As the window firmly slammed shut last night fans can now sit back and look at the squad their managers have assembled over the summer months and decide if it was a good window or not and whether they are now looking forward to the rest of the season. As a Newcastle fan I must say I am apprehensive to say they least and am very unsure as to the season that is about to unfold for my team.
Although in this piece I have picked out some of the notable transfers that I believe will hits and misses.
Hits
1. Diego Costa
Now their is absolutely no doubt in my mind that Jose Mourinho and Chelsea have had the best summer window. Diego Costa is a wonderful signing and at only £32 million, given the market, I think they have got extremely good value. I am a massive fan of this player having watched him a lot last season at Atletico Madrid. He is big, powerful and a clinical finisher - essentially everything Fernando Torres was not in the last few seasons. He is going to be a nightmare to handle for all other Premier League teams this season and fully expect him to fire Chelsea to the title.
The only man I can see preventing him winning the Golden boot is Sergio Aguero.
2. Alexis Sanchez
Ever since I saw this man take England apart at Wembley I have been a huge fan. I must admit when I saw him at Barcelona a few years ago I could not stand his constant diving however having seen him lately this has hugely reduced. Unlike Mesut Ozil this man is built for the job. He looks physically capable of withstanding the physicality of a full Premier League season. Add to this his magnificence ability and goalscoring prowess and you have a terrific signing. I am going to go out on a limb and say he is the best signing Arsenal have made for over 10 years. This is big claim and may make me look stupid in time but I honestly believe it.
Personally I fear for Arsenal this season however with this man in the team I think he will act as Suarez did for Liverpool last season. He will not be enough to win Arsenal the league but he will get them a top four finish.
3. Enner Valancia
Again similar to Sanchez, Valancia looks a player who has the physical ability to cope in the Premier League. I am personally looking forward to seeing him in the league. He has pace, power and is both strong in the air and on the ground. He looked very strong in the World Cup and I know they say you should never buy a player of the back of a good World Cup however I do think in this case West Ham were right to so.
I think he will be a crucial player for West Ham this season and will play a major part in keeping them in the division.
4. Angel Di Maria
Another world class arrival to the Premier League. Is he the calibre of a Bale or Ronaldo? No. But he will certainty bring an obvious improvement to Manchester United. He has proved over a number of years just how good he is and can see him adapting well to the Premier League. He will get a very prominent role in the Manchester United side and I am expecting him to contribute plenty to the side in the form of both goals and assists.
He looks similar to Mesut Ozil is statue however having seen him play I am sure he will relish the challenge of the increased physically whilst his game will also benefit from the increase in pace unlike Ozil.
He will play a major role in getting Manchester United in the top four.
5. Siem De Jong
This one is maybe more in hope then anything else. I am very hopeful that De Jong can be a sort of Dennis Bergkamp style player for Newcastle. A player of real brain and thought who will add quality to the side. Hopefully he can strike up a good partnership with one of the forwards and lead Newcastle to having a good season.
Although his injury record does worry me.
Other notable mentions:
Cesc Fabregas - Was a hit first time round and see no reason why he will not be again.
Gylfi Sigurdsson - Will benefit hugely from regular football again. One for the Fantasy Football team for sure
Misses
1. Mario Balotelli
Personally I have absolutely no idea why Brendan Rodgers has signed this man. He is a massive gamble and at £16 million, an expensive one at that. I can foresee him only having a negative impact this season on the team. For all Suarez's misdemeanours he was a clinical finisher with a fantastic work rate. Balotelli brings neither of these on-field traits but plenty of problems off-field. The board at AC Milan must have thought it was a joke when Liverpool bid £16 million. Hardly excelled in his short time at Milan and to see all the Liverpool fans celebrating his arrival is comical. It seems some football fans have totally forgotten his time at Manchester City.
Can see Liverpool becoming very frustrated with him very quickly and would not be surprised to see him gone in January.
I will be the first to admit I was wrong if Balotelli performs well however just cannot see it happening.
The man for me who Liverpool should have got was Wilfred Bony from Swansea. He is a genuine world-class player who deserves to play at a top team and in the Champions League. He has also proved how effective he can be in the Premier League.
2. Georgios Samaras
Now I must admit I did actually laugh out loud when I saw this transfer go through. Similar to when I saw David N'Gog sign for Swansea in January, it was just sureal. Georgios Samaras must have one of the best agents going to get him back into the Premier League. This is a man who was a flop at Manchester City and who has not even really shone at Celtic. Now when you are playing for the best team in a Scotland league which is very poor that says it all. He will be lucky to get 2 goals all season.
A truely awful signing who will be up front with Balotelli come May when they announce the flop XI of the season.
3. Rio Ferdinand
Quite honestly why Rio Ferdinand has signed for QPR I do not know. The obvious answer is money however surely the man is not that greedy? Well this is for sure his last payday so I suppose I cannot blame him. However I do feel this is an awful transfer. He looked awful last season. A man well past his best and this season he is playing in a side who will be on the back foot most weeks. It will not be like his many years at Manchester United when United had 65%+ possession everyweek and quality players ahead and around him. Last season he looked very uncomfortable doing just about anything. If you are a QPR fan you should be worried although given Ferdinand injury record I cannot see him playing 20 games.
Expect him to be continually caught out this season - leading to his retirement at the end of it.
4. Leonardo Ulloa
I feel that Ulloa is really going to struggle. As I said in my prediction post, his lack of pace for me is a major concern at this level. He played very well with a very average Championship side in Brighton and was a constant threat however I fear at Leicester he simply will not get the supply or chances to really show his worth. He deserves his chance at this level and of all the signings I am predicting to be misses I hope Ulloa proves me wrong.
I honestly feel Leicester will go down however on his day Ulloa can be a real handful.
5. Jack Rodwell
Firstly the reason why I have put Rodwell on this list is his injury record. He may claim to be fit however only time will really tell if his body can stand up to a whole season. Secondly given his woeful fitness record the fact that Sunderland have laid out £10 million is astonishing. This figure is wildly over the mark. He may prove to be a great signing in time however at this moment in time he does not demand such a fee.
Expect an injury hit season and so a limited impact.
Only time will tell if I have been proved right or made to eat humble pie.
