Half-Way Through: The Transfer Misses

By: chris | December 28th, 2007

It’s that time again, for the lists and the look-backs on what was, what could have been and what shouldn’t have been. Today we’ll take a look at some of the transfers which haven’t exactly panned out thus far. Not to say they won’t, it’s only 6 months in after all, but at that moment things aren’t looking good.

Tiago (Juventus)

I’ll quietly admit I thought he was going to be a difference maker at Juventus, and his pricetag indicated just that (€13m). But things have gone miserably for Tiago on and off the field. Sure, he’s started to show some life, but only after he said he wanted out and Claudio Rainieri said they only bought him because Momo Sissoko was deemed to expensive for their tastes. I’m sure he feels loved.

Arjen Robben (Real Madrid)

Real got the same Arjen which dazzled the world in London: wildly talented, breathtakingly skilled, and always too injured to get on the pitch enough to use those skills. And it only cost them €35m. If he can ever figure out a way to get healthy, he has to be one of the favorites to get off this list and justify the fee.

Darren Bent (Tottenham)

I think everyone outside of North London saw this one coming. Hell, I’d bet most inside North London did as well.

Marco Andreolli (Roma)

It’s not like he was going to play much in the first place, but he was coming in to replace Cristian Chivu’s roster spot and it turns out that he’s had a long-standing back condition which has gone undiagnosed. That’s exactly what you want out of your expensive young defenders: long term back issues. Wonderful.

Carlos Alberto (Werder Bremen)

Cost €7.8m and has played in the same number of games for Bremen as the number of teammates he’s punched in the face: One. (Bad ratio.)

Lassana Diarra (Arsenal)

Came to Arsenal on a deadline deal, and spent so much time on the bench he’s decided he wants to leave already, and this time his team of choice is reportedly Tottenham. I guess we can just start calling him the London town whore. I’ll bet he plays his home game at both White Hart lane and Upton Park by 2010.

Jorge Andrade (Juventus)

Not really his fault, but played all of 3 games before putting his knee through a meat grinder and being rendered useless for the season. For a defense which needed a big time acquisition, which he became, that makes him a flop, for now.

Nikola Zigic (Valencia)

The 6′7 Serbian Josh Hartnett has played a whole 202 minutes in La Liga for Valencia after costing €20m in August. That’s a poor euro-to-minute ratio. (You know, in case you’re not so quick on the uptake.)

Graziano Pelle (AZ Alkmaar)

Despite having a host of Serie A clubs on the trail of the kid dubbed a more gifted and mobile Luca Toni (hold on while every Azzurri fan picks their tongues up off the floor), Pelle has barely gotten into the starting lineup, which was a big factor in going abroad – playing time. 13 games, 3 goals. Only 22, there’s still hope.

Julien Faubert (West Ham United)

The Frenchman eschewed deals with better clubs (Milan and Roma) for a better pay packet in the Prem. Karma bit him in the arse when he tore his Achilles in the first pre-season game and now finds himself on the couch for the season, not the pitch. Let this be a lesson to the young’uns out there: karma always wins.

Pasquale Foggia (Cagliari)

I don’t care how good you are, don’t have a Napoletano thug rough up your teammate in a cafe.

Joey Barton (Newcastle United)

I’m torn on this one. Yes, he was just arrested, but at least he didn’t murder a teammate and dump his body in a river, which appeared to be the next stage in the evolution of Joey Barton.

There are surely more, but this is a start. Any others deserving?