2 In 8 Out, January 2008 Transfer Analysis

Vincent Van Den Berg [Picture From Arsenal-Mania]

So at midnight yesterday the transfer window slammed shut, with other clubs still busy sending paperwork away and rushing around doing medicals, Arsene Wenger and his team were in London attending a meal with various other footballers and celebrities to raise awareness about sistic fibrosis.

During January, we had 3 players on trial, Congolese striker Tresor Mputu, who had a 10 days training with us, and came back towards the end of the window and played in a friendly against our Reserves, but he was playing with an injury and only managed 6 minutes.

Winger Nicolay Dimitrov arrived from PFC Levski Sofia, with a whole media circus following him and apparently we are still monitoring his progress over the rest of the season.

Young keeper Liam O’Brien also came in on trial, and its not clear yet if we have signed him, lets wait on that but he has already played for the under 18s and under 16s.

So to actual deals done, i have only listed the players that concern the Reserves/Youth which is most of them, only Lassana Diarra to Portsmouth for £5.5 million is missed.

Below you can read a transfer analysis, of the players In/Out Enjoy.

INS:

Kerrea Gilbert– Southend United- [Loan return]
Luke Freeman – Gillingham – £100,000

Players In Analysis

Kerrea Gilbert re-joined on the 2nd of January, despite showing his super talent as a kid here, his attitude problems and constant falling out with the coaching staff at Southend and before that Cardiff meant nobody wanted him permanently, he will spend the season in the Reserves, but i would expect him to be released in the summer, you can read a bit more about his future and return Here.

Our main buy this window was, 15 year old striker Luke Freeman who signed from Gillingham for around £200,000, many people have said he is the new Rooney but that comparison looks wide of the mark find out more on Luke Here.

He will play a mixture of Under 18s and Under 16s, i doubt he will play Reserves football this term but with players going out on loan and injuries who knows, one for the future.

OUTS:

Pedro Silva – Salamanca – [Loan Until May 2008]
Jay Simpson – Millwall- [Loan Extension Until May 2008]
Vincent Van Den Berg – Go Ahead Eagles- [Loan Until May 2008]
Matthew Connolly – QPR- £1 million
Fran Merida Perez – Real Sociedad- Loan (until June 2008)
Jason Banton – Tottenham – £100,000
Mark Randall – Burnley – [Loan Until May 2008]
Kieran Gibbs – Norwich – [Loan Until April 2008]

Players Out Analysis

Pedro finally linked up with Salamanca in January after he turned 18, he made his debut against Malaga, and we will continue to keep you updated with his progress as we will on all the loan players during the season right here on Young Guns.

Jay Simpson was set to come back in January as cover for the strikers if Adebayor went to the African Cup of nations, but as Togo failed to qualify he stayed with Arsenal meaning Simpson’s loan to Millwall as extended till the end of the season.

Matthew Connolly’s loan to Colchester was cut short, only for a few hours as the Barnet born centre back as sold to Queens Park Rangers for a fee of around £1 million. Matty skippered the Reserves last term.

Two foreign players were next out, Fran Merida Perez joined Spanish division 2 club Real Sociedad on loan and he has already played 90 minutes as they search for promotion, Arsene Wenger has already confirmed Fran will be a first team player next season.

Vincent Van Den Berg’s Arsenal career looks over after he was shipped out on loan to Dutch minnow’s Go Ahead Eagles, but a long term injury meant he has only played one match so far, and is a doubt to play again this term.

Under 16’s and England Youth winger Jason Banton joined Spurs in a deal we broke first on Young Guns, for a fee of around £100,000.

And finally, last but not least on deadline day central midfielder Mark Randall and winger Kieran Gibbs joined Burnley and Norwich respectively, Gibbs joins Norwich on a 3 month loan and will be back in April, Mark will be with Burnley until the end of the season.

With Merida, Simpson, Van Den Berg, Randall, Gibbs, and Connolly all going out on loan the Reserves will have a very different look towards the end of the season, the new Under 16s scholar’s can be brought into the Under 18s, with the Under 18s playing Reserves action.

Article By – J.Sanderson