As the EPL season presses on, let’s debate the best transfers so far of 2011-12.
6. Emmanuel Adebayor (Tottenham Hotspur – loan)
Manchester City obviously have more money than brains, as they’ve loaned the clinical Adebayor to a main top four rival in Spurs, and still pay most of his wages too. Spurs never really had a consistent centre forward since Robbie Keane decided to go Hollywood. Now Ade is filling the gap with great effectiveness, and has got along with the whole squad, especially Rafa Van Der Vaart.
He and Scott Parker were the only two new buys for Spurs since last season and have already helped them crack the top four barrier. City and Real, who didn’t take him permanently, have got to be scratching their heads now. How his goals would have helped them against United and Barca.
5. Oriol Romeu (Chelsea FC – €5m )
For all of Chelsea’s massive spending over the years, an unknown from Barca’s B team has the potential to be the best bit of business, and he only cost 5 million euros. The Spanish defensive midfielder has flourished under Andre Villas-Boa, and has not looked back since joining Chelsea.
He is even holding a first team place ahead of the likes of John Obi Mikel, Florent Malouda and Michael Essien. The truly amazing thing about this kid is that he’s adapted not just to the EPL but to being a member of the Big Four, all while he’s aged only 20. Hopefully Romeu will help take Chelsea back up to the EPL title.
4. Scott Parker (Spurs – $6m)
Who would have thought that Tottenham would be challenging for the EPL title halfway through the season? Not me, for sure, it looked like Modric was going to Chelsea and that Spurs would be back into the Europa League places for good. But Modric stayed and Harry got his man in Parker. Parker has added steel, and basically lifted the same team as last season up into the top three. Scotty’s work rate and cheap price makes him one of the best buys of this season.
3. Sergio Kun Aguero (Man City – $35m)
I personally rate Aguero above Tevez, Higuain and every other South American striker bar Messi, and that’s why I was so surprised to see him still lingering at Athletico Madrid when he could be in a more competitive club. When City got him I knew that they’d be finishing top two no doubts.
Aguero has been killing it on the pitch since he debuted years back, and now everyone who’s dreamed of seeing him in the EPL can witness his greatness. A goal on debut and goals since have him right up there in the EPL Golden Boot stakes even if Robin van Perise looks a shoo-in.
He’s a starter in Mancini’s side, which is incredibly hard to do ahead of big guys like Dzeko and Balotelli, and at 23, is younger than Messi. If City hold on to him they’ll be on the fast track to many titles soon.
2. Michel Vorm (Swansea – 1.5m)
This goalie signed as an unknown for the newly promoted Swans, and has been the number one factor in keeping them up this season. He made his debut away at Man City and saved Swansea from being massacred against the money boys of Manchester.
He’s already got the most clean sheets of any keeper in the EPL. I wonder how Fergie feels about this after blowing $18 million on De Gea. This guy brings swagger to the EPL new boys, and helped them beat Arsenal just a few days ago. He also kept a clean sheet at Anfield, that’s why he’s No.2 in the best transfers of season 11-12.
1. Demba Ba (Newcastle – free transfer)
Signed for no fee from relegated West Ham United, Demba Ba has scored for fun all year and is second only to van Persie in goals for 2011. Not surprisingly Newcastle have benefitted from the Senegal strikers efficiency in front of the sticks, which had the Geordies in the top four for a long part of the season so far.
Apparently Ba has a small release clause which could start a bidding war with the big boys of the EPL, but at the moment Ba is filling in the 35 million pound gap left by Andy Caroll shaped gap. 15 goals so far makes Demba Ba the best EPL transfer of the season.
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