Premier League transfers

Around the league: Transfer window round-up part 3

Newcastle United’s business so far

As is customary, Benitez and Ashley are engaged in their usual transfer brinkmanship though the impasse has been broken this week. They’ve signed Ki Sung-yueng from their neighbours and brought Kenedy back on loan from Chelsea. They’ve bought a new goalie in and a new centre-half but they could probably do with a striker – and it looks as if they will be bringing in Yoshinori Muto from Mainz this week. Dwight Gayle doesn’t score enough and Perez is inconsistent. And they could always try and get the best of Mitro but it feels like that ship has sailed. They’ve lost a couple of players but it’s nothing worth writing about.

How will Cardiff fare?

With Newcastle being the first visitors of the new season, the crowd will be pretty hyped for that first home game. Newcastle will either be reeling from a damp squib of a transfer window or bouncing because Mike Ashley did sign them a striker so I’m expecting an exciting game. A home win for Cardiff followed by a 3-1 loss to them at St. James’ Park in January.

Southampton’s business so far

Mark Hughes somehow kept Southampton up last year and the fans will expect Mark to push them on to the next level. They’ve favoured signing some players on the younger side of the scale – bringing in people like Stuart Armstrong from Celtic – ahead of more experienced heads. They’ve also managed to keep the core of their side together, only letting Dusan Tadic leave. Tadic hadn’t exactly been great for them last season and they managed to bring in around 13m Euros for a player they spend £10m on in the first place. Shrewd move.

How will Cardiff fare?

A home match in the first 10 days of December will see Hughes either sacked on the verge of and Warnock ready to pile on more misery or welcoming a new manager with a baptism of fire. I can see us beating Southampton at home and then going to the St. Mary’s in February where they will comfortably run out 3-1 winners.

Tottenham’s business so far

Don’t bother.

How will Cardiff fare?

Tottenham’s new ground opens on the weekend of the 15th September, when they play Liverpool, and we will be the second visitors to the new ground. Tottenham will not quite be ready and will start sluggish before Harry Kane hits one in off his sharp, sharp, nose and they run out 3-1 winners. We then see in the New Year with a home game and a home win as Sean Morrison scores the winner in a 1-0 win.

Watford’s business so far?

Watford has been busy so far with a number of players leaving and a number of players signing. Mauro Zarate has finally departed the Premier League, with a move to Boca, and they’ve lost Richarlison to Everton. Coming the other way, Gerard Deulofeu has turned his loan into a permanent move and they’ve signed Adam Masina from Bologna and Marc Navarro from Espanyol. They’ve strengthened in goal too, adding former fan favourite Ben Foster to their ranks. What they really need though, is someone who will score more than 10 goals for them – Deeney was a bit hit and miss last year and they need a guaranteed source.

How will Cardiff fare?

We play both games against Watford in a two-and-a-bit-month spell – one in mid-December, one in later-on-in-mid-February. Watford feel like they could either push for the top half this year or struggle to get out of the bottom five. Either way, we win at home (3-1) and lose away (3-1).

West Ham’s business so far?

All change at the Soulless Bowl in Stratford as Moyes has left and Pellegrini comes in. Manuel has been given a war chest to spend and has been a busy boy. Issa Diop, Andriy Yarmolenko, and Felipe Anderson are all great signings by the Chilean and they’ve even taken pity on Little Jacky Wilshere and given him a home. West Ham fans have rightly been annoyed at the off-field antics of their publicity-hungry owners but at least for now, it seems they are getting it right with the transfers. Even if they didn’t give the Ginger Monster a new deal.

How will Cardiff fare?

A rare mid-week visit to the Olympic Stadium in December will see West Ham run out 2-0 winners. It just feels right. 2-0. Not spectacular, no major cheers at the end of the game just a polite ripple of applause. Then a visit to the CCS in March will see Cardiff dent West Ham’s Europa League hopes as Zohore scores a hat-trick in a 3-1 win for the Bluebirds.

Wolves’ business so far

As Wolves is now Portugal’s first satellite city, Wolves seem willing to sign who has a claim to being Portuguese. It’s hard not to be impressed by the signings of Rui Patricio and Joao Moutinho – who they somehow signed for a combined £5m. They’ve also tied down Willy Boly permanently, who was a rock last year, and signed few others for good measure. They’ve got rid of some of the dead wood – like Rafa Mir – and sold Benik Afobe the day after they signed him. Which was mad, really, but I suppose he isn’t Portuguese. 

How will Cardiff fare?

A win each last season, the second game being particularly spicy with Cardiff missing two penalties in injury time and Warnock telling Nuno to go forth and multiply. I see a win all round for both of us next season, too. A home game on the 1st December will see Cardiff win 2-1 and Nuno told to f*** off again by Neil. Then a day after St. David’s day, Neves will score a hat-trick of free-kicks as Wolves beat us 3-1.

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