Following on from yesterday’s look at players moving clubs on a regular basis, it is interesting to look at a couple of those moves retrospectively and ask whether they were the right decision. Darren Bent left a Sunderland side in January, a Sunderland side who have been very busy adding quality to their squad this summer. And Bent left to join Aston Villa, a side who have been shipping out their most high profile players.
Many accused Bent of moving purely for money as Sunderland were actually higher up the league table than Villa when he left, so if those accusations are true he may not care about the fire sale. But on paper right now, Sunderland are still a much stronger outfit than Villa. However financially. Randy Lerner has more than a few million from the exit of Downing and Young burning a hole in his pocket. And he will need to bring in flair to be able to create for Bent. Wigan‘s Charles Nzogbia is favourite to be the creative player that comes through the door, and for me, he could be rack up more assists than Young in a season and the whole thing would be great business.
Fernando Torres maybe felt it was time for a change and that he was playing for a Liverpool side who were struggling for form. With the latter stages of Rafa’s reign and the beginning of Kenny’s tenure, Liverpool had been a long time in the wilderness by their standards. But are Liverpool now on the verge of breaking back in to the top four, and even as some are saying, a real title threat?
Well Liverpool have been busy in the transfer market this summer, and Chelsea have hardly dipped their toe. Chelsea are already well settled, clearly have the quality and are already set up for another tilt at the Premier League title without having to add to their squad. Liverpool have signed unproven players in all honesty. Yes they are good players, but their quality at the highest level has not consistently been put under the microscope.
If it is all about money than as I said Bent, nor Torres would care if the clubs they left earlier this year got honours and they didn’t this season. I don’t believe that for a minute. However, what I do believe is that both players will feel like they have made the right decision come May. I expect Alex McLeish to add quality to his squad in the coming weeks to keep Bent and the fans happy. Liverpool are far from the finished article and I don’t think a top four spot is within their reach this season.
photo credit: Nigel Wilson
