We'll miss you Gylfi!

Well now that Sky Sports is calming down a bit from its day of “twist and turns” (sure), the transfer deadline is upon us and teams can no longer make any more permanent signings. The football league sides can still sign free agents and make short term loan signings, but any permanent signings in these hard economical times are all complete until January. When it comes to the Championship, teams are often on a strict budget and new signings are very common, but who were the biggest winners and losers in this window?

Winners:

Cardiff City:

Craig Bellamy. That is without a doubt THE Championship signing of the summer and arguably one of the top signings in English football all together. Put on top of that the fact they’ve kept hold of Peter Wittingham, who may be signing a new contract soon, and Michael Chopra who disappointed some fans by announcing his intention to leave the club. Regardless of that, Cardiff City have the strongest attack in the Championship and they can only build on their good start to the season which has seen them gain 10 points from four games. Jason Koumas has also returned for his second spell on loan at the Bluebirds along with Manchester United youngster Danny Drinkwater, Hull City’s Seyi Olofinjana and Wolves striker Andy Keogh. Under new ownership, the future looks a little brighter for the Welsh outfit, after last season’s protests against Peter Ridsdale.

Middlesbrough:

Or team SPL as many people are calling them now, ‘Boro made the big signing of Kris Boyd this summer and excellent Steve Gibson has certainly took a gamble and shown his support to Gordon Strachan. Brad Jones is out and to be honest I think ‘Boro got a good deal from Liverpool as I always thought that he was a terrible goal keeper, they may not have brought in a replacement yet but I would expect a loan signing or free transfer to come in soon. Nicky Bailey is another honourable mention as well as Matt Kilgallon, who has come on loan from local rivals Sunderland. You could argue that they’ve not exactly taken the league by storm in the first four games, but as Sir Bobby Robson once said “there’s no point in looking at the table until November”. The defeat to Barnsley was a bit of a shock, but I’ve been to Barnsley before and they always make it hard for the opposition, despite many labelling them for relegation this season I think they may stay up. The fact for ‘Boro is that the team will still be growing relationships with each other and the side has fantastic depth that will benefit them greatly through the winter.

Losers:

Hull City:

I was quite shocked to hear that Nigel Pearson was admitted to hospital after complaining about a tight chest, but luckily the Hull manager is set to return. Pearson had hoped that a number of top earners would move on and although a number were sent out on loan and a few released/sold, there still remains a lot of players damaging an already tricky financial situation at Hull. Most notably is Jimmy Bullard, who wasn’t played in pre-season in order to ensure that he would remain fit in the prospect of a sale or loan move. Robert Koren and Jay Simpson are decent signings, but the club still has a lot of top earners that they were hopeful to get rid of and if Jay Simpson doesn’t start smashing in the goals then the club could really struggle to bounce back at the first time of asking.

Reading:

If you’re a Reading fan you’ll probably know why your club was one of the big losers this transfer window and that reason is Gylfi Sigurdsson. It appears that my article regarding the 5 players to watch this season has been a kiss of death for these guys, particularly Nicky Maynard who is out for 4 months (which all but ended my bet for him to finish top goal scorer this season!). Sigurdsson has made the move to Germany for a reported £4.25m, as he will wear the colours of Hoffenheim next season. I know it’s quite a bit of money for a Championship side, but this guy got 21 goals for Reading last season and he is a midfielder. At only 20 years old he still has a lot of progress to make and it would seem that Reading have lost the main cog in their system. On deadline day the ageing Ian Harte and Zurab Khizanishvilli (took me a while to spell that one) have came in, and although they’ll provide much needed support in the full back positions, Reading have lost their top player and it’s a shame that one of the Championship’s top players has left this season.

Derby County:

The board at Derby should be ashamed. They’ve promised to fund the squad for every transfer window and rarely does there appear to be any sort of ambitious investment from them. The reason they are in the losers section is the fact that Derby County have one of the loyalist, if not THE loyalist, fan base in the country and if you were to put teams in the top league based on their fans then Derby would be up there every season. Luke Varney is off the wage bill, but the squad hasn’t exactly been strengthened to challenge in the league too much. Supporters of the Rams will be hopeful that loan signing Alberto Bueno comes good, but truth be told this is another transfer window of what could have been for Derby, the squad really does need quite a lot of fresh talent. As I write this Rob Hulse may also be on his way out to QPR and Derby fans will be disappointed to see him leave.

Can Fergie Complete The Challenge?

If you don’t know already, Darren Ferguson has took the vacant managerial position at Preston North End after Alan Irvine was sacked after a poor run of results. Ferguson will take over a Preston team who currently sit 16th in the Championship and eight points of a play-off position. The former Peterborough manager signed a three and a half years deal and faces the challenge of taking Preston to the next level after many of his predocesors failed at getting Preston Promoted. Fergusons challenge is far from easy and he will need to do the following if he wants to face his father in the league next year.

Gain Confidence

In Preston’s last eight games, they have only won one, as well as drawing two and lost five. This is no where near good enough for a team with Preston’s potential. If they keep this run of form going, it will only make Ferguson’s task harder. The players should be a little bit up beat after the 7-0 thrashing of Colchester on Saturday and Saturday’s fixture at home to Doncaster is winnable and I’m sure Ferguson would like nothing more than to get off to a winning start. If Preston are capable of beating Doncaster on Saturday it will see them rise to the same points tally as Doncaster and move them to just five points off the play-off’s.

Make Deepdale a fortress again

Last season Deepdale was a fortress and one of the main reasons why Preston made the play-off’s, If Preston are going to repeat that feat then they need to regain their great home form. This season Preston have only won four home games out of a possible eleven. If Ferguson can get the team playing and winning games at home again then the play off’s are a possibility.

Transfer Policy

Ideally, Preston would love to spend money on a few new players this transfer window, however that is unlikely to happen. Ferguson will be looking to sell some dead wood which is not good enough for a team aiming for the big time and replacing them with young enthusiastic players. I think its quite likely he’ll be giving his Dad a ring and will want to take a few of Manchester United’s youngster out on loan for the rest of the season to bolster his squad.

So after back to back promotions with Peterborough, Ferguson is about to take on a challenge that could make him a household name in the world of football management due to the failed attempts by many before him. If Ferguson can get Preston playing again and stop the amount of goals being coincided the play-off’s are a huge possibility for Ferguson and Preston who both have great potential.

Barnsley:

In: Roberto Colace (Newells Old Boys, Und),

Out: Istvan Ferenczi (Ferencvaros, Und)

Blackpool:

In: Matt Gilks (Norwich, Und), Adam Hammill (Liverpool, loan)

Burnley:

In: Diego Penny (Coronel Bolognesi, Und)

Crystal Palace:

In: Calvin Andrew (Luton Town, Und), Jose Fonte (Benfica, Und), Simon Thomas (Borehamwood, nominal)

 Derby County:

In: Rob Hulse (Sheffield Utd, £1.75M), Przemyslaw Kazmierczak (FC Porto, loan)

Doncaster:

In: Tomi Ameobi (Leeds United, nominal)

Ipswich Town:

In: Kevin Lisbie (Colchester, Und), Richard Wright (West Ham, Und)

Norwich:

In: Arturo Lupoli (Fiorentina, loan), David Bell (Luton Town, Und), Dejan Stefanovic (Fulham, Und), Elliot Omozvsi (Fulham, loan)

Out: Matt Gilks (Blackpool, Und)

Nottingham Forest:

In: Mickael Darnet (AS Cannes), Joe Garner (Carlise, £1.14M)

Sheffield United:

In: Darius Henderson (Watford, £ 2M + add ons)

Out: Luton Shelton (Valerenga)

Swansea City

In: Febian Brandy (Manchester United, loan)

Norwich City

In: Sammy Clingan (Nottingham Forest, free), Wes Hoolahan (Blackpool, undisclosed), Ryan Bertrand (Chelsea, loan)

Out: Mark Gilks (Blackpool, undisclosed), Andrew Cave-Brown (Leyton Orient, free) Darren Huckerby (San Jose Earthquakes)

Released: Juan Velasco,Matthew Halliday, Rossi Jarvis, Steven Arnold, Ryan Jarvis, Patrick Bexfield, Bally Smart

Nottingham Forest

In: Robert Earnshaw (Derby County, 2.65M), Andrew Cole (Sunderland, undisclosed), Guy Moussi (Angers, undisclosed)

Out: Kris Commons (Derby County, Free), Alan Pwer (Hartlepool United, free), Junior Agogo (Zamaleck Sporting Club, undisclosed), Grant Holt (Shrewbury Town, 170K), Sammy Clingan (Norwich City, free), Matt Lockwood (Colchester United, free), Felix Bastians (released)

Plymouth

In: Jason Puncheon (Barnet, 250K), Karl Duguid (Colchester United, undisclosed)

Out: Paul Connolly (Derby County, free), Paul Wotton (Southampton, free), Nadjim Abdou (Millwall, free)

Preston NE

In: None

Out: None

Queens Park Rangers

In: Peter Ramage (Newcastle United, free) Samuel Di Carmine (Fiorentina, loan), Radek Cerny (Slavia Prauge, free), Jorge Ledesema ( Genoa, loan)

Out: Stefan Bailey (Grays Athletic, free), Daniel Nardiello (Barnsley, end of loan)

Released: Istvan Ferenczi, Sam Togwell, Paul Reid, Andy Johnson, Kim Christensen

Reading

In: None

Out: Adam Bygrave (Weymouth, free), Joshua Webb (Weymouth, undisclosed), Ben Hamer (Brentford, loan), Glen Little (Portsmouth, undislcosed)

Released: John Oster, Aaron Brown, Ulises De La Cruz, Graham Stack, John Halls

Sheffield United

In: Greg Halford (Sunderland, loan), Sun Jihai (Manchester City, free)

Out: Lloyd Kerry (Chesterfield, free), Chris Lucketti (Huddersfield Town, free)

Released: Paul Gerrard, Dean Oliver, Geoff Horsfield, Stephen Hernandez, James Ashmore, Martin Donnelly

Sheffield Wednesday

In: James O’Connor (Burnely, free)

Out: None

Released: Ronnie Walworkd, Jason Bradley, Burton O’Briend, Rob Burch, Dave McClemments, James Kay

Southampton

In: Lee Holmes (Derby County, free), Chris Perry, Luton Town, free) Paul Wotton (Plymouth, free), Morgan Schneiderlin (Strasbourg, 1.2M), Tommy Forecast (Tottenham, undisclosed)

Out: Cedric Baseya (Lille, free)

Swansea City

In: Ashley Williams (Stockport County, 400K), Albert Serran (Espanyol, 80K), Gorka Pintado (Granada, undisclosed), Federico Bessone (Espanyol, free), Jordi Gomez (Espanyol, loan) Mark Gower (Southend United, free)

Out: Andy Robinson (Leeds United, free) Daryryl Duffy (Bristol Rovers, free), Kevin Austin (Chesterfield, free), Kevin Amankwaah (Swindon Town, free)

Watford

In: None

Out: Nathan Ellington (Derby County, free), Jordan Stewart (Derby County, free) Toumani Diagouraga (Stockport, free) Santiago Aloi (River Plate, end of loan)

Wolves

In: David Jones (Derby County, undisclosed), Sam Vokes (AFC Bournemouth, undisclosed), Richard Sterman (Leicester City, undisclosed)

Out: None

Released: Gary Breen, Keith Lowe Kevin O’Connor

Barnsley

In: Luke Steele (West Brom, Free), Ian Hume (Leicester City, 1.2M), Mounir El Haimour (NE Xamax, undisclosed), Darren Moore (Derby, Free)

Out: Paul Reid (Colchester, Free)

Birmingham City

In: Lee Carsley (Everton, Free), Kevin Phillips (West Brom, Free)

Out: Mikael Forssell (Hannover 96, free) Rafael Schmitz ( Lille, end of loan), Patrice Muamba ( Bolton, 5M), Asa Hall (released), Adam Ledzdins (Crewe, Free), David Howland (released), Daniel de Ridder (Wigan, Free), Stefan Milojevic (released) Mauro Zarate (Lazio, loan), Adam Legzdins (released)

Blackpool

In: Marlon Broomes ( Stoke City, Free), Joe Martin (Tottenham, undisclosed), Matt Gilks (Norwich City, undisclosed), Alex Babtiste (Mansfield Town, undisclosed)

Out: Wes Hoolaham (Norwich City, undisclosed) Kiegan Parker (Huddersfield Town, free), Michael Jackson (Shrewsbury Town, free) Marcus Bean (Brentford, free)

Released: Phil Marsh, John Hills, Matt Lawlor, Paul Tierney, Michael Flynn, Andy Welsh, Phil Doughty, Lewis Edge

Bristol City

In: Gavin Williams (Ipswich Town, undisclosed)

Out: Nick Carle (Crystal Palace, undisclosed), Alex Russell (Cheltenham Town, free)

Released: Tamas Vasko (Ujpest, end of loan) Darren Byfield, Martin Slocombe, Enoch Showunmi

Burnley

In: Martin Paterson (Scunthorpe United, 1M), Cristian Calvenes (Dundee United, Free), Kevin McDonald (500K, Dundee)

Out: James O’Connor (Sheffield Wednesday, free), John Spicer (Doncaster Rovers, free), Kyle Lafferty (Rangers, 3M) Andrew Cole (released), Jon Harley (released)

Cardiff City

In: Tom Heaton (Manchester United, loan) Darren Dennehy (Everton, free), Ross McCormack (Motherwell, Free) Mark Kennedy (Crystal Palace, Free)

Out: David Forde (Millwall, free), Warren Feeny (Dundee United, free), Aaron Ramsey (Arsenal, undisclosed), Michael Oakes (released), Trevor Sinclair (released), Matt Green (released) Matt Smith (released)

Charlton Athletic

In: Mark Hudson (Crystal Palace, free), Stuart Fleetwood (Forest Green, tribunal)

Out: James Walker (Southend United, free), Chris Powell (released), Patrick McCarthy (Crystal Palace, undisclosed), Osei Sankofa (Southend United, free)

Coventry City

In: Keiren Westwood (Carlisle United, free), Aron Gunnersson (AZ Alkmar, undisclosed)

Out: Colin Hawkins (Brighton &Hove Albion, free), Michael Hughes (released)

Crystal Palace

In: Patrick McCarthy (Charlton, undisclosed), Darryl Flahavan ( Southend United, free), Nick Carle (Bristol City, undisclosed), Johannes Ertl (Austria Vienna, undisclosed)

Out: Mark Hudson (Charlton, free), Ryan Hall (released), Jeff Hughes (Bristol Rovers, 100K), Ben Kudjodji (released), Lewwis Spence ( Wycome, free), Moses Swaibu (released), Mark Kennedy (Cardiff City, free), Aaron Fray (released)

Derby County

In: Kris Commons (Nottingham Forest, free) Liam Dickenson (Stockport County, 750K), Paul Connolly (Plymouth, free), Martin Albrechtsen (West Brom, free), Jordan Stewart (Watford, free) Nathan Ellington (Watford, free) Paul Gree (Doncaster Rovers, free) Steve Davies (Tranmere, tribunal)

Out: Robert Earnshaw (Nottingham Forest, 2.65M) Michael Johnson (Notts County, free), Kenny Miller (Rangers, 2M), Lee Holmes (Southampton, free), Craig Fagan (Hull City, 750K), David Jones (Wolves, undisclosed), Darren Moore (Barnsley, free) Jason Beardsley (Notts County, loan), Marc Edworthy (released), Ben Hinchliffe (released)

Doncaster Rovers

In: John Spicer (Burnley, free)

Out: Paul Green (Derby County, free), Graeme Lee (released), Stephen Roberts (Walsall, free), Matthew Noble (released), Mark McCammon (Gillingham, free)

Ipswich Town

In: Pim Balkestein (Heerenveen, undisclosed), Gareth McAuley (Leicester City, undisclosed)

Out: Gavin Williams ( Bristol City, undisclosed) Sylvain Legwinski (released), Fabian Wilnis (released), Sito (released)

While officially the transfer window isn’t open yet clubs are making signings that will become official on July 1st. It might be a free transfer of a player who is out of contract or a transfer involving money or just plain rumors involving players and clubs, the silly season has begun for Championship teams. The busiest of the Championship teams is recently relegated Derby County with 5 new players signed and 5 players released/sold. Derby are also in the hunt according to various rumors for at least 2 more players while letting more of the relegated squad leave Pride Park.

Derby County In:

Kris Commons (Nottingham Forest) Free

Paul Connonly (Plymouth Argyle) Bosman

Paul Green (Doncaster Rovers) Free

Jordan Stewart (Watford) Free

Nathan Ellington (Watford) Season Long Loan

Ruben Zadkovich (Free) Free

Derby County Out:

Robert Earnshaw-Nottingham Forest £2,650,000

Ben Hinchliffe – Released

Michael Johnson -to Notts County Free

Lee Holmes – Released

Marc Edworthy – Released

Championship Transfers In:

Guillaume Beuzelin (Hibernian) to Coventry City Free

Sam Vokes (AFC Bournmouth) to Wolves Undisclosed

Marc Hudson (Crystal Palace) to Charlton Athletic Free

Ashley Williams (Stockport County) to Swansea City £400,000

Luke Steele (West Brom) to Barnsley Free

Lee Carsley (Everton) to Birmingham City Free

Radek Cerney (Spurs) to QPR Free

Peter Ramage (Spurs) to QPR Free

 If you know of anymore that have been verified and not rumors let me know!