By John ST

Soccer Net Live

Everyday, we are bombarded by news on the economic slowdown, housing mortgage crisis, credit squeeze and high inflation… add them up and we see a troubling picture of pay-cuts and unemployment looming ahead.

However, most superstars in the Premier League have no idea what a recession means. If anything, they will be clamoring for fatter pay packages as investors continue to spend exorbitant amount of money to grab a piece of the Premier League action.

In the recent transfer window, deadline deals break a Premier League transfer record by surpassing the 500 million mark from some 470 million in 2007.

As Paul Rawnsley, director of the Sports Business Group at Deloitte, remarked: “This transfer spending is far in excess of other European leagues. English football clubs are proving resilient to the current challenging economic environment.”

Can’t argue with his observation… and no complaints either since this crazy money provides us with great entertainment. Let’s review two of the last minute transfers and see whether this crazy money-inundated night yields any value for the Premier League clubs.

Manchester United

I am glad that Dimitar Berbatov is no longer sulking. A dream move to Manchester United on a four-year contract from Tottenham Hotspur for 30.75 million pounds finally came to fruition, making him the most expensive Bulgarian.

The Premier League and European champions had to fend off an audacious late bid from derby rival, Manchester City, to sign Berbatov. City offered a British record of 32.5 million pounds and higher wages but Alex Ferguson has already courted Berbatov’s heart.

City’s bid serve only to buttress Tottenham’s negotiation terms and to give their arch rival a miserable time by coughing up more cash. Tottenham are not going to give up their crown jewel cheaply, if at all, but the signing of Russian striker Roman Pavlyuchenko from Spartak Moscow for 17 million euros and a season long loan of United’s striker Fraizer Campbell allowed for a more flexible solution.

In any case, this was a deal which Alex Ferguson will not give up easily. With Cristiano Ronaldo sidelined until October after an operation, Louis Saha sold to Everton, that leaves Carlos Tevez and Rooney in Manchester United’s front line.

Most managers will gladly take this partnership which is sufficient to terrorize any defense but in the event of injuries or suspensions, United’s title hopes could be dashed. In fact, even without any mishap, there is an inherent problem, as seen from Crisitano Ronaldo scoring 42 goals last season.

Both Rooney and Tevez love to drop into deep positions, roam freely around the field and supply passes rather than to capitalize on goal-scoring opportunities. Ronaldo, as a midfielder, ended up shaming other Premier League strikers as he has little competition in putting away the chances.

Since Ronaldo is out of action and that vain pot seems more happy at Santiago Bernabeu, it is a matter of time before Manchester United run out of patience and place him on the selling list. But until then, the search for a conventional striker must be resolved first.

A point man in the box, much like what Ruud van Nistelrooy used to do is urgently needed, and Dimitar Berbatov fits that role like a glove. Berbatov has a history of slow starts in competitions but once he gets into the groove, he is unstoppable.

Between 2000-2006, Berbatov plied his trade in Bayer Leverkusen and he endured two forgettable seasons before establishing himself as the first-choice forward in the 2002–03 season.

The following year, he shone by scoring 16 goals in 24 starts and in the next two seasons, he grew from strength to strength, netting 46 goals including five in the Champions League, raising awareness of his prodigious talent throughout Europe.

In 2006, he was lured to Tottenham for a fee of 16 million pounds. He did not disappoint as he ended the 2006–07 season with 12 goals in 33 appearances in the Premier League and 11 assists. That form coincided with one of Tottenham’s best showing in the Premier League in recent years.

Despite Tottenham’s shaky start last season, Berbatov still managed 15 league goals (overall of 23 goals in all competitions) and an identical 11 assists.

Considering the ammunition at Berbatov’s disposal from the free-flowing attacks launched by his Manchester United teammates this season, and this being his third season in the Premier League, I will not be surprised if he score 30 goals, barring injuries.

Manchester City

It was not a bad day for Manchester City despite losing out on Dimitar Berbatov. They secured Robinho’s transfer from Real Madrid for around 32.5 million pounds. Spanish sports daily Marca revealed that Robinho will be paid six million euros (C$9.3 million) per season - about three times what he reportedly earned at Madrid.

Are they trying to paint Robinho as a mercenary? That he left for monetary rather than football reasons? I believe Robinho will not have left Madrid under any circumstances if he was treated with dignity. During Madrid’s hot pursuit of Cristiano Ronaldo, they were insensitive to Robinho’s feeling which hastened his departure. After all, nobody likes to be told they are surplus to requirement.

Manchester City also snapped up defender Vedran Corluka for 8.5 million pounds. City certainly has the cash. Their financial muscles bulged after the club confirmed a memorandum of understanding with an Abu Dhabi investment company for a takeover. Thaksin will remain as a board member but without “administrative duties.”

Robinho’s arrival was definitely a stunner for me as the Brazil forward was all but ready to join manager Luiz Felipe Scolari at Stamford Bridge. In this case, money is secondary because Scolari commands a certain stature among fellow Brazilian players. That reputation came after he led his country to the World Cup glory in 2002, from a virtually impossible situation where Brazil was struggling to clear the qualifying rounds.

The fact that City snatched Robinho under the nose of Roman Abramovich indicates that they are now in a position to challenge super-rich Chelsea for players, at any price. At least, United can heave a sigh of relief as City did them a favor by stopping Robinho from bolstering Chelsea squad.

Mark Hughes was delighted, saying: “I have said that in order to compete with the best teams in the Premier League we have to be in the market for players of this calibre, and Robinho is undoubtedly one of the best players in the world. This is a real statement of intent as to the ambitions of Manchester City Football Club.”

Is Robinho value for money? After all, he won the Spanish league for the past two years with Real Madrid and has scored 11 times in 42 caps for Brazil.

In the 2005-2006 season, Robinho made 37 appearances and scored eight goals. The following year, he fell out of favour with new manager Fabio Capello, and was benched for a long spell. He got a break after winter by forcing into the first XI. Last season,he contributed eleven goals and fourteen assists for Real Madrid.

However, I am not sure how much change Robinho can wrought on Manchester City’s fortune as Brazilians are relegated to water-carriers and do not take the Premier League by storm. Robinho is an excellent dribbler but his close control is still inferior to Cristiano Ronaldo or Ronaldinho (at his best).Mark Hughes may be happy that the City management is fast in handing him the money to make quality signings but he has little time to build his team. Expectations are high and it will be unlike Blackburn where there are little hopes of competing for trophies and Hughes calls the shots without question.

The atmosphere at City will be a pressure cooker, not because of the fans but because of the management. Results will be demanded from him quickly, according to the ambitious plans tabled by Thaksin, else he may be forced to follow Eriksson’s footsteps.

I have a feeling his new Middle East boss will be no less demanding or ruthless than Thaksin when it comes to non-performance.