best/worst signings of the season so far ?

i'll start off with the best signings of the season so far

1.michel vorm - £1 million - no-one knew who he was before he arrived at swansea and has performed wonders for them and is now worth £10 -£15 million pounds at least.

2. yoann cabaye £4 million - newcastle's scout deserves huge credit for looking at this player, i was surprised that none of the top 4 clubs went after him especially united, we could've done with him in our midfield but he chose newcastle and i can't blame him for that.

3 phil jones - £16 million - i was surprised that we signed him because he was supposedly on his way to liverpool but fair play to sir alex ferguson for getting him, since joining us in the summer the former blackburn defender has played for england and has earned rave reviews inlcuding being compared to duncan edwards and franco baresi, i've been impressed with him, he can play in many positions including midfield, that £16 million we paid for him seems like peanuts and i can see him captaining united and england for the next 10 years.

i'll finish off with my worst signings of the season so far

1. per mertesacker - £6 million - arsenal fans for the last couple of years that they needed a defender when arsene wenger decided to sign the german international, i knew he was going to struggle in the premier league because he's too slow and may have been too physical for him, i've got to be honest i highly doubt he would get in to any other teams defence in the premier league, maybe this time next year he will flourish but at the minute he's got to be one of arsene wenger's worst signings at arsenal.

2. stewart downing - £20 million - for me he was very close to being on the list of my first signing of the season so far list, he hasn't scored for them don't forget he's not a youngster anymore, he's an experienced
international, ihaven't been impressed with him at all and to think he cost £4-£5 million more than ashley young i would expect my winger to get at least 10 goals for the season.

3. charles n'zogbia - £9 million - i've been very dissappointed with him so far this season because i expected him to push on at aston villa, last season he helped kept wigan in the premier league and when i heard he was joining aston villa i thought they got him at a bargain price but i was wrong, he hasn't performed to the levels that has impressed so many people but this time next year i expect him to flourish at villa park.

do you disagree with my choices of best/worst signings of the season so far ?

Gerviniho has probably been a worse signing than everyone on that list imo. De Gea, accident prone and has had more howlers than the last 3 United goal keepers combined?

As a Villa fan agree with N'Zogia, hasnt been up to the standard I expected him to be.

Demba Ba has been great for Newcastle.

For me, has to be Demba Ba the guy has been awesome.

Rejected by Stoke 12 months ago, released by West Ham and now look at him.

As a united fan Ihate to say it but Aguero has been pretty good too.

Worst has to be Dyer at QPR

Demba Ba + Yohan Cabaye have been tremendous buys for us...

i agree he's been brilliant for you

In the context of things Augero cant really be considered because of the huge money they paid for him.

Vorm, Ba and Cabeye for me.

Ba and Parker are by far the best buys for me, followed by Vorm for shrewdness/cheapness and Phil Jones for spotting/investing in potential.

In no particular order are some of the good ones:

Ba
Parker
Vorm
Phil Jones
Santon (he will be good according to FIFA 12 lol)
Oxo Cube
Shane Long
Steve Morison

Bad:
Gervinho
Downing
Joey Barton
Kieron Dyer
Stefan Savic (although I'm not 100% if that was this season)

Good:
Ba
Parker
Cabaye
Vorm
Morison
Pilkington

Bad:
Barton
Downing
Gervinho
Mertesacker
Young (started off well but was declining before he got injured)
Carroll still counts for me, he's been that bad.

Best:

1. Demba Ba- Nobody could have predicted that the guy who was rejected by Stoke, and performed 'alright' at West Ham would go on to be one of the best strikers in the league, scoring goals and being a major part of how Newcastle play.

2. Yakubu- He shouldn't be good looking at him, he's overweight, slow, not particularly skilful, and playing for one of the worst teams in the league. Yet David Moyes and Everton must be kicking themselves at letting him go for so cheap now that he, along with Hoillet, is keeping Steve Kean in a job and Blackburn from rock bottom of the league.

3. Scott Parker- Seems to be the missing link in Spurs midfield, they have had creativity the past couple of years but Parker's sound tackling and efficient and sensible passing have helped transform them into a title worthy side.

Notable mentions: Michael Vorm. Craig Bellamy. Sergio Aguero. Phil Jones. Yohan Cabaye. Shane Long.

Worst:

1. David De Gea- When Edwin Van Der Sar retired, De Gea was touted as the perfect successor. He has proven to be clumsy and a weakness in United's armour. The fact that Linegaard has earned the no.1 spot says a lot I think.

2. Stewart Downing- For £20 million you expect a lot more, early promise has quickly dipped, and he has been dropped more times than any new signing bar Andy Carroll who has at least had injuries in part to blame. Downing lacks the final product, and recently even his dribbling has become poor. Some would argue he is wasted on the right, but on current evidence the only place he will be of any use is the exit door.

3. Joey Barton- He has been under-average for QPR, which is disappointed considering his form for Newcastle last year, and Barton beating on his own drum trying to prove he is 'the best midfielder in England.' Barton has failed to live up to the promise of his move.

Notable mentions: Per Mertesacker. Ashley Young (perhaps too early to judge.) Charles N'Zogbia

Best. has to be by far Sergio Aguero,
Demba Ba has one season wonder written all over him, but will admit he has been great this season.
Scott Parker good signing.

Worst. Joey Barton a complete waste
David De Gea.. needs a lot of improvement
Juan Manuel Mata.. alot of money for not a lot of return
Samir Nasri.. very disappointing
Special mention to all the Phil Jones Lovers.. remember Wes Brown!!

Juan Manuel Mata.. alot of money for not a lot of return

What?! Probably the only positive for Chelsea's season is what a good signing Juan Mata has been, like David Silva for City, anything good Chelsea create usually comes through Mata, and if any player is going to help Torres recreate anything close to the form he held at Liverpool Mata will be that player.

The problem at the moment is that Mata is being played out left rather than in the hole so that Villas Boas can continue to use the ineffectual 4-3-3 system.

I think it's harsh to say de Gea is bad. If he was that bad would Fergie have signed him? He wasn't making mistakes for Atletico. He'll get better as time goes by.

Good shout for Bellamy though, Liverpool's stand-out performer.

He might not be a bad player, but so far for Manchester United he's been a big disappointment. Anders Linegaard was clearly never bought to be no.1. Would Fergie have spent £18 million on the no.2 goalkeeper? Or even a goalkeeper who he planned to rotate? Not a chance!

Jose Enrique,solved the dreaded left back slot which the mighty reds have struggled to fill since riise went. Quality signing!

Demba Ba p4p though.

Juan Mata has been, like David Silva for City
No chance mate i admit i threw mata in as a red herring, but he is no Silva. If Silva was playing for Chelsea Torres would be in goal scoring double figures.

Mata is good but Silva is the best player in the Prem I've seen since Ronaldo left. Phenomenal footballer, the ball seems to stick to his feet and his footballing brain and intution is as excellent as his passing and dribbling.

HitmanOwl wrote:Jose Enrique,solved the dreaded left back slot which the mighty reds have struggled to fill since riise went. Quality signing!

Demba Ba p4p though.

I dont think moving between prem clubs counts. In fact, I think he was in better for at Newcastle. Left us for a smaller club though, guess he wanted a chalenge.

TopHat24/7 wrote:Mata is good but Silva is the best player in the Prem I've seen since Ronaldo left. Phenomenal footballer, the ball seems to stick to his feet and his footballing brain and intution is as excellent as his passing and dribbling.

i agree silva is world class.

Samir Nasri....is a good mention...........

Think Arteta has been a poor replacement for Fabregas...(not that anybody could replace him)

As for top signings.............Scott Parker, Aguero.......best for me..

Lukaku hasn't impressed at all. Yes he's young but there have been players impressing at 18/19 years old (Wilshere, Jones et al)

Gareth McAuley. Got him on a free and the bloke is absolutely brilliant!

Vorm has been a good value for money signings, as has Ba. Bellamy was a good signing by Liverpool as well.