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All the buzz about how good current signings are or aren’t is always interesting, but it takes a couple of years to properly appraise a transfer window’s effectiveness for a club. With that in mind; how did each team shape up in the Summer of 2011? I’m taking a look back and evaluating the results each team’s moves had on their performance.
In: Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain (Southampton, £12m, to £15m), Gervinho (Lille, £10.5m), Mikel Arteta (Everton, £10m), Per Mertesacker (W Bremen, £9m, ), Andre Santos (Fenerbahce, £6.2m), Park Chu-Young (Monaco, £3m), Carl Jenkinson (Charlton, £1m),
Out: Cesc Fabregas (Barcelona, £35m), Samir Nasri (Man C, £25m), Gael Clichy (Man C, £7m), Emmanuel Eboué (Galatasaray, £3m)
Panic! Having sold Fabregas and Nasri, Wenger was under huge pressure to spend the money and show star man van Persie that the club still had ambition to compete in order to persuade him to stay put. Oxlade-Chamberlain was bought as one for the future and has flashed some elite potential. Arteta has been a solid cog in the midfield but he’s no Fabregas. Mertesacker hasn’t doesn’t really suited a partnership with Vermaelen but has improved with Koscielny. Jenkinson saw game time far before he was ready too and then there’s the £17 million spent on Gervinho and Andre Santos. Yep, £17 million…
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What we thought then: Arsenal are a selling club now and have these signings been made with any plan in mind? Un Wenger like.
What we think now: Basically a disaster. Regardless of the money taken they got significantly worse.
Grade: D. At least they got some decent contributions from the new boys and Oxlade-Chamberlain is the ace in the hole.
ASTON VILLA
In: Charles N’Zogbia (Wigan, £9.5m), Shay Given (Manchester C, £3.5m Alan Hutton (Tottenham)
Out: Stewart Downing (Liverpool, £20m), Ashley Young (Manchester U, £17m), Luke Young (QPR, £2.5m), John Carew (West Ham), Brad Friedel (Tottenham)
Something about Villa Park made these signings forget how to play. N’Zogbia lost his menace immediately and Given left his gloves in Manchester. They did well to get such a ridiculous amount of money for Downing but selling him and particularly Young bit them hard.
What we thought then: They saw Liverpool coming and got Given at a good price. Not too shabby.
What we think now: Very shabby. They’ve got nothing out of what they brought in and were demonstrably worse. None of the signings were first choice by seasons end.
Grade: F. Top 6 to bottom 6 in one fell swoop.
BLACKBURN ROVERS
In: Scott Dann (Birmingham, £5m), Radosav Petrovic (Partizan Belgrade, £2.7m), David Goodwillie (Dundee U, £2m, above), Simon Vukcevic (Sporting Lisbon, £2m)
Out: Phil Jones (Manchester United, £16.5m), Nikola Kalinic (FC Dnipro, £6.5m), Frank Fielding (Derby, £400,000)
Scott Dann was good at Birmingham at least, but who are these others? The Phil Jones money wasted on players Keen had signed on computer games.
What we thought then: What’s the plan Steve?
What we think now: A lesson in how not to do things. At least Dann played, although not well but the rest offered less than nothing.
Grade: Steve Kean. A special grade beyond an F reserved for the mastermind of this shower.
BOLTON WANDERERS
In: Chris Eagles (Burnley, £1.5m), Tyrone Mears (Burnley, £1.5m), Darren Pratley (Swansea), Nigel Reo-Coker (Aston Villa).
Out: Ali Al Habsi (Wigan, £4m), Matt Taylor (West Ham, £2.4m),Johan Elmander (Galatasaray), Joey O’Brien (West Ham), Ricardo Vaz Te (Barnsley).
Why sell Al Habsi and for only £4 million? O’Brien and Vaz Te went on to be key contributors in West Ham’s rise to the Premier League. Eagles came in and did OK but they got nothing else from this crop. Coyle rested on his laurels a bit and a thin squad was stretched to breaking point with key injuries to Holden and Lee before the season.
What we thought then: Well at least they’ve still got Cahill.
What we think now: The lack of activity put them straight in trouble and Coyle’s stock was tainted.
Grade: E. Loss of good solid players for no money and not enough in the door. Bolton got too clever for themselves.
In: Juan Mata (Valencia, £23.5m), Romelu Lukaku (Anderlecht, £18m), Oriol Romeu (Barcelona, £4.7m, to £8.7m), Thibaut Courtois (Racing Genk, £7.9m), Lucas Piazon (Sao Paulo, £6.6m), Ulises Davila (Guadalajara, £1.8m)
Out: Yury Zhirkov (Anzhi Makhachkala, £13.2m), Michael Mancienne (Hamburg, £3m), Gokhan Tore (Hamburg, £1m), Jack Cork (Southampton: Hampton, £750,000), Nemanja Magic (Benfica, Undisclosed)
This was all about the capture of Mata who had a good first year and the league and has become arguably the best player in the league this year. Lukaku was outstanding on loan at West Brom and looks ready to explode next year with the supply they have. Courtois has been outstanding on loan at Atletico and looks a worthy successor to Cech. However, they slumped to 7th in the league in 2011/12 and despite success in Europe the lack of players for the here and now caused problems.
What we thought then: A necessary infusion of youth but what about this year?
What we think now: Champions League win glossed over some cracks but they have some mighty good prospects ready for the coming years.
Grade: B+. Would have been an A with another ready-made player but this team could be scary and very young in a couple of years.
EVERTON
In: Royston Drenthe (Real Madrid, undisclosed).
Out: Mikel Arteta (Arsenal, £10m), Jermaine Beckford (Leicester, £4m), James Vaughan (Norwich, £2.5m)
Pretty much a disaster for Everton with Moyes constricted by a lack of money and Arsenal’s last minute move for Arteta meant he couldn’t replace him before the season. Drenthe has either excellent or injured then got sent home early.
What we thought then: Everton’s tiny squad could be spread too thin.
What we think now: It proved to be as Everton made a very slow start. A marvelous January covered for this when they got Pienaar and Jelavic.
Grade D-. Not much Moyes could do with no money but the £10 million from Arteta came in handy in January.
FULHAM
In: Bryan Ruiz (FC Twente, £10m), Pajtim Kasami (Palermo, £3.5m), John Arne Riise (Roma, £2.5m)
Out: Kagisho Dikgacoi (Crystal Palace, £600,000), Zoltan Gera (WBA)
Good ambition from Fulham spending £17 million that didn’t come from player sales. Ruiz and Riise have shown good things but not consistently.
What we thought then: Plucky little Fulham spend some money. Good for them.
What we think now: An OK haul, but not enough for the size of the spend.
Grade: C. Great ambition but not enough from what they spent.
LIVERPOOL
In: Stewart Downing (Aston Villa, £20m), Jordan Henderson (Sunderland, £16m), Charlie Adam (Blackpool, £9m), Sebastian Coates (Nacional, £7m), José Enrique (Newcastle, £6m), Craig Bellamy (Man C).
Out: Raul Meireles (Chelsea, £12m), David N’Gog (Bolton, £4m), Paul Konchesky (Leicester, £1.5m), Thomas Ince
It goes to show how bad Liverpool have been in the market lately that this was considered to be a monster haul at the time. Although the Downing and Henderson price tags are hilarious there is actually some good work here. Getting rid of Jovanovic, Kyrgiakos, Poulsen and Konchesky as well as the loan departure of Cole shed a boatload from the wage bill. They also managed to get £4 million more from Chelsea for Meireles than they managed to get 12 months later. So that is all good, verging on exceptional. But..
But, this will be remembered for who they brought in rather than shed themselves of. Adam was gifted away last summer having done nothing, as was Bellamy. Downing was only involved in 2 goals in the entirety of the 2011/12 season and Henderson looked all at sea. Both had glimpses last season but nowhere near enough for what was paid for them. Enrique has been decent enough and solid value. Tom Ince is about to get Blackpool £8m, maybe even from Liverpool.
What we thought then: Well done Kenny! Purged the garbage and brought top quality young Premier league players.
What we think now: They paid for £20 million for Downing!
Grade C. In reality, this was not the disaster it is portrayed to be. They really did do well somehow persuading teams to take on their trash with the attached huge wages. Mind you, £36 million on Downing and Henderson…
In: Sergio Agüero (Atlético Madrid, £35m, to £38m), Samir Nasri (Arsenal, £25m), Stefan Savic (Partizan Belgrade, £9m), Gael Clichy (Arsenal, £7m)
Out: Jerome Boateng (Bayern Munich, £15m), Shaun Wright-Phillips (QPR,£4m), Shay Given (Aston Villa, £3.5m)
This is how you do it; these were the moves that won the title. Aguero scored 23 league goals including the goose bump inducing ‘Agueroooooooooo’ winner against QPR that brought City back from the dead to win the league. He and van Persie are a league above the other strikers in the country. Nasri brought craft and fleet footedness with him and he, Silva and Aguero were unstoppable at times. Clichy was a bargain at £7 million and has been very solid. Savic was a disaster but we can allow one. They also managed to get rid of the last of Eriksson’s dross and the sale of Boateng gave game time for Zabaleta to emerge as one of the top right backs in the league.
What we thought then: This makes them title contenders.
What we think now: We were right.
Grade: A+. How can you do better?
MANCHESTER UNITED
In: David de Gea (Atlético Madrid, £18.3m), Phil Jones (Blackburn, £16.5m), Ashley Young (Aston Villa, £15m).
Out: John O’Shea (Sunderland, £4m), Gabriel Obertan (Newcastle, £3m), Wes Brown (Sunderland, £1m)
The loss of van der Sar in goal and Neville and Scholes as veteran leadership in the dressing room probably cost them the title. A young unit went in to meltdown with City in reach late in the season. De Gea struggled initially but has become one of the best keepers in the league. Young was good in patches but hasn’t quite stepped up to being at Old Trafford. Jones is raw but clearly has talent if used properly.
What we thought then: Have they replaced what they’ve lost?
What we think now: Probably not, although De Gea has started to step in to Van der Saar’s shoes.
Grade: C-. Hard to question Ferguson but they really didn’t replace what they lost. Emergence of De Gea bumps this up.
In: Davide Santon (Inter Milan, £5m), Yohan Cabaye (Lille, £4.8m), Gabriel Obertan (Manchester U, £3m), Rob Elliot (Charlton, £500,000), Demba Ba (West Ham), Sylvain Marveaux (Rennes).
Out: José Enrique (Liverpool, £6m), Kevin Nolan (West Ham, £4m), Wayne Routledge: ledge (Swansea, £2.9m), Joey Barton (QPR)
The Newcastle brain trust was heavily criticised for this, which looking back now seems absurd. How they were able to sign of player of Cabaye’s quality at all, never mind for under £5 million is amazing. That’s a third of a Henderson to put it in context. Demba Ba was free and scored near enough a goal a game before being sold to Chelsea.
Even more important are the sales. Pardew was chastised for letting Noland and Barton go but getting rid of them changed the culture of the dressing room and led to a surge to 5th in the table at season’s end. Not all good though; Routledge has thrived at Swansea and Enrique was sold cheap but nonetheless, a stellar summer.
What we thought then: They haven’t replaced Carroll! What are they thinking losing Nolan and Barton?!
What we think now: Set the foundations of a completely unexpected 5th place finish and continued a recent Newcastle tradition of exquisite use of the transfer window.
Grade: A. The release clause in Ba’s contract meant Chelsea could steal him but aside from that, a resounding success.
NORWICH CITY
In: Steve Morison (Millwall, £3m), James Vaughan (Everton, £2.5m), Anthony Pilkington (Huddersfield, £2m), Elliott Bennett (Brighton, £1.5m) Bradley Johnson (Leeds).
Out: Angus Gunn (Manchester City), Cody McDonald (Colchester)
Decent enough really. Pilkington did well and continues to do so and Johnson has played above his talent level but the others have just been bits and pieces.
What we thought then: Lambert finds some more lower league bargains but can they step up?
What we think now: It was actually the core of the team that won promotion who performed so well in the Premier League.
Grade: B-. Not too bad, but not earth shattering.
QUEENS PARK RANGERS
In: Anton Ferdinand (Sunderland, £4.5m), Shaun Wright-Phillips (Man City, £4m), Luke Young (Aston Villa, £2.5m), Armand Traoré (Arsenal, £1.2m), DJ Campbell (Blackpool, £1.25m), Joey Barton (Newcastle), Jay Bothroyd (Cardiff), Kieron Dyer (West Ham)
Out: Kaspars Gorkss (Reading, £900,000)
This did not work out at all. Barton brought his usual ‘presence’ to the dressing room. The rest were signed in a mad scramble late in the window on an anyone and everyone basis which necessarily meant that it wasn’t prepared as a team. Look at these names, I mean, seriously?
What we thought then: Hmmm, let’s see…
What we think now: How did they survive relegation again.
Grade: F. Need an explanation?
STOKE CITY
In: Peter Crouch (Tottenham, £10m), Jonathan Woodgate (Tottenham), Martin Upson (West Ham).
Out: Carl Dickinson (Watford, undisclosed), Abdoulaye Faye (West Ham), Eidur Gudjohnsen (AEK Athens)
That they can sign players of Crouch’s notoriety now is sign of the progress they’ve made. He was good for them, including some great performances against top teams. No quality or passers added though and Pulis has paid the price with his job.
What we thought then: Crouch, with the way Stoke play? Yes please!
What we think now: Nice and solid.
Grade: C. Pretty good but no players who can add something different.
SUNDERLAND
In: Connor Wickham (Ipswich, £8.1m rising to £13m), Craig Gardner (Birmingham, £4m), John O’Shea (Manchester U, £4m), Ahmed Elmohamady (ENPPI Club, £2m), Ji Dong-Won (Chunnam Dragons, £2m), Wes Brown (Manchester U, £1m, ), James McClean (Derry C, £350,000)
Out: Jordan Henderson (Liverpool, £16m), Anton Ferdinand (QPR, £4.5m), Steed Malbranque (St Étienne)
Sunderland got better after this and Bruce was unlucky that they didn’t start to gel until O’Neill took over. A bunch of nice Premier League players who came in and gave consistency. The real bright spot here is McClean who emerged as a bit of whirlwind at the end of the season although he has since regressed. How they got over £20 million for Henderson and Ferdinand is anyone’s guess.
What we thought then: Some good safe additions, should help them get better.
What we think now: Decent enough. However, Wickham hasn’t improved and only O’Shea and Gardner have been consistent over the two years.
Grade: C. It helped them in 2011/12 but not much after.
SWANSEA CITY
In: Danny Graham (Watford, £3.5m, above), Wayne Routledge (Newcastle, £2.9m), Leroy Lita (Reading, £1.75m), Michel Vorm (FC Utrecht, £1.5m), Gerhard Tremmel (Red Bull Salzburg), Steven Caulker (Tottenham, L).
Out: Shaun McDonald (MK Dons, £80,000), Dorus de Vries (Wolves), Darren Pratley (Bolton),
Vorm has perhaps the signing of the season as the Swansea defence racked up clean sheet after clean sheet and finished in a comfortable mid table. Caulker was a rock in that same defence and played his way in to the England squad. Graham and Routledge added pace and endeavour to the attack and formed part of strong nucleus.
What we thought then: Is this enough to keep them up?
What we think now: This was further evidence of the Swansea personnel department being amongst the best in the league. Superb value for money.
Grade: A. Rogers got the Liverpool job on the back of this and the scouts have churned up more gold this year.
In: Scott Parker (West Ham, £5m, above), Souleymane Coulibaly (Siena, £1.3m), Brad Friedel (Aston Villa)
Loans: Emmanuel Adebayor (Manchester City)
Out: Jamie O’Hara (Wolves, £5m), Robbie Keane (LA Galaxy, £3.5m)
They got a lot of money for peripheral players which was reinvested wisely. Adebayor and Parker were key players in a 4th place team. However, neither of them have played well in 2012/13.
What we thought then: Unusually subdued for Redknapp but good quality cheap pickups.
What we think now: Unusually subdued for Redknapp but good quality cheap pickups, albeit with short shelf life.
Grade: C. It was OK for one season but no more now.
WEST BROMWICH ALBION
In: Shane Long (Reading, £4.5m, to £6.5m), Zoltan Gera (Fulham), Billy Jones (Preston), Gareth McAuley (Ipswich), Ben Foster (Birmingham, L).
Out: Scott Carson (Bursaspor, £1.5m), Borja Valero (Villarreal, Undisclosed)
Foster, McAuley and Jones became key components in one of the top defences in the league. Foster in particular was exceptional and signed for very little. Shane Long’s hustle and bustle up front has been matched by a good strike rate.
What we thought then: West Brom continue to do efficient and economical business and are a good model for how a mid-table team can punch above their weight.
What we think now: Rock solid business.
Grade: A-. Would have been an A+ if not for the sale of Valero.
WIGAN ATHLETIC
In: Ali Al Habsi (Bolton, £4m), Albert Crusat (Almeria, £2m), Shaun Maloney (Celtic, £1m)
Out: Charles N’Zogbia (Aston Villa, £9.5m), Steven Caldwell (Birmingham)
Maloney proved to be Wigan’s key man in winning the FA Cup but after an initial good burst Al-Habsi lost his palce and Crusat has offered nothing.
What we thought then: The loss of the talismanic N’Zogbia could be critical.
What we think now: Although they did miss him they managed to survive.
Grade: D. Some of this, some of that.
WOLVERHAMPTON WANDERERS
In: Roger Johnson (Birmingham, £7m), Jamie O’Hara (Tottenham, £5m), Dorus de Vries (Swansea).
Out: Greg Halford (Portsmouth: h, £1m), Stefan Maierhofer (Red Bull Salzburg, £1m)
Johnson had a horrible time of it, including being stripped of the captaincy. O’Hara had the odd eye catching game but didn’t grab hold of enough of them. Wolves looked good on paper but crashed and burned before plunging in to the Championship and now League One.
What we thought then: Good moves from McCarthy to add to a talented squad.
What we think now: Paper thin squad wasn’t added to enough.
Grade: F. These moves just didn’t produce enough and they’ve dropped through two divisions in two years.
