Skip over video

Deadline day was a typical flurry of last-minute deals as clubs scrambled for the signatures of players they believe will bring success. Three transfers that caught the eye were Clint Dempsey’s short trip from Fulham to Tottenham, former Bologna winger Gastón Ramírez’s arrival at promoted Southampton and Manchester City’s capture of Scott Sinclair from Swansea. Here, the Life’s a Pitch team look at whether these deadline-day deals will prove to be value for money or a waste of time.

The Daily Mirror’s Martin Lipton is convinced Dempsey improves Tottenham’s attacking potency. “He gives them options up front,” he says, “He’ll certainly score goals, he’s in his prime as a player. Liverpool should have got him, Spurs have got him, he’s a hit for me.”

Uruguayan international Ramírez also brings attacking threat, says the Sunday Mirror’s David Walker, but he wonders if Southampton would have been better off spending the reported £12m on defensive reinforcements. “He has a lot of skill, left footed, takes great free-kicks, very eye-catching. My only concern – is that the type of player Southampton need to stay up? Looking at their opening games, they look like a team that’s going to ship loads of goals and that their defence is going to be their big problem. It could cost them their chance of staying up. I think the defence needed that money spent on it. I’ll say a miss.”

The Mail on Sunday’s Ian Ridley is equally sceptical about Sinclair’s big leap to champions Man City. ”He obviously fits in with their new policy of trying to get younger English players in as a basis for the future, but I’m a bit concerned. I’m wondering if this is the right place for him. Will he play? He was Swansea’s penalty taker, but he’ll never get near a penalty at Manchester City. I don’t think he’s going to make too much of an appearance there and I suspect this is going to be a miss.”

Watch the full video discussion by clicking on the play button in the image above. 

Related articles:

Order a copy of Life’s a Pitch anthology

Video: “Villas-Boas wants to win things this season”

 Mike Calvin: Time Mancini made the best of his resources at Man City

 Sahin, César and Modric: Hit or Miss?

Follow Life’s A Pitch on Twitter @BTLifesaPitch

Watch  Tottenham, Swansea and Manchester City live on BT Vision:
Reading v Tottenham, 3.30pm, 16 September, Sky Sports 1
Swansea v Everton, 12.30pm, 22 September, Sky Sports 2
Manchester City v  Arsenal, 3.30pm, 23 September, Sky Sports 1

Don’t have BT Vision? Find out how to get it