Big Premier League Signings

First topic message reminder :

Here is a list of all the "big movers" to the PL this season. The table contains the player's name, club moved from and to and fee for so we can scrutinise them

[ [/td][/tr]

Player	From	To	Fee
Kevin de Bruyne	Genk (Belgium)	Chelsea	£6.7m
Olivier Giroud	Montpellier (France)	Arsenal	£13.2m
Eden Hazard	Lille (France)	Chelsea	£35.2m
Shinji Kagawa	Borussia Dortmund (Germany)	Manchester United	£13.2m
Marko Marin	Werder Bremen (Germany)	Chelsea	£8.6m
Lukas Podolski	Cologne (Germany)	Arsenal	£11.4m
Jan Vertonghen	Ajax (Netherlands)	Spurs	£7.5m

Any updates would be appreciated.

Other transfers that may/may not be interesting:

Gylfi Sigurdsson - Spurs
Jacob Butterfield - Norwich
Nick Powell - Manchester United
Romain Amalfitano - Newcastle
Steven Naismith - Everton

http://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/en/premier-league/transferuebersicht/wettbewerb_GB1.html

Of the signings in the table, my predictions are:

Kevin De Bruyne- similar fate to Lukaku or will go out on loan.

Oliver Giroud- I think he'll struggle like Chamakh and eventually end up as a substitute.

Eden Hazard- I think he'll struggle for a bit, but will start to get better.

Shinji Kagawa- he'll grow into the team as his best position is decided on.

Marko Marin- won't be used a lot, end up as an impact sub, essentially will take the place that Kalou used to have.

Lukas Podolski- I think he'll be pretty good.

I think Marin will be Chelsea's best signing, immediately at least. Restored out wide.

Graeme Swann's Cat wrote:I think Marin will be Chelsea's best signing, immediately at least. Restored out wide.

I imagine up top they'll line up like:

Hazard----Torres----Mata

---Lampard------Ramires
-----------Mikel----------

It's possible Marin will be on the right wing as Di Matteo isn't a fan of Sturridge it seems. I just think that Marin has been signed as a replacement for Kalou, and Mata and Hazard are both better players.

I'm guessing Lampards getting dropped

Romeu--Ramires
Marin---Mata--Hazard
Torres

Graeme Swann's Cat wrote:I'm guessing Lampards getting dropped

Romeu--Ramires
Marin---Mata--Hazard
Torres

I just can't see Lampard getting dropped- he should, but I don't think he will be.

He will be eventually. Not good enough anymore

I agree GSC. He showed glimpses towards the back end of last season but he's not the player he was when under Mourhino. He was a player who was so good driving forward, obviously why he scored 20 goals a season (Although being the penalty taker helps). If Chelsea want to move forward these guys have got to put their ego's to one side, like Drogba, and realise they aren't bigger than the club and as Neville said, they need to realise that they will be playing a lesser role in the side, that's what happens in the end.

Chelsea need a Mikel style player in the team to anchor all those more attacking players - also think Lampard should be dropped, though how Terry and Cole will react to that

Heard a rumour Utd after Mouthino from Porto. Always though he was an excellent player for Sporting and then for Porto. Looked real quality for Portugal at the Euro's and is exactly the man Utd need now in the midfield. That and a holding midfielder. Hopefully the Strootman rumour is true. Won't be cheap, 25m probably and have we got that money and would we spend it on one player, considering we need a LB and RB.

Fernando wrote:Uve got the Giroud figure wrong btw was 9.6m

Yeah I know, just going by the values TM has given to keep it fair.

de Bruyne - On loan to Wigan I imagine. Think he'd do well for them.

Giroud - Difficult to call. He'll do better than Chamakh but doesn't strike me as an Arsenal-type player.

Hazard - I don't know. Will either hit the ground running or struggle greatly to begin with before fading/improving as the season goes on.

Kagawa - Will do well hopefully but will fade badly because there is no mid-season break for 2 weeks.

Marin - Depends how much game time he gets. I think he'll get games and do alright.

Podolski - I've said it before and I'll say it again; I don't like him on the wing. His success will depend on where he plays.

I know what you mean about Podolski, but being on the wing at Arsenal isn't your traditional wide-man role. It's essentially three strikers when attacking and I think it'll suit Podolski.

The Special Juan wrote:de Bruyne - On loan to Wigan I imagine. Think he'd do well for them.

Giroud - Difficult to call. He'll do better than Chamakh but doesn't strike me as an Arsenal-type player.

Hazard - I don't know. Will either hit the ground running or struggle greatly to begin with before fading/improving as the season goes on.

Kagawa - Will do well hopefully but will fade badly because there is no mid-season break for 2 weeks.

Marin - Depends how much game time he gets. I think he'll get games and do alright.

Podolski - I've said it before and I'll say it again; I don't like him on the wing. His success will depend on where he plays.

Giroud-I think Arsenal miss a 'non-arsenal' type player if you know what I mean. Chamak for me wasn't really given a look in. At Bordeaux he displayed great ability in the air and scored and the fact he was bought on a free was more than a steal.

Kagawa-I agree, although he might not play as much as I hope anyway with Carrick's form, Cleverly coming back and Scholes still around, not to mention Anderson. Still I would want him playing week in week out as I think he is a very good player.

Marin-Always liked him and I think he will do well in the PL.

Hazzard-Bit like Nani for me, will either be brilliant or awful.

Podolski-I agree, he hasn't enough pace or the ability to beat a man to play on the wing, plays far better through the middle.

Yes, exactly. With RVP and Podolski on the wings (presumably even though RVP may be leaving and both are left footed) where's the "real" winger that attacks the FB's? Like a Walnut or an Ox. I think it will end up as a 4-4-2. Think Arsenal may need a another CM; Wilshere isn't fit, Rosicky is unpredictable and, with his recent performances, Aaron Ramsey is hardly making the opposition quake in their boots.

That's my point though, Walcott isn't really a proper winger, not in the traditional sense, neither is Gervinho. So Podolski fits in I think, the kind of player half way between winger and striker...even the Ox is similar. None of them are like Valencia, Young or Nani.

I can see it being a front line of Podolski, RVP, Gervinho/Walcott with Giroud and Chamberlain being rotated in. Think that front line is an improvement on last year with strength in depth, pace in Walcott, Chamberlain and Gervinho, and aerial ability in Podolski and Giroud.

Arteta and Rosicky did really well in the AM role last year - indeed Arteta was one of the players of our season, and as we play 3 attackers we don't really use wingers, as opposed to Man U to definately use out and out wingers

You guys ready for the funniest story of the summer

Spoiler:

I **** you not

Graeme Swann's Cat wrote:You guys ready for the funniest story of the summer

Spoiler:

I **** you not

I hope it's not true. I want to see Andy Carroll stick it out at Liverpool.

Is it so he can learn from the master of the ponytail Zlatan Ibihimovic. Surely it's time for Ibi to move on as he spends about 3 seasons at a club before leaving?

Apparently AVB has £50 million to spend and already looking at various players

sigurdsson (spelling)
butland
dzagoev (spelling)
Remy
Vertonghen

Think all could be achieved. North London clubs are on a charge.

Anything I need to add to table/list below table?

Grant Holt to the bank

No Adebayour then?

Spurs must stop spending sometime soon surely? The amount Harry spent in the last few years (dwarfing Man U for a few seasons) is crazy.

Still think they can do better than Adebayor

I think Adebayor is on stupid money at City though and Spurs would be unwilling to match it

I doubt anyone would be willing/able to match the money Ade is on, so I wouldn't be suprised to see him take a little bit of a pay cut to get some 1st team football and some exposure (which will raise his profile and enable him to make more merchandising/sponsorship money), especially as I think Man C are keen to get rid of him

Siggurdson set to sin for Spurs

Gylfi Sigurdsson is now a Spurs player

Not good news for Liverpool. Might mean a way back for Aquilani and Joe Cole though.

Ultimately boiled down to wages

Graeme Swann's Cat wrote:Ultimately boiled down to wages

To be fair, Tottenham did finish fourth last year.

The sticking point has been wages for a while though

Crimey wrote:

Graeme Swann's Cat wrote:You guys ready for the funniest story of the summer

Spoiler:

I **** you not

I hope it's not true. I want to see Andy Carroll stick it out at Liverpool.

So you want Liverpool to play hoofball next season (not exactly Brandons way), cause outside of that I don't see how Carroll is even partially effective. Take what you can get from him and put it down to the final act of desperation from a dated manager.

Graeme Swann's Cat wrote:The sticking point has been wages for a while though

Bet you Swansea really hate Liverpool now. He had already agreed personal terms and everything.

I dont think Buck was too happy with his new wage request after already knowing what he was going to be on at Swansea. Didnt want to be taken for a mug. Thats agents for you though!

Small Time wrote:

Crimey wrote:

Graeme Swann's Cat wrote:You guys ready for the funniest story of the summer

Spoiler:

I **** you not

I hope it's not true. I want to see Andy Carroll stick it out at Liverpool.

So you want Liverpool to play hoofball next season (not exactly Brandons way), cause outside of that I don't see how Carroll is even partially effective. Take what you can get from him and put it down to the final act of desperation from a dated manager.

Brandon Rodgers utilised a big man up front without resorting to using hoofball tactics at Swansea. It is a myth that Andy Carroll is only effective with hoofball tactics, nobody is effective with hoofball tactics. I know what I saw last year and Liverpool looked a more fluid, potent and attacking force with Carroll on the pitch. We played much better with him playing because defenders get occupied by him, it creates space for the likes of Suarez, Gerrard and Bellamy to work with and on top of that he's a threat whenever we get the balls to the wings because you can whip the ball into him.

I think he'll fit perfectly in a Rodgers' style of team, taking the role Danny Graham played last year.

Suarez-----Carroll-------Bellamy

-----Adam----------Gerrard
-----------Lucas-----------

As Swansea's would have been:

Sinclair----Graham-----Dyer

-------Allen------Sigurdsson
-----------Britton-------------

Wouldn't surprise me to see Liverpool move for Borini, had a good loan spell at Swansea last year. Can't remember if he played at Forest though when I went :P

Crimey wrote:

Small Time wrote:

Crimey wrote:

Graeme Swann's Cat wrote:You guys ready for the funniest story of the summer

Spoiler:

I **** you not

I hope it's not true. I want to see Andy Carroll stick it out at Liverpool.

So you want Liverpool to play hoofball next season (not exactly Brandons way), cause outside of that I don't see how Carroll is even partially effective. Take what you can get from him and put it down to the final act of desperation from a dated manager.

Brandon Rodgers utilised a big man up front without resorting to using hoofball tactics at Swansea. It is a myth that Andy Carroll is only effective with hoofball tactics, nobody is effective with hoofball tactics. I know what I saw last year and Liverpool looked a more fluid, potent and attacking force with Carroll on the pitch. We played much better with him playing because defenders get occupied by him, it creates space for the likes of Suarez, Gerrard and Bellamy to work with and on top of that he's a threat whenever we get the balls to the wings because you can whip the ball into him.

I think he'll fit perfectly in a Rodgers' style of team, taking the role Danny Graham played last year.

Suarez-----Carroll-------Bellamy

-----Adam----------Gerrard
-----------Lucas-----------

As Swansea's would have been:

Sinclair----Graham-----Dyer

-------Allen------Sigurdsson
-----------Britton-------------

Danny Graham was utilised as a "big man upfront"????? Errrrrrm, no, no he wasn't, not really anymore I can say to that (as a swansea season ticket holder that was there for all the home games and 5 away games).

Yeah the wingers did a stirling job for you last year....really pounced on those "whipped in balls" (Stuart Downing - 20+ crosses 0 assists). Brendon is not a fan of Andy Carroll, but you'll just have to take my word on that (or wait for him to be porned off as a make weight in a deal to bring in someone who will fit perfectly into Rodgers system.

Small Time wrote:

Crimey wrote:

Small Time wrote:

Crimey wrote:

Graeme Swann's Cat wrote:You guys ready for the funniest story of the summer

Spoiler:

I **** you not

I hope it's not true. I want to see Andy Carroll stick it out at Liverpool.

So you want Liverpool to play hoofball next season (not exactly Brandons way), cause outside of that I don't see how Carroll is even partially effective. Take what you can get from him and put it down to the final act of desperation from a dated manager.

Brandon Rodgers utilised a big man up front without resorting to using hoofball tactics at Swansea. It is a myth that Andy Carroll is only effective with hoofball tactics, nobody is effective with hoofball tactics. I know what I saw last year and Liverpool looked a more fluid, potent and attacking force with Carroll on the pitch. We played much better with him playing because defenders get occupied by him, it creates space for the likes of Suarez, Gerrard and Bellamy to work with and on top of that he's a threat whenever we get the balls to the wings because you can whip the ball into him.

I think he'll fit perfectly in a Rodgers' style of team, taking the role Danny Graham played last year.

Suarez-----Carroll-------Bellamy

-----Adam----------Gerrard
-----------Lucas-----------

As Swansea's would have been:

Sinclair----Graham-----Dyer

-------Allen------Sigurdsson
-----------Britton-------------

Danny Graham was utilised as a "big man upfront"????? Errrrrrm, no, no he wasn't, not really anymore I can say to that (as a swansea season ticket holder that was there for all the home games and 5 away games).

Yeah the wingers did a stirling job for you last year....really pounced on those "whipped in balls" (Stuart Downing - 20+ crosses 0 assists). Brendon is not a fan of Andy Carroll, but you'll just have to take my word on that (or wait for him to be porned off as a make weight in a deal to bring in someone who will fit perfectly into Rodgers system.

To the extent that Andy Carroll is 6'3'' and therefore a big man, and Danny Graham is 6'1'' and therefore a big man striker. Yes he did.

I am fully aware that it didn't work last year with Stewart Downing, but Andy Carroll was playing as well as he ever has by the end of the year after struggling with injuries etc. We'll see, there have been next to no rumours from Anfield that Andy Carroll will be leaving and I hope to see him prove you wrong.

A big man striker is a Kevin Davies, Andy Carroll, Emelle Heskey type of striker......the ones that get long balls banged up at them and they flick on/bring down and lay off.

Danny Graham constantly ran channels/played on the shoulder of the last defender and made some great little fox in the box moves to score most of his goals.....these are qualities not becoming of a striker labelled a Big Man.

Small Time wrote:A big man striker is a Kevin Davies, Andy Carroll, Emelle Heskey type of striker......the ones that get long balls banged up at them and they flick on/bring down and lay off.

Danny Graham constantly ran channels/played on the shoulder of the last defender and made some great little fox in the box moves to score most of his goals.....these are qualities not becoming of a striker labelled a Big Man.

Andy Carroll has a lot more to his game than people seem to realise. He's certainly a lot more of a player than Davies and Heskey are.

A team could use Danny Graham as that type of player, Swansea didn't, in the same way teams could use Andy Carroll as that type of player, but I imagine and hope Rodgers won't.

Borini signed for Parma permantly last summer so that would more than likely be out of the picture

Positives - He's got decent power in his boot and is strong in the air.

Negatives - He's a total carthorse - he consistently miss times his jumps - has the first touch of a sunday league player - doesn't pass particularly well - gets caught ball watching a lot (leading to him not getting in the box) - and is a total carthorse (I know I've already said that but his running technique is so woeful it deserves a second mention...seriously, there are second row rugby players that are quicker and more graceful)

ncfc_Tooze wrote:Borini signed for Parma permantly last summer so that would more than likely be out of the picture

Brendon is a big Borini fan though and if the board give him quarter of the backing they gave Dagleish then they should finance it (if thats the player he wants....depends on if Suarez goes I should imagine).

Small Time wrote:Positives - He's got decent power in his boot and is strong in the air.

Negatives - He's a total carthorse - he consistently miss times his jumps - has the first touch of a sunday league player - doesn't pass particularly well - gets caught ball watching a lot (leading to him not getting in the box) - and is a total carthorse (I know I've already said that but his running technique is so woeful it deserves a second mention...seriously, there are second row rugby players that are quicker and more graceful)

12 months ago I'd have agreed with you.

His jumping has got so much better, the goal against Sweden shows this, he scored a goal against Blackburn as well. His first touch has improved remarkably, towards the end of the season so many times he got a fairly difficult ball to control, took it under control turned and then did a good pass. Obviously his passing is not as good as a midfielders, but it's good enough for the role he would play. His running also improved a lot, he obviously doesn't look great because of his frame, but he makes plenty of good runs. I don't think he ball watches, I felt a lot of last year he didn't get into the box due to a lack of confidence, he didn't want to fight for the balls, so he just asked for the ball on the edge of box to hit long shots.

I think the past six months he has improved a lot, he's got fitter, looks more confident, has a good first touch and decent passing ability and looks so much more ready to time his runs and get his jumps and headers right.

Hopefully he won't go back to the player he was for a while, as I thought the positives outweighed the negative a lot by the end of the year and I am firmly in the belief he can play a role in the team.

It's not like I have some kind of agenda for him, I didn't like the fact we signed him in the first place, but he's grown on me as I watched him get much better and I think he could become a Drogba-esque player.

RVP is leaving Arsenal

I can't see that anyone has mentioned Naismith to Everton? Or does that not count cause its on a free?

Should count, think that's a really good signing for everton and will see him link up with Jelavic again

so where is rvp gonna go??????

mystiroakey wrote:so where is rvp gonna go??????

I'd like to see him go to United to try and close the gap to City, make it a more interesting fight for the title this year.

Terrible thing to say but Van Persie's overdue for an injury, especially with his history. I hope he doesn't sign for Man Utd, seems like a huge risk to me. Can see him going to Madrid or PSG, who are on a charge.