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With most football clubs seemingly assuming that the transfer window started and finished on 31 January, there has been precious little to discuss in the way of actual transfers. Luckily, three deals did make it through, and here the Life’s A Pitch panel gives its verdict on whether they’ll be a success or not. American centre-back Tim Ream has arrived from New York Red Bulls to fill the Gary Cahill-shaped hole in Bolton’s defence, Newcastle’s Alan Smith has dropped two divisions to MK Dons, and Wigan have brought Chile winger Jean Beausejour in from the cold at Birmingham.

Some Bolton fans may be underwhelmed by the arrival of Tim Ream, but Rory Smith of The Times has high hopes for the latest MLS export. “I think Bolton fans hoping for a replacement for Gary Cahill would probably have wanted someone slightly more high-profile, someone more proven, but Americans do well in the Premier League,” explains Rory. “He’s got [countryman] Stuart Holden there to help him settle in. I suspect that one’s a hit.”

Frozen out at Newcastle, meanwhile, former Leeds and Man Utd player Alan Smith has traded his £60,000-a-week wages for League One MK Dons. “Sadly his career never properly recovered from the fractured dislocation of his ankle he had at Liverpool that day [in 2006],” says the Sunday Mirror’s David Walker. “His career has gone downwards, he’s certainly not top-draw Premier League, but at MK Dons, given the leadership skills he’s got and the way he can inspire other people, he’ll be a definite hit.”

Finally, Janine Self of The People is not so optimistic for Wigan’s newest recruit, Jean Beausejour. “If he plays like he has been playing [at Birmingham], I have to say miss,” declares Janine. “I think it’s a brilliant bit of business by Birmingham, [given] they don’t need him anymore. He started the season well for Birmingham, but went away with Chile and hasn’t really set the world alight since he’s been back.”

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