The final post in my 'Half Time Report' series follows my blogs rounding up the European activity this year and my Premier League team of 2014. More importantly, this week's FifPro XI came under considerable criticism for its inclusion of, among others, David Luiz.
With this in mind, I thought it would be a good idea to put together my World Team of the Year. Same principle as my Premier League one, but across all leagues.
World Team of the Year (4-3-3)
Goalkeeper - Manuel Neuer (Bayern Munich) FIFPro XI - Manuel Neuer (Bayern Munich)
The first goalkeeper to be nominated for the Ballon d'Or since Gianluigi Buffon in 2006, this selection is probably one of the more obvious. The German keeper has had undoubtedly the best year of his illustrious career to date, claiming not only Bundesliga and German cup medals, but the Holy Grail of world football - the World Cup. Since then, the Bayern Munich goalie has been awarded the German player of the year, and has conceded just four league goals, with Sergio Aguero the only player to score more than once in a game against him!
Left back - Marcelo (Real Madrid) FIFPro XI - Thiago Silva (Paris Saint Germain)
A difficult position, this. No-one has particularly stood out at left back this year, with even the World Cup-winning German national team struggling to nail down a designated full back. However, following a seasons that saw his club side win the domestic and European cup double, including a vital goal in the Champions League final, and playing a pivotal role in his national side reaching the World Cup semi-finals on home soil, I felt Marcelo was most deserving.
Centre back - Diego Godin (Atletico Madrid) FIFPro XI - Sergio Ramos (Real Madrid)
For me, this was a surprise omission from the FifPro XI side. A towering centre back, Godin has had a remarkable 2014, captaining his Atletico Madrid side to their first La Liga title in XX years and to within a minute of Champions League glory, including scoring what would have been the winning goal. Though his Uruguayan side left the World Cup under a cloud thanks to Luis Suarez, Godin gave a good account of himself, and despite losing a number of key players in the summer, he has led Atletico into another title race this year.
Centre back - Jerome Boateng (Bayern Munich) FIFPro XI - David Luiz (Paris Saint Germain)
My replacement for arguably the most ridiculous inclusion into the FIFPro XI side. David Luiz has moved from a side under performing over the last few seasons, winning nothing last year with Chelsea despite high expectations, to Paris Saint Germain, a side that should be walking the title and domestic cup competitions. However, six months in, PSG find themselves behind both Lyon and Marseille - so in what universe has David Luiz been performing strongly? Oh, and there is also the little matter of the 7-1 thumping by Germany in the World Cup!
Anyway, enough of the negatives - Jerome Boateng has (and I bite my tongue as I say this) gone from strength to strength since he left Manchester City for Bayern Munich, becoming a first team regular and leading his side to another Bundesliga title and cup win. He has also nailed down a position for the national side, helping the German's to that historic World Cup win in July.
Right back - Philipp Lahm (Bayern Munich) FIFPro XI - Philipp Lahm (Bayern Munich)
Another fairly straight forward decision. As with the left back position, there has been a lack of stand out right-backs this year, but Philipp Lahm deserves to be in the team. Though often deployed as a defensive midfielder, his home is as a defensive wide man. As captain of both Bayern Munich and Germany, he has led sides to success both domestically and nationally. What a way to cap an outstanding career!
Left midfielder - Eden Hazard (Chelsea) FIFPro XI - Angel Di Maria (Real Madrid/Manchester United)
This was the other inclusion to the FifPro team that baffled me. Angel Di Maria, though a good player in Real Madrid's 'La Decima' campaign, was by no means a lynchpin. Since his move to Manchester United, he has shown glimpses of his brilliance, but injury and inconsistency has limited his effectiveness so far this season. With this in mind, I can't help but think that it is the outrageous price tag put on his head that has tipped the balance in his favour.
However, my choice is a more sensible one. The only inclusion from the Premier League, Eden Hazard has come on considerably in the last 12 months. Unlike many in this team, the Belgian has not got the same amount of trophies in the cabinet from the last year, but he has been a critical part of the success of both his club and national side - a role he has taken on with distinction so far this year. Should his form continue in this vein for the remainder of the season, I have little doubt that trophies will follow.
Central midfielder - James Rodriguez (AS Monaco/Real Madrid) FIFPro XI - Andres Iniesta (Barcelona)
The exclusion that most surprised me. Arguably the 'Player of the Tournament' at this summer's World Cup (why they gave that honour to Lionel Messi escapes me!), Rodriguez as a midfielder grabbed the Golden Boot and the Puskas Award for his incredible volley against Uruguay. This paved the way for his big money move to Real Madrid, where he has slotted seamlessly into the all-star side. Though like Hazard, he has yet to win a trophy in 2014, his individual achievements more than make up for this, and he deserves his place.
Right midfielder - Toni Kroos (Bayern Munich/Real Madrid) FIFPro XI - Toni Kroos (Bayern Munich/Real Madrid)
Like James Rodriguez, Toni Kroos's consistency, both at Bayern Munich and the World Cup, earned him a move to Madrid. Though not for the same multiples, there can be no denying that the young German has had a significant impact since arriving at the Bernabeu, and with a World Cup winner's medal already in his locker, there is no reason why the midfielder cannot go on to claim some of football's most historic trophies in the coming years.
Left forward - Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid) FIFPro XI - Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid)
A deserving winner of this year's Ballon d'Or, Cristiano Ronaldo has a goals to games ratio that is simply frightening. Though accusations of 'but how would be perform on a wintery night at Stoke' have been levelled at Lionel Messi, the same cannot be said for Ronaldo. Been there, done that, swapped the t-shirt. It is only a genuine shame that he carries his national team quite so heavily, making it unlikely he will claim football's biggest prize. I do wonder how well Portugal might have done if Ronaldo had been part of the side with Luis Figo and the like at the height of his powers - the results would have been frightening!
Centre forward - Lionel Messi (Barcelona) FIFPro XI - Lionel Messi (Barcelona)
A fairly quiet year by Lionel Messi's standard - though it is worth noting that he reached a World Cup final, scoring over 40 goals along the way! He hasn't quite had the same drive and momentum as a few seasons ago, with injury beginning to curtail his playing time and affecting form. Awarded the 'Player of the Tournament' (though this is disputed), he got Argentina out of tough spots time after time and dragged them kicking and screaming into the latter stages. Though his club side has had a disappointing season, leading to questions about the little Argentine's future, I remain convinced he will be a Barcelona player, scoring ridiculous amounts of goals for years to come.
Right forward - Arjen Robben (Bayern Munich) FIFPro XI - Arjen Robben (Bayern Munich)
Having watched Manchester City play Bayern Munich in the Champions League this season, I can honestly say that Robben is the only player that, every time he received the ball, I almost expected to score. Having helped Bayern to dominate the Bundesliga, the Dutch master terrorised the world champions Spain in Group C of the World Cup, scoring twice and running Sergio Ramos ragged all game in the 5-1 crushing. The ball looks forever glued to his feet, and though you can often accuse him of being greedy at times, you can hardly blame him when he scores so often. I'm sure Jose Mourinho will be looking at Robben as 'the one that got away' for Chelsea.
Bench: Thibaut Courtois (Atletico Madrid/Chelsea), Sergio Ramos (Real Madrid), Yaya Toure (Manchester City), Neymar (Barcelona), Gareth Bale (Real Madrid), Diego Costa (Atletico Madrid/Chelsea), Sergio Aguero (Manchester City)
Unlike the FIFPro XI announced on Monday, I think there can be little complaints about my alternative - though I would say that! Interestingly, only six of my side made it into the official team, demonstrating the strength of a number of teams around the world. Though my team is made up of just four teams, there are justifiable replacements for a number of these positions (just not David Luiz or Angel Di Maria!).
Who would make your team?
Analysis of sporting events, talking points and controversies.
Saturday 24 January 2015
Saturday 17 January 2015
Half Time Report: Premier League Team of 2014
Following the Ballon d'Or ceremony, which saw an abject lack of players from the English league, and the second half of this season under way, it's a good time for me to pick my Premier League team of 2014.
Here I'll be looking not only at the first half of this season, but the back end of last to determine who should be considered one of the best Premier League players of 2014.
Goalkeeper - David de Gea (Manchester United)
Towards the back end of last year, he was in the category of good, but not great. However, the poor defensive performances from United this season have seen de Gea move ahead of the likes of Hart and Lloris and into this team. Having almost single-handedly saved United's season in the early sticky patch at the beginning of Louis van Gaal's reign, he has secured them points at home to Everton and away to both Arsenal and Southampton. As a result, he deserves his place, and is set to be key in the run-in.
Left back - Cesar Azpilicueta (Chelsea)
Though he hasn't been necessarily the most talked about player in the Premier League, he can certainly stake his claim for the best left back. By the end of last season, I'd have said that only Luke Shaw was ahead of the Chelsea player for performances, however, a well-publicised lack of fitness since his move to Manchester United and a string of injury problems mean that it's Azpilicueta that has been the most consistent left back, and deserves his place in my team.
Centre back - Vincent Kompany (Manchester City)
The City stalwart also makes the team. Though it hasn't necessarily been his greatest 12 months, he was still a significant driving force behind the club's second title win in three seasons. Again a consistent performer, himself and Martin Demichelis struck up a good defensive partnership at the back end of the season. Though City have failed to continue that form, it has not been as a result of the big Belgian, and City have missed him considerably since his injury.
Centre back - Martin Skrtel (Liverpool)
Despite Liverpool's defensive capitulation for the majority of this season, I still have to put Skrtel in this team. Primarily because no centre backs have particularly stood out, but he was also a critical figure in the Reds' march towards the title. His six goals from set pieces earned them valuable points against Manchester City last year, and Arsenal this, and has proven himself to be among the best in the Premier League.
Right back - Nathaniel Clyne (Southampton)
An absolute revelation this season. Run close for this place by Seamus Coleman's performances in the first half of the year, he has been a different class in the first half of this year. Both he and Ryan Bertrand have been flying down both wings for Southampton, leading to their incredible push into the Champions League places so far this season. If Southampton can keep hold of him long-term, I see them having the long-term England right back.
Left midfielder - Eden Hazard (Chelsea)
A no-brainer for the team. Probably the most deadly midfielder plying his trade in the Premier League today. With his exceptional pace and eye for a pass, he has laid claim to the title of the world's third best player. Scoring 18 goals in all competitions this year is a good return for a midfielder and with his 10 assists, he is always a real threat going forward. No defender in the world enjoys playing against him, so he should certainly be included.
Centre midfielder - Cesc Fabregas (Chelsea)
The only new signing to make the team, and no wonder! His 14 Premier League assists to date surpasses the total amassed by Steven Gerrard for the entirety of last season, and he now has Thierry Henry's league record of 20 well within his sights. Having contributed 17 assists and four goals in all competitions, Fabregas has been at the heart of Chelsea's drive towards the top of the Premier League, and has more than begin to repay the £30m spent on him.
Centre midfielder - Yaya Toure (Manchester City)
The enormous Ivorian was without a shadow of a doubt Manchester City's most influential player in their title winning season last year, outscoring the likes of Sergio Aguero, Alvaro Negredo and David Silva. Only Frank Lampard scored a greater number of goals in a season from midfield than Yaya, and despite an opening half of the season criticised by many (predominantly Paul Scholes), he still has nine goals. Not a bad return for a midfielder, and his lung-busting, powerful runs alone means he deserves his place.
Right midfielder - Raheem Sterling (Liverpool)
The find of the season last year. Raheem Sterling burst onto the scene with his lightning pace and skill, terrorising defences up and down the country and providing numerous chances for the SAS pair in Liverpool's strike force. He can score too, netting 12 times in 2014 and bursting into the England squad for the World Cup. Though Liverpool's demise this season has left him slightly out of the limelight, he has begun to be relied upon by the Reds far more for game-changing moments, and who would have expected that 18 months ago?
Striker - Luis Suarez (Liverpool)
Despite the biting incident, and his transfer to Barcelona in the summer, it would be doing his performances a disservice to leave the Uruguayan out of the team. As proven by Liverpool's drop-off, his performances led to the side's agonising run to title contention, only for a slip, and a catastrophic collapse from 3-0 at Crystal Palace to deny them. His 14 goals in all competitions for Liverpool this year put them on their incredible run of 16 Premier League games unbeaten, a run they can only dream of without him.
Striker - Sergio Aguero (Manchester City)
Again, a simple choice. Probably the best striker in the Premier League at present, and his statistics are simply absurd. 28 goals in 2014 in only 35 games is an incredible return for any player, with only Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo boasting a better record. He has single-handedly won games and saved points for Manchester City, most notably in Europe, where his hat-trick against Bayern Munich put City on the road for Champions League qualification. The only question that comes to mind is just how many goals would he have scored this year if he had avoided injury for such a large chunk of the early months?
Bench - Joe Hart (Manchester City), Leighton Baines (Everton), Seamus Coleman (Everton), Steven Gerrard (Liverpool), Wayne Rooney (Manchester United), Alexis Sanchez (Arsenal), Diego Costa (Chelsea)
So there is my selection - who would make your team?
Here I'll be looking not only at the first half of this season, but the back end of last to determine who should be considered one of the best Premier League players of 2014.
Goalkeeper - David de Gea (Manchester United)
Towards the back end of last year, he was in the category of good, but not great. However, the poor defensive performances from United this season have seen de Gea move ahead of the likes of Hart and Lloris and into this team. Having almost single-handedly saved United's season in the early sticky patch at the beginning of Louis van Gaal's reign, he has secured them points at home to Everton and away to both Arsenal and Southampton. As a result, he deserves his place, and is set to be key in the run-in.
Left back - Cesar Azpilicueta (Chelsea)
Though he hasn't been necessarily the most talked about player in the Premier League, he can certainly stake his claim for the best left back. By the end of last season, I'd have said that only Luke Shaw was ahead of the Chelsea player for performances, however, a well-publicised lack of fitness since his move to Manchester United and a string of injury problems mean that it's Azpilicueta that has been the most consistent left back, and deserves his place in my team.
Centre back - Vincent Kompany (Manchester City)
The City stalwart also makes the team. Though it hasn't necessarily been his greatest 12 months, he was still a significant driving force behind the club's second title win in three seasons. Again a consistent performer, himself and Martin Demichelis struck up a good defensive partnership at the back end of the season. Though City have failed to continue that form, it has not been as a result of the big Belgian, and City have missed him considerably since his injury.
Centre back - Martin Skrtel (Liverpool)
Despite Liverpool's defensive capitulation for the majority of this season, I still have to put Skrtel in this team. Primarily because no centre backs have particularly stood out, but he was also a critical figure in the Reds' march towards the title. His six goals from set pieces earned them valuable points against Manchester City last year, and Arsenal this, and has proven himself to be among the best in the Premier League.
Right back - Nathaniel Clyne (Southampton)
An absolute revelation this season. Run close for this place by Seamus Coleman's performances in the first half of the year, he has been a different class in the first half of this year. Both he and Ryan Bertrand have been flying down both wings for Southampton, leading to their incredible push into the Champions League places so far this season. If Southampton can keep hold of him long-term, I see them having the long-term England right back.
Left midfielder - Eden Hazard (Chelsea)
A no-brainer for the team. Probably the most deadly midfielder plying his trade in the Premier League today. With his exceptional pace and eye for a pass, he has laid claim to the title of the world's third best player. Scoring 18 goals in all competitions this year is a good return for a midfielder and with his 10 assists, he is always a real threat going forward. No defender in the world enjoys playing against him, so he should certainly be included.
Centre midfielder - Cesc Fabregas (Chelsea)
The only new signing to make the team, and no wonder! His 14 Premier League assists to date surpasses the total amassed by Steven Gerrard for the entirety of last season, and he now has Thierry Henry's league record of 20 well within his sights. Having contributed 17 assists and four goals in all competitions, Fabregas has been at the heart of Chelsea's drive towards the top of the Premier League, and has more than begin to repay the £30m spent on him.
Centre midfielder - Yaya Toure (Manchester City)
The enormous Ivorian was without a shadow of a doubt Manchester City's most influential player in their title winning season last year, outscoring the likes of Sergio Aguero, Alvaro Negredo and David Silva. Only Frank Lampard scored a greater number of goals in a season from midfield than Yaya, and despite an opening half of the season criticised by many (predominantly Paul Scholes), he still has nine goals. Not a bad return for a midfielder, and his lung-busting, powerful runs alone means he deserves his place.
Right midfielder - Raheem Sterling (Liverpool)
The find of the season last year. Raheem Sterling burst onto the scene with his lightning pace and skill, terrorising defences up and down the country and providing numerous chances for the SAS pair in Liverpool's strike force. He can score too, netting 12 times in 2014 and bursting into the England squad for the World Cup. Though Liverpool's demise this season has left him slightly out of the limelight, he has begun to be relied upon by the Reds far more for game-changing moments, and who would have expected that 18 months ago?
Striker - Luis Suarez (Liverpool)
Despite the biting incident, and his transfer to Barcelona in the summer, it would be doing his performances a disservice to leave the Uruguayan out of the team. As proven by Liverpool's drop-off, his performances led to the side's agonising run to title contention, only for a slip, and a catastrophic collapse from 3-0 at Crystal Palace to deny them. His 14 goals in all competitions for Liverpool this year put them on their incredible run of 16 Premier League games unbeaten, a run they can only dream of without him.
Striker - Sergio Aguero (Manchester City)
Again, a simple choice. Probably the best striker in the Premier League at present, and his statistics are simply absurd. 28 goals in 2014 in only 35 games is an incredible return for any player, with only Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo boasting a better record. He has single-handedly won games and saved points for Manchester City, most notably in Europe, where his hat-trick against Bayern Munich put City on the road for Champions League qualification. The only question that comes to mind is just how many goals would he have scored this year if he had avoided injury for such a large chunk of the early months?
Bench - Joe Hart (Manchester City), Leighton Baines (Everton), Seamus Coleman (Everton), Steven Gerrard (Liverpool), Wayne Rooney (Manchester United), Alexis Sanchez (Arsenal), Diego Costa (Chelsea)
So there is my selection - who would make your team?
Sunday 11 January 2015
Half Time Report: European Round-Up
Having mainly focused on the Premier League in my blog, it can almost seem like I don't acknowledge the existence of any other leagues! However, while the English leagues continue on through the winter, many of the main European leagues take a nice break for Christmas. This makes it easy for me to do a succinct, but hopefully useful, roundup of some of the key leagues around the continent, looking at the title battle, the challenge for the European places and the threat of relegation.
Spain
Title
After last year's shocking finale which saw Atletico Madrid usurp the Clasico pair to claim the title, the first time that neither Barcelona or Real Madrid had claimed the title since Valencia's win a decade previously, it's been an interesting opening five months to this year.
Unsurprisingly, given the money spent by both Barcelona and Real Madrid, the pair have returned to the summit so far this season, with Madrid leading the Catalans by a single point with a game in hand. However, the reigning champions have refused to give up, with Atletico just a point behind their neighbours, albeit having played two games more. They may be on the back foot this year, but they seem intent on challenging once more.
Europe
It's all the usual suspects once more, with Sevilla currently in the Champions League spot and Valencia and Villarreal occupying the Europa League places. The only shock is the sudden demise of Athletic Bilbao. Having beaten Sevilla to the final Champions League place last year, Los Leones find themselves only 12th so far this year, and are unlikely to be in the shake-up come the end of the season.
Relegation
Realistically, anywhere from 13th down could be considered to be included in the relegation scrap, with Getafe separated from bottom side Cordoba by just six points. At the minute, Elche and Grenada join Cordoba in the relegation zone, with Levante and David Moyes's Real Sociedad, after an appalling start to the season, clinging on above them. I'm sensing numerous changes in the second half of the season as teams jostle for position, and a run of two or three straight victories may see them out of danger.
Germany
Title
Arguably the most one-sided league in Europe. Following a few years of competition involving Borussia Dortmund, with even a title for Wolfsburg, Bayern Munich have made the Bundesliga title their own in recent years. With the Bavarian side currently unbeaten this year, drawing just three games and conceding only four goals, they lead second-placed Wolfsburg by an unassailable 11 points. It's now more a case of when and not if.
Europe
The real race is for second place, with Wolfsburg separated from 9th place Eintracht Frankfurt by as many points as from Bayern the other way. In reality, the Wolves look strong favourites to cement a place in the Champions League. Other than them, the race is incredibly tight, with 3rd to 8th separated by just four points. With their pedigree, you'd always fancy Bayer Leverkusen to make the top four, but any one of Schalke, Borussia Monchengladbach, Augsburg, Hoffenheim or Hannover could sneak into the final spot, with two of the remaining four being entered into the Europa League.
Relegation
Here is where the biggest shock in Europe lies. Despite having won a pair of titles less than five years ago, Borussia Dortmund find themselves in the relegation zone. With players like Mats Hummels and Marco Reus, there is no way they should remain in this predicament, however, their away form abysmal at present, there is no guarantee that they won't get sucked in. Other than that, any of the bottom half of the table could find themselves in trouble come the end of the year, with Werder Bremen, currently in the relegation playoff spot, separated from 10th placed Paderborn by just two points. This is going to be another tight battle.
France
Title
Despite all of the pre-season talk of a Paris-Saint Germain procession with the demise of Monaco, it hasn't gone entirely according to plan for Raymond Blanc's side. Trailing Marseille by three points, and Lyon by two, the likes of Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Edinson Cavani have yet to reach the highs that we saw last year. Though I do expect them to eventually triumph, Marseille have performed exceptionally well this season, with Pierre Andre Gignac and Florian Thavin singled out for particular praise.
Europe
With Monaco slightly off the pace of the top teams, the four top places are likely to be the three currently challenging for the title and Saint Etienne, though the order is yet to be conclusively decided. The way the form table is going, I would predict a top four of PSG, Marseille, Lyon and Saint Etienne, but there is still much to be decided.
Relegation
As with a number of Europe's top leagues, this is set to be the largest battle this season. With Caen currently being cut away slightly at the bottom, trailing 17th place Metz by four points already, the difference between Evian in 18th and Nice in 11th is just three. The biggest surprise of the bottom half is European regulars Lille. Despite qualifying for this season's Europa League, Les Dogues have struggled in the league, currently languishing in 18th place. Though I suspect they have more than enough quality to drag themselves away from trouble, it is still a worrying time for their supporters, and put themselves under considerable pressure for the remainder of the season.
Italy
Title
Not quite as sewn up as Germany, but Juventus should be considered the strong favourites. Though they may only lead by three points from Roma, they have shown that they have the experience and ability to convert a lead to championships. If Juventus don't win it, I don't see anyone other than Roma claiming the Scudetto, though.
Europe
Behind the leading pair, a gap of nine points goes back to a trio of teams, and with only a further three points back to 8th place, this is set to be the biggest battle we see this season. Lazio currently occupy the final Champions League place, but with considerable European experience behind them in Napoli, Sampdoria, Genoa, Milan and Fiorentina, I expect to see many twists and turns in this battle going forward.
Relegation
Surprisingly, this seems to be the only league where relegation is a little more cut and dried. With Parma and Cesena on just six and nine points respectively, they look dead and buried. The only real dispute is over the final spot, currently occupied by Cagliari. With a number of teams congregated on 17 points, five clear of the drop, I'm expecting to see a couple sucked into the struggle come the end of the year.
While it's been an interesting season in the Premier League, we're seeing all of Europe's leagues have prizes being hotly contested. Though in some, the largest honour is not really being contested, there are interesting dynamics being played out across Europe. With a long time to go in the season, there is still much to be decided, particularly involving the qualification for European competition next year.
Tuesday 6 January 2015
Half Time Report: Who'll Be Shopping In The January Sales?
With the Premier League season in the balance for each of the 20 teams involved, January represents an excellent opportunity for sides to supplement their sides, and maybe find that couple of signings that will enable them to meet, or even surpass, their targets. We have seen teams perform exceptionally well under pressure in January, which can have a dramatic effect on the rest of their seasons. For example, remember Papiss Cisse's 13 goals in 14 games for Newcastle following his £9m move from Freiburg in January 2011, pushing Newcastle to the cusp of the Champions League.
Alternatively, January can also be a month to dread for sides, particularly teams towards the bottom end of the table. With Chairmen often finding it difficult to resist offers for their star men, selling an in-form player can equally have consequences - and not good ones.
With this in mind, who is likely to be making their move in this month-long carnage? And who is likely to be hoping that not much goes on?
Arsenal - YES
As attractive as flair players are, you need a bit of grit at the back to be successful. Despite this being shouted almost every week at Arsene Wenger by the pundits on Match of the Day (and in some cases, his own fans!), Arsenal have yet to sign a top quality defender to go alongside the likes of Sanchez, Cazorla, Ramsey etc going forward. Maybe it's because he couldn't find anyone French, but he has to move quickly in this window to ensure that Arsenal do not lose their top 4 status.
Who would be good? Though not a long term signing, Ron Vlaar may well be an option, however I feel that with Borussia Dortmund currently on such a poor run, there has never been a better time to test their resolve with a bid for either Mats Hummels or Neven Subotic.
Aston Villa - NO
With limited funds, this month may well be all about keeping their key players, rather than extending. The likes of Ron Vlaar and Christian Benteke may once again be targets for the larger teams, so Paul Lambert will do well to retain his current squad. The loss of either of these could be the difference between Premier League football next year, and a trip to the Championship.
Burnley - NO
Like Villa, it will be all about keeping hold of their key men - specifically Danny Ings.
Chelsea - MAYBE
Despite their considerable wealth, I am not expecting to see too much out of Chelsea this January. With Jose Mourinho having spent heavily in the summer to build his own team, I honestly can't think of many positions that he needs to replace. From front to back, they are pretty intimidating as a side, so I think it may be a case of some investment in youth players for the title-chasers.
Crystal Palace - MAYBE
With a new manager in the shape of Alan Pardew, the January transfer window could represent a good opportunity to stamp his authority on his new club. A top quality striker or midfielder may be the way forward, so a cheeky bid for either Danny Ings or Charlie Austin may be on the cards.
Everton - NO
Having forked out £28m on Romelu Lukaku in the summer, and with a chairman notoriously shy on splashing the cash, it is unlikely that we are to see any big business from the Toffees. I think reducing the injury list needs to be at the top of their priorities - then we may see them find some form.
Hull - MAYBE
Much like Everton, considerable investment made in the summer means that the Tigers should be expected to be fairly quiet. A couple of loan deals may be on the way (with Hatem Ben Arfa clearly on the way out), but other than strengthening the defence, I'm not sure Hull will be able to do much more in the window.
Leicester - YES
At the King Power, however, we may see some movement. With wealthy backers, Leicester perhaps did not take full advantage of the summer transfer window, with their only significant money signing the £7m buy of Leonardo Ulloa. The team continues to leak goals, so some strengthening in the centre of midfield and defence may well be needed.
And who could they get? From a midfield perspective, Manchester United's Anderson or Werder Bremen's Cedric Makiadi may be reasonable purchases for relatively little outlay, while defensively, Celtic's Virgil van Dijk may also help.
Liverpool - YES
Following a number of less than convincing summer buys, Brendan Rodgers has already made his intentions clear to dip into the transfer market this month - I'm guessing predominantly for a striker. With reports surfacing of links to a huge bid for Karim Benzema or Ilkay Gundogan, I personally think they are too far-fetched. Bids for targets like Wilfried Bony or even Schalke's Klaas-Jan Huntelaar may well be more realistic, but it will mean more outlay on an already expensive transfer spend.
Manchester City - YES
With both Sergio Aguero and Edin Dzeko injured, City's main transfer targets must be strikers this January. Like Liverpool, I see them looking towards the likes of Bony, with certain reports also linking the Blues to Atletico Madrid's Mario Mandzukic. If I had my way, I'd be making a considerable offer for Borussia Dortmund's Marco Reus, as he can play either wide or up front. This would allow for potential rotation when City's main strikers become available, and would give Manuel Pellegrini an additional option.
Manchester United - YES
Despite spending over £150m in the summer, United will also be looking towards new faces this month. Defensively, the Red Devils have been a nightmare, and have relied heavily on David de Gea to bail them out in games. However, without the allure of Champions League football, they can kiss goodbye to attracting the likes of Mats Hummels, though Neven Subotic may be a more realistic aim. Alternatively, it may be that Louis van Gaal dips into his Dutch World Cup squad once more to target FC Porto's Bruno Martins Indi.
Newcastle United - NO
In short, keeping Moussa Sissoko may prove Newcastle's largest test in January, but with proven strikers in Papiss Cisse and Ayoze Perez, and a strong continent of youth players, I expect a new manager to be the only real incoming on Tyneside.
QPR - MAYBE
Should Charlie Austin leave, I expect the Hoops to flex their financial muscle again. However, having already agreed the loan signing of Mauro Zarate from West Ham, unless Austin is sold I'm expecting more deals of this kind or little to come from the London club.
Southampton - NO
After such an exceptional start to the season, I don't think they need anyone! Having made a number of top class signings in the summer, I think the time should certainly be spent on gelling their squad and building for the future with their stellar youth set-up.
Stoke - NO
Similar to a number of clubs, a lack of available funds and a reasonable summertime spend means that Mark Hughes is unlikely to strengthen his squad in January. Given his success, it may be keeping hold of Bojan Krkic that is Stoke's best bit of business.
Sunderland - NO
With the Black Cats still in the heart of a relegation battle, I think Gus Poyet will trust in the side he has, particularly after their spirited display away at Manchester City.
Swansea - MAYBE
This all depends on Wilfried Bony's future. The big Ivorian has been linked with moves to Liverpool, Manchester City or Tottenham, and despite being unavailable at the African Cup of Nations, Swansea's transfer budget may depend on any sale.
Tottenham - MAYBE
Other than a striker, Spurs are pretty much sorted. They are currently overly reliant on Harry Kane, and though the youngster has been in exceptional form, he will at some point need a rest. With both Roberto Soldado and Emmanuel Adebayor both woefully out of form, Wilfried Bony has been tipped for a move to White Hart Lane. Other than that, Spurs are looking fairly strong at the minute, so should the Ivorian move, I sense it being the only purchase.
West Brom - MAYBE
Like Crystal Palace, a new manager may mean a change in squad, however, with a limited budget, I'm not sure Tony Pulis is set to make many changes. A striker would be a good start, as the Baggies have struggled for goals so far this year, but it may be a battle between them and Crystal Palace for Danny Ings.
West Ham - NO
Like Southampton, such has been the excellent start to the season for West Ham, I really don't feel they need to buy anyone. Big Sam made a number of good signings in the summer, and I expect it to be enough to get them through the rest of the year.
Alternatively, January can also be a month to dread for sides, particularly teams towards the bottom end of the table. With Chairmen often finding it difficult to resist offers for their star men, selling an in-form player can equally have consequences - and not good ones.
With this in mind, who is likely to be making their move in this month-long carnage? And who is likely to be hoping that not much goes on?
Arsenal - YES
As attractive as flair players are, you need a bit of grit at the back to be successful. Despite this being shouted almost every week at Arsene Wenger by the pundits on Match of the Day (and in some cases, his own fans!), Arsenal have yet to sign a top quality defender to go alongside the likes of Sanchez, Cazorla, Ramsey etc going forward. Maybe it's because he couldn't find anyone French, but he has to move quickly in this window to ensure that Arsenal do not lose their top 4 status.
Who would be good? Though not a long term signing, Ron Vlaar may well be an option, however I feel that with Borussia Dortmund currently on such a poor run, there has never been a better time to test their resolve with a bid for either Mats Hummels or Neven Subotic.
Aston Villa - NO
With limited funds, this month may well be all about keeping their key players, rather than extending. The likes of Ron Vlaar and Christian Benteke may once again be targets for the larger teams, so Paul Lambert will do well to retain his current squad. The loss of either of these could be the difference between Premier League football next year, and a trip to the Championship.
Burnley - NO
Like Villa, it will be all about keeping hold of their key men - specifically Danny Ings.
Chelsea - MAYBE
Despite their considerable wealth, I am not expecting to see too much out of Chelsea this January. With Jose Mourinho having spent heavily in the summer to build his own team, I honestly can't think of many positions that he needs to replace. From front to back, they are pretty intimidating as a side, so I think it may be a case of some investment in youth players for the title-chasers.
Crystal Palace - MAYBE
With a new manager in the shape of Alan Pardew, the January transfer window could represent a good opportunity to stamp his authority on his new club. A top quality striker or midfielder may be the way forward, so a cheeky bid for either Danny Ings or Charlie Austin may be on the cards.
Everton - NO
Having forked out £28m on Romelu Lukaku in the summer, and with a chairman notoriously shy on splashing the cash, it is unlikely that we are to see any big business from the Toffees. I think reducing the injury list needs to be at the top of their priorities - then we may see them find some form.
Hull - MAYBE
Much like Everton, considerable investment made in the summer means that the Tigers should be expected to be fairly quiet. A couple of loan deals may be on the way (with Hatem Ben Arfa clearly on the way out), but other than strengthening the defence, I'm not sure Hull will be able to do much more in the window.
Leicester - YES
At the King Power, however, we may see some movement. With wealthy backers, Leicester perhaps did not take full advantage of the summer transfer window, with their only significant money signing the £7m buy of Leonardo Ulloa. The team continues to leak goals, so some strengthening in the centre of midfield and defence may well be needed.
And who could they get? From a midfield perspective, Manchester United's Anderson or Werder Bremen's Cedric Makiadi may be reasonable purchases for relatively little outlay, while defensively, Celtic's Virgil van Dijk may also help.
Liverpool - YES
Following a number of less than convincing summer buys, Brendan Rodgers has already made his intentions clear to dip into the transfer market this month - I'm guessing predominantly for a striker. With reports surfacing of links to a huge bid for Karim Benzema or Ilkay Gundogan, I personally think they are too far-fetched. Bids for targets like Wilfried Bony or even Schalke's Klaas-Jan Huntelaar may well be more realistic, but it will mean more outlay on an already expensive transfer spend.
Manchester City - YES
With both Sergio Aguero and Edin Dzeko injured, City's main transfer targets must be strikers this January. Like Liverpool, I see them looking towards the likes of Bony, with certain reports also linking the Blues to Atletico Madrid's Mario Mandzukic. If I had my way, I'd be making a considerable offer for Borussia Dortmund's Marco Reus, as he can play either wide or up front. This would allow for potential rotation when City's main strikers become available, and would give Manuel Pellegrini an additional option.
Manchester United - YES
Despite spending over £150m in the summer, United will also be looking towards new faces this month. Defensively, the Red Devils have been a nightmare, and have relied heavily on David de Gea to bail them out in games. However, without the allure of Champions League football, they can kiss goodbye to attracting the likes of Mats Hummels, though Neven Subotic may be a more realistic aim. Alternatively, it may be that Louis van Gaal dips into his Dutch World Cup squad once more to target FC Porto's Bruno Martins Indi.
Newcastle United - NO
In short, keeping Moussa Sissoko may prove Newcastle's largest test in January, but with proven strikers in Papiss Cisse and Ayoze Perez, and a strong continent of youth players, I expect a new manager to be the only real incoming on Tyneside.
QPR - MAYBE
Should Charlie Austin leave, I expect the Hoops to flex their financial muscle again. However, having already agreed the loan signing of Mauro Zarate from West Ham, unless Austin is sold I'm expecting more deals of this kind or little to come from the London club.
Southampton - NO
After such an exceptional start to the season, I don't think they need anyone! Having made a number of top class signings in the summer, I think the time should certainly be spent on gelling their squad and building for the future with their stellar youth set-up.
Stoke - NO
Similar to a number of clubs, a lack of available funds and a reasonable summertime spend means that Mark Hughes is unlikely to strengthen his squad in January. Given his success, it may be keeping hold of Bojan Krkic that is Stoke's best bit of business.
Sunderland - NO
With the Black Cats still in the heart of a relegation battle, I think Gus Poyet will trust in the side he has, particularly after their spirited display away at Manchester City.
Swansea - MAYBE
This all depends on Wilfried Bony's future. The big Ivorian has been linked with moves to Liverpool, Manchester City or Tottenham, and despite being unavailable at the African Cup of Nations, Swansea's transfer budget may depend on any sale.
Tottenham - MAYBE
Other than a striker, Spurs are pretty much sorted. They are currently overly reliant on Harry Kane, and though the youngster has been in exceptional form, he will at some point need a rest. With both Roberto Soldado and Emmanuel Adebayor both woefully out of form, Wilfried Bony has been tipped for a move to White Hart Lane. Other than that, Spurs are looking fairly strong at the minute, so should the Ivorian move, I sense it being the only purchase.
West Brom - MAYBE
Like Crystal Palace, a new manager may mean a change in squad, however, with a limited budget, I'm not sure Tony Pulis is set to make many changes. A striker would be a good start, as the Baggies have struggled for goals so far this year, but it may be a battle between them and Crystal Palace for Danny Ings.
West Ham - NO
Like Southampton, such has been the excellent start to the season for West Ham, I really don't feel they need to buy anyone. Big Sam made a number of good signings in the summer, and I expect it to be enough to get them through the rest of the year.
Thursday 1 January 2015
Half Time Report: Surprise Packages and the Return of an Old Nemesis?
In a series I'm going to call my Half Time Report, I'll look at the key trends we've seen so far this season, both in England and abroad. Let's start with the Premier League. Suffice it to say, it's been an interesting first half of the season. As predicted at the beginning, champions Manchester City and Jose Mourinho's rebuilt Chelsea are heavily involved in the race for the title, while both the Champions League places and the fight to avoid the drop are bitterly and closely contested. So, in the opening 19 games, what have been the key trends we have witnessed? What will we remember the first half of the 2014/15 season for?
A pair of surprise packages
Over recent years, we often see a team defy all the odds to fly up the table in the first half of the season - Wigan did it, Hull did it and even City did it once upon a time. However, never do I recall seeing two teams far exceed expectations. However, following the mass exodus at Southampton, they were expected to struggle considerably, with some even tipping them for relegation. But Ronald Koeman, like Mauricio Pochettino, and even Nigel Adkins before him, has taken the Saints far beyond the level expected of them. A number of exceptional signings, including Dusan Tadic and Graziano Pelle, had forced Southampton to the brink of the title race, before a dip in form leaves them JUST fourth at the end of 2014!
However, they are not the season's only surprise package. And, in my mind, West Ham's sudden incline in league positions is a far bigger surprise. Southampton have been incredibly impressive, but they have an almost entirely new squad. As I witnessed with Manchester City's incredible revival under Sven Goran Eriksson, the element of surprise can work in your favour for a while. However, to add just a handful of names to a safe mid-table side and fire yourself up the table is exceptional, and that is exactly what Sam Allardyce has produced at the Hammers. Both Enner Valencia and Diafra Sakho look to be inspirational signings, while the huge improvement in form of Andy Carroll and Stuart Downing has been great to watch. Though I'm not sure I agree that their target should now be the top 4, it has been an incredible start to the season for the East London club, and they will be hoping they can continue that momentum for the remainder.
A surprising leniency for managers (until recently...)
Now, I may well just be so used to the revolving door policy at most football clubs today, but surely there's normally been about five managerial casualties by now? The fact that two (maybe three if you count Pardew seemingly about to switch to the vacant job at Palace) managers have only left their posts within the last week or so is surprising to me. However, I'm not going to be suggesting we are seeing a change in attitudes around football clubs - it's normally the case that once one leaves it's a mass exodus, which I expect around February time!
Nevertheless, the lack of constant conspiracy and rumour is only a good thing when it comes to football managers, as it only tends to distract from the most important thing: the game itself.
It's like no-one wants the final Champions League spot
At the beginning of the season, I had the battle for the top four down to any two of Arsenal, Everton, Liverpool, Manchester United and Tottenham. However, only one of these sides has had any consistency this season, with each of the other four having inexplicable results and severe downturns in form. Liverpool, following the form that saw them run Manchester City to the final day of the season for the title last year, have struggled to replace Luis Suarez's goals (although his disruptive presence in the dressing room is more than taken care of by Mario Balotelli!). Arsenal have been incredibly unfortunate with injuries, but have looked susceptible at the back, and have relied too heavily on Alexis Sanchez to either score or create a game-changing moment.
Everton and Spurs have both had the same problem - consistently inconsistent. Though Spurs have been getting continuously better throughout the season, they started appallingly - particularly at White Hart Lane. Similarly, Everton have had real dark spells, but their form has seemingly slipped from an initially reasonable beginning. The form players from last year like Lukaku and Barkley have yet to click into top gear, and as a result, the team has failed to hit the same heights.
With the arrival of West Ham and Southampton into the mix for the European spots this year, the battle for the prestigious 4th place promises to be an incredibly closely contested affair, and I wouldn't be the slightest bit surprised if the race went to the final day - perhaps between more than two sides!
The Return of the Sith
However, I have to finish with a Star Wars analogy. Following a year in the wilderness, taking time to rebuild and come back stronger, a new dark red force is emerging in the Premier League. Though not yet as strong as we have once seen them, they are threatening to return to their full potential in the near future. For those of you that didn't understand that, I am of course talking about Manchester United. Under the guidance of Louis van Gaal, the Red Devils started appallingly, registering their lowest Premier League tally of points for the opening 10 games. However, since then the club has gone on a run of nine Premier League games unbeaten (although some may argue slightly fortuitously against the likes of Southampton and Arsenal), pushing them back not only into the top four race, but on the cusp of the title chase.
However, I will suggest this, and it's something that football fans are notoriously bad at - don't run before you can walk. Be glad with where you are - 3rd place would represent an excellent season for van Gaal after the Moyes debacle last year. Having seemingly spent their way back into Europe's elite for next year, it seems only a matter of time before United are back challenging for major honours. Until that moment, the rest of the Premier League can continue to watch their back four perform like Bambi on ice at times!
It's been an interesting opening half to the Premier League season, but with a number of interesting dynamics set to play out over the busy New Year period and beyond, 2015 should be an incredibly interesting time for Premier League football.
A pair of surprise packages
Over recent years, we often see a team defy all the odds to fly up the table in the first half of the season - Wigan did it, Hull did it and even City did it once upon a time. However, never do I recall seeing two teams far exceed expectations. However, following the mass exodus at Southampton, they were expected to struggle considerably, with some even tipping them for relegation. But Ronald Koeman, like Mauricio Pochettino, and even Nigel Adkins before him, has taken the Saints far beyond the level expected of them. A number of exceptional signings, including Dusan Tadic and Graziano Pelle, had forced Southampton to the brink of the title race, before a dip in form leaves them JUST fourth at the end of 2014!
However, they are not the season's only surprise package. And, in my mind, West Ham's sudden incline in league positions is a far bigger surprise. Southampton have been incredibly impressive, but they have an almost entirely new squad. As I witnessed with Manchester City's incredible revival under Sven Goran Eriksson, the element of surprise can work in your favour for a while. However, to add just a handful of names to a safe mid-table side and fire yourself up the table is exceptional, and that is exactly what Sam Allardyce has produced at the Hammers. Both Enner Valencia and Diafra Sakho look to be inspirational signings, while the huge improvement in form of Andy Carroll and Stuart Downing has been great to watch. Though I'm not sure I agree that their target should now be the top 4, it has been an incredible start to the season for the East London club, and they will be hoping they can continue that momentum for the remainder.
A surprising leniency for managers (until recently...)
Now, I may well just be so used to the revolving door policy at most football clubs today, but surely there's normally been about five managerial casualties by now? The fact that two (maybe three if you count Pardew seemingly about to switch to the vacant job at Palace) managers have only left their posts within the last week or so is surprising to me. However, I'm not going to be suggesting we are seeing a change in attitudes around football clubs - it's normally the case that once one leaves it's a mass exodus, which I expect around February time!
Nevertheless, the lack of constant conspiracy and rumour is only a good thing when it comes to football managers, as it only tends to distract from the most important thing: the game itself.
It's like no-one wants the final Champions League spot
At the beginning of the season, I had the battle for the top four down to any two of Arsenal, Everton, Liverpool, Manchester United and Tottenham. However, only one of these sides has had any consistency this season, with each of the other four having inexplicable results and severe downturns in form. Liverpool, following the form that saw them run Manchester City to the final day of the season for the title last year, have struggled to replace Luis Suarez's goals (although his disruptive presence in the dressing room is more than taken care of by Mario Balotelli!). Arsenal have been incredibly unfortunate with injuries, but have looked susceptible at the back, and have relied too heavily on Alexis Sanchez to either score or create a game-changing moment.
Everton and Spurs have both had the same problem - consistently inconsistent. Though Spurs have been getting continuously better throughout the season, they started appallingly - particularly at White Hart Lane. Similarly, Everton have had real dark spells, but their form has seemingly slipped from an initially reasonable beginning. The form players from last year like Lukaku and Barkley have yet to click into top gear, and as a result, the team has failed to hit the same heights.
With the arrival of West Ham and Southampton into the mix for the European spots this year, the battle for the prestigious 4th place promises to be an incredibly closely contested affair, and I wouldn't be the slightest bit surprised if the race went to the final day - perhaps between more than two sides!
The Return of the Sith
However, I have to finish with a Star Wars analogy. Following a year in the wilderness, taking time to rebuild and come back stronger, a new dark red force is emerging in the Premier League. Though not yet as strong as we have once seen them, they are threatening to return to their full potential in the near future. For those of you that didn't understand that, I am of course talking about Manchester United. Under the guidance of Louis van Gaal, the Red Devils started appallingly, registering their lowest Premier League tally of points for the opening 10 games. However, since then the club has gone on a run of nine Premier League games unbeaten (although some may argue slightly fortuitously against the likes of Southampton and Arsenal), pushing them back not only into the top four race, but on the cusp of the title chase.
However, I will suggest this, and it's something that football fans are notoriously bad at - don't run before you can walk. Be glad with where you are - 3rd place would represent an excellent season for van Gaal after the Moyes debacle last year. Having seemingly spent their way back into Europe's elite for next year, it seems only a matter of time before United are back challenging for major honours. Until that moment, the rest of the Premier League can continue to watch their back four perform like Bambi on ice at times!
It's been an interesting opening half to the Premier League season, but with a number of interesting dynamics set to play out over the busy New Year period and beyond, 2015 should be an incredibly interesting time for Premier League football.
Half Time Report: Signings of the Season (Interactive Vote)
Following the first post in my 'Half Time Report' series, where I looked at the key trends we've seen in the Premier League this season, I think it's time to look at transfers, with a trio of posts on the subject. And for the first one, I want to get a bit interactive. With a number of high profile and big money signings, alone with a few hidden gems, it's a good opportunity to get your thoughts on who the best signings so far have been. On the right hand side of this post, you'll find a few opportunities to place your vote for your preferred options, so use it wisely!
However, before I get into any of the nitty-gritty, I think it's important to set out two key categories that I'll be looking at, namely, 'Best Signing' and 'Value for Money'. At the other end of the spectrum, I'll also be taking a look at the most high profile failures in the transfer market, while suggesting some that may just be slow burners that will come good towards the back end of the season.
So let's start with my nominations for 'Signing of the Season'. I get sick and tired of the hypocrisy and lack of consistency when it comes to the notion of settling in to the Premier League. Some people say that leniency should be given to those that initially struggle, while numerous players each year blow the theory out of the water. In my opinion, it's an excuse that managers use to take the pressure off their players, particularly those with the huge price tags over their heads.
With this in mind, the player to have the biggest immediate impact in the six months since arriving is Chelsea's Diego Costa. His 13 Premier League goals puts him second only to Sergio Aguero, and has provided Chelsea with the final cog to propel them back towards the business end of the title chase. However, to suggest that Costa has this award sewn up is wrong. In fact, one of his teammates can certainly lay claim to the title. Though he has considerable experience in the Premier League with Arsenal, Cesc Fabregas has really come into his own at Chelsea. His 13 Premier League assists in 18 games is already a record for a single season, and with another half to go, I wouldn't be surprised to see him top 25 this year. On top of this, Fabregas has also created an incredible 61 chances for his teammates already this year, and he's only looking like building on this in the coming months. As a result, he's certainly up for my 'Signing of the Season' (so far!).
So who else is in contention? Arsenal's Alexis Sanchez has been a revelation, immediately taking a central and pivotal role in the team the like not seen anywhere else before. Not only is he the top goalscorer for the Gunners, he is behind most of the good things in Arsenal's season. Similarly, Gylfi Sigurdsson has performed this role for Swansea. Though he is not the top goalscorer, he is behind the majority of the team's key forward movements, and chips in with a few stunning free kicks of his own. Though he has experience in the Premier League, he is showing the consistency at Swansea that he lacked at Spurs, and is one of the strongest performers so far this year. My nominations end with two strikers - Southampton's Graziano Pelle and West Ham's Diafra Sakho. Though both have gone a little off the boil in recent weeks, they hit the ground running at the beginning of the season, with Sakho breaking a club record to score in each of the Hammers opening seven league games. Such was the impact that Pelle made in his opening stint, he earned himself a shot in the Italian national side, an opportunity he took, scoring the winner in the 1-0 victory over Malta.
To go alongside this, I feel it's also important to include a category for those that may not have had as significant an impact, but deserve recognition thanks to their price tag - the definition of 'Value for Money'. This season, thanks to the dramatic increase in loan agreements and free transfers as a result of the Financial Fair Play regulations, we have a number of high profile contenders. In terms of loans, there have been three that have caught the eye so far this year. Ryan Bertrand's move from Chelsea to Southampton has coincided with the Saints recording a league joint highest of eight clean sheets. Bertrand has also been a consistent threat going forward, putting himself on the cusp of an England call up. Frank Lampard should also be considered in this category. Following his shock transfer from Chelsea to Manchester City (via New York City), Lampard has belied his age to help the reigning champions through some of the toughest moments in their season, and currently sits second on their scorers list with eight goals, behind only Sergio Aguero. Finally, Alex Song's move from Barcelona to West Ham seemed like an inspired piece of business from Sam Allardyce, and his strength in the midfield has proven pivotal in the Hammers' move up the Premier League table.
In terms of free transfers, two stand out. A torrid start to Sunderland's season defensively saw them ship eight goals at Southampton. The move from Gus Poyet to replace Vito Mannone with free signing from Manchester City Costel Pantilimon has seen the Black Cats become considerably more difficult to beat, keeping five clean sheets in the process. Mame Biram Diouf is another player who has had a significant impact since arriving back in the Premier League at Stoke on a free, scoring the only goal in the Potters' famous win at the Etihad Stadium. He has continued to play a significant role in Stoke's move into the top 10, and as such, deserves his place in this list.
As does a teammate of his - Bojan Krkic. Despite a slow start to life in England, the £5.5m winger signed from Ajax has quickly moved himself into a central role at Stoke, and was a critical figure in Stoke's excellent return of 10 points from 18 in December. He has been worth every penny of the money paid, and having come to terms with Premier League life, seems set to only improve as the months go on. As does Ayoze Perez. The Mexican striker has had an exceptional start on Tyneside, scoring four critical goals in turning Newcastle's from a struggling mid-table side into a team pushing for Europe and relieving the pressure on Alan Pardew.
So, we've now covered the best signings of the season, but who have been less successful? Best place to start is with everyone's favourite firework-loving, inappropriate Tweeter Mario Balotelli. Following a less than successful spell at Manchester City, his move to Liverpool this summer raised more than a few eyebrows. However, for £16m, he looked a fairly good deal - until he started playing. Without a Premier League goal, he has struggled for form. However, to be fair to him, we've not seen him kick off either!
His Liverpool teammate Dejan Lovren has also enjoyed a baptism of fire. Since his £25m move from Southampton, he has gone decidedly off the boil, showing little of the the form that earned him the big money move. Whether it is the price tag on his head, or simply that last season was a one off, I am unsure, but he needs to improve and fast to repay the transfer fee. Two more large transfer fees have, as yet, failed to come off. Having been part of the La Liga-winning team that went so close to the Champions League title, Felipe Luis's £15.8m move to Chelsea was designed to see him displace Cesar Azpilicueta at left back. However, six months in, and the Spaniard has retained his place, limiting the Brazilian to just a handful of Premier League appearances. Similarly, Abel Hernandez's £12m club record move from Palermo to Hull has not returned the goals it promised. Despite being a proven goalscorer in Serie A, Hernandez has struggled for form this term. In my opinion, it's always worse to see a mid-table side spend a huge sum on a player and it not come off, as it often takes a considerable toll on the financial situation on the club - just look at Leeds!
Finally, there's a bit of a curveball I'm going to throw in. Despite only being a loan signing, I have to put Radamel Falcao in the 'Worst Transfers' section. Having come to Manchester United promising goals plenty from his previous history, he has scored just twice - a poor return for a supposed world class striker. To pay a fee on a loan is practically unheard of, but the £6m United paid Monaco is almost more than both Bojan and Ayoze Perez combined, and I know who I'd prefer! With wages of £260,000 a week and a fee of £43.5m expected at the end of the year, the Columbian could end up being considerably more expensive to United, and has done little to justify such a valuation.
So there we have it. The categories and nominees are at the side, so get voting for your favourite!
However, before I get into any of the nitty-gritty, I think it's important to set out two key categories that I'll be looking at, namely, 'Best Signing' and 'Value for Money'. At the other end of the spectrum, I'll also be taking a look at the most high profile failures in the transfer market, while suggesting some that may just be slow burners that will come good towards the back end of the season.
So let's start with my nominations for 'Signing of the Season'. I get sick and tired of the hypocrisy and lack of consistency when it comes to the notion of settling in to the Premier League. Some people say that leniency should be given to those that initially struggle, while numerous players each year blow the theory out of the water. In my opinion, it's an excuse that managers use to take the pressure off their players, particularly those with the huge price tags over their heads.
With this in mind, the player to have the biggest immediate impact in the six months since arriving is Chelsea's Diego Costa. His 13 Premier League goals puts him second only to Sergio Aguero, and has provided Chelsea with the final cog to propel them back towards the business end of the title chase. However, to suggest that Costa has this award sewn up is wrong. In fact, one of his teammates can certainly lay claim to the title. Though he has considerable experience in the Premier League with Arsenal, Cesc Fabregas has really come into his own at Chelsea. His 13 Premier League assists in 18 games is already a record for a single season, and with another half to go, I wouldn't be surprised to see him top 25 this year. On top of this, Fabregas has also created an incredible 61 chances for his teammates already this year, and he's only looking like building on this in the coming months. As a result, he's certainly up for my 'Signing of the Season' (so far!).
So who else is in contention? Arsenal's Alexis Sanchez has been a revelation, immediately taking a central and pivotal role in the team the like not seen anywhere else before. Not only is he the top goalscorer for the Gunners, he is behind most of the good things in Arsenal's season. Similarly, Gylfi Sigurdsson has performed this role for Swansea. Though he is not the top goalscorer, he is behind the majority of the team's key forward movements, and chips in with a few stunning free kicks of his own. Though he has experience in the Premier League, he is showing the consistency at Swansea that he lacked at Spurs, and is one of the strongest performers so far this year. My nominations end with two strikers - Southampton's Graziano Pelle and West Ham's Diafra Sakho. Though both have gone a little off the boil in recent weeks, they hit the ground running at the beginning of the season, with Sakho breaking a club record to score in each of the Hammers opening seven league games. Such was the impact that Pelle made in his opening stint, he earned himself a shot in the Italian national side, an opportunity he took, scoring the winner in the 1-0 victory over Malta.
To go alongside this, I feel it's also important to include a category for those that may not have had as significant an impact, but deserve recognition thanks to their price tag - the definition of 'Value for Money'. This season, thanks to the dramatic increase in loan agreements and free transfers as a result of the Financial Fair Play regulations, we have a number of high profile contenders. In terms of loans, there have been three that have caught the eye so far this year. Ryan Bertrand's move from Chelsea to Southampton has coincided with the Saints recording a league joint highest of eight clean sheets. Bertrand has also been a consistent threat going forward, putting himself on the cusp of an England call up. Frank Lampard should also be considered in this category. Following his shock transfer from Chelsea to Manchester City (via New York City), Lampard has belied his age to help the reigning champions through some of the toughest moments in their season, and currently sits second on their scorers list with eight goals, behind only Sergio Aguero. Finally, Alex Song's move from Barcelona to West Ham seemed like an inspired piece of business from Sam Allardyce, and his strength in the midfield has proven pivotal in the Hammers' move up the Premier League table.
In terms of free transfers, two stand out. A torrid start to Sunderland's season defensively saw them ship eight goals at Southampton. The move from Gus Poyet to replace Vito Mannone with free signing from Manchester City Costel Pantilimon has seen the Black Cats become considerably more difficult to beat, keeping five clean sheets in the process. Mame Biram Diouf is another player who has had a significant impact since arriving back in the Premier League at Stoke on a free, scoring the only goal in the Potters' famous win at the Etihad Stadium. He has continued to play a significant role in Stoke's move into the top 10, and as such, deserves his place in this list.
As does a teammate of his - Bojan Krkic. Despite a slow start to life in England, the £5.5m winger signed from Ajax has quickly moved himself into a central role at Stoke, and was a critical figure in Stoke's excellent return of 10 points from 18 in December. He has been worth every penny of the money paid, and having come to terms with Premier League life, seems set to only improve as the months go on. As does Ayoze Perez. The Mexican striker has had an exceptional start on Tyneside, scoring four critical goals in turning Newcastle's from a struggling mid-table side into a team pushing for Europe and relieving the pressure on Alan Pardew.
So, we've now covered the best signings of the season, but who have been less successful? Best place to start is with everyone's favourite firework-loving, inappropriate Tweeter Mario Balotelli. Following a less than successful spell at Manchester City, his move to Liverpool this summer raised more than a few eyebrows. However, for £16m, he looked a fairly good deal - until he started playing. Without a Premier League goal, he has struggled for form. However, to be fair to him, we've not seen him kick off either!
His Liverpool teammate Dejan Lovren has also enjoyed a baptism of fire. Since his £25m move from Southampton, he has gone decidedly off the boil, showing little of the the form that earned him the big money move. Whether it is the price tag on his head, or simply that last season was a one off, I am unsure, but he needs to improve and fast to repay the transfer fee. Two more large transfer fees have, as yet, failed to come off. Having been part of the La Liga-winning team that went so close to the Champions League title, Felipe Luis's £15.8m move to Chelsea was designed to see him displace Cesar Azpilicueta at left back. However, six months in, and the Spaniard has retained his place, limiting the Brazilian to just a handful of Premier League appearances. Similarly, Abel Hernandez's £12m club record move from Palermo to Hull has not returned the goals it promised. Despite being a proven goalscorer in Serie A, Hernandez has struggled for form this term. In my opinion, it's always worse to see a mid-table side spend a huge sum on a player and it not come off, as it often takes a considerable toll on the financial situation on the club - just look at Leeds!
Finally, there's a bit of a curveball I'm going to throw in. Despite only being a loan signing, I have to put Radamel Falcao in the 'Worst Transfers' section. Having come to Manchester United promising goals plenty from his previous history, he has scored just twice - a poor return for a supposed world class striker. To pay a fee on a loan is practically unheard of, but the £6m United paid Monaco is almost more than both Bojan and Ayoze Perez combined, and I know who I'd prefer! With wages of £260,000 a week and a fee of £43.5m expected at the end of the year, the Columbian could end up being considerably more expensive to United, and has done little to justify such a valuation.
So there we have it. The categories and nominees are at the side, so get voting for your favourite!
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