Ledley King's Selection Surely Doesn't Fit With Capello's Long Term Strategy

Fabio Capello has made the biggest shock of his tenure as England manager by selecting Tottenham Hotsphur captain Ledley King in his latest squad for the friendly against Slovakia and World Cup Qualifier against Ukraine.

King has consistently been hampered by injury problems, mainly to a troublesome knee has which has time and time again ruled King out of crucial league and cup games while at Spurs, but King has some how overcome all those troubles to take his place in this current England squad.

King has had his fair share of International experience, replacing an injured John Terry in the side as England were overcome 2-1 in there opening group game against France in Euro 2004

His performance in that game and in the previous season had established King as one of the countries top defenders ahead of the likes of Jonathan Woodgate and Matthew Upson.

However a crucial injury came in April of 2006 as the centre-back fractured his foot, a setback that kept him out of that years World Cup tournament.

From then on injuries have disrupted the defenders progress, which has seen him slip down the pecking order for the international team.

The last two seasons have seen King in and out of the Tottenham starting eleven, playing barely half of the sides games every season, climaxing in the player being rested for the remainder of last season to rest the persistent injury.

King's plight was confirmed soon after the appointment of Harry Redknapp, when the new manager admitted King couldn't last the pace of an entire Premiership season.

"There's no cure. There's no cartilage, nothing to operate on. It's just bone on bone. So it's just a question of managing it. It swells up after games and it normally takes seven days to recover. He rarely trains, he mostly just goes to the gym to keep himself ticking over. But not running or anything like that. But even if he only plays 20 games a season, he's worth having because he's so good we have a much better chance of winning."

And now after continuous injury problems, King has found himself included in Fabio Capello's most recent England squad having played less than half of his teams games this season.

The inclusion has raised eyebrows across the football world non-more so than King's manager Redknapp, who would have preferred the Spurs skipper could be left to focus on his club career.

Such views that have not been followed by Capello, who has shown that Premiership managers will not sway his personal selection, unlike his predecessors.

The defenders inclusion also creates the question of whether the Spurs player could contend with an international tournament.

With so many games in such a short space of time, King in his current state would surely only be able to manage one if any in such a short space of time.

And with the selection of Ben Foster in one of the three goalkeeping positions Capello is clearly looking to the future, which surely King isn't part of if his injury problems continue, something that has seen sign of letting up.

The consistent trend of looking to the future has been commendable by Capello, but this latest inclusion surely defies all of that previous work.

How King can be looked upon as the future of England is pretty far-fetched, and even at the tender age of 28 his inability to play more than a game per week and his problems with contact training doesn't help his cause either.

Fair play to Capello, he has diversified with his selection, and everyone has been given a fair go but what has the likes of Phil Jagielka done wrong not to warrant a third cap?

King's performances have never been called into question and when fit he is one of the best players in his position, but that when is far to infrequent, and surely to sporadic to deserve international recognition.

West Indian Cricket Tarnished Once Again

West Indian Cricket was thrown into turmoil once again last night as farcical circumstances resulted in them loosing the first one-day international against England in Guyana.

Bad light seemed to have cut short the game with just three overs remaining, and with the Duckworth Lewis System set to be introduced because of the postponement of play, John Dyson, the West Indian coach waved the side in, when in-fact they were still behind the required par score.

Dyson hadn't taken into account the seventh wicket to fall, taken by Stuart Broad just before the batsman were offered the light, meaning the team were behind the required score and in danger of loosing the match.

The coach called the batsman at the crease in, believing his side had won the match, only to discover his awful error moments later.

This is just one in a number of dreadful mistakes that West Indian Cricket have made during England's tour to the country, issues that everyone should have seen coming.

The writing was on the wall for me at the Cricket World Cup staged in 2007 by the West Indies.

The tournament was littered with one-sided matches, all be it not exclusive to that particular tournament, slow pitches and small crowds.

The organisers clearly hadn't taken advantage of what should have been showpiece event, and circumstances weren't helped by the eventual result of the final, for which Australia won after some ridiculous umpiring decisions.

Bad light had halted play, and with Sri Lanka behind the required Duckworth Lewis score Australia should have been declared the winners.

The umpires then told the players the final three overs must be bowled, cutting short the Australian celebrations.

The final 18 balls were bowled in almost total darkness, while Adam Gilchrist’s brilliant knock of 149 prevailed into insignificance.

An awful ending to what had been a pretty forgettable tournament did nothing to re-vitalise West Indian Cricket, definitely a missed opportunity for the West Indies Cricket Board.

With England touring this summer it was a chance for the team on the pitch to continue the re-building process, but yet again it was off the pitch where the questions were being asked.

The first test produced four days of woeful Cricket, while the fifth day gave us some sort of excitement with England being bowled out for just 51 as the home side won the first test.

The rest of the series produced flat pitches and plenty of run as all four remaining tests ending in a draw, with of course that infamous no-result in the 2nd test.

It was that test that brought the most controversy as the match at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium was abandoned after 10 balls were bowled.

The debate is still raging on how the match was allowed to be started, and how a host of concerns before the match begun were not considered by the Antiguan Cricket Board.

With the remainder of the series resulting in a draw the West Indies did win the series, and clearly showed the side had developed on the pitch, while off it, it had been a pretty dreadful period.

With the one-day series starting yesterday it was a chance for the controversies of the test series to be forgotten, but the first one-day game was jam packed with further problems.

Guyana gave us another painfully slow pitch and another reminder of how the traditional West Indian pitches of yesterday are nothing more than a memory.

The ending was in keeping with the pace of the match, a the West Indian batsman shamefully played for the light, showing very little ambition with the game very much within there reach within the permitted time.

They waited to be offered the light and with the coaching staff beckoning the batsman in they begun the celebrations.

With the way the whole team went about the match I have very little sympathy for how it all worked out, maybe the whole side might learn from this disappointing defeat.

Hosting England was meant to be another way that the West Indies could re-assert themselves on the world cricket stage, and with all due respect the team have taken some giant steps forward, but off the pitch the problems still remain.

We always hear the critical words from the legends of West Indies Cricket such as Richards and Clive Lloyd, but maybe its time these individuals had more of a say on how Cricket is run in this country.

Serious questions have to be asked about the state of Cricket in this country, and if the events of yesterday are anything to go by, there’s plenty of hard work to do.

The Relegation Battle: The Lowdown and Prediction

With just 10 games remaining in the Premiership season it seems the perfect time to access the ongoing relegation battle.

As Manchester United roar away with the title at the top end of the table this season, team such as Blackburn Rovers and Newcastle United, two sides who have has their own battles with United in the past, scrap for survival.

Newly promoted sides Stoke City and West Brom are fighting at the wrong end, while Gareth Southgate’s Middlesbrough and Paul Hart’s Portsmouth make up the six fighting in the bottom half.

Hull City, Sunderland and Tottenham Hotspur all look to have survived this season at least, as the bottom six now battle it out for those three relegation spots.

Not since the Premiership season of 2004/2005 has a relegation battle looked so intriguing in England's top flight.

That particular season West Bromich Albion made the great escape on the final day with victory over Portsmouth, as Southampton, Norwich City and Crystal Palace dropped down to the Championship.

Four years on and not much has changed.


West Bromwich Albion

The Baggies, who like in 2004 found themselves bottom at Christmas are attempting the second great escape, this time under the reigns of Tony Mowbray.

The Hawthorns club's attacking style looked a noble move at the start of the season, but with just ten games remaining the lack of a plan B should confirm the clubs relegation to the Championship.

Recent results haven't been kind either with just a single win coming in the league this year, form of a side in desperate trouble.

History tells them that only one side has avoided relegation to the Premiership after being bottom at Christmas, but of course it was themselves who achieved the feat.

They are an entertaining side to watch, but with little protection at the back, it’s going to be back to the drawing board for Mowbray.

Prediction: A battling finish, but relegation none the less.


Stoke City

It may not have been pretty, but one thing Stoke City have done this season is win games.

Their ability to grind out results has been priceless to them this season, something that West Brom especially haven’t been able to grasp.

There home form has been the route of their success with just three defeats all season at the Britannia Stadium, an incredible achievement for a relegation threatened side.

They have a two-point cushion at the moment, and with several of the teams around them to face thing are going to be tricky.

The problem has of course been on the road where not a single win has been recorded all season.

Now to stay up its not absolutely necessary that Stoke record that elusive away win, but their fans will live in knowledge that if they do, safety is all but assured.

The signing of James Beattie for me all but confirmed their safety, he knows the way to goal having made his name in the strips of Southampton, and with a proven goal-scorer in the ranks you always have a chance.

Even without an away win Stoke should grind out enough points, that when it comes to the Emirates Stadium on the final day of the season, they're not sweating on survival.

Prediction: Comfortable safety for the Potters.


Portsmouth

The change of manager at Fratton Park has produced some points in the short term on the south coast, but in terms of the rest of the season things look gloomy for Portsmouth.

The appointment of Paul Hart as the new manager for the rest of the season strikes me as the club desperate for a leader, and in Hart they have a very honest manager, but one whose experience is nothing short of wafer thin.

Spells lower down the leagues and in youth football is all Hart has on his CV, and as crucial as that experience is to his development as a manager and coach the step up to the Premiership is massive comparing to those previous jobs.

They still have to face four of the sides around them in the relegation zone so they have it in their own hands, but with limited attacking options and a hapless defense I can't see anything more than relegation to the Championship.

Prediction: Portsmouth's heart will be beating no longer-Relegation.


Newcastle United

The reputation of one of the most respected clubs in the league has been well an truly tarnished this season, and if thing don’t change relegation could be in the offing, to cap an awful season for the Magpies.

Whether it’s been the sacking of Kevin Keegan, Mike Ashley wanting to sell up or Charles N’Zogbia throwing a strop, Newcastle haven’t been out of the news all season, and things could begin to get worse.

The manner at which the club has been run has finally spilled onto the pitch, and it’s had dire consequences for the club’s league position.

Joe Kineer has had an almost impossible job trying to keep the club afloat, but he had succeeded in his short spell.

Without him however, probably for the rest of the season things look bad at St James' Park.

Chris Hughton has virtually no experience at this level having stood in as Tottenham manager on only a few occasions, hardly enough to keep a club like Newcastle afloat.

The only saving grace might be the return from injury for striker Michael Owen, who was a constant source of goals earlier in the season.

He was even touted with deserving an England recall, as his early season form kept Newcastle in mid-table, but since his injury they've slipped down the league.

It's hard to see them surviving if Owen doesn't come into some sort of form, as the rest of the team is drained of confidence.

It looks as though it will be between themselves, and their other North East rivals for the final relegation spot, and the duo’s meeting in early May is sure to decide both teams fortunes.

Prediction: Final day survival

Blackburn Rovers

I'm almost certain that without Roque Santa Cruz, Blackburn would have been relegated already this season.

He's the difference for the team right now, and although he's not scoring goals as regularly as last season his influence on the side is unrivaled.

Sam Allardyce has come in and got the side grinding out results, something Paul Ince simply couldn't do.

It's a key quality of any team scrapping down at the bottom, to pick up vital wins without playing well, Allardyce did it for years with Bolton, and now he's starting the trend with Rovers.

I have full confidence that they'll climb out of the bottom three, and if they can keep hold of the Paraguay master then they can build for next season.

Even in the precarious position that they are, I don’t think there is many people who think they will still go down, and I'm certainly not one of them

Prediction: Comfortable Safety

Middlesbrough

Just like in 1997 when Boro' were last relegated, they had an impressive cup run to fall back on as their league form disintegrated under Bryan Robson.

This season, although there cup run was ended at Goodison Park on Sunday they've enjoyed a decent run, something that Gareth Southgate admitted it was a positive influence on the team.

Many managers would have argued that the cup run would have been a distraction from the league, in which Boro' find themselves in the bottom three.

But Southgate, maybe naively put plenty of emphasis on the cup run and encouraged his team to press on in the competition.

Now they have the league to focus on, the side need to buck up their ideas, because even though they’re playing some brilliant football the results just aren't following.

The win over Liverpool last weekend would have done wonders for confidence as the side returned to winning ways, but further results have to follow.

It's the team’s firepower I worry about mainly.

Brazilian Alfonso Alves has scored just two goals this year, and since his £12 million move to the Riverside he's hardly adapted well to the frantic pace of the Premiership.

With just 20 goals scored all season they’re the lowest scoring side inside the top five divisions in England, a clear sign of where things need to improve.

Prediction: Heartbreak for the young manager, relegation.

Cheltenham Town on the Brink as Administration Looms Large

Martin Allen's managerial career has been littered with success and failure.

While at his first club, Barnet, he took the side to the top of the league within the first year, after bringing together a squad on nothing more than a shoestring budget.

However, Allen's ambition got the better of him, and, while Barnet lay in a promising position in the Conference, he left for Second Division Brentford.

Now Allen's success at Barnet may well have warranted the move to the football league club, but many Barnet fans would agree the club would surely have completed promotion in the 2003-04 season had Allen stayed till the end.

Barnet crashed out to Shrewsbury Town in the playoffs that season, as Allen saved the Bees from relegation in the last remaining months of the season.

Allen didn't stop there however, and in his next two seasons he turned the relegation candidates into promotion contenders with successive playoff finishes.

Although Allen was denied by first Sheffield Wednesday and then Swansea City he had clearly taken Brentford on as a team, a success that climaxed with him knocking Sunderland out of the FA Cup in the Fourth Round.

Allen's ambition swelled further, and targeted extra funds to finalise that crucial promotion push.

However his ambition couldn't be matched by the clubs board, and he tendered his resignation at the end of the 2005-06 season.

Allen then found a club whose financial ambition could match his own on the pitch, Pete Winkleman's Milton Keynes Dons.

Allen reached the playoffs for the third time in his managerial career, but was yet again denied at the semi-final stage after loosing to Shrewsbury Town.

Leicester City soon came calling for the impressive Allen, who despite his inability to produce instant promotion, could guarantee stability to any club.

However Allen came across trigger-happy Milan Mandaric and started a nightmare at the Walkers Stadium, which lasted just four games.

Arguments over potential transfers involving Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink and Derek Riordan fueled speculation that Allen was set to leave the Championship club.

After taking a year out of the game Allen joined League One Cheltenham Town, but unlike at previous clubs he hasn't been able to turn the clubs fortunes around.

Cheltenham struggled last season, and staved off relegation on the final day of the season.

Allen hasn't had much luck stemming the flow this season, and the club lie twelve points from safety, routed to the bottom of League One.

And as if Cheltenham's plight couldn't get worse the club have entered huge financial difficulties, and look set to enter administration anytime soon.

The problem is if the club don't concede the inevitable and enter administration before March 10th, the standard 10 point deduction that would normally be enforced this season, would be in place for next season, which would leave the club with a huge uphill struggle and on the brink of successive relegation.

Now the club have insisted that administration would be the final straw and a point that they don't want to get, without admitting that it is a distinct possibility.

To add to the situation, Allen has told that to cut costs players are free to leave the club.

Lloyd Owusu has already gone to Brighton, with a host of players expected to leave before the end of the week.

it is important that the clubs biggest asset, Allen doesn't follow suit.

His departure after what is sure to be certain relegation this season would be dreadful for the club, and administration would make their start in league two execrable.

Would the former Barnet manager cling on to Cheltenham and help them challenge in League Two?

Or would the ambition that has followed the eccentric manager continue as he looks to further his football league career.

Allen hasn't hesitated from leaving clubs whatever extreme the club was in, and he wouldn't defer from moving on from Cheltenham.

Allen's up and down career has taken him all around the football pyramid, but would this impending relegation be too much of a step down for 'Mad Dog'?

Barnet Facing the Inevitable

May 5th 2001 is one of the more memorable days in football league history. What is now League two saw two sides draped in history, Barnet and Torquay United embroiled in a winner take all relegation match.

Barnet stood just a point behind Torquay United as the two met at Underhill on the final day of the season, with the winner retaining their place in the football league.

Three early goals from Jason Rees, Kevin Hill and David Graham all but kept Torquay up as a Darren Currie missed penalty saw Barnet fall short in a 3-2 loss.

A good friend of mine, who saw his Torquay side victorious on the day, has called the day the best of his life and has spoken at length of his admiration for Barnet and their supporters at Underhill.

He also recalled the two sets of supporters embracing and swapping shirts at the end of the match, to mark the historic occasion.

While Torquay went on to gain promotion to League one a few years later, Barnet battled away in the Conference, a relegation that many would debate re-vitalised the club’s fortunes.

Crowd’s began to rise again, and after a succession of new managers Paul Fairclough came in and made an instant impact.

He won promotion in his first full season as Barnet went up as Champions of the Conference with 86 points in 2005.

The promotion eclipsed the disappointment the club had endured in missing out the season before in the lottery of the play-offs, as Shrewsbury Town turned around a 2-1 deficit to win 5-3 on penalties.

With Fairclough in charge Barnet hit the ground running, and found themselves in 3rd after their first 5 games in League two.

With attendances peaking over 3,000 the club were firmly back where they thought they deserved.

Comfortably staying up in their first season back in the football league they followed it up with several mid-table finishes, as their foes from five years ago Torquay were condemned to relegation after a desperate season.

Since re-promotion things had been pretty bright for Barnet, and with three sides enduring points deductions for this new season, the Bees could look forward to another season in League two.

Things haven’t quiet gone to plan however, with Rotherham overcoming their 17-point deduction and overtaking Barnet, while Bournemouth, who were deducted the same amount, lieing just five points behind after this weekend.

The Bees current form has done nothing to aid their relegation battle as they have one win from their last 21 games, relegation form at best.

Their last win in-fact came against Bournemouth while Fairclough was still in charge, something that has contributed to their downfall.

With the man who got them back into the Football League gone, its been left to assistant Ian Hendon to steer the club to the end of the season, something that is becoming a struggle.

Hendon’s introduction, while it’s a gamble due to his lack of experience was always going to sit well with the fans after six years of loyal service as a player.

The new man is yet to pick up a win in charge, and things haven’t been made much easier as his side threw away more points at home to relegation rivals Grimsby Town.

The home team led 2-0 and 3-2 in the match, but still contrived to throw away three points, against Mike Newell’s defiant side.

Saturday’s 2-0 defeat at Notts County left the side without a win since Boxing Day, Fairclough’s final game in charge.

Hendon knows they aren’t the only side in this predicament with Grimsby, Accrington Stanley, Chester City and of course Bournemouth embroiled in a tight relegation battle.

You could say they have their fate in their own hands; the Underhill club host both Bournemouth and Chester before the end of the season.

Attendances have dropped to the levels of their last relegation and with fortunes not much better and knowledge of the resurgence they encountered last time they were relegated, would dropping down a level actually be a way of moving the club forward?

I’m not for one minute saying relegation would be a good thing for the club and with the history of financial problems at Underhill, it could leave Barnet thread bare.

We’ve all seen what relegation has done to the likes of Rushdan and Diamonds, and Barnet will be keen to stay away from those issues.

However can you see a way out for Barnet, in my mind no. Bournemouth have previous experience of a relegation battle, an unsuccessful one at that but they put together six wins in their last eight last season, so they have handled a run-in before.

Barnet are sure to be pushed all the way this season, and if they are relegated it could be the change of fortune they’ve been waiting for, a certain side from Devon might argue the same.

West Indies win the first test: England woeful or Taylor Wonderful?

West Indies have won the first test in Jamaica by an innings and 23 runs after bowling England out in their second innings for just 51 runs.

Jerome Taylor took career-best figures of 5-11 as the tourists slumped to their third worst-ever test score.

The innings was littered with poor shot selection by England batsman as well as brilliant bowling by both Taylor and Sulieman Benn, who took four wickets.

However, this isn't the first time Sabina Park has produced a pitch that has succumbed a team batting third.

Just five years ago, England bowled out their West Indian counterparts for just 47 as Steve Harmisson took seven wickets.

But was it a case of West Indian brilliance? Or England in disarray?

If we look at the England batting line-up, we see problems arising right from the start.

Alistair Cook looks like a player low on confidence after a disappointing period in his international career.

Cook's dismissal in the second innings was of a man who hasn't made runs for some time, as he was left stuck in the crease and wafted at a pretty ordinary delivery.

His fellow opener, Andrew Strauss, has his mind set on something more demanding, his captaincy of the side.

I've always been a fan of the player, as a captain and a batsman, and his two hundreds in India reminded everyone he can perform, it's time at the crease he needs.

At number three, Ian Bell looks hapless, and surely the selectors will drop a player they have persevered with for far too long.

Owais Shah deserves his chance at three, after countless failures by the Warwickshire man.

Another issue is the role of Kevin Pietersen in the side, a role that seems pivotal to the side's success.

It's not the individual's performances that should be called into question, but those of the men around him.

Obviously, he looked to up the run rate and dominant at the crease, but once he departed, the side looked lost.

No one seems to step up to the plate, and after his dismissal yesterday, it seemed written on the face of every England player that the match was over.

As the England batting line-up takes a battering, it's the bowling that most concerns me.

It's obvious the talent is there in the batting ranks and that form will come, but with the bowling, I'm not so sure the potential is there to take 20 wickets.

Monty Panesar has been drifting in the side for around 18 months now, and without any notable contributions, his position is surely under threat.

His effort over these four days has been nothing short of dreadful, and the novelty factor of this spinner has worn off for me; he has to go.

Steve Harmisson did his best to re-capture the heroics of 2004 and previous years, but since the Ashes, hasn't that been all he's tried to do?

Stuart Broad and Andrew Flintoff bowled well as always, but they were alone in that respect.

England's inability to read the pitch must also be called into question. How they didn't see a repeat of the 2004 incident, we'll never know.

It's poor captaincy on the part of Strauss, who would have surely known what happened just five years ago.

Not picking two spinners was a mistake as well, and all in all, The West Indies out-thought the English in every department.

When we look at Taylor and the way he ripped through the England top order, we can't help but think why didn't England do the same.

The pitch did help the seamer, whatever way you look at it.

The ball kept low at regular intervals and in truth when put in the right areas it was a nightmare for the England batsman.

However, I would go as far to say that no pitch is so brilliant to bowl on that the batting side should be scoring under 100.

The West Indies got the result they wished through perseverance and a strong work ethic; it was no fluke.

As for England, drastic changes are needed to turn around what could turn out to be a long and arduous tour.

The January Transfer Window: The Winners and Losers

One of the most important parts of the Football season; the January transfer window has finally slammed shut.

A month of speculation can be put to bed, while teams ponder on whether they made the most of the allotted time.

Plenty of teams got the men they wanted, while many will be ruing that the window came and nicked some of there prize assets.

Many were given offers they simply couldn't refuse, while some gave offers that were shunned as quickly as it took Robbie Keane to re-join Spurs, one of the many transfers we saw on another intriguing deadline day.

As far as the winners go in the transfer window you don't need to look any further than Keane's new club Tottenham Hotsphur.

Harry Redknapp has brought in five new players, including Jermaine Defoe and Wilson Palacious, both for £12 million.

However the best signing that relegation threatened Spurs have made for is the acquisition of Carlo Cudicini from Chelsea.

Even behind Petr Cech, Cudicini is seen as one of the best goalkeepers in the Premiership and with the issues surrounding Heurelho Gomes it's an excellent signing.

The most protracted transfer of the window involved Andrei Arshaven's move to Arsenal, which Zenit St Petersburg did there best to string out for the entire window.

Arsenal got their man, a player I see as a replacement for Alexander Hleb a move that has come to late for their title challenge and maybe even for their Champions League qualification hopes.

Manchester City will also find themselves in good shape after a good January period, off the pitch at least.

After spending £47 million in the month Mark Hughes will be expected to finish in the top half, even if their bid for Kaka did eventually fail.

The £14 million they paid for Craig Bellamy however seems to me to be an oversight, it's a lot for a player who is constantly in trouble off the pitch with team mates, and who is very injury prone on it.

However his last great season in the league was under Hughes at Blackburn, and of course they were together at Wales so maybe the duo can work successfully once again.

Talking of Blackburn, you have to think they have done brilliantly to keep hold of Roque Santa Cruz, a player who seemed destined for Eastlands.

Half of the job instilled in new man Sam Allardyce has now been accomplished, now for staving off relegation.

Bolton Wanderers have also done themselves no harm, losing Kevin Nolan won't affect their season so far, but will the three players brought in finally turn the fans round to Gary Megson's successful regime?

Another signing that could change the fortunes of a Premiership club is James Beattie.

The former Southampton and Everton striker has moved to Stoke City to revitalise there season, after the loss of Richardo Fuller and the misfiring of Dave Kitson.

For me Beattie will assure Stoke stay in the league for at least another season, something that Tong Pulis deserves after doing an excellent job this year.

Reading have bolstered their squad with the signing of Jay Tabb from Coventry, a case of the best getting better.

Birmingham have reacted to what was a disappointing end to the year with Lee Bowyer and Scott Sinclair coming in, signings that should at least guarantee a top three finish.

The football league has been littered with surprising and quality signings.

Sheffield United may have lost Beattie, but the signing of youngster Jamie Ward from Chesterfield seems to be a shrewd one.

The talented young striker has been lighting up league two, and after scoring the winner at St Mary's last night for his new club his talent is there for all to see.

Look no further than Lee Trundle making a temporary move to Leeds United, a move that could either push Leeds towards the Championship, or keep them in their current position of outside the play-offs.

Colchester have boosted their promotion ambition as well, with Simon Hackney coming in from Carlisle, a necessary winger for the Essex based club.

And as we saw Wayne Bridge sign a five year deal and then move on to Manchester City just six months later, not of the same could be said about Andy Bishop of Bury.

Bishop has turned down a number of moves in the window and in previous summers, and has now penned a new contract to keep him at the club for the foreseeable future.

The striker for one won't be moving on for the added bonus of an improved pay check.

Now we turn to the losers of the window, as they don't come worse off than Wigan Athletic.

Having lost two of there best players in Palacious and Emile Heskey, they have replaced the duo with Mido, N'Zogbia and Ben Watson.

Their league position is sure to be affected, but with the bids in question for the two players the club aren't in a position to turn down the offers.

Portsmouth have lost potentially their finest two player, and with owner Alexander Gaydamak keeping the £32 million for his own gain, funds for transfers have been limited.

To replace the duo Hayden Mullins has come in from West Ham, and Theofanis Gekas on loan, hardly names to light up the Premiership.

With small funds, and a terrible transfer window, Pompey will struggle to stay in Premiership, with such a one dimensional attacking formation, a defense without a clue and a manager already proving he's out of his depth things don't look rosy.

As the football league goes, no-one is worse off than Stockport County.

Anthony Pilkington and Jim McNulty have both departed, as Jim Ganon bemoans the financial situation of the club as the best of their young players are sold off.

County lie ninth in league one, and things are set to get worse as they attempt to complete a second successive promotion.

But as you can probably tell it's not all been doom and gloom in this years transfer window, most teams got what they came for, a factor that will assure an exciting end to the season across the football pyramid.