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The Five most intriguing English Premier League Summer Signings

Published by Ian John on August 15, 2009

Well, the season kicks off today and we begin this busy week on Decipher Soccer with a look at the five most intriguing signings of the pre-season and five players who face an enormous challenge at their new club, as the season begins in earnest…

1. Luis Antonio Valencia (Wigan Ath to Manchester United)

Replacing the irreplaceable? It sounds very much an impossible and thankless task. Perhaps not since the time George Best decided he had had enough and left Old Trafford, have United started a new season with one of their most influential players and a huge driving force of the team, being replaced by a a player who, comparatively, is something of an unknown. Of course that does Valencia a disservice. The Ecuadorian proved during his time with Wigan that he had the ability to shine at Premiership level and it was not coincidence that his name was linked with several top Premier League sides and Real Madrid, before Manchester United concluded a £15m deal for the player during the summer. However Valencia will find it hard to fill the void left behind by Ronaldo and while Sir Alex will not have signed the player simply for this task and despite the fact that he has the support of the Premierships strongest squad alongside him, Valencia faces a tough season proving to United fans, and to himself, that he has the quality to replace the departed Portuguese winger.

2. Carlos Tevez (JIA to Manchester City)

Although technically Manchester City signed the Argentinian star from the management company of agent Kia Joorabchian, Tevez has, to all intents and purposes, been a Manchester United player for the past two years. Impressing the fans with his determination, bubbly performances and goals at crucial times. That Sir Alex Ferguson’s treatment of the player turned Tevez against United, could end up being a dreadful fait accompli if the striker fulfils his undoubted potential alongside Mark Hughes expensively assembled cast of talent at Eastlands. Tevez chose to join City out of “respect” to United fans who would have been less heartened to see him join Liverpool or Chelsea who were both reported to be in for the player, however it still has eerie echoes of the time Denis Law left United to join city. However it is hard to see Carlos Tevez back heeling the goal that dooms United to relegation, though City fans would probably dream of this being the most wonderful end to the season. Tevez needs to improve several aspects of his performance if he is to really mature into one of the Premierships finest stars, his league goal tally wasn’t that impressive and all too often his final ball disappointed for United last season, however with a new team and a regular place in the side, not to mention a manager that seems to value him and his contribution, it is set up nicely for Tevez to have his finest season in the English Premiership and play a leading role in Manchester City’s quest of breaking the dominance of the ‘big four’.

3. Emmanuel Adebayor (Arsenal to Manchester City)

Adebayor hasn’t done himself any favours with Arsenal fans in recent times and his move to Manchester City is likely to condemn him as one of the former Gunners who doesn’t receive too warm a welcome on his return to the Emirates. The Togolese international has enjoyed mixed reviews during his time at Highbury since signing from Monaco. There are many who will point to his decent goalscoring record, his ability to hold the ball up and link up play between midfield and attack as a vital aspect of the Arsenal attack. However there are an equally vociferous number who will see the strikers often petulant, cumbersome and disinterested display as something that their beloved Gunners can well do without in the new season. Adebayor’s claims that he would only leave Arsenal for a bigger club also won’t have endeared him to Arsenal fans who claim he left solely for the money on offer at Eastlands. Adebayor will need to find the net frequently and perhaps up his level of performance on a regular basis if he is to justify the fee Mark Hughes paid for him and propel City into the Premiership elite.

4. Glen Johnson (Portsmouth to Liverpool)

It has been source of great consernation to Liverpool fans that the side have lacked a top quality wide player, in the vein of Cristiano Ronaldo, to give their side that extra edge needed to challenge for the title on a regular basis. Certainly last season, the signing of Albert Riera and the continued good form of Dirk Kuyt and Yossi Benayoun meant that the wide midfield slots looked stronger and this summer, manager Rafa Benitez has further added to his squad by landing England international Glen Johnson as his first choice right back. Johnson’s marauding presence down the right should add a new dimension to Liverpool however he will find he needs to improve aspects of his game in order to win over the, seemingly hyper-critical at times, Anfield faithful. Johnson’s pace, quality and athleticism have never been in doubt, but the player will need to improve his general distribution and his final ball if he is to make the impact at Anfield that many Reds fans want. If he can do that however, Liverpool, even minus the talents of Xabi Alonso and the versatility and consistency of Alvaro Arbeloa, may stand their best chance of league title success in many years.

5. Thomas Vermaelen (Ajax to Arsenal)

This summer, Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger has quietly and subtlely changed the face of his Arsenal side. After several seasons of disappointment the Frenchman has moved to make changes in two key areas, defence and attack. Senderos seems to have played his last game for the club, Kolo Toure and Emmanuel Adebayor have both moved on to Manchester City and so new signing Thomas Vermaelen will now take on an increasingly important role in the Arsenal defence. Vermaelen is a class act and his pace and intelligence will be key if Arsenal are to survive the loss of key players and improve upon last seasons somewhat distant fourth placed finish. The Gunners are also strongly linked with a move for Fulham’s Brede Hangeland and one wonders if Arsene Wenger sees the Scandinavian combination of the tall Hangeland and the pacy Vermaelen as the perfect central defensive pairing for his future Arsenal side. Time and performances will tell.

Image courtesy of ***Alfonso Jiminez *** at Flickr.com

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