Often there can be blockbuster deals and big surprises - Robinho to City, Tevez & Mascherano to West Ham, and the Torres/Carroll/Suarez three way all spring to mind from recent deadline days. This year there was arguably a shortage of stunners, however there are many interesting deals which could go either way for club and player. In no particular order I've picked out five deadline day deals that for me stand out as amongst the most intriguing:
Acronym Heaven: SWP to QPR.
Shaun Wright-Phillips has taken what is undoubtedly a step down - City are going to win things this year and will be competing with the elite. For him personally however, this is no bad thing at all. Already a fringe player, forced ever closer to the periphery with the acquisition of Samir Nasri, little Sweep was never going to be much more than a Carling Cup player for City. There is a line in the piece of damn-near musical perfection 'Wish you were here' by Pink Floyd that asks: "Did you exchange a walk-on part in the war, for a lead role in a cage?" Arguably SWP has swapped a walk-on part in a cage for the lead role in a war, and fair play to him. This willingness to take a step down in search of playing time and competitive action is credible, he could easily have 'done a Bogarde'. If this move serves to reinvigorate Wright-Phillips and he can reclaim the form that he showed in both his early years and then his prodigal return to Manchester, then he is sure to regain the respect that was ever-diminishing. Moreover, if QPR can produce from their new winger the form that they know he is capable of, he will surely play a key role in what looks likely to be a season of struggle for the Hoops. This one is - form permitting - a no brainer.
Arsene found his chequebook: Mikel Arteta to Arsenal
Arteta has been at Everton since 2005, and for significant spells in the last 6 years has looked like a player who is easily capable of operating at a table topping/Champions League level. Now thrust into the big time spotlight, at perhaps the most difficult and volatile time in Arsenal's last 15 years, boy does he need to show it. It remains to be seen what shirt number Arteta will acquire, but whatever he wears, the fact is simple - it may say Arteta on your back, but it used to say Fabregas. The Everton playmaker needs to fill the creative void that Cesc has created in moving to Barcelona - a move which incidentally seems to be going ever so well for him to say the least - and the truth is that for the past season and a half, injuries and stuttering form have seen Arteta's light burn somewhat less brightly than it can do. A busy day for Arsenal, made practically mandatory after the 8-2 mauling, could well have a revitalising effect on the club who still have every chance of salvaging their season and getting back up there with the big boys. Arteta will have a week or so to understand his role and the onus will be on him to hit the ground running. This could possibly be a huge signing by Wenger and with a first choice eleven that looks something like: Shez, Sagna, Vermaelen, Mertesacker, Gibbs; Wilshere, Song, Arteta; Walcott, RVP, Gervinho - and Benayoun, Arshavin, Frimpong, Ramsey, Djourou, Koscielny all in reserve, the dark clouds over the Emirates just might start lifting.
Bonjour, Je m'appelle Joe: Joe Cole to Lille
I always love it when English players opt to move overseas, and for years I have been in despair about the scarcity with which it occurs. Never have I celebrated a Real Madrid goal more than England's David Beckham lofting a great ball over the Barca defence, for England's Michael Owen to chase down and slot home. It should be a source of pride for English football fans to have our players spread far and wide across the footballing globe, demonstrating to all what we can produce. In the last ten years however it has been all too rare. One year ago, many people predicted Joe Cole to Liverpool to turn out as one of the signings of the summer. From day one it never worked out for Joe, and the truth could well be that sometimes, certain players and clubs just do not work. Often it does not mean that the player has lost the ability to play football altogether, just that a change of scene is required. The decline may not be as terminal as feared. In choosing to go overseas to Ligue 1 Cole has made a fairly humble and tacit admission that things at Liverpool just weren't right, and now with a chance to rebuild he can salvage the remaining years of his career. One of the most technically gifted English players of his generation, Cole always seemed one of the best suited to a more skilled form of football, hopefully he will thrive in a new country, new culture, and new football club. With Euro 2012 looming as the incentive at the end of this season, Cole might just be making one last throw of the dice. Bonne Chance, Monsieur Cole.
Prove it, Big Mouth: Nicklas Bendtner to Sunderland
If Nicklas Bendtner had his own Facebook page, he would 'like' it. If Nicklas Bendtner operated his own pay TV channel, he'd subscribe to it. If Nicklas Bendtner was an ice cream, he'd lick...OK, you get the picture. Our man NB52 is not short on self confidence. Well my friend, now's the time to prove it. Likely to be given a regular starting slot alongside Asamoah Gyan, Bendtner can no longer hide and needs to start delivering on his claims. Steve Bruce is in no doubt and arguably has seen or produced the best out of Bendtner, whilst on loan at Birmingham, but the jury is out on what he can really achieve. Certainly the potential - and the stature - is huge, but as with his last minute fluff against Barcelona last season, he can often look somewhat 'unco' as they say over here. Now's your chance, Mr Ego, show us and Wenger what you can do.
If Owen'ly he wasn't broken: Owen Hargreaves to Man City
First things first, there is absolutely no risk here for City, as quite simply they don't care about finances. Obviously that is overstating the point, but the reality is no club in the world is as able to absorb a possible financial loss as the Abu Dhabi backed Sky Blues. The big risk with poor Hargreaves is that he is unable to recover from the devastating injury problems that have haunted him for the last three years, problems significant enough to prevent many clubs from offering him a deal. I love Owen Hargreaves - he was England's stand-out performer at the 2006 World Cup, heroic in his efforts against Portugal, and more than that he has always seemed the sort of bloke that you would go for a beer with. That barometer - the pint test - is one which far too many England internationals fail, but Hargreaves never did anything to make you question his character. He will know as well as anyone that he is unlikely to displace the excellent Nigel De Jong, but for me he is comfortably better than Gareth Barry even with Barry's improved form. City will be fighting on numerous fronts this year and will require solid back-up, which, if he is fit, there is no doubt he can provide. That 'if' should be in 50 point font though, this whole deal hinges on it. Fingers crossed for you Owen, and let us know if you fancy that pint.
As a final word, there is something else significant about the date today. Ten years ago today, Sven Goran Eriksson's England beat Germany 5-1 in Munich. What a day that was. Wait, did you just say ten years ago, no, that can't be right, why I remember it as if it was only...oh bloody hell, yep, it was ten years. A decade.
There's no avoiding it friends...I'm getting old.
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