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The Silly Season: EPL MASTER LIST (as of 7/7)

Posted on July 7, 2009 2:07 pm

We’re in the thick of things as big names start to pop up just about everywhere. The giants seem to be waking up in the EPL while the newbies – Wolves, Birmingham – are signing like mad. Some shock shows with Owen to United and Turnbull, Sturridge to Chelsea. What else will happen?!! Who do you think has the signing of the window so far?

ARSENAL [+3]

7/1 Aaron Ramsey, though not rumored to be looking anywhere else, has been locked up on a long-term contract. Ramsey showed promise in his first full season with the Gunners but a lot more is expected from this kid. [+1]

6/30 Released Amaury Bischoff. Pretty sure no one will miss him. Seven others released. Simple reason – no guarantee of first-team soccer.

6/19 One of the earliest moves of the summer, promising centreback Thomas Vermaelen joined the Gunners after starring for Ajax since the day he turned 18. At 23 now, he starts for Belgium (over 20 caps) and has added versatility to resume (left-back, defensive mid). The fee is rumored to be around $16 million. Not quite a big name, but promising nevertheless. [+2]

ASTON VILLA

BIRMINGHAM CITY [+5]

7/7 It turns Cristian Benitez’s arrival from the FMF was postponed due to a knee injury discovered during the medical. After a renegotiation, he is now on his way – $12 million. It seems a bit steep but the overwhelming majority think he’s definitely worth it. At 23 years old, the striker has plenty of time to settle in and make sure his Mexican goalscoring proficiency followed him on the transatlantic flight to Birmingham. [+2]

6/25 It’s that thing where newly promoted EPL teams get their financial reward for moving up a peg and they spend it on guys that they have absolutely no clue as to whether or not they can play EPL ball. Not to mention, they spend way too much. With that said, is center-half Roger Johnson really worth almost $8 million? [+1]

6/24 Early to strike but ready to strike often. The Blues add another piece to their defensive puzzle which sadly no longer includes Oguchi Onyewu. Ecuadorian international Giovanny Espinoza is one of the most decorated players from the Ecuador, but will it translate? His previous time spent with Vitesse didn’t exactly go so well. [+0]

6/24 Nice move here. Manchester City’s keeper Joe Hart will spend another year on loan this time with the Blues. Good for both parties. [+2]

6/10 Ecuadorian striker Cristian Benitez looks to be on his way. No definite deal yet, just a lot of controversy involving his agent. Alex McLeish seems pretty positive it will get resolved by early July. The price tag? Almost $11 million! [+0]

BLACKBURN [+2]

6/30 Blackburn signed probably what will end up being another Maceo Rigters. Steven N’Zonzi, 20-year old French midfielder, just signed from Amiens SC, a team that were recently relegated from Ligue 2. (-1)

6/29 Lars Jacobsen: Danish international, full-back, injury prone. Moyes and Everton might win on this one but in a lot of the interviews with him, he is keen to prove them wrong. Then again, he joins on a free. Could provide cover or even fight for that starting right back job – especially afterlosing vet Andre Ooijer. (+1)

6/26 Marseille loaned out three quarters of their team last season and now the Rovers have snapped one up permanently. The French international Gael Givet will stay with Big Sam after impressing last season on loan. He looks to be a big part of the first team. [+2]

BOLTON [+2]

7/1 Bolton’s first move is one that has been brewing for some time. Midfield general Sean Davis has left Portsmouth to join Gary Megson. On a free for such a workhorse could help fill the giant hole that Kevin Nolan left upon exit. [+2]

BURNLEY [+3]

7/1 Is this the start of an EPL-wide Newcastle raid? Canadian defender David Edgar – only 22 – will join Burnley’s backline. Limited play in the EPL means he should largely be one for the future, but getting him on a free means well done by the Clarets. [+1]

6/30 Steven Fletcher: a club record $5 million for a guy that frankly, doesn’t have the track record of an absolutely dominant striker in the Scottish Premier League. It’s a gamble for so much money but this is a Scottish international, capable of scoring goals (43 in 156 games for Hibernian), and on the radar of Celtic. [+1]

6/30 Tyrone Mears: the former Derby Country defender and more recently on loan to Olympique Marseille ( a bit random?), Mears returns to the EPL with the charge of shoring up a Burnley defense guilty of giving up 60 goals (7th worst defense out of the 24-squad Championship) during their campaign for promotion. [+1]

CHELSEA [+4]

7/7 It’s a three year contract for the 25-year old Russian winger that looks like he’s 45. Yuri Zhirkov is not exactly the highest profile signing you can make especially with all the craziness Real Madrid and Manchester City have incited, but he is industrious, smart, dangerous, and expensive [$30 million]. Will it end up being worth it and could it spell the end for Florent Malouda? [+4]

7/4 Are the Blues opting for a younger approach? Preparing for the future? Or just know a decent deal when they see one? Young striker Daniel Sturridge opted out of a new deal with Manchester City – apparently because he couldn’t be guaranteed first-team time – for a deal with one of the deepest squads in the league, Chelsea. Go figure. Not sure I agree with his rationale here but he’s got some talent and he might be better coming off the bench than a Franco Di Santo. We’ll see though. They will have to pay around $7 million for Sturridge, though, considering he is under 24. [+0]

7/2 Ross Turnbull of Middlesbrough mediocrity to Chelsea 9th string goalkeeper. Snore. [+0]

EVERTON [+3]

7/7 Great for Everton, not particularly effective for Manchester City. This deal – another year long loan deal for Jo – works out for both clubs (despite the fact it’s a waste of transfer money that could have been spent somewhere else for City). The lanky striker had almost a goal every other game after he arrived in January 2009 and considering Louis Saha can’t be trusted to stay healthy for more than a week and Yakubu still making a comeback from injury, this is a good move. [+3]

7/6 Ventura County Fusion midfielder Anton Peterlin sealed a dream move to the Toffees and the whole USA soccer fan community is still somewhat stunned. Did he win a contest or something? Regardless, it’s a Santi-Goal like scenario that I hope plays out the best for the 22-year old American. [+0]

FULHAM

HULL CITY

LIVERPOOL [+4]

7/6 Yossi Benayoun signed a contract extension adding two more years to a deal that had two left on it. Benayoun at one point last season looked as if he was on his way out of Anfield but good form and some timely strikes led to his inclusion in the first team more often. He had 9 goals while registering 42 appearances for the Reds. At 29, I am surprised Liverpool wouldn’t opt for a younger prospect but his work ethic and ability to put together a clutch performance make him a valuable member of the current squad. [+1]

7/1 Say goodbye to left winger Sebastian Leto. Went on loan and didn’t want to come back. The Reds don’t need him. Former Swedish prospect Astrit Ajdarevic has also left permanently to join Leicester.

6/27 Probably the best right back in the league this past season but what most will look at and probably cringe is the price. Pompey made out like bandits on this one, grabbing over $25 million. It feels like a while since this much has been paid for a English player, let alone a defender. The Reds beat out Manchester City and former club Chelsea though. [+3]

MANCHESTER CITY [+0]

7/1 Some players that played some big roles in the old, pre-rich as hell City have been released. Four to be exact. Say goodbye to defender Danny Mills, forward Darius Vassell, former Liverpool mid Dietmas Hamann, and left back Michael Ball. Each should have no trouble finding another club.

MANCHESTER UNITED [+7]

7/7 With Edwin Van der Sar not really showing signs of slowing down, Ben Foster still has a little while to wait before becoming the number one at Old Trafford. It seems he doesn’t mind, securing a new four-year deal with the defending champs. [+1]

7/3 I thought he was headed to Hull City but in a crazy Sir Fergie move, Owen winds up with United. Hmm…ex-Liverpool player, ex-Newcastle, does that fly at Old Trafford? This move, upon thought – because at first glance I, like many, thought it was ridiculous, could wind up being ingenius. Will he match the departed soon-to-be departed Carlos Tevez? [+2]

7/3 United sent Rodrigo Possebon on season-long loan to Sporting Braga of Liga Sagres in Portugal. Should be a decent move for the youngster who was given his first EPL start last season on day one. [+0]

7/1 Cristiano Ronaldo is officially gone. Tracking additions here, but it certainly deserves a comment. United – understandably – has lost one of the best players (if not the best player) ever to done a United jersey. At least they got compensated for it. Can Valencia and others fill the gap?

6/30 The big dogs make their first move, nabbing a long-time transfer target in Wigan’s Antonio Valencia. The deal – apparently worth over $30 million – gives them a replacement, whether a comparable or not only time will tell, on the right side for Cristiano Ronaldo. They also made huge in-roads into securing their next wonderkid in Lyon’s Karim Benzema, who recently said he’s as good as gone from Stade de Gerland. Valencia is a start. A proven midfielder in the physical conditions of the EPL. [+4]

PORTSMOUTH [+0]

7/3 Pompey – after losing Sean Davis and Glen Johnson and potentially Peter Crouch – have at least ensured that resident senior citizen Linvoy Primus is back to see yet another full year of not playing happens. Primus was good in his prime but he’s got a little he can do to help the first team anymore. Apparently, Portsmouth knows that and that’s why they’re putting him in a youth coach role. [+0]

STOKE CITY

SUNDERLAND [+0]

6/27 Did the Black Cats lose out on securing Djibril Cisse to a permanent deal? Not really. And since he’s heading to Panathinaikos of Greece, I’d say he wasn’t really interested in being there. [+0]

TOTTENHAM

WEST HAM UNITED

WIGAN [+2]

7/2 Lose two Hondurans? Buy another! Hendry Thomas, a 24-year old strong defensive midfielder from Olimpia, has always given the US trouble in CONCACAF qualifiers and now, it’s on to Wigan. Is it me or should the Latics just buy Honduran giants, CD Olimpia? Maynor Figeroua, Wilson Palacios, and now Hendry Thomas. [+2]

WOLVES [+6]

7/5 Wolves are on a tear right now, snapping up anyone available. They even were able to persuade Marseille to let one of their players go permanently (about half their squad last season was on loan)! Ronald Zubar, 23-year old defender, will be a nice addition to a backline that needs much more fortification if it’s going to stop some the high-octane attacking set-ups in the EPL. [+1]

7/3 I wonder if Greg Halford is getting dizzy? I feel like he has been thrown from team to team over the years – in one league, relegated, up again, down again, so on and so forth. Halford now moves from Sunderland to Wolves who are intent on trying their damnedest to avoid relegation this season. They’re going to need a little more help than Greg Halford. [+0]

7/1 Southampton can’t seem to hold on to anyone considering that’s the life of a financially troubled club. Youngster Andrew Surman joins Wolverhampton’s EPL campaign and seen as a wanted prospect across the board, it’s a good grab. An English U-21 international too. [+2]

6/30 Looks like early on they have put their emphasis on the attack. They put their goal scoring hopes in the hands of Reading’s Kevin Doyle. Just like with Steven Fletcher from Burnley, it’s a club record move (reportedly $7-8 million) that just might not pay dividends. It’s an upgrade from what they have. [+1]

6/29 A big group responsible for helping Wolves to promotion recently signed new contracts. That group consists of Sylvan Ebanks-Blake, Jody Craddock, Kevin Foley, Karl Henry, and David Edwards. Keep together what works, shed the fat, and strengthen the weak points. Good tactic. [+2]