IT IS that time of the season again, when footballers are done playing musical chairs. Yes, the EPL transfer deadline is up and some players who had been eyeing a move have gotten their wish.
Joleon Lescott finally completed his move to Manchester City from Everton with time to spare. But as history has proved, the decision to join a more ambitious club has not always worked out well for a player.
Here's a look at five such transfers, in decending order of success.
5. Scott Parker
Parker left Charlton Athletic for Chelsea in a controversial manner in 2004. Sure, he ended up winning the league (04/05 season) and made a semi-final appearance in the Champions League with the Blues. But the more telling statistics are these: He started one game and made three substitute appearances for Chelsea in his second season with the club. Quite a nightmare for a "dream move".
4. Robbie Keane
He returned to Tottenham just six months after leaving for boyhood club Liverpool. Rafael Benitez saw Keane net only five goals in 19 league appearances for the Reds and decided to "cut losses". Apparently, so did Keane.
3. David Bentley
Bentley drove off to Tottenham from Blackburn Rovers in 2008, but has never found top gear since. After establishing himself as one of the top right midfielders in the country with his performances at Ewood Park - even earning a place in the England set-up - Bentley will now have to be content with a place on the bench at White Hart Lane. Needless to say, the lack of starts will do his international career no good prior to the World Cup next year.
2. Kevin Nolan
Sitting comfortably above the relegation zone with Bolton Wanderers (for most seasons, anyway) proved too boring for Nolan. The decision to join Newcastle United at the start of this year proved "impossible to turn down". Well, at least he now knows what it's like to be at the top of the table - of the Championship division anyway.
1. Michael Owen
Owen left Liverpool for, in his words, the best team in the world in 2004. In Spain, he was mainly employed as a substitute in a trophy-less season at the Bernabeu. Meanwhile, Liverpool ended their season with Champions League glory. Ouch!
If ever there were cautionary tales that the grass is not always greener on the other side, these players have provided them.