Analysis of the Deadline Moves [Updated]

Here we go, the last day of Silly Season for 2010.  By the end of the day we'll know the complete list of who is staying and who is moving on.  I'll be keeping a running list here of the moves and my impression of their impact on your fantasy choices in the weeks and months to come.  I'll also update this post as new confirmations come in.



Alexander Hleb to Birmingham - He was an OK player at Arsenal but I'm not sure he's actually played in a competitive match since he left so one wonders how long it will take him to remember what to do with the spherical object that people are kicking towards him.  Once he does recall, my guess is that he'll get his shot at Birmingham but not necessarily be a guaranteed name in the starting XI.  I'm taking a "wait and see" approach here is what I'm getting at.  The move has some fantasy potential but we're hardly jumping for joy at the prospect here at blog headquarters.  Verdict: Wait and See.

Martin Jiranek to Birmingham - Experienced cover in the center of the defense for Johnson and Dann. A nice move for squad building but minimal fantasy impact unless one of the two starters is injured or suspended.  Verdict: Nothing to See Here.

Jean Beausejour to Birmingham - Birmingham have been looking to add some width as the window closes and in Beausejour will definitely add to his options.  Likely to play in similar space to James McFadden who has his moments of brilliance but is now old enough that it should be clear to all involved that he's never going to take a further step and be a consistently excellent player.  Beausejour played on the left side of attack in a 3-4-3 formation for Chile in the World Cup and will likely play with an attacking bent on the left side of midfield for Birmingham.  If he's listed as a midfielder then he may have some value if he can find his depth in the Premier League, if he's listed as a striker then we have a hard time picturing him making an impact.  Verdict: Wait and See.

Tom Cleverly to Wigan - It's been a good week at Wigan.  First the big win at White Hart Lane and now they get a promising attacking midfielder on loan from ManYoo for the rest of the season.  I don't know if Cleverly automatically goes into the starting line-up but he'll certainly have a chance to take a spot.  Based on the way Wigan lined-up against Spurs, I'd expect that the time he does get will come at the expense of James McCarthy in the attacking midfield role.  The other possibility is that McCarthy moves out to the right of midfield, Stam moves to the bench, and Cleverly plays in front of Thomas and Diame end up being the first choice holding midfield duo. Verdict: Waiting to Pounce on the Barn Door (but waiting to see if he starts and how he looks when the opposition isn't MLS opposition during pre-season friendly matches)


Franco di Santo to Wigan - For my money (well, actually for theirs), Wigan did very well in the transfer market this week.  In di Santo they got a young striker who we know isn't completely out of his depth in the Premier League based on his time at Rovers last season.  He was certainly not a star there but there is less risk in this signing than, say, Boselli who had never laced up a boot in any European league.  In the best case scenario di Santo comes of age with some playing time and realizes the potential that caused Chelsea to buy him in the first place.  That said, we'll have to see how much playing time di Santo gets but if Boselli keeps missing sitters like the one he missed last weekend then Franco should get a chance sooner rather than later.  Verdict: Good Cheap Option If Starting (and WIG have a good match-up)

Asamoah Gyan to Sunderland - I have to admit that this is a curious one for me.  I like the player and think he could well be a strong addition in the Premier League.  That said, isn't he a carbon copy of Darren Bent and only 2 years younger?  Can these two really form a productive partnership? Is Gyan just an expensive insurance policy in case Bent gets hurt? At that price you have to expect that the intent is to start them together but I'm dubious as to how that will work out.  I guess we'll see.  Verdict: Wait and See.

Eidur Gudjohnsen to Stoke - Hard to get too excited by Eidur at this point in his career. Like Jiranek at Birmingham, he represents solid squad-building in the real world but if things are going well he won't start very often.  From a fantasy standpoint, he's not someone you want to pick unless you know he's starting and the match-up is really strong. Verdict: Spot Starter At Best.

Jermaine Pennant to Stoke - The news isn't good for Charles N'Zogbia is it? The clubs who were most likely to pick him up have found other options on the wings.  It remains to be seen how his time abroad impacted Pennant.  Will he be as quick? Will he be more mature? Has he gained some "soccer intelligence" to go with his physical skills? Depending on the answers and his price, he may be one of the bigger fantasy factors to come out of the last week of transfer dealings.  We know he has it in him to be a very good fantasy player on a mid-table team. Verdict: Finger on Barn Door Button.

Michael Mancienne to Wolves - Great loan re-signing for Wolves.  At the very least, he's great depth at CB and as a holding midfielder.  This and the Cleverly move for Wigan are exactly how loans should work.  Young kid with talent meets clubs where he'll get a chance to play and see if he eventually has what it takes to break into the line-up of the bigger club that owns him.  Not a ton of fantasy value per se but if he gets a run of matches he's listed as a defender who will likely play in midfield and his price is right (4.3). Verdict: Solid Enabler if Starting.

Konchesky to Liverpool - Well, Liverpool definitely needed a left back and, well, Konch is one.  He's certainly not a difference-maker but he should be competent.  From a fantasy standpoint, he's priced at 8.18 and should go up at least slightly in value based on moving to a better team.  That said, Fulham have been reasonably stout at the back (getting clean sheets and the like) over the last two seasons and he still hasn't been an exceptional fantasy player.  My recommendation would be to think about him the same way as you think about someone like O'Shea - when the match-up is a good one and the probability for a clean sheet is high then he'll likely be in the 8 to 12 range for points.  If the match-up is better then neither his attacking nor defending stats are good enough to make him worth the price. Verdict: Potential Fantasy Choice by Match-up.

Rodrigo Moreno to Bolton - Apparently Owen Coyle really enjoyed last season's edition of the Real Madrid B team.  Loan signing Moreno joins permanent signing Marcos Alonso in having made his way from Real Madrid B to Bolton (Moreno joined Benfica as part of the Angel di Maria deal in-between and Benfica still hold his permanent registration).  It seems unlikely that Moreno will make an impact in the first half of the season as a 19 year old moving leagues but both ex-Madrid Bs are likely to play in the Carling Cup and if they show well might have an opportunity to impress for the first team in the back half of the year. Verdict: One For The Future (or at least later in the year).

Marc Wilson to Stoke - They were already a tough tackling team and the addition of young depth at CB/holding midfielder will only serve to enhance that reputation.  He's not a great fantasy addition but certainly worthwhile in the real world.  Verdict: Good for Stoke, Useless for Fantasy Managers.

DJ Campbell to Blackpool - He's not exactly a spring chicken at 28 years old but having another seasoned option who has at least played in the Premier League before (albeit to mixed results at best) can do nothing but help Blackpool's chances of staying up.  I don't expect he'll make much of a fantasy impact but stranger things have happened.  Verdict: Not Much to See Here (but that's better than nothing).

Matt Phillips to Blackpool - Able to play on both wings, Phillips is young (19 years old) and most likely a signing aimed at the possibility of playing again in the Championship next season more so than featuring in the Premier League this season.  Taking two steps up from League One to the Premier League is probably a bit much to ask of the kid.  Verdict: Nothing to See Here. 

Paul Sharner to West Brom - We aren't high on West Brom's squad overall but we know from his time at Wigan that Sharner can be a points machine on a bad team depending on how he is deployed.  Definitely worth a look at where he is lining up and whether his price has been reset since he wasn't on a roster at the beginning of the season.  Verdict: Could Be Interesting.