THE BIG TRANSFER WINDOW WINNERS
StrumSolo > 02/09/2014, 17:48
Spurs and Sunderland probably could have done with a striker, and while Arsenal got theirs some cover at the back and in defensive midfield wouldn't have gone amiss. Generally though, no-one's staring down a September-January stretch with a weaker squad than the one they finished last season with. Pats on the back all round then, with special mentions to...
5. Swansea
Kind of a Southampton-Lite (less money involved) when it came to player turnover this summer. Allowing the likes of Vorm, Davies, Hernandez and Michu to leave didn't look too clever at the time, and while their early season form might have skewed perceptions a little too favourably, is anyone else a touch surprised at how strong their starting eleven is actually looking? Sigurdsson, Fabianski, Gomis, Fernandez, Montero and Carroll have all come in and added quality. Good summer.
4. Hull
Tradition's brilliant and everything, but after adding the likes of Ben Arfa, Ramirez, Ince and Hernandez to what was already a solid looking squad, the fans should let Assem Allam rename the club Hull Fluffy Koalas if he wants. They're going the right way about becoming an established Premier League side. Also, managed to get £12m for Shane Long. Scenes.
3. Man Utd
The foundations might not be quite as impressive as the roof, but with £150m spent even before Falcao rolled up on a ridiculous loan contract, you can't say it's not been some sort of success, particularly after years of chronic under-investment. Almost reminiscent of Real Madrid's Galactico model circa 2003, they didn't care much for defensive stability either.
2. Chelsea and Man City
Efficient, perhaps a little dull even. Not that they'll mind when they're occupying the top two places come the end of the season. Forward planning eh? Wenger take note.
1. Liverpool
Suarez, or Balotelli, Lambert, Markovic, Lallana, Can, Lovren, Manquillo and Moreno? That lot may have cost a fair bit more than £70m, but they wouldn't have got half of them were it not for the Uruguayan's exit. He got them to the Champions League last season, and his fee might well end up keeping them there.
Notable mentions for Southampton, QPR and maybe even Newcastle, provided any of their new strikers can get around to scoring.