Which five players do you think will have the greatest impact on their new teams this season?
1) David Villa to Barcelona (34.2 million) We all know how great David Villa has been for Spain, but this is his chance to shine for a big club.
2) Mario Balotelli to Manchester City (22.5 million) This young Italian striker has phenomenal potential with his new club. Being only 19, Mancini should be able to put him to good use.
3) Yaya Toure to Manchester City (28 million) Yaya was a huge part of Barcelona's success last season. Hopefully he can do well at City.
4) Khedira to Real Madrid (undisclosed) This German star should do well at Madrid. We will see how he fits in with Ronaldo and Kaka.
5) Ramires to Chelsea (17 million) Another young star has been signed! This Brazilian midfielder should help Chelsea defend their title.
Nice top 5, but I would definitely add Marouane Chamakh to it. Both on the financial level and on the sporting level it's a great signing. He's definitely a good player, but the fact that he's free is what made this transfer to be one of the best in this summer I think.
And, although you can never be sure with creatures like him, I think Balotelli is going to flop hugely, just like Robinho did. I don't like guys like him, who are unpredictable, unstable, unprofessional and basically are just lucky to have talent. The real stars have talent, but also develop it by training a LOT, working hard to become better, step by step. Players like Ronaldo (who Ferguson claimed was one of the best professionals he'd ever worked with), Messi, Xavi or Iniesta are the best in the world, but they also work hard and are ultimately great professionals above all. Only then can a raw talented player become a star, by harvesting what countless hours of training based on that talent has brought you. And Balotelli just won't unless he dramatically changes his attitude
I agree with you on Balotelli; not enough time spent on the field to even begin paying back the numerous investments put into him.... And now he's back in Italy for surgery I hear? Yeah, he's a career club-floated I believe....
Chamakh is a great signing. Arsenal have another striker! Finally!
(And on Fergie's Ronaldo comment- I think we can actually agree he IS a professional as far as his work ethic. You just can't be that fit or that good without putting for the effort. But in his United days he was, on the majority, immature. Not the perfect professional in his field, but who really is these days?)
He headed back to Italy, popped his head out of the hospital window and shouted "Forza Milan!" and sang the Milan anthem. So, I'm not gonna' be harsh on that kid
He is a monster-not sure how he'll do in the Prem, but if he were in an Italian club that respects him, he will show dangerous a monster he is
What? You're kidding me? Well, kind of childish, I'd say. That's not the behavior of a grown-up. I wouldn't want him in my team that's for sure. No matter if he is a talent. You need serious people when you build a team. He is Mancini's greatest bet in this season
He meant Balotelli's childish. And I do agree, based on the amount of trouble he caused at Inter. But what piques my curiosity is why Jose hadn't discarded him in the first place, it must mean that he's highly talented and important to the team. So, might go here or there, we'd never know
Jermaine Beckford. After running circles around defenders in the lower leagues for years, a Premiership manager has finally decided to take a very low risk free signing. Although I don't think it's a risk at all. See him plying his trade at Everton in 10/11. These are just some of his goals.
2 years ago
Have watched all of Evertons games this season and Beckford has looked woefully out of his depth. He could quickly disappear from the Everton team if he doesn't stop sulking and start playing. He's the kind of player that turns it on for the TV cameras though, so lets see how he gets on against Villa now...
I still believe he can do a good job if given extended game time. We have seen so little of what I think he can achieve, although that's his problem. So much of Jermaine Beckford's game depends on simply guiding the ball in, often from short distance and loose balls landing at his feet. He's a ninety minute player, he needs the trust
Mario Balotelli to Manchester City (22. 5 million)
I havent actually ever been impressed by him, apart from a few free kicks. I think he could get worst signing of the season, just because of his price and will he actually ever play?
Yaya Toure to Manchester City (28 million)
Him and Silva looked so rubbish yesterday because they couldn't handle the pace of the EPL. I still think he will be the best signing for Manchester City though.
Money wise these transfers look good.... Big names, proven record and they are good in their respective playing positions. But I think MAME biram diouf can be one of transfers of the season even if its just a loan move. Scored in friendly against Hearts, scored a hat-trick against Norwich City in a carling cup and then again today in Blackburn's defeat against Arsenal on his first ever premier league start
I think its a loan move.... But they do have an option of buying him outright from Barcelona for 24 million like you said.... I don't know if they bought him already...
1. Joe cole to liverpool - I know he hasn't had the best of starts, but once he gets going, liverpool will be quite the force this season.
2. Marouane chamakh to arsenal - this is exactly the player arsenal needs. A good finisher who is physically strong and fast. Van persie is good, but this guy can actually go into challenges without being hurt. He also has quite the nose for goal. Expect arsenal to challenge on all fronts, and maybe actually win something this year.
3. Yaya toure to manchester city - yaya is an absolutely fantastic player all around. He is great in the tackle, knows his positioning very well and can score some vitally important goals out of nothing. Great pick up by manchester city, though they may have payed a bit much for his services.
4. Ramires to chelsea - while I don't expect to see this box-to-box midfielder starting for us right away, we can already see the effects of his signature. Mikel is at top form in trying to keep his starting spot which means essien is still being given a more attacking role. Ramires adds HUGE amounts of depth to our team as well as he is able to play just about anywhere on the pitch and we finally have a suitable replacement for essien if he turns up injured again.
5. Ricardo carvalho to real madrid - if he can stay fit, madrid will do more than well this season. All who watched portugal in this years world cup surely had their jaws drop at his performances. It shouldnt take long for him to settle with mourinho at the helm and expect to see madrid with one of the toughest defenses to penetrate this year
David Villa scored a goal on his La Liga debut for Barcelona. Now that's a transfer But I guess that was coming. A quality player with quality all around him will score. Now its a frightening prospect for every team in Europe. They were already so great now with the coming in of Villa who knows what heights they will reach
I think its got to do with the fact from which league the player is moving in to which league.... The styles of play vary with every league. I would not rate ibra at the same level as villa but ibra is a good player.... One season doesn't define a player...
AC Milan was the most clever. Ibra and robhino in the last hours. For me, the transfer of the summer because everybody thought that Milan had no money.... Madrid and city wanted ibra, Chelsea and Barcelona wanted robihno and AC Milan have recovered both players.
We'll see now how that will work for them. Robinho is a particular player. He can excel but only in certain environment. On paper of course, Milan made two major moves.
I would add that other impressive transfers worth mentioning are Ozil to Real, Villa to Barca, and Balotelli to City (will see how this will work).
Another name that is worth mentioning, is Millner who passed from Villa to City. Maybe not a world star yet, but certainly someone to watch over in his great rise as a player
Many of the players who move to madrid fade into obscurity before being sold off, I don't think that khedira will make that much of an impact in madrid. Don't get me wrong he's a player for the future but his style of football suits italy and germany not spain