With nearly a one-third of the season gone, one would think it's about time to see how the new summer recruits are faring at their new clubs. There have been many of them, as usual, some expensive flops, some bargain deals, and they have probably had time to settle down. Here's a look back.
10. Javier Pastore (Palermo to PSG, 43m Euros)
Even Chelsea and Manchester City balked at the price tag. But, PSG's new Qatari owners chose him as the poster-boy for their revolution. And Pastore hasn't disappointed. PSG currently sit 2nd in the French League, ahead of the likes of Lyon and Marseille, and Pastore has contributed with 6 goals and 4 assists in all competitions already. Still only 22, the lanky Argentine can certainly develop into one of the best attacking midfielders.
9. Michel Vorm ( FC Utrecht to Swansea City, 1.5m Pounds)
Who would've predicted that a Dutch goalkeeper joining Swansea would feature in such lists, when there were deals for the likes of Aguero, Mata, Nasri and Fabregas? But, Michel Vorm has been nothing short of sensational for the Swans this season. He has the highest number of clean sheets so far in a league, where Reina, Hart and Cech also ply their trade. Swansea are the joint lowest scorers in the league, and arguably, Vorm is the only reason they're still comfortably out of relegation places. What more you can get for 1.5 million Pounds?
8. Manuel Neuer (Schalke 04 to Bayern Munich, 22m Euros)
One of the best goalkeepers in the world, possibly the best, he still faced hostilities from a few Bayern fans for being a former Schalke player. But his performances have done more than enough to erase all that. Right at the start of his Bayern career, Neuer broke the Bayern Munich record for most competitive clean sheets in a row, having gone 1000 minutes without conceding a goal. That's pretty impressive, even for someone Bayern have chosen to succeed the legendary Oliver Kahn.
7. Arturo Vidal ( Bayer Leverkusen to Juventus, 12.5m Euros)
Not the most attractive among Juve's summer signings, but possibly the most solid one. Vidal joined the Bianconeris after an impressive season with Bayer Leverkusen in which they finished 2nd in the league, and an excellent Copa America. He has been fairly impressive so far for Juve, forging a good partnership with Pirlo and Marchisio. Essentially a defensive midfielder, the Chilean is also capable of playing in a box-to-box role, and he already looks an integral part of Antonio Conte's new look Old Lady.
6. Sergio Aguero (Atletico Madrid to Manchester City, 35m Pounds)
To be honest, I haven't been that impressed with him, although the sheer number of goals he has scored forces his inclusion here. 12 goals this season already, 10 of them in the league, but let's not forget 5 of them have come in 2 home games against Swansea and Wigan. We would have earlier expected even more from a 35-million-pounds signing. But all of us seemed to have lowered the expectations a bit, after the January deals for Torres and Carroll. While David Silva has had a lion's share in City's magnificent start to this campaign, aged only 23, Aguero has loads of time to turn into one of the most lethal forwards of the game.
5. Santi Cazorla ( Villareal to Malaga, 21m Euros)
One of the biggest coup Malaga's new owners managed. Technically sound, Cazorla is a versatile winger who can play on both flanks. With 4 goals and 2 assists, he's currently Malaga's best goal-scorer and assist-provider this season. It's pretty clear that this guy will havbe to carry Malaga's lofty ambitions on his shoulders this season, if they are to upstage Villareal and surprise-package Levante for Champions League qualification.
4. Juan Mata ( Valencia to Chelsea, 22m Pounds)
In a Chelsea team that has looked stale and clue-less at times, Mata has been the lone shining light. In fact, with most other big names under-performing, you'd have to wonder where would Chelsea be, if they hadn't secured the creative talent of Mata. The diminutive Spaniard already has 4 goals and 6 assists so far, and his instant settling-down in EPL suggests he's well on his way to turning into one of the best play-makers of the current generation.
3. Cesc Fabregas (Arsenal to Barcelona, 34m Euros)
It was one of the longest drawn transfer sagas in recent times, and it finally ended this summer. Fabregas finally got the move back to his parent club Barcelona, and if there were doubts about him not having a place in the already star-studded line-up, he has quickly removed all of them. Already having accumulated 7 goals and 6 assists this season, Cesc has quickly established himself in Barcelona's already mighty line-up. With the La Blagurana not exactly performing to their dazzling best currently, the return of theier Prodigal Son might just prove to be a vital move.
2. Phil Jones (Blackburn to Manchester United, 16.5m Pounds)
He's just 19, he's already a regular into the Manchester United starting-11, and is already being touted as the future England captain. That should tell you something about him. A brilliant defender, Jones is well capable of bullying people of the ball, and can driver forward with equal ease from the back. In fact, I'm surprised he's yet to score a goal (at the right end, that is!) for Red Devils, seeing his boundless energy on the field. If someone threatens Rio Ferdiand's place in defense at the age of 19, you just know he's destined for big things.
1. Scott Parker (West Ham United to Tottenham, 6m Pounds)
Scoring goals hasn't been an issue for Spurs under Harry Redknapp, with the abundance of attacking talent at their disposal. The problem was always the cheap goals leaked at vital times. Enter Scott Parker, and Spurs are suddenly looking a transformed unit. It's surely not a co-incidence that Spurs haven't lost a league game since his arrival, winning 7 out of the 8 games he has played. Having been named PFA Player of the Year last season, Parker has continued his majestic form in the holding-midfielder's role. Not just a great tackler, he easily controls the tempo of the game, leaving the likes of Van der Vaart and Bale to bomb forward fearlessly. And then, how many have managed to overpower Spain's magical midfield, even in a friendly?
10. Javier Pastore (Palermo to PSG, 43m Euros)
Even Chelsea and Manchester City balked at the price tag. But, PSG's new Qatari owners chose him as the poster-boy for their revolution. And Pastore hasn't disappointed. PSG currently sit 2nd in the French League, ahead of the likes of Lyon and Marseille, and Pastore has contributed with 6 goals and 4 assists in all competitions already. Still only 22, the lanky Argentine can certainly develop into one of the best attacking midfielders.
9. Michel Vorm ( FC Utrecht to Swansea City, 1.5m Pounds)
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| Michel Vorm has been outstanding in goal for Swansea this season... Picture Courtsey: Vincent Teeuwen |
8. Manuel Neuer (Schalke 04 to Bayern Munich, 22m Euros)
One of the best goalkeepers in the world, possibly the best, he still faced hostilities from a few Bayern fans for being a former Schalke player. But his performances have done more than enough to erase all that. Right at the start of his Bayern career, Neuer broke the Bayern Munich record for most competitive clean sheets in a row, having gone 1000 minutes without conceding a goal. That's pretty impressive, even for someone Bayern have chosen to succeed the legendary Oliver Kahn.
7. Arturo Vidal ( Bayer Leverkusen to Juventus, 12.5m Euros)
Not the most attractive among Juve's summer signings, but possibly the most solid one. Vidal joined the Bianconeris after an impressive season with Bayer Leverkusen in which they finished 2nd in the league, and an excellent Copa America. He has been fairly impressive so far for Juve, forging a good partnership with Pirlo and Marchisio. Essentially a defensive midfielder, the Chilean is also capable of playing in a box-to-box role, and he already looks an integral part of Antonio Conte's new look Old Lady.
6. Sergio Aguero (Atletico Madrid to Manchester City, 35m Pounds)
To be honest, I haven't been that impressed with him, although the sheer number of goals he has scored forces his inclusion here. 12 goals this season already, 10 of them in the league, but let's not forget 5 of them have come in 2 home games against Swansea and Wigan. We would have earlier expected even more from a 35-million-pounds signing. But all of us seemed to have lowered the expectations a bit, after the January deals for Torres and Carroll. While David Silva has had a lion's share in City's magnificent start to this campaign, aged only 23, Aguero has loads of time to turn into one of the most lethal forwards of the game.
5. Santi Cazorla ( Villareal to Malaga, 21m Euros)
One of the biggest coup Malaga's new owners managed. Technically sound, Cazorla is a versatile winger who can play on both flanks. With 4 goals and 2 assists, he's currently Malaga's best goal-scorer and assist-provider this season. It's pretty clear that this guy will havbe to carry Malaga's lofty ambitions on his shoulders this season, if they are to upstage Villareal and surprise-package Levante for Champions League qualification.
4. Juan Mata ( Valencia to Chelsea, 22m Pounds)
In a Chelsea team that has looked stale and clue-less at times, Mata has been the lone shining light. In fact, with most other big names under-performing, you'd have to wonder where would Chelsea be, if they hadn't secured the creative talent of Mata. The diminutive Spaniard already has 4 goals and 6 assists so far, and his instant settling-down in EPL suggests he's well on his way to turning into one of the best play-makers of the current generation.
3. Cesc Fabregas (Arsenal to Barcelona, 34m Euros)
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| Cesc Fabgrgas: No more a Gunner.... Picture Courtsey: Wonker |
2. Phil Jones (Blackburn to Manchester United, 16.5m Pounds)
He's just 19, he's already a regular into the Manchester United starting-11, and is already being touted as the future England captain. That should tell you something about him. A brilliant defender, Jones is well capable of bullying people of the ball, and can driver forward with equal ease from the back. In fact, I'm surprised he's yet to score a goal (at the right end, that is!) for Red Devils, seeing his boundless energy on the field. If someone threatens Rio Ferdiand's place in defense at the age of 19, you just know he's destined for big things.
1. Scott Parker (West Ham United to Tottenham, 6m Pounds)
Scoring goals hasn't been an issue for Spurs under Harry Redknapp, with the abundance of attacking talent at their disposal. The problem was always the cheap goals leaked at vital times. Enter Scott Parker, and Spurs are suddenly looking a transformed unit. It's surely not a co-incidence that Spurs haven't lost a league game since his arrival, winning 7 out of the 8 games he has played. Having been named PFA Player of the Year last season, Parker has continued his majestic form in the holding-midfielder's role. Not just a great tackler, he easily controls the tempo of the game, leaving the likes of Van der Vaart and Bale to bomb forward fearlessly. And then, how many have managed to overpower Spain's magical midfield, even in a friendly?
Well written...full padha :)
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