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We’ve finally seen some movement in the transfer window after more hold-ups than the M1 in rush hour. Gary Cahill’s will-he-won’t-he switch from Bolton to Chelsea has gone through and Newcastle have spent some of the cash that was burning a hole in Mike Ashley’s pocket from Andy Carroll’s move to Liverpool. Oh, and an up-and-coming youngster called David Beckham has signed a new contract at LA Galaxy. But the question the Life’s A Pitch panel are asking themselves is: “Will they be a hit or a miss?”

The Daily Mirror’s John Cross is convinced new Chelsea signing Gary Cahill will be an instant success. “He’ll be a big hit, particularly at that price,” John says. “They [Chelsea] are reuniting the England partnership with [John] Terry and Cahill and that’s [Fabio] Capello’s first choice at the moment. It’s a good partnership and it can grow at Chelsea and improve for England. I think he’s solid, and he’ll be a breath of fresh air on from [David] Luiz, who is an accident waiting to happen. I think it’ll only strengthen Chelsea.”

Another player likely to be a sure-fire hit is Newcastle’s new number nine Papiss Cisse, says former Arsenal player and journalist Adrian Clarke. “Newcastle don’t give away the number nine shirt easily, so they obviously rate him very highly,” Adrian explains. “He’s a player that’s outgrown Freiburg and he’s done very well over there. I like the look of him; he’s Senegalese, so he will have a good understanding with Demba Ba. He’s a tall, rangy kind of player. I don’t think he’s got any special tricks up his sleeve necessarily, but he’ll unsettle defences, he’ll get at them, and he’s got a decent eye for goal. I think for £10million, hats off to Alan Pardew for keeping this one under the radar, it’s come from nowhere. And I think it’s going to strengthen Newcastle in the run-in, so I think he’ll be a hit.”

Meanwhile, Ian Ridley of the Daily Express was dumbfounded at David Beckham’s decision to sign a new contract with LA Galaxy when Paris Saint-Germain were interested. “I’m very surprised he turned down Paris Saint-Germain,” he says. “I thought he would want to win a title in another country, having won the title with LA Galaxy, and would want a new challenge closer to home. But I guess the lifestyle, not upsetting his kids and the way of life, and his wife as well, they seem to have settled in very well out there. Plus I would imagine that LA have told him to take as much time as he needs for the Olympics because I think that’s where he sees his big part of the year. A hit as a player, maybe.”

Related articles:

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Will Torres and Carroll rediscover their goalscoring touch?

 The Chinese offer is so good Drogba may even go this month

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