DFA Transfer Window Wrap-Up

How did your club ('du jour' for some) make out in the summer transfer window? Right this way to find out...

Arsenal

In: Marouane Chamakh (Bordeaux), Laurent Koscielny (Lorient), Sebastian Squillaci (Sevilla)

Some much needed defensive bolstering, but still no strengthening between the posts. When Almunia is the best you've got, you're going to ship goals.

Barcelona

In: Javier Mascherano (Liverpool), Adriano Correia (Sevilla), David Villa (Valencia).    

Nicking the best defensive midfielder in the world is good. Nicking the best defensive midfielder in the world from a GIMP rival is even better. Oh, and they got one of the world's best strikers too. Too bad they chucked all their 2009 goodwill away with their orally diuretic tapping-up of every famous name that speaks Spanish. 

Bayern

In: Toni Kroos (loan return-Leverkusen).

No actual new players, but who needs them. Holding on to the most electric wingers on the planet should do the trick.

Chelsea

In: Yossi Benayoun (Liverpool), Tomas Kalas (Sigma Olomouc), Ramires (Benfica).  
  
An uncharacteristically quiet checkbook for Roman Abramovich this summer, only 27.5 million pounds spent. Failing to reach one hundred million pounds spent shouldn't be too big a bother this season, as the last billion rubles spent funded a pretty strong (and tan) foundation. 


Internazionale

In: Andrea Ranocchia (Genoa), Marco Faraoni (Lazio).


Minuscule chance that these two names see the field this season. With one of the strongest squads in Europe, no real investment was necessary. The only real question mark is if Robinho and Ibrahimovic's transfers to AC Milan will tempt our wheeler dealer to slink back across the hall (yet again) at the San Siro.

Liverpool

In:   Jonjo Shelvey (Charlton), Milan Jovanovic (Standard Liege), Joe Cole (Chelsea), Danny Wilson (Rangers), Fabio Aurelio (re-signed), Christian Poulsen (Juventus), Brad Jones (Middlesbrough), Raul Meireles (Porto), Paul Konchesky (Fulham).

In need of re-building, but shackled by two inept Yank "businessmen", Liverpool has done well enough. The pain of losing Mascherano should be marginalized by Meireles' quality, and if Joe Cole plays to a 16th of the hype he used to receive from our resident munchkin then the DFA's most successful club should roll on with nary a wobble.

Manchester City

In:   Jerome Boateng (Hamburg), Yaya Toure (Barcelona), David Silva (Valencia), Alex Henshall (Swindon), Alexandar Kolarov (Lazio), Mario Balotelli (Inter), James Milner (Aston Villa).
  
An immense squad simply gets bigger and bigger. Injuries simply won't be a worry for this bloated dressing room, and once Cushing's quality comes through, this big, blue monster will be a force. The only question is if the rent boys at Stamford Bridge will develop an inferiority complex due to the richer, bluer boy on the block.

Manchester United

In: Javier Hernandez (C.D. Guadalajara), Chris Smalling (Fulham), Bebe (Vitoria Guimaraes).  

Question marks all around as United sign three unproven lads, one of which used to be homeless several months ago. No idea how T-Deezeron will utilize the new or old boys, but United has typically been a DFA powerhouse (save for the season they finished on negative points).

Real Madrid

In: Ricardo Carvalho (Chelsea), Mesut Ozil (Bremen), Sami Khedira (Stuttgart), Pedro Leon (Getafe), Angel Di Maria (Benfica).

The DFA's mystery man takes charge of the most intimidating squad in the world. Such quality coming in, paired with the sickening amount already there sees the expectations skyrocket. Only the staunchest defenses will be able to stifle this attack, and even then EA will probably unlock the door for them.

Roma

In: Adriano (Flamengo), Bogdan Lobont (Dinamo Bucharest), Guillermo Burdisso (Rosario Central), Fabio Simplicio (Palermo), Nicolas Burdisso (Inter).
  
Yet another burly frontman for Roma. If he can fill Luca Toni's lead-filled boots, then Critt will be a force yet again. However, if he stumbles, it'll be down to Totti to carry the club once again.