Posted by SmartArse
“Tottenham boss Harry Redknapp…made – and succeeded with – an audacious move for Rafael van der Vaart. Chelsea spent big, Manchester City, too and Manchester United spent more. All of Arsenal’s title rivals strengthened. Arsenal didn’t.”
So says the generally reliable John Cross of the Daily Mirror. Eyebrows raised anyone? He implies Tottenham are title contenders for a start.
But really its the strength of the doom and gloom that’s most perplexing. John is obviously in the camp that feels that Schwarzer would have made a massive difference to Arsenal. You can see what we think about that here, but the real thrust of his argument goes further than that.
He feels Arsenal had a bad transfer window, that the squad is weaker than last year and, crucially, that others have improved by comparison.
So we’ve decided to put the theory to the test by comparing the transfer windows of the clubs the Mirror man mentions, plus the Scousers for good measure. Who then in terms of what was needed, what was got and what’s still left to do had a good summer?
Arsenal:
In: Marouane Chamakh (Free), Laurent Koscielny (£8m), Sebastien Squillaci (£3m)
Out: Eduardo (£6m), Phillipe Senderos (free), William Gallas (free), Mikael Silvestre (free), Sol Campbell (free), Fran Merida (undisc.), Jay Simpson (1.2m)
What was needed:
- As the list of departures shows centre backs. Preferably lots of them.
- Eduardo’s departure, Van Persie’s chocolate knees/ankles/body and Bendtner’s shortcomings = new striker.
- World-class goalkeeper
What was delivered:
- Two centre backs, one smallish, inexperienced and good on the ball, one big and experienced. The big question – is the quartet of Vermaelen, Koscielny, Squillaci and Djourou better than Vermaelan, Gallas, Campbell, Sylvester? It’s undeniably deeper so far less panic if one of the starters is out injured. The sticking point is the importance of Gallas, an excellent player, but the removal of his apparently disruptive influence means I think this defence outstrips last year’s, especially when you remember that the improving Kieran Gibbs is now a serious option at left back.
- An excellent striker in Chamakh. Super in the air and, as this excellent post from Gingers For Limpar aptly demonstrates, perfect for our formation and playing style. RVPs earlier than usual inevitable injury made his arrival even more important. Essential addition.
- No goalkeeper. Mark Schwarzer would have been mere sticking plaster, but the long term issue has not been addressed.
Verdict: Barring the glaring exception, pretty good. The goalkeeper is no worse and everything else is better. Arsenal possess a second option in every position apart from the number 1. Observe two potential line-ups.
First choice: Almunia, Sagna, Vermaelen, Koscielny, Clichy, Song, Diaby, Fabregas, Arshavin, Walcott (right now anyway), Van Persie
Second choice: Fabianski, Eboue, Squillaci, Djourou, Gibbs, Denilson, Wilshere, Ramsey, Rosicky, Nasri, Chamakh – not to even mention Vela or Bendtner.
Three good signings; the rise of Wilshere and Gibbs; the return to form of Walcott and Rosicky – this squad is stronger than last year’s. Now we just need to keep it fit!
Chelsea:
In: Yossi Benayoun (5.5m), Ramires (£17m)
Out: Ballack (free), Joe Cole (free), Cavalho (£6m), Deco (free) and some other deadwood.
What was needed: What do you add to the side that won the double? More depth, more youth, but unlike most others nothing pressing.
What was delivered: Surprisingly little. Benayoun is another option, but it really is only a matter of opinion that splits him and Joe Cole – they are very similar in both style and quality.
The big money has been spent on Ramires. My first impression from the little that I’ve seen is that he’s a bit overrated, especially for that money. Part of the problem is that nobody seems to know his best position – I’ve seen him described as a holding player, box to box and a right midfielder. He may well dominate, but as the only genuine addition to the squad hardly an undeniable improvement.
Don’t underestimate the loss of Carvalho either. One of Chelsea’s best performers for the last few seasons – depending on who you ask the man who makes Terry look as good as he does. Mourinho is no mug and Carvalho has not be adequately replaced.
Verdict: An average summer. Ramires may well make a massive. impact, but for now there will be plenty of doubt, especially at the huge price tag. Chelsea’s saving grace of course, is that they were pretty damn good in the first place…
An immense first XI: Cech, Bosingwa, Ivanovic, Terry, Cole, Mikel, Essien, Lampard, Malouda, Anelka, Drogba
but as good a second XI? Hmmm: Hilario, Ferreira, Alex, Bruma?, Zhirkov, Ramires, Kakuta, Benayoun, Sturridge, Kalou. That’s only 10 players – I honestly can’t find another one I’ve heard of to stick in. Improvement has been moderate. Fortunately for them, they’re kinda good already.
Man United:
In: Javier Hernandez (£7m), Chris Smalling (£10m), Bebe (£7.4m)
Out: Ben Foster (£6m), Zoran Tosic (£8m!) – deadwood and loans
What was needed:
- Rio Ferdinand is rickety, thus cover at centre back. Cover too a little thin at both full back positions.
- Find successors to Giggs and Scholes
What was delivered: Cover for Rio was needed and it duly arrived in the shape of the promising Smalling. Strangely two strikers also arrived. Strange as United often play big fixtures with just one and already possess Rooney, Berbatov, Owen, Macheda and Wellbeck. Hernandez looks exciting, but I can’t see him getting huge playing time, especially as the aforementioned Berbatov has remembered he’s actually pretty good at football.
United still haven’t found long term replacements for Scholes and Giggs – Hargreaves is wrecked, Anderson almost wrecked himself and Carrick is hugely overrated. Its a problem that won’t be a problem until the old warhorses finally pack it in, but it is a concern that may haunt them in the bigger fixtures.
Verdict: Good, but not entirely where it was needed. As long as Scholes, and to a lesser extent Giggs, look as good as they do now all is well.
Like Chelsea all looks well because they were good already, but can’t necessarily be called a sterling transfer window.
First XI: VDS, O’Shea, Vidic, Ferdinand, Evra, Fletcher, Scholes, Valencia, Nani, Berbatov, Rooney
Second XI: Kuszczak, Rafael, J Evans, Smalling, Fabio, Carrick, Anderson, Giggs, Park, Hernandez, Owen
Man City
In: Fucking loads – Jerome Boateng (£10m), Yaya Toure (£25m), David Silva (£24m), Aleksandr Kolarov (£16m), Mario Balotelli (£24m), James Milner (approx £26m)
Out: Martin Petrov (free), Sylvinho + Benjani (released), Bojinov (£4.5m), Garrido (£2.5m), Ireland (undisc.) – Craig Bellamy notable loan departure to Cardiff
What was needed: Irrelevant really – more players, bigger names to raise City’s profile further.
What was delivered: A lot; some overpriced and overrated, but an awful lot of top drawer quality too. Most of the names on the in list above are approaching the sort of quality City require if they want to be considered genuine contenders.
Verdict: Good. City’s problem now isn’t a lack of quality. Their attacking line-up is formidable; Tevez, Balotelli, Adepaymore, Silva, Johnson, Milner and co are a match for almost anyone. Where they run into trouble is where to play them all.
They have the wingers to suggest a 4-3-3, but can you leave Balotelli on the bench? And why on earth is Yaya Toure currently playing the Cesc Fabregas role?
City will probably be too inconsistent to challenge for top honours this year, but top four is there for the taking.
Tottenham:
In: Sandro (£6m), William Gallas (free), Stipe Pletikosa (loan), Van Der Vaart (£8m)
Out: Nobody of note
What was needed: Three things 1) keep the current unit together 2) cover for their knackered centre-backs 3) more quality
What was delivered:
1)Nobody of note left, not even Robbie Keane. Not even David fucking Bentley. So Spurs achieved a basic minimum and kept a balanced squad together.
2)They got Billy Gallas – funny fall from grace for him, but a top move for Spurs. Harry Twitchface called it a no-brainer, and he’s right. Sadly Gallas moving to Tottenham won’t be that funny simply because he makes them a better team. Perfect cover just as captain Dawson buggered his knee at Wembley.
3)Until Van Der Vaart was suddenly added it would have been quiet. Did they need Van Der Vaart? An excellent player yet, but he may upset the balance at Spurs. Seems a little bit like they bought him because he was available, not because they wanted him. But a top move if they can make it work.
But you have to think they missed a trick. How much is a Champions League spot supposed to be worth? A lot, that’s for sure Spurs haven’t improved where they need to.
Verdict: Probably the equal to ours. Which means we’re still better – haha! Spurs needed more than a good transfer window to keep pace with City and didn’t get it. Tough ask, but that’s the harsh realities of the highest level. Under normal circumstances a good window, but this year, it’ll probably only be enough to see them to fifth.
Liverpool:
In: Jonjo Shelvey (£1.7m), Milan Jovanovic (free), Joe Cole (free), Danny Wilson (rising to £5m), Fabio Aurelio (re-signed), Christian Poulsen (£4.5m), Brad Jones (£2.3m), Raul Meireles (£10.5million), Paul Konchesky (undiscl)
Out: A few, but most notably – Yossi Benayoun (£5.5million to Chelsea), Albert Riera (£3.3m), Alberto Aquilani, Javier Mascherano (£18m)
What was needed: A bit of an overhaul. Less 7 out of 10 players and a far better squad
What was delivered: Actually, quite a few players. They added a left back (Konchesky), a left midfielder (Jovanovic), holding midfielder (Poulsen), creativity (Joe Cole) in addition to more depth.
Verdict: Maybe it’s just me, but most of the names above look like typical Liverpool signings. In other words, distinctly average. Joe Cole was a great addition, but less so when you lose Benayoun; Poulsen is no replacement for Mascherano; Konchesky has spent most of his career at Fulham, Charlton and West Ham; Jovanovic looks disappointing and Raul Meireles looked a half-decent player in a poor Portugal team, but £10 million? Do me a favour.
Liverpool are hampered by their ownership and their squad still looks stick-thin and pretty average. Maybe Gerrard, Torres and to a lesser extent Cole can drag them up but given the improvements at City and Spurs I doubt it.
Conclusion:
So, a rough rank order or transfer success:
City
Arsenal
Tottenham
Man United
Chelsea
Liverpool
To leave a rough rank order of squads as:
Chelsea
Man United
Arsenal
City
Tottenham
Liverpool
Which tells you that this summer has actually altered little. Chelsea and United still have the best squads, but improved less than the sides below them. So despite not signing a goalkeeper we’ve actually closed ground on the sides above us, because we’ve improved more.
City and Tottenham will provide competition, but the former will be inconsistent and the latter probably haven’t done enough. Spurs had a good window, they needed a great one.
Ignore John Cross (or at least, ignore this piece), abandon the doom and gloom. At worst a season of the same awaits, but it could go an awful lot better.