What a letdown!

Wednesday, 01/02/2012

So that's it, January transfer deadline day over for another year.

But it went with a whimper rather than a bang. As those seconds ticked round you expected something big to happen, there had to be some massive last minute deal to get us talking.

Man City of Chelsea just had to splash the cash. Or Harry Redknapp would spring a massive surprise.

Sadly it didn't happen. Just £50m spent in total during the windown, as much as was forked out on the same day last year on Fernando Torres alone. Maybe that was a lesson learned...

It says a lot when we get excited by the shock free transfer move of Louis Saha from Everton to Tottenham!

A shrewd bit of business by Harry Redknapp? Or just a part of the deal that saw Steven Pienaar returned to Goodison Park on loan?

And who would have guessed that Newcastle owner Mike Ashley would write out the biggest cheque for one player, with his £9m for striker Papiss Cisse?

There are so many players now out on loan from various top-flight sides that you'll have a job remember who belongs to who!

But take a look at the full list of Premier League transfers in our new magazine and app and you will notice that the likes of Man United and Tottenham have been pretty cute.

They've got a lot of their youngsters out getting vital match experience in a number of different divisions.

They are not alone in that respect – and this could just be the building trend of grooming the stars of tomorrow yourself rather than buy in big name experienced players.

With the new financial rules coming into play and the current squad list system, plus rules on including home grown players it could just be that, at long last, we are going to see youngsters get their chance.

Even if they do have to go out on loan first!

• 

• Have your say