Famous 5ive: Summer Transfers

Five summer transfers that have caught the eye...with the quite large caveats that this was written before Kenwyne Jones got injured at the weekend and before I’ve probably seen Manchester United stick 6 past Newcastle tonight

1. Jermaine Beckford (Leeds United to Everton)

There’s been much speculation that Beckford might struggle to make the step up to the Premier League, but in a way that misses the point. If he does, and maybe he will, what will Everton’s loss be? For everyone this really was the perfect transfer.

For Everton, their outlay is minimal. Beckford moved on a free, I doubt he’s on a colossal wage, and he’s a man who could be a wildcard at this level. Playing in non league just a few years ago, Beckford could end up having a similar impact to Ian Wright. You never know till someone takes a punt. For Leeds, despite losing their talisman, they decided to hold off accepting money for the player in January when they could have cashed in, reasoning that he was worth more to them in the team. Ultimately it’s a gamble that paid off; he scored the goal that helped clinch the clubs promotion.

For the player himself he gets a chance at the big time and at a club with a fantastic manager and great tradition. It’s a great move for English football in general to; all those players in non-league can see that one day they might make it to the big time as well. As I say, this is a transfer that could be win, win, win, all round. If he’s out of his depth and ends up back in the Championship has anything really been lost? What’s more, if his performances and goals in Leeds FA Cup run, scored against two of the teams who finished in the top 4 last season is anything to go by, this is definitely a gamble that could very well pay off.

2. Kenwyne Jones (Sunderland to Stoke City)

I think this maybe one pick that requires something of a justification, seeing at around a reported £8 million, there will probably be many out there suggesting Jones to be overpriced and more likely to want him on the list of ‘top of the flops’. However Jones could prove to be just the striker that Stoke have been looking for.

Ever since their return to the top flight, Stoke have been a solid, well organised and disciplined outfit, fearsome in their abilities to score from set pieces and dominate opponents not up for the physical battle. The trouble has been that they are yet to find a striker who has been able to score them any significant amount of goals. In a way this is as a result of the way they play, Stoke strikers aren’t expected to just loiter in the box, sniffing for chances, Tony Pulis requires more than this from them. The signing of Jones, who while sporadic in showing his ability, offers Stoke the complete centre forward, one that will fit perfectly within the clubs game plan.

Strong in the air, and with a good turn of pace, he seems to be able to marry all the best attributes that Stokes’ other forwards currently possess, bringing them together in one package. While he will have to improve his consistency significantly, the prospect for example of a Jones/Tuncay front two looks fairly useful.

3. Sol Campbell (Arsenal to Newcastle United)

A man who should be used to being pilloried and ridiculed, once again the knives have been out, but it’s hard to work out why exactly. For pretty much all his career, Campbell has been a top class centre back, yet his reputation seems to take a regular battering. Written off as mad and over the hill at Arsenal (that’s the first time round) he was nonetheless a largely impressive performer at Portsmouth, being a mainstay of the side that won the FA Cup. Once again cast out into the wilderness there was much giggling when he rejoined Arsenal last season and yet he was arguably one of their better defensive performers after he joined (admittedly that was playing alongside Mikael Silvestre).

And so it has gone again this summer. Is he slower, more easily turned than in previous years? Well yes, but he still brings a wealth of experience that could be a very useful weapon in Newcastle trying to avoid the drop. He will bring much needed know how to an (in)famously porous backline and could be a real calming influence at the heart of defence. Of course I should say that the marriage of Campbell and Newcastle, a seemingly soap opera player joining a soap opera club, could end in disaster but in a way that’s just conforming to the stereotypes. I’m sticking my neck out here, but I think the arrival of big Sol at St. James’ Park could be a very successful one.

4. Owen Garvan (Ipswich Town to Crystal Palace)

Obviously not high up on a lot of peoples list of high profile transfers, but (personal bias aside) this is one of the best pieces of business I can see. Leaving out the fact that he is a talented and skilled central midfield player, with a wide range of passing and fantastic vision, for Palace to have secured his services for just over £200,000 is a real bargain. After all, this is for a player who has over 160 games at Championship level under his belt, multiple Ireland u21 caps and yet is only, still, 22.

Garvan is the sort of midfield player that the club have been lacking since Ben Watson’s departure, someone to knit and hold the team together. Under Neil Warnock the clubs midfield was asked to be spiky and combative, but under that regime, the passing of the clubs players was left to go something to ruin. Garvan’s ability to put his foot on the ball, and dictate the tempo and pace of the game could be crucial this season in the club seeking to advance under George Burley’s new stewardship and the desire to be more progressive in their play.

5. Paddy Kenny (Sheffield United to Queens Park Rangers)

Every side seeking to be successful needs a good goalkeeper, and if QPR are seeking to gain promotion this season then the signing of Paddy Kenny could turn out to be crucial. Coming back into football after a year out of the game due to a failed drug test, Kenny clearly has it on his mind to make up for lost time. He has been reunited with former manager Neil Warnock and will offer a reassuring presence in goal for his new team that he brought in over 250 appearances for his old one. With quick reflexes and that personality that ‘keepers need to exert their control over their box, Kenny could be at the heart of his club finally maintaining a concerted race for promotion that they should’ve been doing for the last two years.