Hits or Misses - Was I Right?

At the beginning of the season I picked out some transfers that I believed would be Hits and others that would be Misses. As the season now draws to a close it time to assess my predictions. 

Predicted 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.

OUTCOME :  HIT

I believe I got this one spot on. He has struggled with injury in the second part of the season however the title was effectively won by christmas.

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. 

OUTCOME : HIT

This one I also got right. No question that Sanchez carried Arsenal for the first half of the season and without him their top four place could have been in danger. He is a wonderful player who I expect to continue performing in seasons to come. 

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 do 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. 

OUTCOME : HIT/MISS

This one could be argued either way. I think he had a good season and made a positive impact but did he make the impact that I was expecting...well no. In fact it was Aaron Cresswell who was without doubt West Ham's signing of the season.  

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 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.

OUTCOME : MISS

This I got wrong. You could blame LVG but at the end of the day Di Maria simply hasn't performed. There were glimpses but never a sustained period of brilliance. I expect him to leave United this summer and he will go down in many people eyes as a flop.

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.

OUTCOME : MISS

This one was always more in hope than genuine expectation. I was worried about his injury record and as it turns out I was right on that front. Missed most of the season and therefore had very little impact. 

Predicted 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. 

OUTCOME : MISS

Have to say I got this one spot on. Balotelli will leave this summer for sure, the  only question is will Rodgers be leaving with him?

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 surreal.  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. 

OUTCOME : MISS

Another spot on prediction. Samaras certainly in the flop XI. 

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.

OUTCOME : MISS

3/3 so far on the as Rio Ferdinand proved me right that he should have hung his boots up at the end of last season. 

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.  

OUTCOME : HIT/MISS

Have to say that Ulloa performed better than I expected and his goals defiantly played their part in Leicester's survival however whether he was a HIT or MISS is arguable. Not sure he will be with the club for the start of next season. 

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. 

OUTCOME : MISS

His overall impact at Sunderland was very poor and even though he did pitch in with a few goals his contribution didn't match that 10 million price tag.

Overall I do not think I did badly. Angel Di Maria was the biggest disappointment.  

Best And Worst Transfers Of The Summer

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. 

Ferdinand and Crouch left out as Hodgson names England squad

Hodgson names squad

There was much speculation and intrigue about the announcement of this squad however in the end many will be left scratching their heads. In my opinion certain decisions in the squad baffle me as do some of those who did not make the 23. 

The squad itself is again a squad of obvious names without that many new faces nor ideas. I understand Hodgson's argument of trying to pick the players who qualified for the tournament however I would have liked to have seen more changes. His inclusion of so many Liverpool players is also confusing. England have been written off by nearly all with regards to this tournament so I am a bit disappointed that the same old names have been picked. 

No call for Rio

The main talking point has been the leaving out of Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand (left). In the press conference Roy Hodgson said it was for 'pure footballing reasons' citing the fact that he has only played once for england in the last year. Although using this thought process the inclusion of Steven Gerrard should be brought into question. Many of the press and people on social media sites are lamenting his absence although for me it is no surprise. Personally I would not have taken him. I do not feel his form this year has been good enough as without Nemanja Vidic by his side he has showed how vulnerable he is. His fitness would also worry me and for these reasons I would have left him out. Many are citing to the problem with John Terry as the reason for his admission although I do believe Hodgson when he said that that played no part in the decision. 

Goalkeepers:

In truth I do not have any problem with his selection in this area. Hopefully Joe Hart remains fit for the entire tournament. With regards to who is available this is the three I would have picked. The only change would be Robert Green out and Ben Foster in however due to Foster's self-exile from being picked this is not possible. I am very happy for John Ruddy. He has had a wonderful season and it is good that he is getting his chance. He throughly deserved to be picked. 

Defenders:

This area has caused a few raised eyebrows since the announcement earlier today. Despite as I mentioned earlier the well documented exclusion of Ferdinand, for me it is the exclusion of Micah Richards which disappoints me most. He deserves to be in the squad, his performances this year have proved that. He has improved so much in recent times and you cannot compare him to the raw, awkward and error - prone player he was 3 years ago. You do wonder what he has to do to be picked. His absence is even more galling when you consider that due to Kyle Walker's injury it seems that Richards is not even number two. Without doubt these two are the best right-backs England has. Therefore the selection of Glen Johnson is baffling. He has been poor this year and his defensive weaknesses have be highlighted time and time again in an England shirt. He is without doubt a weak link.  

I am also unhappy with this idea of Phil Jones playing right-back. He is clearly not a right-back and should not be used so. He also looks uncomfortable and out of position. This will be exploited when we play the top sides. I do agree with his inclusion but hope he is not asked to fill in at right-back. It seems crazy to me that we would rather take a man seen as a utility and fill in when there is a proper right-back available. Elsewhere I do not have too many complains, Ashley Cole and Leighton Baines deserve their places as does Gary Cahill. For me Cahill is the best central defender England has. Joleon Lescott has received many plaudits this season for his role in Manchester City's title win however I do feel that his performances have been made to look better due to the fact that he plays alongside Vincent Kompany, one of the best defenders in the world. Lescott is also prone to lapses in concentration and errors as shown in the final game against QPR. This for me has been England problem for years, all of our so called 'top' centre backs play along side world class players that cover their floors. For example Vidic for Ferdinand, Ricardo Carvalho for John Terry, Kompany for Lescott. This is why when they play together in the big games England's defence looks poor. 

Terry picked for Euro squad

Finally the inclusion on John Terry (right) was almost a given despite the fact that I would not take him. I do not see how we can succeed with him. The mans on and off the field antics are deplorable. Many have spoken of his place in the dressing room now he is not captain as potentially difficult. This was seen in South Africa with the 'Terry press conference'. He loves being the man in charge, we have seen this at Chelsea for years, undermining any manager he want and ultimately getting them the sack e.g Andre Villas Boas. Their is a reason why so many people joke about Terry running the Chelsea team. This along with the racism case hanging over him presents a very dangerous man to have in your team. Hodgson played the 'innocent until proven guilty' card however we all know he is guilty and how bad it that going to look when he is found guilty? Especially with the rumours it was pick Terry or Ferdinand. So we picked the racist. Many will argue that he should be judged on the field, however that provides no help for the Terry cause. In the last few weeks he has been torn apart twice by Andy Carroll and let his team down with his mindless sending out at the Nou Camp. It he was willing to do that in the Champions League semi-final as the captain of his 'beloved' Chelsea, you cannot take him. He could cost you the tournament. 

Despite my criticism of the defenders we have selected the truth is if not them then who? That is the problem, we do not have enough players to pick from. Other centre halves are Chris Smalling- injured or Ledley King and Jamie Carragher both too old, slow and injury prone. Our reserve defender Phil Jagielka is a great player and I would loved to have had him in the squad. For me he is greatly underrated. He and Lescott had a good partnership at Everton and it is very rare to have two players who have played together with regularity. This is another reason I think he picked Terry due to his partnership with Cahill. I do think that Cole, Cahill and Terry will be in the starting line-up for the France game. 

On the whole even if I accept the Terry decision the selection of Johnson I can not as Micah Richards should be on the plane. 

Midfield:

Hodgson has flooded the midfield by selecting nine players. He has picked the classic names of Frank Lampard, Steven Gerrard and Gereth Barry. These three were always going to be picked despite for me Gerrard's worrying lack of form and Barry being, for me, poor. He is another one who is covered up by his Manchester City teammates. He is billed as a defensive midfielder who breaks up plays i.e the classic role of Claude Makelele although you could never compare him to the great man. For me he does not stop anything. He is too slow and players breeze past him. His performance in the hammering by Germany showed that. The way Mezut Ozil covered around 50 metres as Barry struggled to cover 20 to win the ball and then process to power away form him. 

Something new- Chamberlain gets the nod

Elsewhere I was delighted by the inclusion of Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain (right) and also happy to see Theo Walcott and Scott Parker. Chamberlain deserves his chance as he has shown his class this season. Walcott is a dangerous player and I hope he shows his true talent and of course Scott Parker. A terrific player who should have been in the World Cup squad two years ago. Ashley Young despite the diving deserves to be in and could prove a very useful asset for England. 

On the other hand the inclusion of Stewart Downing angers me. The man has been awful all year. 

1.NO Premier League assists

2.NO Premier League goals.`

How can this man be taken as an attacking winger. The man in the reserve list is that of Adam Johnson. Two years ago I wrote an article lamenting the fact that he was not picked for the World Cup squad. Now two year on and I am doing the same. The truth is this boy has talent. He has unfortunately suffered as I suspected due to the fact that he does not play regular football. I am sure that if he played every week he would be in this squad no doubt. He is a far superior player to Stewart Downing. For me he will have to leave City to get regular football. I honestly would have preferred Wolves' Matt Jarvis, Swansea's Scott Sinclair or Chelsea Daniel Strurridge (who is a reserve) to Downing. Finally the inclusion of bag-carrier James Milner is a frustrating one. He adds nothing to the team. People say he is a utility man although for me he is just poor in a range of different positions. He is always shown up on the international stage and will be again if used. Literally Ryan Taylor of Newcastle could do what Milner does will ease. 

Strikers:

Carroll lucky to be included

Hodgson's decision to go with four is interesting. I understand that due to the formation we play we would not require many forwards however would have liked to have seen five. The selection of Wayne Rooney was a given despite him missing games one and two by which time England could in theory be out. Danny Welbeck was another obvious one and despite me not being a fan he can do a job and hate to say it but the fact he plays for Manchester United made his selection a cert. Andy Carroll (left) is one I agree with as he offers something completely different. He has shown the form that got him his big money move and England cap recently although he can feel mightily lucky to be included. Jermaine Defoe I do not agree with. For me he is far too wasteful in front of goal which in the big games will cost you. I see why he has been picked due to being small, fast and adds to the balance of the squad having a smaller forward. I honestly feel if Darren Bent was fit he would have bee picked over him.  

Of those who have missed out I feel sorry for Grant Holt. Second highest English scorer behind Rooney this year. For me he deserved a chance. I am not saying he should start however what sort of message does it send when he has the season he has had and does not get picked. I am sure if he was signed by Liverpool or a Manchester United he would have been picked. He plays for unfashionable Norwich and people laugh at his style but the man has ability and to not even be a reserve is a joke. Peter Crouch can also feel unlucky. I suppose Carroll has been chosen over him although Crouch's international goal scoring record is awesome. I am sure he will be very very disappointed.

Overall the squad does not fill me with hope for the tournamnet. The same names, going to another tournament, whereby the same outcome looks extremely likely. I do not like the fact that so many of the squad are from the top teams again. Players are lesser clubs never get the recognition. Fact. Grant Holt is a prime example. My annoyance is not that they are not in the team but they never seem to get a chance. The England squad is a closed shop. 

My hopes for the tournament are slim, I hope we get out of the groups however cannot see us going further then that. For me the Germans will win it and watch out for the French to be the surprise team. 

England squad for Euro 2012:

Goalkeepers: Joe Hart (Man City), Rob Green (West Ham), John Ruddy (Norwich)

Defenders: Glen Johnson (Liverpool), Phil Jones (Man United), John Terry (Chelsea), Joleon Lescott (Man City), Gary Cahill (Chelsea), Ashley Cole (Chelsea), Leighton Baines (Everton)

Midfielders: Theo Walcott (Arsenal), Stewart Downing (Liverpool), Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain (Arsenal), Steven Gerrard (Liverpool), Gareth Barry (Man City), Frank Lampard (Chelsea), Scott Parker (Tottenham), Ashley Young (Man United), James Milner (Man City)

Forwards: Wayne Rooney (Man United), Danny Welbeck (Man United), Andy Carroll (Liverpool), Jermain Defoe (Tottenham)

Standby players: Jack Butland (Birmingham City), Phil Jagielka (Everton), Jordan Henderson (Liverpool), Adam Johnson (Manchester City), Daniel Sturridge (Chelsea).

Foolish Fabio Reinstates Terry As England Captain

What have you done Mr Capello?

The decision by Fabio Capello to reinstate John Terry as the England captain is one that has come under  much scrutiny and is quite honestly baffling. 

This is a man whom for me does not deserve to be in the team let alone being the captain. John Terry is a relic and a reminder of failure. He is a product of the failed World Cup squad should be shown the door. We need new, young and hungry players. The only World Cup squad members to survive should be Steven Gerrard, Ashley Cole and Wayne Rooney who now seems back on his game. For years the English public have seen the same team, same players and same tactics fail with different managers. It is same old England all the time. The fans have been let down by the England team so much. I do not think there is a team in which so many of the individuals in it I detest. It seems unless you indulge in adultery, have gambling problems and scandal you don't get in. I have lost all interest in England recently. This decision just cements it amateurish status.

Capello is clueless and England will never win anything with him. So many promises and claims of which none have been followed through. Terry is another classic example along with the World Cup squad. The moment the squad was announced England were doomed. His treatment of players is appalling. I am no fan of Rio Ferdinand but this is awful. To win any tournament you need a team. Team sprit is crucial and this decision does nothing for morale.

They are all pulling in different directions and are not a team. They are a group of arrogant players who couldnt give a damn no matter what they say. They have never and will never produce. As Rafa Benitez would say that is a FACT. I would rather lose with young players and different people then with these lot. They will fail again no doubt. They should qualify for Euro 2012 however they will be no where near winning it. This I have no doubt. The talk will continue but the inevitable disappointment will follow.

This fact saddens me however until things change my interest in England will remain at an incredibly subdued level.