Around the Premier League: Lower mid-table

We've looked at the top of the table and the second tier of teams in the current Premier League table, so today we'll get around to looking at the teams on the top of the bottom half of the table.  These were generally some of the quieter teams out there, so this one won't have quite as many links as the previous two.

Everton had a pretty noisy finish to the transfer window, but not in a good way.  Jermaine Beckford, Mikel Arteta, and Aiyegbeni Yakubu all left the club on deadline day. Royal Blue Mercy isn't entirely down on the moves, however, and sees some reasons to remain optimistic.

Queens Park Rangers were big movers over the last two weeks.  After signing  the notorious Joey Barton last week, Neil Warnock also wrapped up the signings of Shaun Wright Phillips and Antoine Ferdinand on deadline day.  They also brought in young keeper Tommaso Tranni who was once highly regarded in the AC Milan youth system.  Jason Puncheon was added on loan after a succesful loan spell at Blackpool last year as well, and last week's starting left back for Arsenal, Amand Traore, joined on a three year contract.  QPR certainly took a very different approach t deadline day than Norwich and Swansea did, and in doing so probably greatly improved their odds of staying up this season.  They certainly added both talent and depth to the squad, so at this point I'd be shocked if they are still in the relegation discussion come the January window.

After QPR sit our next opponent Sunderland.  There was fairly little news at deadline day from up north, but the one move was a pretty good one in my opinion.  They acquired Nicklas Bendtner from Arsenal on a season long loan with an option to buy.  Bendtner ought to pair nicely with Asomoah Gyan, who was rumored to be on his way out the door but eventually stayed.  The two offer a nice contrast in styles, with Gyan likely playing slightly back in support of the more traditional Bendtner.  I also think this is a good fit for the big dane, who just was not a fit in Arsene Wenger's system at Arsenal.

Norwich City didn't do a whole lot at the deadline.  The only move of note was allowing Cody McDonald to leave for Coventry, and that likely won't make much if any impact on the club's attempt to avoid being sent back down after one year.

Swansea was also pretty quiet, but they made a pair of solid depth signing on the final day of the window to bolster their chances of survival.  Darnel Situ is probably not going to start much for Swansea's defense, but he'll be nice depth in the case of injury striking.  Fede Bassone also re-joined the club after being allowed by Leeds to leave on a free transfer.  

Sorry about the gap between posts in this series, but this weekend was hectic here to say the least.  Look for the last 5 teams to be reviewed in a few hours assuming this most recent rain storm doesn't continue to play havoc with life in Vermont.