Summer Signings Report Card: Arsenal and Chelsea

Shifting focus to the Premier League now, today's post is about Arsenal and Chelsea's transfer dealings. Both of them were rumored to spend big and names like Ribery and Aguero were thrown about. Let's see how good their dealings were:

Arsenal:

1. Thomas Vermaelen: The Arsenal squad was crying out for some experience in defense and Wenger brings in a 24 year old kid who played in the Dutch league? Many said that this was evidence that Wenger had finally gone nuts. But, as usual, there is no fooling Wenger's keen eye for talent. Vermaelen has been a sensation this season. He has fitted into the backline as if he was always there and is the leading goalscoring defender. Tall and strong, with a no-nonsense approach, this signing is typically "Arsene'.

Overall Grade: A+, everything that you want a transfer to be- cheap, effective and complete.

2. Sol Campbell: Some would say that Wenger did bring in experience in the team in the form of this signing. It was quite a coincidence that Campbell was training with Arsenal when an injury crisis struck them and he was signed on. Now, this guy is 35 and he was never known for his pace even in his best days. His is still technically good and that is the only salvaging bit about this transfer.

Overall Grade: B-, somewhat effective, but it's quite early to judge the full impact that he will have.

Chelsea:

1. Yuri Zhirkov: A costly signing at 18M pounds and primarily a left back, many felt it was a bit too much for a backup. Not only that, he was a player who deserved more than a backup role. A few injuries have limited his appearances, though Ancelotti's tactics have seen him play everywhere along the left side of the ground. Quick and an excellent crosser, his skills were never in doubt but the question remains as to the lack of opportunities for him. He's made only 11 appearances this season and as such failed to make an impact.

Overall Grade: B-, again his effectiveness is in question, but he can prove me wrong.

2. Daniel Sturridge: A controversial transfer (Chelsea must be used to those by now), this highly rated English youngster cam from the stables of Manchester City and has had a fair run in the Chelsea first team too. After a total of 15 appearances so far this season, he has scored 4 goals for his new team. He was voted the Best Young Player at City and everyone agrees that the kid is talented. We have all seen talented youngsters lose their way if they join a big club, let's hope this one isn't.

Overall grade: B, cannot rate him on effectiveness, but a youngster is always a welcome addition to the ageing Chelsea squad.

Summer Signings Report Card: AC Milan

We all know how important summer signings are for today's top football teams. Be it a backup player or a marquee signing who will provide match-winning moments, it is a mad race out there for the players. So, how effective have these decision been? Let's recap and review the summer dealings of the "big" teams. I will rate each signing on a scale of A+ to F based on the expectations we had from them and how far have they lived up to it. To begin with, I'm picking the mighty Milanese outfit. Milan have endured a few disastrous seasons and everyone believed that a few shrewd summer signings can change things around.

1.Thiago Silva: The big Brazilian from Fluminense had signed earlier but could only start playing this season. Milan were truly struggling in the central defense position as there was no one decent enough to play alongside the ageing but still classy Nesta. Enter Silva, a no-nonsense big strong classic center back and Milan's problems decreased considerably. He is very effective in the air, a good marker and hardly has any concentration lapses. His speed is on the slower side, but for a league like Serie A it is more than enough. Silva's highlight of the season has been his penetrating forward runs which has unsettled many oppositions. A consistent player, he has contributed 2 goals to Milan's campaign this season.

Overall Grade: A- , effective but not spectacular.

2.Ignazio Abate: Not a true summer signing as he has been a Milan player since his early days, but was sent on loan time and again. His performance for Torino as a right winger earned him plaudits and Milan decided to give him a shot in the first team. But, due to Milan's tight and narrow formation, he had to be content sitting on the bench for most part of the early season. As Milan struggled with some stability at the right back position, Abate was drafted in and has since been solid if not excellent. He is now a regular at that position, but he is not a natural defender and is badly exposed if any side plays half-decent wingers.

Overall Grade: B- , not spectacular and only just about effective. If you don't need a winger, you don't sign one.

3.Oguchi Onyewu: Onye who? That was the reaction from most people when Milan signed this US international for a free transfer. Having spent a major part of his career with Standard Leige and a short loan spell with Newcastle, I think Milan signed him on the basis of his very successful Confederations Cup campaign with USA. He is tall and strong but has struggled for form with the Milan outfit. In his defense, he has not been given enough opportunities either with Bonera being preferred as the backup DC.

Overall Grade: C , not a bad player but not Milan quality either.

4.Klaas-Jan Huntelaar: A personal favorite, the "Hunter" was one of Europe's top marksmen before leaving Ajax. An inconsistent and dry spell with Madrid lowered his market value and he was sold to Milan for 15M euros. I thought well, at least now he will get more playing time and can shine once again. But that was not to happen. Huntelaar's not played enough and has lost his confidence. His goals still speak volumes about his class but they aren't as often as they should be. A return of only 6 goals in 21 appearances is dismal to say the least.

Overall Grade: B- , right thinking as Milan needed a striker like him but he's been a flop.

Truly Silly Season

Bah, Really?, Puzzled, Shocked, Angry, Deflated and then finally reconciling myself with the fact. This was the sequence of my reaction to the news of Michael Owen to Manchester United. Let us look at this transfer from an unbiased view (if possible). First the cons (if feel easier to list them):

• He was good.
• He gets injured often and stays out for long periods of time.
• He was a scouser. (this con is purely from a manutd fan's point of view)
• He was a target for Hull City.

And what are the pros:

• He will be content staying third choice and won't cry like Tevez.
• He knows his way around the Premier League defences.
• He might score against Liverpool at Anfield. (again purely from a manutd fan's pov :D)
• He's free.

This transfer is a master stroke if you are a fantasy manager playing football manager 09 beacause if he stays fit (and thats a big if) he will surely get you goals, but in the real world even if he stays fit( still a big if) there is no assurance that he will get goals. I think SAF was so angry with Madrid that he decided that he will not let them grab all the headlines for silly season 09 and it must be said that owen's move causes more ripples than Madrid's 200m pound (and increasing) spending so far.

The transfer has potential to succeed, Owen scored 10 goals in 31 appearances last season compared to Tevez's 15 goals in 51 appearances and Owen was being supplied by Newcastle's midfield which makes his goal tally carry more weight. The speed with which the deal happened shows that Utd actually wanted Benzema and Owen was the backup plan. And United have had old players in that "other" striker role (Larsson, Solksjaer, Sheringham).

I rate this signing as 4.5/10 and there is a probability that I may be proved wrong (how I hope I am ) but there is an even greater probability that Owen's injury record becomes the major news and not his goal scoring ability.

Kick Off

Its summer. One of the most dreaded times in the life of any football fan. No football to watch, and insane amount of transfer rumors which are bound to keep you in a frenzy. I am yet another one of those beleaguered football fans, so I thought why not voice my opinions on the transfer activities of the summer. With Perez back in the spotlight, and Madrid rebuilding their infamous ""Galactico"" era this has to undoubtedly be the most frenetic summer seen in some time.

The most interesting signing made by Madrid is not that of Kaka or Ronaldo or even the more recent Benzema but is the one of Raul Albiol. Now, many ""experts"" believe that the main cause of the downfall of the first Galactico era was Perez's undermining of the role of defense in winning trophies (remember Makelele?), so to see him investing in arguably one of Spain's best and young central defenders is puzzling. My knowledge on Albiol is based on his recent showings for Spain ( in the Confed Cup) and to and extent from FM and I would say that he has a bright future ahead. Madrid's attacking might was never questioned last season and CANNOT be questioned now, but their defense has always been suspect with the slowing Cannavaro, the erroneous Pepe and well Heinze (having him in the back line is tense for any manager). Now with Cannavaro gone, and Albiol and Garay (remember him??) coming in, it is an open question whether or not the credit for a clean sheet would go solely to Casillas or not.

Albiol is a good defender and has experience of playing in the La Liga and Madrid required a defender. Top notch signing : 9/10.

The other signing I want to talk about is Manchester United's first of this season- Luis Antonio Valencia. A speedy tricky right winger who came for surely more than 15m (Wigan said it was a club record). This guy has been linked with United since last summer, so a lot of thought has gone into this transfer. Of what I have seen him in Utd v Wigan matches, it is sure that he is quick and can cross. With Ronaldo gone and everyone expecting Rooney to play a central role this season, the United squad needed a winger for which he fits perfectly. Papers reported that Utd had to beat off competition from Madrid (not the one which bought Faubert but the newer one) for his signature, so this lad sure is worth it. Only time will tell if he will be a squad player or a dazzling winger (the kind we are used to seeing at the Theater of Dreams).

Good player but needs to be seen how good he will be at Utd and the cost is a negative: 6.5/10

I think thats enough for the first post. I think I will talk on Benzema on the next and one more signing which I have to decide (or you can suggest).