The Loan Arranger

Bang.

As the transfer window slammed shut last night, I looked back on the signings my beloved Norwich had made and I couldn't help but be happy. We tried to sign two players for cash yesterday but were scuppered by a ridiculous price for one (Scunthorpe wanted 5 million for Martin Paterson-Who??) and circumstance buried the other.

Martin 'Tiny' (he is 6ft 4) Taylor was top of the shopping list for Norwich boss Glenn Roeder but Bongo FC decided not to sell. Had Villa reject Gary Cahill committed himself to years of Derby Day abuse at Bongo, we would have nabbed our man. Instead Cahill went to Bolton, leaving Bongo short at the back. This one is definitely not dead though. I expect 'Tiny' to reappear in the summer or maybe as soon as next week!

Championship clubs can still arrange a loan starting in six days. I will be keeping my fingers crossed that Bongo's African backline return from the sunny cup in Ghana sooner rather than later. Roeder also revealed today that he was victim to Gary Megson's deadline day decisions twice! Apparently we were close to signing Gregorz Rasiak before he decided to spend his time patrolling Bolton's halfway line waiting for chances that won't come.

So what did we learn about the January transfer window? Its for mugs that's what!

Check out this list of late movers:

Andy Reid: 4 mil from Charlton to Sunderland.
David Norris: 2.5 mil from Plymouth to the scum.
Alan Hutton: 9 mil from The Pope's Rangers to Spurs.
Gary Cahill: 5 mil from Villa to Bolton.
Afonso Alves: 12 mil from Heerenveen to Boro (they will be having a schmoke and a pancake in Holland tonight!)

All of the above would have been at least half those prices come June. No doubt Spurs did good business yesterday. They grabbed Brazil left back Gilberto for under 2 mil, but spending 9 mil on a player that's only been tested in the inferior league that is the SPL is just plain bonkers. Benjani was going for the same price and he is a proven net buster at the highest level.

Another sign that the window is for desperados was the revelation that Reading wanted 7 million for Leroy Lita!!

While Roeder could have spent his war chest on one or two pricey players what good would that have been? After an awful start to the season super Glenn saved the day and currently has City on a 10 game unbeaten run and 9 points from the playoffs.

However.... The playoffs are still a mile away and splashing the cash on 2 now instead of 4 maybe 5 in the summer would NOT have guaranteed a top 6 end either (are you listening Namath?). Instead Roeder opened his little black book this month and signed 6 of the hottest young stars of tomorrow to help us push on today.

In came Chelsea left back of the future Ryan Bertrand. Highly rated Arsenal winger Kieron Gibb. Gibb proved a handful for both Blackeye Rovers and West Brom in Arsenals Carling Cup run this season.

Sven Goran Erikkson kindly lent us Ched Evans till the end of the season also. Ched had already been on loan at Carrow Road but his longer stay relied on Human Rights FC's transfer activity. Ched has already scored four goals for us.

Add Boro defender Matthew Bates and Reading pair Alex Pearce and James Henry and Roeder's new year transfer work looks to be woth a good pat on the back. Henry was wanted by Spurs but Steve Coppell obviously rates the lad as one for the reading team of the future. All of these future Premiership stars will be hungry an that can only be good news for Norwich fans.

I nearly forgot to mention that we had already signed Mo Camara from Derby Yankees and Matty Paterson from Newcastle earlier this month. This is how you deal in the January window.

So a recap for any Ipswich readers:

8 players in.
10 games unbeaten.
9 points from the playoffs.
Converting a title contenders average of 2 points per game.

January rocks. If you are not a mug!

-Bigus