Transfer Window: Losers

Well, part I (winners) is right below here, but I'd thought I'd throw the unfortunate half of the pile here. So without further ado, here are the transfer window losers of the period.

Fernando Torres

Arguments can be made over whether or not Chelsea are winners in this transfer window. Some would say they wildly overpaid, but if Abramovich doesn't care, why should we? Fair play isn't in effect yet and if he doesn't mind spending those prices, power to him. After all, you're only ripped off if you feel ripped off. I really think the real loser here is Torres. Granted, he just pocketed a cool 5mil pounds (players get about 10% of the fee) and is on a contract worth a total of 35mil pounds now, but still he threw so much away. Don't get me wrong, if Hodgson had stayed or if things looked just as dire as before, no one would hold ANYTHING against him in the summer. Look at Xabi Alonso. He had a falling out with Benitez, put in a great year and is still loved by Liverpool fans. Xabi could go into any bar in Merseyside (any red one anyways) and not pay for a pint all night. The way Torres did it, really the timing of it, shattered any love that he had built up at Anfield. And to top it off, he went to the Anti-Liverpool in Chelsea. Not to get too much on my high horse, but he went to a plastic club that is all about mercenaries and money. He will have to be the Torres of old, and a little more, for a few years for him to get anywhere close the same legend status he had at Liverpool. Another five years at Anfield and Fernando would have been the most popular boys name for Scousers. By putting in his request with 3 days left in the window, right as Liverpool finally seemed to be on the up (and had already bought Suarez by the way) was just a shady way to do it. If he had gone off in the summer before, no one would be this raw. He does get the money though, and credit to him there.

I will make a point about Chelsea as a whole though. David Luiz is a very good signing as he is an excellent defender and Torres is a great signing as he is a great striker. But sometimes, one really has to look at the team and see where they fit. David Luiz and John Terry are both significantly more effective when deployed on the left side of the center midfield pairing, and Terry's World Cup struggles have been partially attributed to him being deployed on the right half. One would hope this is circumventable but nothing is guaranteed, and we will see if they can work this out.

Torres presents another issue. Torres is an out-and-out center forward. He doesn't cross or go wide, and he doesn't drop back. He is a center forward and a damn good one. You know who else that describes? Didier Drogba. Both are absolutely terrific center forwards, and in full fitness and form, the two best in the world in my opinion (maybe Eto'o has a case as well). However, neither of them are particularly prone to going wide and crossing, and I am skeptical on how they will combine. Similarly, what to do with Anelka? He is a little more versatile, but he can't play both flanks and he's not a midfielder. He played well in the CAM type role at Sunderland but was badly exposed against Liverpool. And obviously Kalou is done as any significant role player unless something drastic changes. So while both players are great, who knows if the signings will really work out? I'm skeptical.

However, at least EPL fans can now have their very own Sideshow Bob just like the NBA with Anderson Varejao!

From the International Sideshow Bob Championships

Spain (and particularly Malaga)
Well, first off, the big 2, per usual, are exempt from this rule. Barca didn't lose anyone and got the highly coveted Affelay. And Real Madrid got Adebayor for free. So, as in all things, Barca and Real Madrid do brilliantly and life sucks for everyone else. Malaga, the biggest spenders, are still dead last and are still four points from safety. Everyone else spent...nothing. Seriously. Nothing. All these teams are broke as hell and none have anything available to spend. The league might have the best soccer in the world, but they definitely have the worst soccer financing.

Newcastle United

Poor Newcastle. Simply put, they are the victims of corporate raiders. The money from Andy Carroll will not be put into Newcastle's squad, it will go into Mike Ashley's bank account. I don't have anything to really say here. It just seems that anything goes well for Newcastle, Mike Ashley feels an undying need to shit on it. I just feel bad for the poor old Geordies that's all.