Every year, 3 teams make the gigantic leap from Championship football, to the Premiership, a league regarded by many as the best in the world. It is not unusual for at least two promoted teams to go straight back down, however, sides such as Stoke City who are now regarded as a solid, mid-table club, are testimony to the act that it is by no means an impossible task.
One of the biggest problems promoted teams face is acquiring Premier League standard players, at prices their usually miniscule budgets can afford. Transfer fees in the Championship rarely exceed £1million, even for the leagues top players, yet once they make the jump, sides are faced with the prospect of having to pay several million pounds for no more than average Premier League players.
However, this year clubs have a huge selection of quality, experienced Premier League players who are available for free! Usually in close season, high quality ‘free agents’ are fairly uncommon, however this season, there seems to be an abundance of them available in a variety of positions and the total lists exceeds 100. Recognizeable names on the ‘out of work’ list included John Carew, Seb Larsson, Benjani, Johan Elmander, Owen Hargreaves, Ex- Arsenal captain Patrick Viera and Ex-England defenders Matthew Upson and Jonathan Woodgate.
I realize that some of these players’ careers have been plagued by injuries in recent seasons and that the wages of others such as Viera and Upson may seem astronomical to promoted sides but it is clear that there is a pool of talent available for next to nothing.
Even acquiring just one of these players could prove the difference between Premier League survival and sinking back into the football league’s sub-divisions. We have often seen that teams that survive in the Premiership are teams with a core of experienced, top division players, who know how to deal with the likes of Nani, Bale and Drogba or who have the goalscoring know-how to find the net against the solid defence of Manchester United and Chelsea.
Yes, I know that we have also seen that there are some top players in the lower leagues, that can make the cut in the Premiership; Charlie Adam and DJ Campbell of Blackpool are two great examples of this. Although, if you look at the other end of the pitch, it is clear to see why they were relegated despite looking so dangerous in attack. Their defence were simply not experienced or organized enough to keep teams out for ninety minutes, or to hold out for a precious point in the last minutes against a fired up United. A player such as Viera or Upson would have organized the defence, inspired his team mates and stayed calm under pressure.
It seems to be a ‘no-brainer’ for new teams to, at least attempt to add to their ranks over the summer, especially when wages are the only expenditure involved. Surprisingly though, as of today Spurs, who under Harry Redknapp, a man famous for never resisting a bargain, look to be the only side have pounced, with their acquisition of veteran goalkeeper Brad Friedel. However, one thing I am sure of is that come midnight on August 31st many of these low cost talents that lie under the banner of ‘free agent,’ will not be ‘free,’ any longer.
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