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It’s a wild beast that refuses to be tamed, deadline day. From sex toys being flung at reporters live on air last year, to De Gea-Gate reaching farcical heights in Madrid. Football clubs have months to do business, but the final day of the summer transfer window never fails to disappoint.
Amid the blame game between Real and Manchester United and Arsenal’s inactivity, a number of Australians were among the movers, mostly in promising signs for the Socceroos.
Robbie Kruse had been recalled by Ange Postecoglou to face Bangladesh in Perth this week, but the Socceroos boss opted to allow him to continue his recovery from injury.
The attacker’s time at Bayer Leverkusen has been a tale of two roads. He’s shown flashes of brilliance and made his mark at one of the Bundesliga’s top clubs, but persistent injuries have blighted his progress.
So it can only be good news that he’s secured a season-long loan to Stuttgart, where he’ll link up with Aussie goalkeeper Mitch Langerak. A consistent and injury-free season could see Kruse rediscover the form we know he’s capable of for club and country.
One of the stranger deadline moves was James Troisi to Saudi club Al-Ittihad. Juventus finally parted way with the midfielder, though the link with the Serie A champions always seemed tenuous.
He enjoyed successful loan stints at Melbourne Victory and Zulte Waregem in Belgium, which raised hopes that he might once again be able to establish himself in Europe.
Troisi was omitted from the World Cup qualifiers against Bangladesh and Tajikistan, with Postecoglou admitting the Asian Cup hero has been “underdone” by his injuries.
Of course, if the 27-year-old continues to perform in the Middle East, he’ll still be in the frame for selection. Ange’s squad this time around includes players from England’s fourth tier (Alex Cisak) and the UAE (Mark Milligan), proving form is among the lead criteria for Socceroos selection.
There were minor fears of Tommy Oar’s selection, given that he was clubless when he was named in the squad.
Thankfully, Oar was signed by Championship side Ipswich Town on Friday. It’s the first time in his senior career that Oar will play in a second-tier competition, having spent five years at Eredivisie side FC Utrecht after moving to the Netherlands from Brisbane Roar. But it will provide him an opportunity to develop some consistency in a challenging and lengthy league.
There could have been a brief scare at the end of the Spanish transfer window for Mat Ryan, who successfully underwent arthroscopic surgery on a knee injury he sustained at the weekend.
He’ll be out for up to six weeks, and Valencia were reportedly interested in Paris-Saint Germain gloveman Salvatore Sirigu, but fortunately for Ryan, the Italian turned them down, according to Le Parisien.
There was a bit more breathing space in the UK transfer window, allowing Adam Taggart to join Scottish Premier League outfit Dundee United.
He’s had a turbulent time at Fulham, yet to make a first team appearance, with injury hampering his cause. After making his World Cup debut against Spain last year, groin problems dogged Taggart’s progress and he returned to Newcastle as part of his rehabilitation late last year.
The 22-year-old played the final two games of the season for Fulham’s Under-21s side – against Chelsea and Tottenham – and appears to have a full pre-season under his belt.
Taggart will be greeted by a familiar face in Dundee, with Socceroo Ryan McGowan having established himself under Jackie McNamara.
Meanwhile, Socceroos skipper Mile Jedinak’s move to Stoke City has been put off, for now. It was a swift turn of events that saw Jedinak seemingly forced out of Palace. Captain and playing regularly during the first half of last season, he may have been undone by the Asian Cup.
When Jedinak returned to London, manager Alan Pardew appeared content with the squad he had moulded in the midfielder’s absence and the off-season addition of Yohan Cabaye meant he began the season on the bench.
An injury in the League Cup last week compounded Jedinak’s woes and made a move away from Selhurst Park still seems the ideal option.
Hopefully he makes a quick recovery, establishes himself for Palace again and can get some regular football.
Earlier in the window, Cisak (Leyton Orient), Jason Davidson (Huddersfield), Mass Luongo (QPR) and Tomi Juric (Roda JC) all made key moves. Cisak has begun the season with three clean sheets from Orient’s five consecutive wins to begin the season; Davidson has established himself early doors in the Championship and Luongo has picked up where he left off at Swindon, assisting the winner against Huddersfield on Saturday.
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