As domestic football makes way for the international break, teams up and down the country will be reflecting on their start to the season. Following a record amount of spending in the last transfer window, it also presents an opportunity to see how the Premier League summer signings have fared for their new clubs. Kusolo has looked at all of the top flights newest arrivals and gives a verdict on just how well they have settled in. ARSENAL Arsenal splashed out in the summer in a bid to sustain a Premier League title challenge. Alexis Sanchez has shown glimpses of his brilliance - and has contributed some important goals - but doesnt look completely up to speed with English football yet. -------------- Mathieu Debuchy looked well suited to Arsenal before suffering his injury, while Calum Chambers has taken the step-up in his stride with some mature performances. Danny Welbeck has shown signs of improvement but can still be frustrating - his fine hat-trick against Galatasaray was the highlight. Jury is still out on reserve keeper David Ospina. Verdict so far (out of 10) Alexis Sanchez - 6.5 Mathieu Debuchy - 7 David Ospina - 5 Verdict so far (out of 10) Calum Chambers - 7.5 Danny Welbeck - 7 CHELSEA Diego Costa has come in and looked as though hes been playing in England for a decade, with an incredible run of nine goals in seven Premier League matches so far. Cesc Fabregas is worth every penny of his £30m transfer fee. Filipe Luis has struggled to get into the side for league games, while the returning Didier Drogba is likely to spend most of the season on the bench as expected. Loic Remy looks set to be in Costas shadow too - but has opened his account. Verdict so far Diego Costa - 9 Cesc Fabregas - 8 Filipe Luis - 6 Verdict so far Didier Drogba - 6 Loic Remy - 6.5 EVERTON Its been a disappointing start to the season for Everton and none of their summer signings have set the world on fire. Romelu Lukau, so prolific last season, looks burdened by the responsibility of being the main man. Gareth Barry has done the important things with the minimum of fuss while Muhamed Besic looks like he could flourish. Verdict so far Gareth Barry - 7 Muhamed Besic - 6.5 Romelu Lukaku - 6 Verdict so far Samuel Etoo - 6 Christian Atsu - 5 ------------- LIVERPOOL After coming so close last season, Liverpool spent nearly £120m in strengthening over the close season, but the results have been mixed. Adam Lallana, the most expensive buy at £25m, was very unfortunate with his injury but the signs have been encouraging since he returned last month. Alberto Moreno has also looked promising and scored in the 3-0 win at Tottenham. Verdict so far Adam Lallana - 7 Emre Can - 6 Lazar Markovic - 5 Dejan Lovren - 6 Verdict so far Mario Balotelli - 6 Alberto Moreno - 7 Javier Manquillo - 6.5 Rickie Lambert - 6 MANCHESTER CITY A quieter summer than usual at the Etihad, but still a substantial amount of money was splurged on new signings. Eliaquim Mangala cost a cool £32million from Porto and – despite a nightmare at Hull – has all the tools required to be the powerful central defender alongside Vincent Kompany the Premier League champions have craved, as he showed on his debut against Chelsea. Bacary Sagna is unlikely to dislodge Pablo Zabaleta at right back, although Fernando could become the main man in midfield given time. And Frank Lampard has shown he still has his eye for goal. Verdict so far Bacary Sagna – 5 Fernando – 6.5 Willy Caballero – 5 Verdict so far Eliaquim Mangala – 7 Frank Lampard - 7 MANCHESTER UNITED Wounded by a disastrous last campaign, United have broken the bank to try and restore them to the pinnacle of the Premier League. Many have argued they have brought in too many attacking players and their defence certainly looks shaky. Results are starting to pick up for Louis van Gaals team, however. Angel di Maria has been absolutely exceptional, scoring and setting up goals, while Radamel Falcao got off the mark against Everton. Ander Herrera looked classy in his passing before suffering a fractured rib, while Daley Blind has settled in straight away. The defenders Luke Shaw and Marcos Rojo have something to prove yet. Verdict so far Ander Herrera - 8 Luke Shaw - 6 Marcos Rojo - 6 Verdict so far Angel Di Maria - 9 Daley Blind - 7.5 Radamel Falcao - 7.5 -------------------- Roma owner James Pallotta insists midfielder Kevin Strootman will not be sold to Manchester United. The 24-year-old Dutch midfielder has been linked with a January move to Old Trafford, where he would join up with former Netherlands boss Louis Van Gaal. It is just not happening, Romas billionaire owner told BBC Sport at the Leaders in Football Conference. I have told the papers that they should stop wasting paper. We dont have any interest in selling Kevin. Strootman is currently recovering from the knee injury he sustained in March which forced him to miss the 2014 World Cup. Kevin Strootman Born: 13 February 1990 Club: Roma (29 appearances, six goals) Previous clubs: Sparta Rotterdam (83 appearances, 12 goals), Utrecht (16 appearances, two goals), PSV Eindhoven (88 appearances, 14 goals) International record: Netherlands (25 caps, three goals) ------------- World number two Rafael Nadal has conceded he will have to undergo surgery at the end of the year after being diagnosed with appendicitis. After taking antibiotics, he was beaten 6-3 7-6 (8-6) by fellow Spaniard Feliciano Lopez in Wednesdays Shanghai Masters second-round match. • --- Harry Redknapps latest book, A Man Walks On To a Pitch, is being serialised by Sportsmail this week • Redknapp picks his Premier League team from modern era • QPR boss chooses Rio Ferdinand who he describes as a Rolls-Royce • Steven Gerrard and Paul Scholes line-up in central midfield • Luis Suarez is included - with Redknapp revealing he could have signed him from Ajax when he was Tottenham manager ---------cech,zabaleta,terry,Ferdinand,cole,ronaldo,schools,gerrad,bale,henry and suarez. ----- Sebastien Bassong has become the first signing of the Slavisa Jokanovic era at Watford after agreeing a three-month loan at Vicarage Road. The Norwich City defender has not featured for the Championship side since Neil Adams took over in April, before the club were relegated from the Premier League. Adams did not involve the former Tottenham defender in the clubs pre-season plans and hopes the move can help Bassong rebuild his fitness. Its important for Seb to get some first team football and keep himself fit and involved, Adams told Norwichs official website. Roberto Mancini believes Mario Balotellis spell at Liverpool is the strikers final opportunity to prove himself. Mancini worked with the striker at both Inter and Manchester City, and knows as well as anyone how Balotellis actions away from the field can overshadow anything he does on the pitch. Balotelli has developed a reputation of having a fiery temper, but his list of honours at the age of 24 is impressive. The Italy international has won four domestic league titles, as well as the FA Cup, Coppa Italia and the UEFA Champions League. Balotelli completed a move from Milan to Liverpool during the transfer window, but is yet to recapture the prolific form which saw him net 26 league goals in 43 appearances at San Siro. And Mancini believes the forward must use his time at Anfield to display his qualities and prove any doubters wrong. Mario is a good guy, but he is aware that Liverpool is probably his final opportunity to prove what he can do on the pitch, he said, Its his last chance. I often talk to him via text message, but only he can help himself now. He told me that he wants to and must score more goals for Liverpool. ---------------- Sir Alex Ferguson has given his first verdict on Louis van Gaal’s reign at Manchester United, suggesting the new Old Trafford manager has been ‘brilliant’. Ferguson has been an interested onlooker as Van Gaal has gone about the task of rebuilding the squad he inherited from David Moyes in the summer. The Dutch veteran has spent big as he looks to undo the damage of the 2013/14 season and the United first team now looks vastly different to the one Ferguson led to the Barclays Premier League title just 16 months ago. The former United boss has never once regretted his decision to retire in May 2013. But speaking in an MUTV interview — called ‘Sir Alex: Life After Management’, which will be aired in the club TV station on Monday — Ferguson light-heartedly recalled his first few months as a former manager. He said: ‘It was the first time I’ve ever had a holiday in my life in December and I’m sitting there at poolside in Abu Dhabi and I said to Cathy: “I should be at Carrington”.’ --------------------- Arsenal are working on a £55m deal to bring Paris St-Germain striker Edinson Cavani, 27, to the Emirates. (Metro) But the Gunners are likely to miss out on another target, with 27-year-old full-back Ignazio Abate set to commit his future to AC Milan. (Talksport) Former Tottenham striker Jermain Defoe, 32, could return to English football in January, according to the boss of the Toronto MLS franchise. (Daily Mirror) Liverpool have no plans to loan out Fabio Borini, 23, despite interest in the striker from Inter Milan, Sunderland and QPR in the summer. (Daily Star) Tottenham defender Younes Kaboul, 28, has denied reports linking him with a move to either Lazio or Fiorentina in Italys Serie A. (Talksport) Former Newcastle midfielder Yohan Cabaye, 28, says he is unhappy with his bit-part role at Paris St-Germain and misses England. (London Evening Standard) Harry Redknapp says he nearly signed former Arsenal midfielder Patrick Vieira and current Barcelona striker Luis Suarez for Tottenham when he was in charge of Spurs. (Daily Mail) OTHER GOSSIP Manchester United captain Wayne Rooney, 28, has denied suggestions his red card against West Ham shows his temperament is going backwards. (Daily Star) San Marino manager Pierangelo Manzaroli says Thursdays match against England will be an exercise in damage limitation. (London Evening Standard) Liverpools summer signing Lazar Markovic, 20, has asked fans to give him more time after struggling to impress since joining from Benfica. (Daily Express) Barcelona striker Suarez, 27, could make his international return in Uruguays friendly with Saudi Arabia on Friday, having not played for his national team since since his World Cup bite on Italys Giorgio Chiellini. (Daily Mirror) Aston Villa manager Paul Lambert has travelled to New York to discuss matters such as the January transfer window with the clubs chairman Randy Lerner. (Birmingham Mail) Sir Alex Ferguson backs Louis van Gaals determination to clear the decks at Manchester United after speaking publicly about the Dutchmans appointment for the first time. (Daily Telegraph) BEST OF SOCIAL MEDIA Arsenal players have been tweeting messages of support to Mesut Ozil, with the Arsenal midfielder out for up to 12 weeks with a knee injury. Lukas Podolski tweets: Get well bro! Hope youre back on the pitch soon!!!, while Santi Cazorla writes: Get well soon Mesut Ozil, Arsenal needs you! Liverpool defender Jose Enrique woke up on Wednesday morning and decided he wanted to look like Charlie Chaplin. The Spaniard tweeted: Surprised my girlfriend with a new style of beard this morning, She didnt like it very much.. hahahahaha. AND FINALLY Arsenal forward Alexis Sanchez says he used to perform somersaults for £2.30 and wash cars to make money for his family. ---FORMULA 1-------- (Reuters) - Russia makes its long-awaited Formula One debut in Winter Olympic city Sochi this weekend with the sport in no mood to party even without the political clouds that hang heavy over the race. Dominant Mercedes could clinch the constructors title for the first time, while Britains Lewis Hamilton is aiming for a ninth win of the season to add to his 10-point lead over German team mate Nico Rosberg but sport will not make all the headlines. Unthinkable in the communist era, when a Ferrari on the streets of Moscow was as rare as a Zil limousine in Las Vegas, the grand prix arrives at a time when many in the west find it unpalatable. The crisis in Ukraine, with condemnation of Moscow and sanctions imposed by the west, the seizure of Crimea and the downing of a Malaysian airliner near Donetsk in July have all added to criticism of the race going ahead. Britains deputy prime minister Nick Clegg said back in July that Russia should not be allowed to host the grand prix. Formula One supremo Bernie Ecclestone has shrugged off the critics and President Vladimir Putin, for whom the grand prix is a showcase legacy of the record $51 billion spent on the Winter Games, is expected to attend after celebrating his 62nd birthday on Tuesday. The street race will run around the Black Sea resorts Olympic Park, against a backdrop of some of the venues familiar to television viewers worldwide from last February.
Posted on: Thu, 09 Oct 2014 05:30:25 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015