Deadline madness
I happen to think that the transfer deadline is good thing. One positive is that you avoid players like Berbatov continually being linked with other clubs while still having to perform for the club they’re under contract with. Another positive is you get days of complete mayhem just before the transfer deadline expires. Last night, three massive transfers were finalised in the hour between 11 pm and midnight UK time:
- Dimitar Berbatov to Manchester United for about 31 million pounds
- Robinho to Manchester City for about 32 million pounds
- Marouane Fellaini to Everton for 15 million pounds (who? his wikipedia article is the most incomplete I’ve seen for a “major” player this side of Jack Wilshere)
The Berbatov transfer was expected and the Fellaini transfer – while surprising – was more surprising for the price/name recongition ratio than for the fact that the transfer actually took place. Other deals such as Hull picking up a striker, Spurs loaning a striker back from Man United, Newcastle buying a striker, Liverpool buying more rubbish etc made it a day filled with action. If you want an entertaining account of yesterday’s madness, check out the Guardian’s transfer day live blog.
The big story of the day was, of course, Manchester City.
City started the day by being sold by a Thai bastard who has sucked funds from his people to use them for his own gain to an Abu Dhabi investment group who has sucked funds from their people to use them for their own gain. The upside for City fans is that this Abu Dhabi group has more money than God (which really isn’t that impressive, since God, much like Father Christmas, doesn’t exist). They have money and they can actually spend them, too, without having to unfreeze them from some dodgy Swiss bank accounts.
Yesterday they set out to spend them in a big way. Their first attempt was a sneaky bid to steal Berbatov from their cross-city rivals. If anything, they managed to cause some trouble and probably forced United to pay an extra million pounds or two for him after Spurs accepted City’s 34 million pound bid. Next, they set out to ruin Chelsea’s pursuit of Robinho, and in the process trying to show that Abramovich is no longer the biggest arrogant money fish in the pond. This attempt was successful and Robinho will play along side his Brazilian compatriots Jo and Elano at the City of Manchester Stadium.
It was fun to follow City’s exploits yesterday, almost as fun as two years ago, when West Ham shocked the football world when they captured two of the world’s most exciting talents in Mascherano and Tevez. Hopefully for them, City will have more League success than West Ham had – Tevez finally figured out the Premier League and his magic saved their PL status when he had a couple of good months toward the end of that season. They sacked their manager and shipped off Mascherano to Liverpool before any of that happened, so what seemed like good news for West Ham supporters when it happened turned out to be a terrible disappointment.
Tags: Carlos Tevez, Dimitar Berbatov, Everton, Javier Mascherano, Manchester City, Manchester United, Marouane Fellaini, Robinho, Transfer day madness, West Ham United
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3. September, 2008 at 13:09
The upside for City fans is that this Abu Dhabi group has more money than God (which really isn’t that impressive, since God, much like Father Christmas, doesn’t exist).
This is a lie. It´s a well known fact that God is Gianfranco Zola, and he does exist. True, some of his exploits are fairytale-like and the stuff of legends, but I assure you, he does exist. I´ve seen him.
The Abu Dhabi group has more money than God, that´s true, though, as Zola was well paid, but his wage packet can´t compare to the Abu royals screwing their own people.
That Father Christmas doesn´t exist isn´t true either. His real name isn´t Kris Kringle, but Ken Bates. He´s nowhere near as nice as the popular myth Father Christmas, I hasten to add. He does exist, but he´s a real stingy bastard.