Making an impact – the transfers that changed the season

With the curtain coming down on one of the most exciting Premier League seasons in recent memory, I decided to take a look at the players who made an important impact having only arrived on British shores in the last 12 months. I based my decisions on a few key criteria including: value for money, goals and assists, overall impact as well as how positive the move was for the players themselves.

Adam’s special transfer scale

How it works: the transfer scale shows whether each player’s transfer was better for them as an individual or for the club who signed them.  For example, a player who stepped up and thrived at a top club would find himself further into the red half of the scale. On the other hand, if a big money signing scored the goals that helped keep their new club in the division then this transfer would fall into the green half of the scale. 

So without any further ado, here are my top 10 transfers of the 2013/2014 Premier League season.

Wilfried Bony – Swansea City

When Swansea paid £12 million to Vitesse Arnhem for a 24-year-old striker who had just scored 31 goals in the Eredivisie it was a big risk.   For every Ruud van Nistelrooy that has starred in the Premier League there’s a Mateja Kezman who has come and gone without making any impact whatsoever.  10 months on and 16 league goals later Wilfried Bony falls undoubtedly into the former category.  His physical strength stood him in good stead when faced with some of the Premier League’s best, a fact backed up by goals against Arsenal, Manchester United and Manchester City.  He also stepped up and performed for the long spells when last season’s star Michu was missing through injury.  Whilst the likes of Norwich and Fulham bit the dust due to their lack of goals, Swansea had a frequent scorer in Bony which greatly contributed to them retaining their Premier League status.  The move has also proved beneficial to the man himself.  He proved he can do the business in a big league after a successful spell in Holland and has been rewarded with a place in the Ivory Coast squad for the World Cup.  With star man Didier Drogba likely to retire from international duty after this summer’s tournament, there is surely now a chance for Bony to stake his claim to lead the line for Les Éléphants for years to come.

 

Gareth Barry – Everton

When Everton announced that they had agreed to sign Gareth Barry on a season-long loan from Manchester City, I’m sure I wasn’t the only one who chuckled a little.  I have no trouble now in admitting that I was wrong.  The former Villa midfielder has been one of the stars of Everton’s season and his calming influence in midfield has been vital to Roberto Martinez’ attractive style of football.  Barry helps the play tick over as his side try to dominate possession and create chances through patient build-up play. The 32 league appearances he made this season is considerably more than he would have made at Manchester City had he remained there and by accepting a slight step down in terms of league position he has ensured his career will not stagnate as has been the case with those players content to sit on the bench at the Etihad Stadium.  He has now passed the milestone of 500 Premier League appearances and his experience has clearly rubbed off on young midfield partner James McCarthy who has gone from strength to strength under the wing of the former England international.  Everton only just missed out on fourth place and with them looking to push on to another level next season they will surely be looking to hold on to him. Barry seems to be really enjoying his football again and I wouldn’t be surprised to see him turning out at Goodison Park again come August.

 

 

 Tom Huddlestone – Hull City

The last 3 years of Tom Huddlestone’s eight-year stay at Tottenham were far from idyllic with the midfield playmaker making just 36 league appearances during that time.  Still by my money one of the best passers of the ball England has, Hull was the destination he chose to get his career back on track and they paid a modest fee of £5.25 million for him.  Since then he has been an absolute revelation, spraying the ball about the park and dictating his new side’s play with consummate ease.  He featured in 36 of Hull’s 38 league encounters, the most league appearances he has made in the last 10 seasons, and it is now difficult to see how they could possibly cope without his influence and ability on the ball.  As well as being his side’s set piece master he has chipped in with 3 league goals (which came as a great relief to hairdressers around the country) and this is an area in which he has expressed a desire to further improve.  His ball-striking ability suggests there is more to come in that department.  Such was his form this season that he was several experts’ outside pick to make England’s World Cup squad.  He may not have received that particular call but at just 27 and with his best years ahead of him, his move to Hull may prove to be the catalyst to international recognition in the future.  

 

Álvaro Negredo – Manchester City

As we have seen in the past, shelling out a massive transfer fee for a proven goal scorer from overseas does not always come off (just ask Roberto Soldado or any Spurs fan.)  With a strikingly similar record in Spain to the aforementioned Soldado, Álvaro Negredo arrived at Manchester City for a fee which could rise to £20 million having scored 85 goals in 182 matches for Sevilla over the past four seasons.  That was when their careers went in distinctly different directions.  Like Wilfried Bony, Negredo’s strength and power made him well-suited to the hustle and bustle of the Premier League and although he only bagged 9 league goals his record of 23 in 48 games overall was impressive. He linked up well with old Sevilla pal Jésus Navas whilst providing the perfect foil for fellow striking superstar Sergio Aguero.  In the early part of the season they formed a classic ‘little and large’ partnership with Negredo occupying opposition centre-halves allowing the diminutive Argentine space to work his magic. City fans will be looking forward to them further developing their understanding in the coming years. Injuries plagued the second half of his season (he failed to score after January) but he still ended it with his first league winner’s medal and, injury-permitting, he will compete with Diego Costa to lead the line for Spain in this summer’s World Cup. Money well spent by Manchester City.

 

Jonjo Shelvey  - Swansea City

As a Liverpool fan I felt mixed emotions when the club accepted a £5 million bid from Swansea for young midfield prospect Jonjo Shelvey.  Anointed by some as the natural heir to Steven Gerrard’s number 8 shirt, the former Charlton man struggled to find the consistency needed to succeed at the top level. His move to Wales has been the perfect tonic for him.  Throughout this season he has played the consistent first-team football that he needs to fully realise his ability and build on the promising flashes which he has shown in his young career to this point.  His wonder goal against Aston Villa towards the end of the season should be evidence enough that, with the right guidance and opportunity, Shelvey has the necessary technical ability to be a frequent member of the England squad in the future.  6 goals in 31 league games was his joint season-high and whilst he is still prone to the odd lapse in concentration or misplaced ‘Hollywood’ pass, he has thrived on the added responsibility placed on him at the heart of the Swansea midfield.   Unlike other young players with huge potential (Jack Rodwell and Scott Sinclair spring to mind), Shelvey took the bold step of leaving a huge club in order to further his career, effectively taking a step back in order to take two forward. If he continues to progress at this rate, it won’t be long before the big clubs come knocking again.

 

Nikica Jelavic/Shane Long – Hull City

It was just too difficult to separate these two strikers who, after signing for Hull in the January transfer window, scored the goals which helped keep the Tigers in the top flight.  Jelavic arrived for around £6.5 million from Everton whilst the club shelled out £7 million to prise Ireland international Long from West Brom.  Whilst 4 goals each might not sound like a lot, those strikes were vital in preventing Hull from sliding into the bottom three at a time when the club seemed to be treading water.  Whilst Norwich, Fulham and Cardiff failed in their attempts to recruit a goalscorer, Hull bagged two in the same month and their combined contribution helped keep the club in the division.  Their ineligibility for the FA Cup hasn’t prevented Hull reaching the final and the fact they could focus purely on their league form contributed to their good performances.  Their good link-up play was evident from day one and it became a key feature of Hull’s play as the season went on.  It must be encouraging for midfielders to know that any chances they create will be taken by one of these two poachers. For Jelavic in particular the move to Hull has been very beneficial. With former club Everton preferring Lukaku up front, he needed first-team football in order to keep his place in Croatia’s World Cup squad and in this regard it was mission accomplished as he will be on the place to Brazil.

  

Jason Puncheon – Crystal Palace

For many football fans, Jason Puncheon’s most memorable moment of the season was his awful penalty miss against Tottenham.  Perhaps by the time the ball eventually comes back down to earth he may even be able to laugh about it himself.  That one incident shouldn’t blot his copy book though as the winger performed consistently well to help Crystal Palace surprise everyone by thriving in the Premier League. Starting the season on loan at Selhurst Park from Southampton, his early season form convinced the Eagles to pay £1.75 million to bring him on board permanently.  He finished the season with 7 goals in just 34 league matches which makes his small transfer fee look like an absolute bargain when compared to what other Premier League clubs spent on disappointing wingers this season (think Erik Lamela at Tottenham or Chelsea’s Mohamed Salah.)  Puncheon was Palace’s most consistent creative influence and following his permanent move in January he scored important goals against Norwich, Stoke and Hull to help lift his side comfortably clear of the relegation zone.  He followed this up with 4 goals in 3 games in April, playing a crucial role in ensuring that his new team secured safety with matches to spare.  A nomadic few years now seem to be at an end for Puncheon and Crystal Palace appears to be the stable environment he has needed in order to showcase his true ability.

 

Romelu Lukaku – Everton

After the season that Lukaku has had on loan at Everton, José Mourinho is perhaps regretting making such a rash decision about the young striker’s future following the UEFA Super Cup final.  He missed the decisive penalty in the shoot-out which saw Chelsea lose to Bayern Munich and from that point on Mourinho seemed intent on showing that the Belgium international would not be part of his plans.  After 15 goals in 31 league games (adding to 17 on loan at West Brom last season) the decision seems even stranger, especially given the poor performance of the strikers the Portuguese manager chose to keep at Stamford Bridge.  At Goodison Park Lukaku became Everton’s focal point and finisher; when the players behind him created a chance, Lukaku was there to finish it.  But that isn’t the extent of his contribution.  His hold-up play helped Everton retain possession whilst his work-rate up front allowed Martinez’ side to implement an impressive pressing game which brought them to within a few points of a Champions League berth.  With the injury to Aston Villa’s Christian Benteke, Lukaku looks to be the undisputed first choice to lead Belgium’s line at the World Cup.  Needless to say that had he remained at Chelsea this would be much less of a certainty. Another successful season at the top level also puts him in the shop window for a big summer move should Mourinho continue to show a lack of faith in his obvious talent.

 

Fernandinho – Manchester City

By modern football standards, £34 million is not a huge transfer fee.  In fact, since Liverpool paid £35 million for Andy Carroll it seems they have spiralled out of control, culminating in the £85 paid by Real Madrid for Gareth Bale.  Nevertheless, there was general surprise when Manchester City spent such a large amount on holding midfielder Fernandinho last summer. After all, isn’t it just the headline makers who have traditionally commanded such sums of money? As City’s players lifted the Premier League trophy on May 11, there were few left questioning the decision.  The partnership that the Brazilian formed with Yaya Touré was pivotal to the success of their side this season and his discipline and work rate allowed Touré to take the headlines with his goal scoring exploits.  Without Fernandinho City’s creative players wouldn’t have had such licence to express themselves and lay on the sorts of chances which saw them score over 100 Premier League goals.  He provided constant support to his defence and was always there to break-up opposition counter attacks when it looked like his side might be exposed.  He even chipped in with 5 goals of his own. Despite having just 6 caps for Brazil, the form he has shown playing in a top European league for the first time this season has earned him a place in the squad for the World Cup and so for him it was undoubtedly a great decision.

 

SPECIAL MENTION: Tony Pulis – Crystal Palace

A list of the most important signings of the Premier League season just wouldn’t be complete without mention of Tony Pulis. What he accomplished after taking over at Crystal Palace at the end of November was nothing short of a miracle!  When he stepped through the door the club were adrift at the bottom of the league with just 7 points and had gone without a win in 8 games. Six months and 38 points later they finished in an astonishing 11^th place, just 4 points away from a top-half Premier League finish in their first season back in the top flight. For this achievement he was rightly awarded with the Premier League manager of the year award as well as the plaudits of pundits and opposition fans alike. He showed his ability as a motivator by getting the likes of Marouane Chamakh and Yannick Bolasie to perform well beyond expectations and displayed his transfer nous by bringing in players like Scott Dann and Joe Ledley in the January transfer window to shore up his side. When Pulis agreed to take the job many questioned his decision, believing he was risking his record of never being relegated as a manager. That record is still intact and all that’s left for him now is to walk on water. My signing of the season.

 

  

The grass isn’t always greener…

Whilst the 10 people already mentioned made a real impact on the season of their respective sides, some singings really disappointed.  Here are my five worst signings of the 2013/2014 season.

Ricky Van Wolfswinkel (Norwich): Dutch striker Van Wolfswinkel arrived with some pedigree having scored a hatful of goals in both Holland and Portugal and his goal on the opening day of the season suggested this form would continue.  That was his one and only goal of the season however and at £10 million that simply wasn’t good enough. He was almost anonymous as Norwich were relegated and his awful season means he will watch this summer’s World Cup at home having missed out on a place in the Holland squad.

Marouane Fellaini (Manchester United): Fellaini followed manager David Moyes to United from Everton as a £27.5 million panic buy after the club had failed to sign any of their main transfer targets.  As a results, he now has on his CV that he was part of the Manchester United team which missed out on Europe for the first time in 26 years. In his defence, Fellaini was dropped into a side not suited to his style of play whilst injury also blighted his season.  Nevertheless when a player arrives for such a large fee, fans rightly expect considerably more than no goals in just 16 league appearances. 

Roberto Soldado (Tottenham Hotspur): The fact that Soldado scored just two goals from open play this season doesn’t tell the whole story. Goals are the minimum expectation for a £26 million striker but it was the Spaniard’s lack of fight which was most disappointing this season.  At times he seemed completely disinterested and his low work-rate up front made him a passenger in many matches. Despite an excellent scoring record in Spain, Soldado has never looked comfortable in the Premier League and he lacks the physicality needed to really compete.  Missing out on the World Cup is just salt in the wound.

Erik Lamela (Tottenham Hotspur): Having arrived at Tottenham for £30 million as a replacement for Gareth Bale, much was expected of the young Argentine winger. In the end he only started 3 league games for Spurs and was last seen on the pitch on December 29 after which his season was supposedly curtailed by injury. It seems clear however that Tim Sherwood was not Lamela’s biggest fan and he will surely be hoping whoever replaces the former England international will be much more favourable to his cause. He too missed out on selection for the World Cup due to his form.

Kostas Mitroglou (Fulham): Felix Magath turned to Greek striker Mitroglou to save Fulham’s season when he spent £12 million on him at the end of January.  Rather than firing the goals that led Fulham to safety, he was completely anonymous as they fell down into the Championship.  Just one league start in 4 months also puts under the spotlight Magath’s logic when he decided to spend so much money on an injured striker. One thing is for certain, Mitroglou will not be keen on playing Championship football next season having consistently starred in the Champions League for Olympiacos.