for us. Small, technical, and more often broken than not.
Via soccernet, Liverpool just signed the only man who can start a fight in an empty room
Hooray! Hutton and Jenas! WOOOOOOOOOO!
-
/Peril?
@Keith, Leighton Baines says thanks for signing Hutton. He can’t wait to play you guys in 10 days
BREAKING: Tottenham to field a pile of unspent CL cash as its 11th man
And… it’s over?
Worst fucking transfer day ever.
I have been listening to 5Live all day… was Robbie Savage molested by an Arsenal kit as a child? He just declared that Arsenal had the worst day of all clubs because they didn’t sign a new “Fabregas”. Really, Robbie? The WORST day of all clubs?!?! Who did Robbie say had a good day? Spurs. Because they didn’t lose Modric.
So Arsenal lose 8-2 to Utd with a threadbare squad, 8 players out due to suspension/injury. They go out and get 5 players (all better than the ones on the field Sunday).
Spurs keep Modric… good luck with a player who doesn’t want to be on your team. I can tell you it’s worked great for the Arsenal lockerroom for the last two years. And Parker might be a great add for them, but to claim Arsenal would have been better to sign him than anyone else (as Savage did) is wrong. Song is a perfectly fine DM.
It remains to be seen whether Mertesacker, Santos, Arteta, Benayoun and Park will amount to a hill of beans. I know this. But they all have one thing in common, they are not a 17 yr old “prospect” from Sri Lanka or somesuch. At least Arsene went out and bought experienced players. I am pleased. Next year, follow Sir Alex’s lead and take care of this crap by mid-July.
@hock: “been listening to … Robbie Savage” Full stop, son. Deep breath. And, exhale. Robbie. Savage. You’re concerned why?
Rumour that ‘Arry turned down ££40M for Lil’ Luka
We got £10 million for Peter Crouch… Lolwut?
In:
Denis (Tigres) Loan
Frente(RM) Loan
Out:
Beckford (Leicester) 4 million
Yakubu (Blackburn) 6 million
Arteta (Arsenal) 10 million
Not completely sure if I love Everton’s moves or not, but it reduces our debt and prevents us from having to sell top players. Could have
Super Jew™ playing for Arsenal? Oh, the irony.
I believe Arsene just doubled his Premier League transfers in one day. And as Hock says, they’re not kids. Good for him.
/still should have bought Xabi Alonso when he had the chance.
Drenthe, and he’s a left sided player. Full back or winger usually, which is odd. I wonder if Moyes thought Baines would be going to.
10 mil for a 29 year old who’s broken down fairly severely in the last 2 years isn’t a bad bit of business. Since they didn’t actually buy anyone, they should take that and pay down the debt.
Also, lol Bellamy back at Liverpool. I’m a little disappointed QPR didn’t bring him in, because a Barton-Bellamy combo would be unstoppable.
I missed the Yak sale! That’s another good piece of business.
I may be the only one, but I actually liked what Beckford offered. Still, a further 10 mil for 20 mil total, if it goes to the banks, would be good. Right now we’re paying 4.5 mil a year just in interest payments; reducing that will be a big plus.
Actually, if they take all that cash and throw it at the debt, they’ll be down to 25 mil outstanding. That’s like a Fellaini sale and a year or two of actual profit after the interest payments go down from being paid off…that’d be a good thing, since the move to a real stadium got shot down 2 years ago.
Yak is apparently only a 1.5 million sale. So 15.5 that can rise to 17.5 depending on Arteta. If it all goes to the debt then we only owe 30 million.
Also Frente is out of contract at the end of the season so if he works out we can sign him
Drenthe, and I don’t want him. He’s a twat.
Anyways, most interesting transfer news no one’s really talking about: Citeh’s backup forwards are still Balotelli and Tevez. I found it highly interesting that neither of them moved…are they going to be happy playing in the League Cup?
Example: “soon fell out of favour with the club’s board of directors and coaching staff after arriving one week after the winter break ended, citing a “loss of confidence in Hércules management”" – the last team he was on loan with.
Why is he on loan? Because he walked out of practice with Madrid two years ago, then when Madrid signed Mourhino said he wouldn’t want to play for someone who’s style of football is so “negative”.
So, yeah, Drenthe’s a twat and this will probably all end badly.
Drenthe wasn’t getting paid iirc at Hercules. That’s why he didn’t show up.
http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story/_/id/858668?cc=5901
Brian: The one thing that I like about bringing in Hutton was that he played reasonably well under Eck at Gers and in the Scotland side. Also, there’s a thought that his PANTS-ness for Spurs might be down to ‘Arry’s tactical nous, especially as regards defense.
It’s not. Alan Hutton is just terrible.