Winter Transfer Window – Focus
Transfer markets should expect Championship clubs to lower expectations – and then to beat the drop
_connect Focus says if club managers are looking for something to bank on amid crazy market chaos – high rising player transfer fee from overseas and registration embargo, they should take the new acquisitions to account for every penny in point calculation of league table.
January transfer markets have been gripped by EFL emporium. First, there is loan-to-buy: traders around Stoke City trade situation, Benik Afobe and Ryan Woods and Danny Batth completed their transfer after loan switch in the first half of season.
One opportunity to the last few hours of deadline day transfer is the Crouchie-Vokes Premiership Swap deal. Spectators watched the welcome video statements for illuminating pieces of robotic information on the Internet of Things. Most attention is paid to future results, given that he only scored a single goal in 23 games (Substituted in: 21) with Stoke City.
For the Championship heavyweight – Leeds United – the Whites’ promotion expectation is actually slightly above their rivals, and rising higher.
One relatively positive reason for these rises has been the capture of former Real Madrid goalkeeper, Kiko Casilla. As long as that is one of the notable signings not a sign of injury-cover problems, it actually helps to last push their promotion. The hopeful could realize their dream in their landmark season. It is worth noting that their promotion challenge this season tends to be bigger than ever.
It seems likely that the rise in promotion expectations is not yet over and 2019 January may see another oversea transfer from Tianjin Teda, China – John Obi Mikel. While this is clearly good news, there is good reason to more rooms for improvement in Middlesbrough. The expectation for Teeside outfit is to some degree normal – as long as top-six spot stays.
One of the most remarkable stories of the winter transfer window was the incredible rise of Leon Clarke, the 33-year-old forward who joins Wigan Athletic in January after a whirlwind rise over the past 2 years. Born in Wolvehampton, he has burst on the English Football League in recent years, with 19 goals last term in Sheffield United. The Latics have secured a deal to bring their marksman to DW stadium.
One of the stars of English Premier league’s campaign, Anthony Pilkington opted to join Wigan Athletic. He clocked up 83 appearances with total 19 league goals in last three championship seasons and secured Cardiff City return to Premiership.
“I was disappointed not to be featuring for Cardiff and I feel like I did well in the game I played for them last season, but Paul Cook and his staff have shown faith in me and I want to repay that faith.” He shared his first thoughts with iFollow Latics.
Wigan Athetic demonstrated their ambition by snapping up Danny Fox after he made 127 appearances for Nottingham Forest over a five-year period to join newly promoted championship side.
The playmaker, Oliver Norwood, one of the stars of Championship, remained in top two tiers’ scout radar, signing permanently for Sheffield United in a move from Premier League top flight Brighton and Hove Albion.
In line with their policy of snapping up global footballer talent, Derby County signed the former English international left back who already has 107 caps for his country, from his release of LA Galaxy in Major Soccer League. He became the first signing in January for the Rams’ boss Frank Lampard.
Andy King made a surprise switch to English second’s tier. The Leicester’s midfielder, who is currently the longest-serving Foxes player has made 390 club appearances and scored 64 goals.
The promising 21-year-old Callum Connolly swapped Wigan Athletic for Championship rival Bolton Wanderers in a season-long loan deal.
The veteran Welsh central defender, James Collins who will turn 36 this August, signed for Ipswich Town.
Brentford head coach Thomas Frank used his Danish connections to bring the highly promising Denmark Under-17 forward Gustav Mogensen from AGF to the Championship.
Liam Ridgewell joined Nigel Adkins’ championship side, Hull City who fend off the interest from other team in championship.
Championship Table as of 21 January, 2019
| Pos | Team | G | GD | Pts | Up/(Dn) |
| 1 | Leeds | 28 | 17 | 54 | 0 |
| 2 | Norwich | 28 | 16 | 53 | 0 |
| 3 | West Brom | 28 | 22 | 50 | 0 |
| 4 | Sheff. Utd | 28 | 17 | 50 | 0 |
| 5 | M’boro | 28 | 11 | 47 | 0 |
| 6 | Derby | 28 | 5 | 46 | 0 |
| 7 | Bristol City | 28 | 6 | 44 | 4 |
| 8 | Hull | 28 | 6 | 40 | 6 |
| 9 | Swansea | 28 | 5 | 40 | 4 |
| 10 | Blackburn | 28 | -4 | 40 | 5 |
| 11 | Birmingham | 28 | 7 | 39 | (4) |
| 12 | Nottm Forest | 28 | 7 | 39 | (2) |
| 13 | Aston Villa | 28 | 6 | 39 | (4) |
| 14 | QPR | 28 | -5 | 39 | (6) |
| 15 | Stoke | 28 | -2 | 38 | (3) |
| 16 | Sheff. Wed | 28 | -12 | 35 | 0 |
| 17 | Brentford | 28 | 4 | 34 | 1 |
| 18 | Preston | 28 | -2 | 33 | (1) |
| 19 | Millwall | 28 | -10 | 29 | 1 |
| 20 | Wigan | 28 | -13 | 29 | (1) |
| 21 | Rotherham | 28 | -19 | 25 | 1 |
| 22 | Reading | 28 | -12 | 23 | 1 |
| 23 | Bolton | 28 | -24 | 22 | (2) |
| 24 | Ipswich | 28 | -26 | 18 | 0 |