EPL Transfer News: 5 Biggest Losers from Transfer Deadline Day

With the transfer window closing this week, manager's up and down England will now know that signing a player is no longer a solution to any problems they have.

Whether teams are pleased to lose no stars, or frustrated to have not signed any quality, they have the squad they have and must get the best out of their squad in order to succeed.

Many people will be pleased with the outcome of deadline day, but here we take a look at who the biggest losers were as the window slammed shut.

5. Gary Cahill

Gary Cahill is one of England's best defensive talents, and is without doubt headed to play in the elite levels of the game.  After being linked with moves to Arsenal, Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur during the summer, Cahill ended up staying put and will form the foundation of the Bolton Wanderers defense.

While Cahill remains a Premier League and international player—in fact he scored his first international goal this weekit will not be until he joins a top level club that he can grace the UEFA Champions League and win the trophies and medals his talent deserves.

4. Steve McLaren

Former England manager Steve McLaren took over Nottingham Forest with the sole intention of returning the once great club to the Premier League.

While bullishly confident in interviews, McLaren consistently reinforced his belief that to achieve the objective of promotion, Forest would need to add a number of players.

When the window slammed shut, McLaren obviously did not feel the necessary signings had been made.  The Guardian website reported rumors of McLaren considering his future as Forest boss after only four games in charge.

"He is disappointed and frustrated at the lack of further additions, as he thinks he is short of what is required to take the club to promotion," a source was quoted as saying, "he is going away for a few days to reflect on things."

3. El Hadji Diouf

El Hadji Diouf has managed to represent eight clubs during his 13 year career.  Diouf's early career was littered with controversy and behavioral issues that have included spitting on fans.

In his more recent years, we have consistently heard interviews with Diouf himself, and received anecdotal stories from manager's, that Diouf was a changed and more mature character.

Just when that belief was going to set in, Diouf found himself unemployed when Blackburn Rovers cancelled his contract.  

It is believed that Diouf's criticism of Blackburn manager Steve Kean in the media earlier this month played a key role in his departure from Ewood, and has left him looking for club number nine.

2. Peter Crouch

Lanky striker Peter Crouch has an international strike rate of 22 goals in only 42 games for the England national team.  His imposing presence and link play is difficult for any defender to deal with, and when he was banging goals in for Liverpool, Crouch had many believing he was heading into the echelon of England striker's.

He had a successful Tottenham Hotspur career and will go down in history as scoring the goal that qualified Spurs for the UEFA Champions League.

Crouch has now gone to Stoke City which, in theory, is a good move but in reality will likely end with him leaving the club within 18 months.

The theory is that the giant beanpole will score 84 goals from corner's, and from long throw merchant Rory Delap.

The reality is that Stoke boss Tony Pulis has a clinical phobia of talented strikers.  Pulis headbutted James Beattie for having the nerve to score crucial goals, leading the team to safety in their return to the Premier League.

Pulis also benched David Kitson as soon as any sign of goal scoring form emerged, and made sure talented Turk Tuncay Sanli could produce no more than an entertaining cameo from the bench.  Ricardo Fuller also fell out with Pulis during his best run of form for the club.

Expect Crouch to fall out with Pulis shortly after reaching double figures in goals for the Potters.

1. Everton Fans

Everton, as a club, did not necessarily lose in the transfer window.  The Toffee's are in dire financial straits and the money generated by the sale of Mikel Arteta and Jermaine Beckford will keep the bank manager happy. Additionally, the space freed up on the wage bill will be a welcome relief.

However, fans will never be excited by balancing the books and it must hurt to see the departure of a gifted goal scorer and their favorite little Spaniard playmaker.  

The odds of replacements being found in the winter transfer window are also miniscule, as a recent discussion leaked between Bill Kenwright and the Blue Union supporter's club revealed that money is simply not there to spend.

Indeed, one fan mentioned on deadline day that the club seemed so bereft of cash that they "could not afford a transfer rumor."