Deadline Mania!!

Well after what has been quite a busy summer window we have at last come to an end of the madness. Yesterday's deadline saw many players moving all across the globe, many of which were hugely unexpected.

So with so many new signings joining the old guard will we see a new member of the top 4 this season. Will we see a major club follow in the footsteps of clubs like Leeds and Nottingham Forrest who so dramatically fell from grace in the past. Will one of the newly promoted become a new focal point of our attentions as they please the neutrals by breaking the trend and joining Europe's elite for next seasons competitions. All will be revealed in the coming months but for now we will make do with our opinionated thoughts on the new look squads throughout England's Premier League.

One of the biggest surprises of yesterday's transfer activity was the signing of Mikel Arteta  by Arsenal. The Spanish midfielder moved to the club late last night and was one of four new men brought in by the increasingly pressurised Arsene Wenger yesterday. Can Wenger's new charges turn the fortunes of the club or is it too little too late for the Gunners. After back to back seasons of disappointment stretching for six years now and the sales of three of their top performers to rival clubs this summer,including two to big spending Man City, it's looking more and more like a battle for the top six this season instead of a true title challenge.

With the arrival of Man City now confirmed after a third place finish last season, and the revival of Liverpool under Kop Legend Kenny Dalglish, one must wonder if a shakeup at the top of the table is due. This believe was reinforced yesterday as the blue side of Manchester received another boost with the signing of former Man Utd enforcer Owen Hargreaves on a free transfer and due to his injury plagued recent years Hargreaves has been placed on a pay as you play contract. Not the major money signing we have come to expect from City but a huge statement of intent none-the-less.

Meanwhile there were mixed fortunes for the Anfield club yesterday as they saw the departure of Raul Meireles to Chelsea, in one of the most shocking deals of the day. At 10:30pm Meireles handed in transfer request to Liverpool, leaving him with just a half an hour to secure his move. However there was better news on the horizon as it had already been announced that Welsh hitman Craig Bellamy would return to Liverpool 4 years after parting ways with the club.
"I've grown up with Kenny Dalglish, now to be signed by him is a massive honour," he said.

Stoke City manager Tony Pulis will also have been thrilled with his deadline day acquisitions. Cameron Jerome joined from Birmingham. The Potters also clinched a club record 10 million pound deal for Tottenham striker Peter Crouch. Pulis had already completed the signing of Wilson Palacios from Spurs but waited until last night before announcing the deal.
Meanwhile, Sportswriters Player of the Year Scott Parker joined PFA Player of the Year Gareth Bale at White Heart Lane in a long rumoured deal.

Will Stoke live upto the reputation of its new stars and will Tottenham's Player of the year combination help them return to Champions League status, only time will tell. Though it will be an entertaining time all round.

As it will be at Lofus Road where Neil Warnock's side saw several additions to its squad yesterday including the exiting winger Shaun Wright-Phillips from Man City and his English compatriot Anton Ferdinand from Sunderland. Ever since that Tony Fernandes has taken over at QPR he has clearly signalled his intent for the club by opening the purse strings. Will QPR make it into Europe or will they simply crash and burn like many newly promoted sides tend to do.

Sunderland meanwhile continued its unexpected spree when they brought in Nicklas Bendtner on loan from Arsenal to join an increasingly formidable looking strikeforce. Whilst Yakubu moved from Everton to join Blackburn along with Birmingham defender Scott Dann. Not quite the marquee Ronnaldinho style signing that Rovers attempted in recent times but strong statements of intent none-the-less.

With little money to spend however Everton boss David Moyes brought in Royston Drenthe from Real Madrid and also Tigre striker Denis Stracqualursi both on loan deals. The ever consistent Merseyside club however will have to cope with the loss of Mikel Arteta, one of it's top performers of recent times.

Fulham survived an eleventh hour attempted highjacking of their bid to secure the services of FC Twente midfielder Bryan Ruiz. Newcastle had a helicopter prepped and waiting in London to bring the Costa Rican to St. James Park but Ruiz opted to stick with Craven Cottage and so joined Orlando Sa in the arrivals for Martin Jol.

Owen Coyle also saw his Bolton Wanderers sign a couple of new boys in the midst of the deadline day craziness, as Gael Kakuta moved on loan from Chelsea and David N'Gog signed from Liverpool. Coyle's masterplan seems to be inching its way together as he continues to bring in quality for very little money and with very little fuss.

Not to be outdone Alex McCleish brought two new men in, both from Tottenham, Alan Hutton and midfielder Jermaine Jenas. McCleish will be hoping his new look Aston Villa squad will propel him back to the forefront of British football management and awaken a sleeping giant at Villa Park. While Brendon Rodgers brought Daniel Situ to Swansea from Lens.

So with the bombardment of facts and names and prices finally over, we can all now as football fans sit back and enjoy as the excitement begins. Will champions Man Utd continue to leave Liverpool behind in the record books or can the young Villas Boas lead his aging Chelsea to glory. Will Arsenal survive the ever toughening battle to remain a top four club.

My gut says that, despite the shaky start to the season for several, we are in for one of the toughest title races in a very long time. A race which will by no means belittle that of the bottom of the table. With the so called relegation battling sides strengthening almost to the degree of a top seven side one must wonder just where the divide between top and bottom will be come the end of the season.