5 - Steven Pienaar
To many, this will be a surprising one, but I can quite easily justify this. After signing for Spurs for around £3million from Everton in January 2011, he spent the next year and a half on the bench, suffering under the un-rotational, un-pragmatic managing style of Harry Redknapp, making only 10 league appearances. He went back to Everton on loan last January and completely excelled. He later resigned for the Toffees in January and played like he was back at home.
This season, Pienaar has been instrumental to Everton's successful season, playing 38 times and scoring 7 goals with 8 assists. But his influence, Everton fans tell me, goes beyond more than stats. The attacking creativity comes from Pienaar, combining with Baines and Fellaini in the buildup and often playing off the striker in the final third.
He has wowed me this year, mainly because he never showed that flair in a Spurs shirt (of course, like so many under Redknapp, he was never given the opportunity). So for £4.5million, I'd say resigning Pienaar was a sensible decision by David Moyes. At the age of 31 though, Pienaar's influence may begin to decline.
4 - Philippe Coutinho
As part of the Inter Milan cleanout, which saw Wesley Sneijder, Maicon and Sulley Muntari leave for cut-price deals, young prospect Philippe Coutinho was shown the door as well. Wanted by teams across Europe, he eventually signed for Liverpool for a relatively low fee of £8.5million in January.
I was very curious about this transfer, Inter being a big team and the hype that surrounded this player, and I had a feeling he'd have a good impact. He's turned out to be a really tricky player, quick with the pass, energetic, useful in the final third and a talented supplier. He's not restricted to his positions, having the ability to play on the wings or in the middle of the park. His size does not influence his play, very common in technical midfielders nowadays (thoughts turn to Modric, Ozil, Gotze, Iniesta).
He looks the exact type of player Brendan Rodgers would cherish, a manager who's strict passing-possessional play is very well known in the Premier League. For his age (twenty years old, TWENTY) and ability, Coutinho definitely has the potential to be a brilliant player.
3 - Christian Benteke
Benteke apparently went on strike to get his transfer to join Aston Villa this season for £7million, and I'm sure he's glad he forced that move through. He has had a fantastic debut season for the midlands club.
After replacing the on-and-off England striker Darren Bent at the start of the season, Benteke has proven himself to be one of the Premier League's hottest prospects. He looks like a model Number 9 in today's lone striker formations. Tall. Strong. Good with his feet. Great positioning. With attributes like that, there is no limit to what he can accomplish. Well... as long as he keeps getting the supply.
Villa fans tell me Benteke's form is very much attributed to his combination with Andreas Weimann, who looks like a proper second striker every time I see him play. I feel these two will keep Villa in the Premier League, and, if they can keep both of them, can get them back into mid-table comfort.
Benteke will move to a better club soon, but probably not this summer. Young players need time to mature in a team and in a league, to develop consistency. Potential buyers will need to consider this before thrusting their millions into Villa's pockets.
I feel Benteke will become one of the best strikers in the world if he can continue to show the form he has produced for Villa this year. Belgium are certainly blessed with some fantastic players.
2 - Michu
Who the hell is this? was my first reaction to Michu's brace in his first Premier League game in August for Swansea. He didn't mess around with transitioning or easing into the league; he scored 7 goals in his first 9 games! Michu looked like the buy of the season at only £2million from Rayo Vallecano.He fits perfectly into the Swansea style of play, and it wasn't just goals and assists. Michu understands that he must drop back and let others into the game, hold up the ball for Swansea's pacy attackers to press the attacking third, and keep the possession and flow of passing in tact.
Striker wise, Michu looks the part, especially in today's passing-possesional tippy tappy game, you know, how the game should be played. Not every passing team can have a Messi or Messi-like player, so the other option is to have a big guy up front. And Michu is that guy. Any team could benefit from Michu.
I'm fully aware that Michu's second half of the season has been average, but his early season form led Swansea to their first ever major competition win in the League Cup. He stunned us all; everything he did looked so simple. If he was discovered earlier in his career, I think he could've been a top class player. I hope Swansea keep a hold of him and allow him to prove into a really good footballer.
1 - Robin van Persie
Robin van Persie was easily the best player of last season. 30 league goals for Arsenal established him as one of the best strikers in the world. After giving Arsenal the middle finger, he became hot property in Europe, wanted by all the top teams from all the top leagues. Eventually though, he signed for Man United for £25million.I worried that they overpaid for van Persie, known for being extremely injury prone, and combine that with his age, you're looking at a potential disappointment.
I could not have been more wrong.
Like Michu, RVP did not mess around, scoring for United like he's been there for years. He looked every bit of the player he did for Arsenal. Ferguson didn't build around RVP, but Ex-Gooner still dominated the team and stole every headline. When you have a player as good as that in your team, it's hard not to become dependent on his goals.
You must be wondering though: how can a £25million transfer be a signing of the season? Surely you expect a player of that worth to play well? Well normally I'd agree with you. Everyone knew who United were signing, and that was the best striker in the league. But the implications of the signing is more than just goals.Signing Robin van Persie won them the league.
The two Manchester clubs finished on the same points last season over 38 games, separated only by goal difference and an Aguero goal. Both teams had to strengthen their squads in the summer if they were to win this season. Whilst City bought Javi Garcia and sold Balotelli, United bought van Persie and Shinji Kagawa. The modern game is dominated by money and transfers, with an obvious correlation between money spent and league positions (unless you're QPR). Fergie realised that and spent top dollar for the best player in the league.
The whole season hinged on this transfer, making it obvious to me why it should top of the list.
Honourable mentions
- Julio Cesar - For a free transfer, QPR bought one of the best keepers in Europe. He brought QPR many of their 25 points this season, but sadly, similar performances hasn't been produced by the rest of the QPR mercenaries.
- Mohamed Diame - On a free transfer, West Ham looked like they signed a solid holding midfielder, skillful, quick, not afraid of a tackle.
- Matija Nastasic - Nastasic has shown what a composed and intelligent centre-back he can be, and at only 20 years old, he will go on to be a top defender. Swap deal with Stefan Savic.
- Jan Vertonghen - Money well spent for Spurs. Vertonghen has proven to be a great signing for Villas-Boas. Has had a fantastic debut season for the Lilywhites.
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