Manchester United fans are still waiting for the club to sign Carlos Tevez, but to the frustration of all concerned that particular deal has yet to be concluded. The Red Devils were busy at the beginning of January when Fergie completed the double signing of Zoran Tosic and Adem Ljajic from Partizan Belgrade, but since that double swoop it has been a quiet month apart from James Chester going out on loan.
While United have been going about their business without the usual media frenzy where transfers are concerned, rivals Liverpool, Chelsea and Arsenal have been more active in the market. The most bizarre transfer deal of the whole season has to be that of Robbie Keane moving back to Spurs.
Keane is not everyone’s idea of a £20m striker, but he's proven Premier League quality, so what on earth is Benitez playing at? The Irishman scored seven goals for Liverpool and the sale of Keane effectively means that Benitez is now reduced to just two strikers in Kuyt and Torres. From the outside looking in, it seems that Liverpool's manager is indeed cracking up; it is an act of complete madness given that the Merseyside Reds are still competing in three competitions.
For their part Chelsea have just signed Ricardo Quaresma and you do wonder what has gone wrong in his short career after such a sparkling start alongside Ronaldo at Sporting Lisbon. If anyone could have gotten the best out of the former Barcelona winger then surely it was Jose Mourinho, but seemingly not.
Of the "big four" only Arsenal look to have significantly strengthened in the January window with the protracted transfer of Andre Arshavin, if the Gunners can get their top stars like Fabregas, Rosicky, Walcott and Eduardo off the treatment table and back into the first-team then I for one wouldn't be surprised to see them above Chelsea or even Liverpool come the end of the season.
It has been a good January for United because Arsenal aside, their closest rivals in the title race haven't made any significant signings - quite the reverse in the case of Liverpool.
As the song goes, I really do think Benetez is cracking up!!! As you say, letting a major asset go at this stage of the season while still fighting on three fronts can only be described as foolish...
ReplyDeleteBut one mans folly is another mans gain, as they say.
The Gooners have done a good bit of business getting their man late in the day. I must admit I have not seen much of him apart from the Euros, and it remains to be seen if he hits the ground running as far as the Premier League is concerned. If he does, he may well be the catalyst they need to kickstart their season.
As ive said before though, the best bit of business all season will be the signing of Tevez. Come on Fergie, sort it out!!!!!
Rafa is stark raving bonkers. He managed to lose £8 million in 6 months. Blobbie Keane did score 7 goals though so that is only £1,142,857.14p per goal, bargain!!
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