Harry's transfer dealings will be fine, surely?

So another transfer deadline day passes in the office – a little trickier than normal because our Sky Sports News still hasn’t been sorted since it disappeared from freeview.

Rafael van der Vaart’s proposed move to Tottenham in the last throes of tonight was the dramatic one.

At the time of writing we’re still waiting to see if the Premier League ratifies it – although I don’t remember a move ever being cancelled because it was late. I’m sure there is plenty of ‘negotiating’ that goes on behind closed doors to make sure such transfers are allowed through.

For teams like Norwich, the interesting time will probably come with the opening of the loan window in seven days’ time.

New rules this season mean Premier League clubs can only use a named squad of 25 players. That will effectively rule out getting a game for a host of players - they should be annoyed and the prospect of months on the scrap heap, and a loan move would solve part of their problem at least.

Such thoughts would have played a part – but probably not a big one – in Craig Bellamy’s move to Cardiff, so similar headliners could be heading down a division over the coming weeks.

Another thing I've seen today is stockpiling – and it really gets to me.

West Brom bought Craig Dawson on Tuesday – and then duly loaned him back to Rochdale for the rest of the season.

So what’s the point in that? Why bother buying him if you don’t need him this season?

It’s just greedy. Each club should only buy the players it needs. If you’re not going to play them, you don’t need them.

Otherwise it won’t belong before Manchester City decide to buy everyone and dish the players back out to various loan destinations, depending on who they like and who they don’t.

OK, so that’s not very likely to happen – but it’s a shame the money situation means Rochdale can’t hold out and continue to own a player rated highly in the game until someone actually needs to buy him.

As for the legions of free agents wanting a club, there are some good insights here from BBC Sport’s Paul Fletcher – including former Norwich City winger Simon Whaley.

It makes interesting reading. Maybe Paul Lambert will be more tempted by one of those as the season progresses?

posted on 01 September 2010 01:09 byMichael Bailey - Sportsdesk

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