that's why I love football - transfer deadline day

Yesterday was one of the best transfer deadline days ever. Things started quietly with a few minor movements and then the news began to filter through that Man City had been sold to a wealthy Middle Eastern set up. Then the shocks began to come thick and fast with rumours that City had put in transfer bids for all sorts of players and most worrying was the news they were after Man Utd’s target Dimitri Berbatov. It soon became clear that things were serious and I spent a nervous few hours watching the blogs and waiting for news about Berbatov. Then the incredible happened; Man City had snatched Robinho from under Chelski’s nose by outbidding them with a Premiership transfer record! Finally the news filtered through, after reports of Berbatov being seen at Old Trafford despite Tottenham trying to sell him to City, Sir Alex had got his man and Berbatov would be pulling on the red shirt of Manchester Utd.

The implications of the day cannot be overstated. The emergence of Manchester City as a serious player in the Premiership will be a real threat to the big four. I think Liverpool and Arsenal fans should be worried as its clear they just haven’t got the finances to compete and one of them could be pushed out of a regular Champions League berth. That means less money and more difficulty in attracting top players looking for European football.

And just when things seemed to be settling down the news is coming through that Newcastle Utd have parted company with their manager Kevin Keegan. Sad news as I remember watching Keegan playing for Newcastle in the mid 1980s when I was at Durham Uni. Keegan demonstrated skill, passion and commitment for the game even on miserably wet Saturday afternoons and I witnessed the affection in which he was held by the fans. As a manager he always went with an attacking philosophy believing his side would score more than the opposition. O.K. so he had a run in with Sir Alex in the mid 90s, when Newcastle were vying for the title with Man Utd, but I can’t help feeling Newcastle and football in general are the poorer for not having Keegan involved. (update - seems to be alot of confusion over whether Keegan has actually gone).

Transfer deadline day – that’s why I love football.