Old Trafford Quiet on Deadline Day

Quiet Day
By Chris O'Brien
September 3 2006

Transfer deadline day was a quiet one at Old Trafford with the club adding no new names to the playing staff. Liam Miller may have left the Thearte of Dreams to team up with Keano, but most of the discussion surrounds our lack of activity.

The transfer window has slammed shut and there was no transfer activity at Old Trafford on deadline day.

Sir Alex Ferguson has made only limited moves on the transfer market since the end of last season, splashing out £18.6million on Michael Carrick and bringing in West Brom goalkeeper Tomasz Kuszczak to the club on a loan basis.

Whilst our superb start to the Premiership season has resulted in much cause for optimism, fans may question why the club have decided to make only slight changes to the playing staff this summer.

Premiership champions Chelsea have spent in excess of £50million bringing in the likes of Andrei Shevchenko, John Obi Mikel, Khalid Boulahrouz and Ashley Cole, yet United opted against making many additions despite the high-profile departure of Ruud Van Nistelrooy to Real Madrid.

It was West Ham United who took the headlines on deadline day. The East London club have signed Argentinean duo Carlos Tevez and Javier Mascherano, both of whom were linked with moves to United. Reports are suggesting that the transfer fees have been paid for by Media Sports Investments, who will, in turn, enjoy 'control' of the South American pair and dictate when they leave Upton Park. This kind of thing really doesn't belong in football.

Meanwhile, as reported, Liam Miller has departed to join Roy Keane at Sunderland. The midfielder's departure does not come as a surprise following a very dissappointing two seasons with the club, though he will be hopeful he can make the grade in the North East. Keano has also added Graham Kavanagh, David Connolly, Stanislav Varga and Ross Wallace to his squad, but perhaps his most notable coup is the signing of United striker Dwight Yorke from Australian club FC Sydney.

Speaking of former club forwards, Andy Cole has finally seen sense and left Manchester City. The ex-England international, capped fifteen times for his country, has moved to Portsmouth in a deal worth £480,000. At the age of 34, Cole will be hoping that he can add to his amazing tally of 278 career goals at Fratton Park.

So, for United, it's a quiet day and we must see whether the current crop of players can mount a challenge for honours this term. Until January, at least.