As The Window Shuts

An interesting flurry of moves as the January window came to a close. Here are some thoughts on the bigger ones:

Mancini to AC Milan- Good riddance. I know it is a loan but I hope they keep him. What does it say about a player when his club thinks about including him in a swap with their most hated rivals who are also currently directly behind them in the title chase? And more importantly what does it say about that player when the other team decline the swap and they say "eh, whatever, take him anyway"? Mancini was never a good fit at Inter and they don't need him. It would have been nice to get Ledesma but all in all this squad is in good shape.

Robbie Keane to Celtic- I was kind of surprised at this one. I know he hasn't been getting too many minutes but I just didn't see him leaving, and especially not to the SPL. Not yet anyway. Keane is a very good player and in the watered down competition in Scotland he will tear it up. Despite his flops at Inter and Liverpool I kind of have a soft spot for Keane. I hope he does well. As he moves to Celtic Scot McDonald is leaving the club for Middlesborough, underscoring the difference in class between the two leagues.

Mariano Pavone to Catania- I am surprised he stayed in Spain as long as he did. Pavone never got settled there and a few times I assumed he had moved elsewhere. The reason I think this is interesting is because he joins Maxi Lopez on what I have read is the most South American heavy side in the history of Serie A. I am not sure if that is true but it has to be pretty close.

Fulham- I think the addition of Okaka will give them some more depth up front and Nicky Shorey will do the same in the back. Good moves both. Fulham are a team that I think were beginning to slip from the middle of the table but with these moves they should be able to hold their ground.

Man City- Adam Johnson is a nice addition but I get the feeling he is going to be one more in an already bloated squad. Maybe he gets significant minutes, but I think not. On another front I think City won by losing. Their deal with Madrid for Fernando Gago collapsed at the last minute and I suspect they are better of for it. Gago is a very good player but Manchester City is not the team and the Prem is not the league for him. His game is ill suited for England and Gareth Barry has an iron clamp on Gago's best position.