When the January transfer window closes on January 31 at 11pm all Premier League teams must submit their squads – there are often surprises to be had.
Other than confirming exactly who your team has signed in the frenzy that was the transfer window, it can also show you who your side have chosen to discard.
We will go through some of the interesting inclusions/omissions this annual procedure throws up.
ARSENAL
The most notable absence from the Gunners squad is that of goalkeeper Manuel Almunia. Not in any playing sense as Woijceich Szczesny has cemented his place as Arsene Wenger’s number one, but it does affect the other Polish goalkeeper at the club - Lukasz Fabianski.
Wenger had admitted to agreeing to let Fabianski make a loan move in January to boost his chances of a place in Poland’s Euro 2012 squad. The loan did not come about but the transfer windows in a number of other countries are still open, which meant he could still have moved in the next couple of week.
Almunia’s omission becomes significant because other reserve goalkeeper Vito Mannone is on loan to Hull City for the rest of the season and so Wenger would not have a reserve if Szczesny were to pick up an injury.
MANCHESTER CITY
The name that stands out amongst all others is that of Carlos Tevez, meaning the AWOL Argentine could once again turn out for the Citizens this season. If you had suggested this at anytime in the before the transfer window closed, some very friendly men in Daz white long jackets may have come to say hello.
As it turns out, Tevez was unable to secure a move away from the Etihad Stadium and faced having to spend the rest of the season not playing football or not picking up his wages while refusing to come back from his homeland.
However, incredibly, manager Roberto Mancini has come out to say that Tevez has a chance of pulling on the jersey once more, if he is fit enough (and, presumably, if he agrees to warm up).
MANCHESTER UNITED
With regards to senior players, there are some odd inclusions when their respective injuries are considered. Namely, Darren Fletcher and Nemanja Vidic, who are both supposed to be ruled out for the season, have been included in the 25-man squad.
Even more interestingly, Ravel Morrison has been included in the squad despite his move to West Ham United being confirmed on the final day of the transfer window. GMF does not want to speculate as to why this is, but it probably won’t leave West Ham fans feeling very confident.
LIVERPOOL
Kenny Dalglish was relatively quiet in the transfer window but he did make some moves to bring in some highly rated youngsters into the side. However, none of Jordan Ibe nor Joao Carlos Teixeira are named, even the list of Under-21s and scholars.
Added to this is the presence of Martin Hansen, who actually was reported to have left the club on the official Liverpool website.
Make what you will of the things we found in the squad lists, but it can’t be denied that some real oddities have been uncovered.
