It is a month since the January transfer window closed, so delivering to Sky Sports News their unwelcome bi-annual double blow. The breathlessly anticipated deadline day typically failed to yield the promised excitement, and left only an impending five barren months in which the Premier League set are unable to trade.
It has long been accepted that the elite bracket of clubs face a number of barriers if they hold a desire to make a telling mid-season addition to their squads. Any major acquisition should by definition arrive with the ready ability to improve an already strong unit.
There are very few, if any, of the continent’s clubs who are ready to risk losing a star performer while embroiled in their various battles – unless that individual’s contract is nearing its conclusion thus necessitating a sale to receive any financial compensation for the player’s departure.
Such is the rarity of England’s pre-eminent outfits committing to a major new year outlay since the widely unpopular 2003 implementation of the window, that examples are readily recalled.
Manchester United’s January 2006 business brought Patrice Evra and Nemanja Vidic to Old Trafford for a combined fee of £12.5m. The French left-back endured a harrowing debut in the white-hot atmosphere of a derby match against Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium, being hauled off at half-time with his team trailing 2-0.
While not suffering the chastening start to his United career that was experienced by his fellow new arrival, Vidic’s introduction to the United fold was certainly tentative. Initial opinion on Sir Alex Ferguson’s defensive recruits suggested that the Scot might have lapsed in his judgement.
As it has transpired, both Evra and Vidic have been integral members of a fantastically successful Manchester United side during their seven years at the club, counting four domestic titles and a Champions League triumph among their harvest of silverware.
Sir Alex, speaking ahead of the recent window voiced his belief regarding the lack of value to be found in the winter market;
‘The January transfer market has never been the best market and that has proved itself over the years.
‘You get very few big transfers – all the big transfers are done in the summer’.
Nonetheless, the United manager did invest cannily this year in Crystal Palace’s precocious winger Wilfried Zaha with an eye cast firmly on the future.
In contrast, Chelsea’s infamous 2011 £50m purchase of the husk of Liverpool’s Fernando Torres was made with the present very much in mind. Two years on, and the Spanish forward remains a cast iron weight around the neck of the Stamford Bridge club, even during the season in which they can luxuriate in the title of ‘European Champions’.
The 2011 January spend among Premier League clubs hit £225m, a full £50m more than has been spent at the corresponding time in any other year, and perhaps proved a watershed as chairmen and managers alike tired of paying a seasonal premium.
Chelsea’s second capture that year was the Brazilian David Luiz for £25m. Liverpool responded immediately to Torres’ switch by paying a frankly astonishing £35m for Andy Carroll. More astute was the £22.8m invested in the controversial but undeniably fantastic Luis Suarez.
The 2011 madness was replaced the following year by caution, reflected in a £60m total spend – although 2013 has seen the shackles loosened again with £130m gambled, predominantly by clubs desperate not to be cut off from the riches coming the way of all 20 Premier League members by virtue of the organisation’s fresh astronomical worldwide television rights sale.
With the exception of Manchester City, who used the start of 2009 as their first chance to announce the club’s arrival as indubitably big spenders following the Abu Dhabi takeover at the Etihad by securing Nigel De Jong, Craig Bellamy, Shay Given, and Wayne Bridge for a total of £48m, January expenditure has largely become the preserve of those seeking to retain their elite status, or to boost a flagging campaign.
Indeed, the shrewd working of this hazardous market has become a key feature of the job requirement for a large proportion of the top-flight’s bosses and chief decision makers.
The value of savvy trading this term is best seen at Newcastle United. Alan Pardew’s team were gradually slipping towards an unexpected – and unacceptable – relegation battle, a situation which owner Mike Ashley was loathe to re-visit after the horror of the Geordies’ 2009 demotion.
With longer term income uppermost in his thoughts, Ashley backed his manager – and the proven expertise of his scouting network – with an approximate £20m to make six fresh additions (five of whom hail from France) to a beleaguered group. The instant effect has been immense.
A side which left the field amidst a toxic atmosphere in the wake of a home defeat against Reading, a result that extended a horrible sequence of results and left Newcastle sat vulnerably two points outside the bottom three only six weeks ago, has been transformed – an upturn that has been mirrored in attitudes off the field.
Three of the new Gallic faces started the Magpies’ next match at Aston Villa, an encounter which had suddenly taken on considerable gravity. A 2-1 win revitalised confidence, and subsequent thrilling home victories against Chelsea and Southampton, as well as the hurdling of a sizeable European hurdle in Metalist Kharkhiv, have Pardew talking of a top-10 finish and potential Europa League glory.
Sunday’s triumph over the Saints was achieved to the backdrop of a ‘France Day’ celebration at St James’ Park, held in honour of that country’s contingent at the club – and their marked contribution to bringing the feel-good factor back to Tyneside. Moussa Sissoko’s compelling early displays in particular have already furnished the Toon Army with a fresh hero to worship in the wake of Demba Ba’s decision to leave the club for Chelsea.