Signings of the season

[Douggy B 0]

http://www.football365.com/story/0,17033,8...5313881,00.html

 

10 - Amr Zaki

Oh he's been toilet since November, is only on loan (yeah, we're breaking our own rules - what's it to you?) and has a rather relaxed attitude to timekeeping, but boy he was good before that. Eight goals in his first 11 league games had everyone - including the scouts of the European big boys - rubbing their eyes and wondering where the hell Steve Bruce had found this one. How we all laughed when Bruce pointed to the FIFA rankings (based on international goals-to-games ratio) that said Zaki was the best striker in the world, then how we stopped laughing when he started banging them in. Anonymous for months now, but deserves a mention for that electric early-season form.

 

9 - Peter Crouch

Weird season down on the south coast. After starting the campaign with arguably the best strikeforce outside the top four, hopes were high of a European charge, but since the departure of Redknapp, Diarra and Defoe it's been a relegation fight. And how much worse would it have been without Crouch? Perhaps £10million for 12 goals is a little disappointing, but using crude, flawed and inexact logic, Crouch's goals have gained 11 points for Pompey, without which they would now be stone bottom.

 

8 - Andriy Arshavin

Last summer, as Arshavin's agent Dennis Lachter managed the impressive achievement of standing out as one of the more despicable members of his profession by hawking his man across the continent, all the talk was of a man who went missing when it mattered. 'Would he be able to stand the physical rigours of Blighty?' we mused. Well, based on the evidence since January, it's an emphatic 'Yes'.

 

It's worth noting that Arsenal haven't lost a game that Arshavin has started, and without his clinical intervention would have been embarrassed at Anfield last month. Would be higher on this list if his contribution had actually led to any tangible success this campaign, but he may prove to be one of the most astute buys Wenger has ever made.

 

7 - Robinho

Rubbish away from home, apparently shoddy attitude, in the papers for, shall we say, the wrong reasons, but the Premier League would have been a duller place this season without him. For all the stretches of anonymity, there have been some dazzling moments of skill - skill that few others in the division, let alone in the Manchester City side, are capable of.

 

His was also an important signing for ADUG's hopes of world domination. While it's true that Robinho was simply desperate to leave Real Madrid last summer and would have gone anywhere for the right coin, it proves that City have the muscle to buy players of world renown. Kaka may have turned his nose up, but if they are serious about challenging the top four cartel, then more signings like Mr De Souza are required.

6 - Marouane Fellaini

'Who the f**k is he?' was this correspondent's reaction upon hearing that Everton had splashed £15million on a 20-year-old Belgian who looked like Screech from Saved By The Bell. Wrong we were proved, with Fellaini contributing an impressive nine goals from midfield, and perhaps most importantly taking some of the burden from Tim Cahill. In a season when Everton have been so short of strikers - often having to operate without one - Fellaini's contributions have been invaluable.

 

5 - Sebastien Bassong

If there is a small, tiny, pinprick of shining light at Newcastle this season, it is this young Frenchman. Signed ostensibly as 'one for the future' last summer, Bassong was quickly pressed into action, initially at left-back, but has since established himself as United's most consistent performer in the middle of defence. While that may sound like a back-handed compliment, it really isn't, and if Newcastle do go down then Bassong will be one of the only men who can leave with some degree of pride.

 

4 - Luka Modric

Apparently rejected by Arsene Wenger on the basis that he was too lightweight, Modric's early-season form looked to have confirmed those fears. First Juande Ramos, then Harry Redknapp didn't seem to know what to do with him - centre midfielder? Support striker? Free role? Then, 'Huzzah' said 'Arry. 'Why not play him in a nominal left-sided position joining attacks from the flank?' As it turns out, not a bad idea at all, and Modric has been the creative fulcrum of Tottenham's post-October success.

 

3 - James Beattie

A match made in heaven, this. It took Tony Pulis two stabs at it, but after the failure of Dave Kitson, he cracked the perfectly simple plan of procuring a battering ram up front to convert the chances that Stoke's somewhat robust style of play created. Whether both Beattie and Stoke will be found out next season remains to be seen, but for this campaign this was an absolutely spiffing bit of business, what what.

 

2 - Mark Schwarzer

Ask a Middlesbrough fan what exactly has gone wrong this season and you could be there for a while, but surely a massive factor in their demise has been their failure to replace one of the best goalkeepers in the Premier League.

 

While much of Fulham's success this season has been based on the rock solid, intimidating and Easter Island statue-esque presence of Brede Hangeland, their exemplary defensive record can be largely attributed to the air of calm assuredness that Schwarzer exudes. Fulham have conceded the fewest goals of anyone outside the top three (Arsenal's spanking on Sunday pushed their 'GA' column above the Cottagers'), and with Schwarzer an ever-present and keeping clean sheets in over half of those games, it doesn't take a genius to work out where they have gone right.

 

1 - Wilson Palacios

Given the appalling events of the weekend, this may look like a sympathy vote, but it really isn't. In fact, that Palacios has been living with the knowledge that his brother was in captivity for 18 months makes his performances all the more remarkable.

 

Palacios has been the sort of player that Spurs have needed ever since Edgar Davids left - someone with some toughness to allow the rest of the midfield to play. And boy has it worked. You could argue that Palacios is perhaps the sole reason for Tottenham's latter-season form, given that his industry allows the likes of Aaron Lennon and Luka Modric ahead of him to create and attack in the safe knowledge that they have some protection behind them.

 

Spurs have spent ridiculous amounts on duff players over the last few years, but £14million for Palacios could turn out to be a bargain.

[Tooj 17]

I never realised Schwarzer had been that good for Fulham. I never rated him when he was at Middlesbrough. Always thought more often than not he was capable of dropping a howler.

[Park Life 71]

HOw the fuck does Robinho make that list?

[Barney 0]

Robinho has scored a fair few goals, but has been really off form, I think for large patches of the season.

 

Seems odd to call Palacios 'signing of the season' after 10 games. Especially as he'll play no more game this season. If we're working off such a short amount of games, I'd argue Beattie has been more important.

 

Bassong has been quality and cost us f all to boot.

[Tooj 17]

Robinho has scored a fair few goals, but has been really off form, I think for large patches of the season.

 

Seems odd to call Palacios 'signing of the season' after 10 games. Especially as he'll play no more game this season. If we're working off such a short amount of games, I'd argue Beattie has been more important.

 

Bassong has been quality and cost us f all to boot.

Palacios is of course the only reason Danny posted the article.

[The messenger 0]

Not having Luke Young on it is scandalous. I'd also argue Jimmy Milner has been a better signing the a few there, but I'm biased.

[Andrew 4966]

what a massive pile of shit that list is

[ChezGiven 0]

Is that the first time Bassong has been recognised in one of these lists?

[Park Life 71]

Is that the first time Bassong has been recognised in one of these lists?

 

I'd have him NO.1 on that list anyways with Zaki 2nd. Palacios and Arseshavings have hardly played.

[Big Onion 0]

I think a pretty good case could be made for having Shay Given on that list. They got a right fucking bargain with him.

 

Edited for mongness.

Edited May 15, 2009 by Big Onion

[Park Life 71]

I think a pretty good case good be made for having Shay Given on that list. They got a right fucking bargain with him.

 

A question mark remains about his perfromance against shots from range.

[Big Onion 0]

About 80% of opinion on N-O is worthless

 

His injury-related problems in the first half of last season did clearly affect his mobility and confidence; he was awful at times. Only bad spell he's ever had though and there's nowt wrong with his saving from distance. Still responsible for one of the best I've seen anywhere, ever - the one from Phillips.

Edited May 15, 2009 by Big Onion

[Dr Gloom 22510]

modric has been consistently inconsistent. don't think he should be that high on the list.

 

where's super kevin nolan?

[Guest alex]

modric has been consistently inconsistent. don't think he should be that high on the list.

 

where's super kevin nolan?

Modric has been pretty good after a quiet start imo. Looks like a player, unfortunately.

[trophyshy 7095]

that virgin Susan from Jockland's canny like.

[spongebob toonpants 4183]

Now you are in the mood for posting lists Danny..............

[Guest Stevie]

I think Bosingwa's should be in the top 3 at least, but he's not even in it. Same, for his early season contrivution at least, Geovanni at Dull City.

[tinofbeans 91]

modric has been consistently inconsistent. don't think he should be that high on the list.

 

where's super kevin nolan?

Modric has been pretty good after a quiet start imo. Looks like a player, unfortunately.

 

modric has been very good since a quiet start.

for me the biggest impact has been arshavin. very very very good player.

[Ayatollah Hermione 14229]

As much as I hate to say it, Cisse for the Mackems was a canny signing. Without his goals at the start of the season, they'd be knackered. Could say the same for Geovanni.

[TicTacWoe 0]

As much as I hate to say it, Cisse for the Mackems was a canny signing. Without his goals at the start of the season, they'd be knackered. Could say the same for Geovanni.

 

He's gone a bit shit now though hasnt he? i heard that hes being paid somewhere in the region of 100K per week which is how they got him to agree to join in the first place, plus several million just foir a loan.

Edited May 15, 2009 by TicTacWoe

[TheInspiration 1]

Is that the first time Bassong has been recognised in one of these lists?

 

I'd have him NO.1 on that list anyways with Zaki 2nd. Palacios and Arseshavings have hardly played.

And Zaki has done nothing since November.

 

I think the best and worst signings of the season lists show just how shocking the transfers in general have been this season.

[TicTacWoe 0]

All things considered I'd agree Bassong might be the best buy of the season alright, pity we'd probably occupy at least half of the top ten worst signings list! Collocini, Xisco, Gonzales, Nolan, RTaylor...