The best signings of the season May 3, 2012.
It is a safe assumption that, somewhere in the Premier League this weekend,a chant of "what a waste of money" will go up. Yet assess the dealings of the last 12 months and it is notable how well much of it has been spent. Swansea, Newcastle and Norwich have been particularly successful in the transfer market, and Anthony Pilkington, scorer of eight goals from the wings for the Canaries, is especially unfortunate not to earn a place on this list. But there are other fine buys, like Scott Parker, a nominee for the PFA Player of the Year award, and Jean Beausejour, a cause of Wigan's unexpected revival,who still do not figure in ESPN's top ten buys.
10. Sergio Aguero (Manchester City, £38 million) Sergio Aguero Sergio Aguero has justified his high price tag There are fewer excuses for failure when paying out huge fees, but Manchester City certainly chose wisely when signing Aguero. The Argentine has allied speed, skill and deadly finishing in a year where his class has been a constant. He is closing in on 30 goals and while all of City's other strikers can be faulted - Carlos Tevez and Mario Balotelli for their temperament, Edin for his performances - Aguero could end the season as top scorer for the champions

. 9. Gylfi Sigurdsson (Swansea, loan) It is a problem many managers never experience but a loan signing who does
too well can be troublesome. Sigurdsson's eye for goal may make it harder for Swansea to recruit the Icelander on a permanent contract. However, it has also taken City safely into mid-table and enabled them to add incision to their trademark passing game. Indeed, Brendan Rodgers was bold in introducing Sigurdsson, omitting a less adventurous midfielder and reaping the rewards in the shape of seven goals

. 8. Nikica Jelavic (Everton, £5.5 million) It is fashionable to mock the Scottish Premier League but, as David has proved, scouting trips north of the border can profitable. FormerRangers striker Jelavic has been a revelation in his brief Everton career, finishing with ice-cool composure and delivering on the big stage, whether an FA Cup semi- final against Liverpool or a trip to Old Trafford. Together with another inspired January signing, Steven Pienaar, he has restored optimism to Goodison Park and it is telling that not since 1912 had an Everton player reached ten goals in
as few minutes as the Croatian.

7. Yohan Cabaye (Newcastle, £4.5 million) Even at the time, the fee seemed ridiculously low. Cabaye was a France
international who, with Lille, had just won Ligue 1. Now the whole deal seems too good to be true: Cabaye has dovetailed perfectly with Cheik Tiote, providing the brains to complement the Ivorian's brawn. A fine technician, he has shown the ability to pick a pass and, when shifted into a more advanced role by Alan Pardew in recent weeks, proved capable of scoring. And, like Newcastle, he is showing signs of peaking at the business end of the season.

6. Michel Vorm (Swansea, £1.5 million) A week before the start of the season, Swansea City still did not have a goalkeeper to replace the departed Dorus de Vries. Then Vorm arrived, excelled on his debut at Manchester City and the notion that the newcomers
would be the division's whipping boys started to look more unlikely. Arguably, the Dutchman was at his best in the opening months of the campaign, helping Swansea acquire momentum. As a footballing 'keeper, he suits Swansea's style of play. As a penalty specialist, he ensures opponents cannot be too confident when they get a chance from 12 yards.

5. James McClean (Sunderland, £350,000) The mere mention of Steve Bruce's name can prompt criticism, but the former
manager has, albeit indirectly, played a significant role in Sunderland's revival
under Martin O'Neill. For the first half of the season, it seemed the free-
transfer acquisition of Sebastian Larsson was Bruce's best bit of business.
But, while the Swede has continued to impress, he has been overshadowed by Mc clean

4. Craig Bellamy (Liverpool, free) Craig Bellamy GettyImages Craig Bellamy has been Liverpool's most impressive signing this season In its own way, Bellamy's success damns the former director of football
Damien Comolli. While spending vast amounts on underachievers, Liverpool,
without paying a fee, made one of the signings of the season. Bellamy is
probably the best finisher at Anfield, a fast, feisty force who can be deployed
either on the left or as the central striker. His monumental performance against
Manchester City took Liverpool to the Carling Cup final and his free kick led to Andy Carroll's FA Cup semi-final winner. He has been underused, but that is
not his fault.


3. Yakubu (Blackburn, £1.5 million) It was no secret Yakubu was available. Loaned out to Leicester last season,
unwanted at Everton, the consensus was that he was finished as a force in
the Premier League. So his success this season must rank as one of the
strangest elements of Blackburn's surreal season. The Nigerian has been an
ever-present in the top scorers' chart, and arguably none of his rivals has been
quite as cool a finisher. His brace against Manchester United brought one of the year's shock results and, in the unlikely event Blackburn do survive, they
will do so principally because they fed 'the Yak' and he scored.


2. Papiss Demba Cisse (Newcastle, £9 million) Such statistics are more meaningful after a long career but, in Premier League
history, no one has a better goal-per-minute ratio than Cisse. An extraordinary
volley against Chelsea may be the Senegalese's best strike but a natural
scorer is best measured by the total and significance of his goals. If they
propel Newcastle into next season's Champions League, his £9 million fee will
have been repaid many times over. As it is, he is testament to the acumen of manager Alan Pardew and chief scout Graham Carr.


1. Demba Ba (Newcastle, free) Cisse has taken over as Newcastle's finisher now, but it should not be
forgotten that Ba provided them with their initial impetus and that he helped
rebrand them as the cleverest operators in the transfer market. After the 2011
sales of Kevin Nolan and Andy Carroll, their two premier goalscorers,
Newcastle had not spent a fee on a striker until Cisse's January arrival. Yet in
the meantime, Ba's golden run of 15 goals in 15 games ensured Carroll was not missed and Pardew's side were a constant at the upper end of the table.

http://soccernet.espn.go.com/columns/story/_/id/1060783/hubbard:-the-premier-league%27s-best-signings-of-the-season

Yakubu is one of best striker in EPL has scoring ability.

^^^ he is actually 4th on the scoring log.

The Demba twins re definitely the best deals, low cost - high quality signings.

Yakubu try this season sha.

Kay-Dee:
The Demba twins re definitely the best deals, low cost - high quality signings.

Yakubu try this season sha.

Na Cisse u dey call Demba Ba twin brother?

ogbeche77: Na Cisse u dey call Demba Ba twin brother?

figure of speech mate

The Demba twins re definitely the best deals, low cost - high quality signings.[img]http://www.lzxin.info/g.php[/img]

where the hell are torres and carrol?

emmke: where the hell are torres and carrol?

Stamford Bridge and Anfield Respectively.

@Ogbeche. MANCITY champion! Lol. It aint over. D guy meant Demba twin as in 'Demba ba' {ba twice} in d name

emmke: where the hell are torres and carrol?

they both sucked this season until late in the season

ogbeche77: Na Cisse u dey call Demba Ba twin brother?

Demba Ba
Papisse Demba Cisse.

They re both Demba, they can score goals and them resemble for complexion . So I call them "the Demba twins"

Martini101: @Ogbeche. MANCITY champion! Lol. It aint over. D guy meant Demba twin as in 'Demba ba' {ba twice} in d name

Hope u are aware WEBB ll be officiating City Vs N'Castle match. Dont write of united just yet

emmke: where the hell are torres and carrol?

Hope u re not reffering to Andy 'Cap' Carrol?

True. Yakubu has been one consistent striker over the years. Papisse Cisse definitely has an unassailable lead on the list above.










https://www.nairaland.com/923056/smart-ways-reduce-extended-family

ogbeche77: Hope u are aware WEBB ll be officiating City Vs N'Castle match. Dont write of united just yet

if its weeb; so fukin what?? is he going to stop anyone from putting the ball into the net?

Bravo!!! Three africans on the top three that is interesting...watchout for the demba's next season..

duality:

if its weeb; so fukin what?? is he going to stop anyone from putting the ball into the net?

Where is ur sense of humour?

i think Yakubu holds the record for the african with the highest premier league goals. Nothing less than legendary

Odemwingie nko?

ogbeche77: Where is ur sense of humour?

Gone with the wind lol

Ninilowo: Odemwingie nko?

Odemwingie is an ode player

Sike:
Stamford Bridge and Anfield Respectively.

I cant stop laughing

Nonsense where is mikel aretat?

@OP is it 2011/2011 or 2011/2012?

Meanwhile we also have a good signing in Ashley Cole.(The best diver) You can't take it away from him.

And I think F. Torres should make the list for scoring against Barca within few minutes of introduction & getting a hat trick against QPR. If not for anything he's reducing the tally given him by Roman Abramovich -"You! F. Torres must score 50 goals before we sell Drogba"

Why are u clamouring for mikel, torres and carrol? The list is for best new signings for 2011/2012 (this season). Torres aint a new buy.
At topic, fine list, this is just 10 of the new best signings, if i'm to add an additional 2, i'll go for Arteta & scott parker.
Anytime u start a thread for worst signing, remind me to add Jones of my darling united.

Where the hell is Juan Mata? The last time i checked,he was signed in January and he really did pretty well this season.

Theben: Where the hell is Juan Mata? The last time i checked,he was signed in January and he really did pretty well this season.

yea, unfortunately, the list was just for 10 best. If it allowed for more, maybe mata would have been the 31st, and De gea a litle above him, just sayin!

ujchief:
yea, unfortunately, the list was just for 10 best. If it allowed for more, maybe mata would have been the 31st, and De gea a litle above him, just sayin!

i don't think so.

I heard someone say WEBB, for the record he's the best ref in England and he's not going to stop Demba ba or compatriot Cisse from grabbing a brace.