The 2012 Summer Transfer Window thread

[Thrilla]

What sort of emergency could ever be solved by Leroy Lita?

[brenchill]

Perhaps he moonlights as a firefighter?

[Pesci]

Lita's not that bad. He could do a decent job for a Championship side.

As for Neymar, he'll obviously play in Europe before his career's over. Thing is, Brazilian football is in the kind of condition where teams don't have to accept £40m or £50m bids, especially for a player who's so popular, and he's already on ridiculous wages at Santos. I don't think it's as simple as him going to Real or Barca in a few years. Then again I wouldn't be surprised if there's some sort of financial incentive from somewhere for him to stay in Brazil until the World Cup and possibly even the Olympics is/are over.

[Thrilla]

Birmingham already have Marlon King, Peter Lovenkrands, Nikola Zigic and whoever else is in the squad and youth set up, they're hardly struggling to field eleven players, I don't see the emergency. I always assumed that emergency loans were just for keeper shortages anyway.

[Colly]

Isn't the loan window open anyway? Surely that's just a normal loan, can't remember the last non keeper emergency one.

[Lineker]

It is a normal 93 day loan, no idea why its been dubbed an 'emergency' loan.

[Noah]

Del Piero could sign Sky Blues deal today

Round of applause … Alessandro Del Piero has shaken hands on

a deal that will bring him to Sydney for six months. Photo: Getty Images

THE deal to bring Alessandro Del Piero to Sydney FC is all but done - and the Larry Zbyszkoary Italian forward could officially sign with the Sky Blues as early as today.

The Herald understands Del Piero has now shaken hands on a deal with Sydney's representatives and it is only a matter of sorting out the auxiliary details that accompany a signing of this magnitude.

There could be an official announcement from Del Piero's people this week that a deal has been completed and Sydney are hopeful it can be formally sealed as soon as possible.

The Sky Blues have been represented at the talks in Turin by chief executive Tony Pignata and player agent Lou Sticca after they arrived in Italy on Monday morning.

The pair have been followed everywhere by Italian press who are desperate to know where the country's most revered active player is going.

Club chairman Scott Barlow has remained in Sydney during negotiations but has played an active role in coming up with the money, thought to be $2 million for a six-month contract, and meeting the extra conditions Del Piero's representatives have requested.

The reason for the delay in signing is not because Del Piero is having second thoughts about coming to Australia, as has been suggested in some quarters. Instead, much of the delay has been due to the requirements of Del Piero's extensive management team, which employs around 40 staff, even in Tokyo, where Il Pinturicchio - the little painter - has a cult following.

Once they are able to synchronise their preparations for the next and quite possibly final stage of Del Piero's career the deal will be signed off.

Sydney are also trying to work out the fine print of how they can maximise their return from the expensive venture. Suddenly, the club becomes an infinitely more attractive proposition for potential sponsors, members and visiting teams seeking friendly matches.

However, with one month until the opening match of the A-League season, organising a high-profile pre-season friendly may prove difficult, especially as most European leagues are already under way.

It is more likely they will try to arrange a friendly against another A-League club, or even a state league team, to give Del Piero at least one game before Sydney's first match, away to Wellington on October 6.

I love this word filter.

[Adam]

Anyone signed in this loan window (max loan 93 days) is called an emergency loan, that's just how it is. It's basically a short-term loan, not necessarily an emergency.

[Matt]

It is a normal 93 day loan, no idea why its been dubbed an 'emergency' loan.

It's dubbed an emergency loan because the idea of them is that you're only supposed to use them in the case of emergencies. You're supposed to have your squad ready on deadline day but they accept that lower league clubs may not be able to afford to have a squad big enough to cover a crisis, and thus they're allowed to bring in players on a short term basis (93 days maximum) on short notice (they only need to be registered a matter of hours before a game).

Of course that system kinda goes to shit when you have a cunt of a chairman who decides that using these loans is a better idea than actually signing players and you end up getting 68 of them in 8 years.

[Lineker]

68 little emergencies

[Gazz]

Neymar's £140,000 a week wages, paid for by Santos' sponsors probably helps too. He has no real reason to move to Europe other than his own will to prove himself at the highest level.

[Crybaby Bunting]

Besides, he's spent his entire youth and professional career at Santos, why not stay and try to mimic his (presumably) idol Pele?

[HailtotheYo]

^ thaaaaank yooooouuuu

[DavidMarrio]

David Bentley has gone on loan to FC Rostov in Russia

[Lineker]

Better than rotting in our reserves, good luck to him I suppose.

[9 to 5]

Does Rostov have CL football?

[Cymbols]

Does Rostov have CL football?

Nah, they finished 10th last year.

[Lineker]

Just found out that despite moving to l'OM, Joey Barton still has to serve the remaining 9 games of his suspension

[Gazz]

Of course, he will, Ben Arfa missed the first leg against Atromitos because of a ban going back to 2007 (maybe even earlier) I believe.

I always remember on FM11, Jack Wilshere moved to Juventus and spent about 15 seasons there but he always had a 1 match PL ban to serve for 5 yellow cards.

[Colly]

Didn't someone else just go to Rostov? Sinama Pongolle? Or am I going mental?