Summer Signing Report Card

Give grades to how you feel your summer signings have done (with a brief description.....

Gallas - C

Been hampered with injuries but when he has played he has ben ery decent if not exceptional

Rosicky - A

Has actually been one of our better players this season and seems to be a genuinely class player that has settled well into the EPL

Denilson - B

Not had too many opportunities but was he has had to do he has done well with some praise along the way

Baptista - F

Did ok in a few league cup games but has been inredicly poor in the league and I hope we don't sign him

Huth - D
Had a few decent games..had a few bad games. Injured for alot of the season.

Arca - B
Started badly..really badly. Has since been moved into the centre of midfield and has been the best thing since sliced bread..the heart of our attack quite often.

Euell - F
Had about half a good game overall. Since then either hasnt played or has been utter utter utter shit.

Woodgate - A
Made our defence much better than it was...top class.

Dong Gook(not really summer I know) - U
Hardly played and when he has he hasnt looked ready.

Carrick - B plus

If you forget the price tag, he's fitted in perfectly. Especially in our domestic performances. Next season he just needs to start dominating games more consistently and step up his European performances.

Kuzy - C

Been good cover and made some excellent saves. Needs to sort his kicking and some other areas as well. May lose his place to Foster next season.

Fabio Aurelio (free)
B - Originally found the Premiership challenging, but seems to have settled, and played very well against Arsenal. Better than Riise, great potential, and free!

Craig Bellamy (£6million)
C+ - Does add another dimension to the team, but hasn't set the world on fire. He's had more off days than on days, and isn't a player who I'd miss if he left.

Mark Gonzalez (£4million)
C - It's going to take him a while, but slowly he's starting to show signs of improvement. Massive potential, but hasn't really shown it yet. Needs to adapt to the premiership. Lacks confidence.

Gabriel Paletta (£2million)
F - 2 million quid, and he's one of the worst players in our reserve team. Unless he shows dramatic improvement, he's a goner.

Jermaine Pennant (£6.7million)
B- - He's not a Liverpool FC player, or at least shouldn't be in my eyes, but out of all of our wingers, he's been most dangerous. He is getting better, but lacks that extra bit of technical quality.

Dirk Kuyt (£10million)
B- - For ten million, I've been disappointed. Showed promise at the start of season, but form has deteriorated.

At the half-way point of the season (around Christmas) it would have been:

Shevchenko - E
Ballack - D
Kalou - D
Mikel - D
Boulahrouz - C
Hilario - D
A Cole - C

Now:

Shevchenko (£30m) 'C' - Not his terrifying best, but his touch and his finishing have improved in the last couple of months.

Ballack (£0) 'C' - Again, not showing his very best form, but he seems to be settling in well and is starting to find his place.

Kalou (£8m) 'C' - His finishing has improved no end. I can see a resemblence of Henry in his play (cutting in from the byline).

Mikel (£12m) 'B' - Every game I've seen him play since Christmas, I've been very impressed. That didn't change again on Wednesday. First half of the season, I thought he was playing poor. Since then, he's been a completely different player and it's about time Jose gave him the no.1 DM spot ahead of Maka (whilst Diarra is still playing RB. Next season we'll have good competition for that spot).

Boulahrouz (£6m) 'E' - Put in a fantastic performance against Barca at the Bridge, where he marked Ronaldinho out the game. Since then he's had a lot of rash moments. The only positive I can take from this is that Carvalho was the same when he first arrived and look at him now!

Hilario (£0) 'D' - Hasn't played since the Pool game. Although I thought he made quite a few stupid errors, he did a fairly good job, considering that the media and football 'experts' were making him out to be a complete joke.

A Cole (£5m) 'B' (Defensively) & 'D' (Offensively) - Criminally underrated for his defensive ability, yet hugely overrated for his attacking play. Playing better now than he was earlier in the season, but I think he'll be much better next season.

Michael Ballack - C

Starting to play better recently. Does pitch in with the odd vital goal.

Andriy Shevchenko - C

Another who is starting to play better. When he plays, the team does better than without him, which perhaps says something. His goal vs Tottenham was pretty. Of course more goals were expected, but I believe he will get a fair few this season. Really looking forward to 07/08 for this one.

Salomon Kalou - B

Really starting to impress me. Couple of important goals (Tottenham & Watford). Before he was doing everything well except for finishing. He is unfortunately not quite a Robben/Cole with the ball IMO, but looks a good buy & prospect.

Khalid Boulahrouz - D

One absolutely fantastic game. Rest either injured or pretty poor.

John Obi Mikel - BC

Surprisingly good. Always looks very influential when he plays, his size allows him to assert himself on the game most of the time. Incredible performances coming on as sub in big matches - Porto & (prior to his unfair dismissal) Arsenal. Should really be playing in most PL matches seeing as how Essien is injured, Diarra is now RB and Makelele is playing decidedly shit.

Ashley Cole - CD

Yet to be at all impressed by him. His inability to kick with his right has cost us 2 goals, which is unacceptable for a pro. Complete shit going forward. The worst part is that Bridge keeps getting dropped for him.

Carrick
If we win the league then A otherwise B+.
When we signed him in the summer , I said that it is okay but only if we signed a DMC along side him and I wont be happy if he was the only signing of the summer.
Well he has proved me wrong so far played so well in a DMC position all season that isnt his best.
When we signed him people said that we bought a poor man Alonso/Pirlo but I cant see Alonso or Pirlo doing the role he does playing along side Scholes.
Negative:Price , still not as commanding as he should but will improve in my view.

Kuzy: C
He has proved that he can be a solidu no 2 on the limited apperances he has got.

Hardrada wrote:

Ashley Cole - CD

His inability to kick with his right has cost us 2 goals, which is unacceptable for a pro. .

Reading and...?

I think you're being a tad harsh. Going forward, he's been fucking awful, but defensively he's been class. Like I said before, only Messi has really 'won the battle' against him this season.

Martins - B+

Couldn't have done much better IMO, seeing as he has no real striker partner.

Duff - F

SHITE, I WANT A REFUND!!! Slow, takes too many touches, overpaid, shits himself when he gets in the final third, poor footballing brain, selfish, can't cross, can't pass, can't shoot, and is hampering the more talented N'Zogbia.

Bernard - F

The cunt can't even get himself fit enough to play one measley game.

Sibierski - C

Done well enough, got some important goals.

Onyewu - C/D

Better than Ramage and Bramble but not the bloke to sort us out. He's a bit too dumb and clumsy.

The A team!
The B team!

Arsenal
Tomas Rosicky (undisc.)

Aston Villa
None.

Blackburn Rovers
Jason Brown (free)
Francis Jeffers (free)
Benni McCarthy (undisc.)
Jason Roberts (undisc.)


Bolton Wanderers
Quinton Fortune (free)
Abdoulaye Meite (undisc.)

Charlton Athletic
Christian Bolanos (loan)
Scott Carson (loan)
Amdy Faye (£2m)
Djimi Traore (£2m)
Cory Gibbs (free)
Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink (free)
Gonzalo Sorondo (free)
Simon Walton (undisc.)

Chelsea
Michael Ballack (free)
Hilario (free)
Salomon Kalou (undisc.)
Jon Obi Mikel (£16million)
Andriy Shevchenko (£30m)

Everton
Tim Howard (loan)
Andy Johnson (£8.6million)
Joleon Lescott (£5million)

Fulham
Jimmy Bullard (£2.5million) (was great before injury)
Franck Queudrue (undisc.)
Bjorn Runstrom (£700,000)
Gabriel Zakuani (undisclosed)

Liverpool
Fabio Aurelio (free)
Craig Bellamy (£6million)
Mark Gonzalez (£4million)
Gabriel Paletta (£2million)
Jermaine Pennant (£6.7million)
Dirk Kuyt (£10million)

Manchester City
Bernardo Corradi (undisc.)
Ousmane Dabo (free)
Paul Dickov (free)
Dietmar Hamann (free)
Joe Hart (£600,000)
Andreas Isaksson (£2million)
Hatem Trabelsi (free)

Manchester United
Michael Carrick (£18.6 million)
Tomasz Kuszczak (loan)

Middlesbrough
Julio Arca (£1.75million)
Herold Goulon (undisclosed)

Newcastle United
Damien Duff (£5million)

Portsmouth
Sol Campbell (free)
David James (£1.2million)
Glen Johnson (loan)
David Thompson (free)

Reading
Seol Ki-Hyeon (£1million)
Sam Sodje (£350,000)

Sheffield United
Claude Davis (undisc.)
Rob Hulse (£2.2million)
Mikele Leigertwood (£600,000)
Chris Lucketti (£300,000)
Christian Nade (undisc.)
David Sommeil (free)
Li Tie (free)

Tottenham Hotspur
Benoit Assou-Ekotto (undisc.)
Dimitar Berbatov (£10.9m)
Dorian Dervitte (undisc.)
Didier Zokora (£8.2million)

Watford
Damien Francis (£1.5m)
Chris Powell (free)
Tamas Priskin (undisclosed)
Danny Shittu (£1.6m)

West Ham
Lee Bowyer (undisc.)
Carlton Cole (undisc.)
George McCartney (£1 million)
Tyrone Mears (£1million)
John Pantsil (£1 million)
Jonathan Spector (£500,000)

Wigan Athletic
Emmerson Boyce (£1million)
Tomasz Cywka (undisc.)
Fitz Hall (£3million)
Emile Heskey (£5.5million)
Chris Kirkland (loan)
Denny Landzaat (undisc.)

Issakson - B looks very good now playing

Trabelsi - B done well even though been played a bit out of position on the wing.

Dabo - C looked ok at times but still a lot of room for improvement, may be a lot better next season but with Johnson and Ireland emerging and Hamann back from injury his days are probably numbered.

Dickov - Z - Just wish he'd fuck off !

Ball - B done very weel since hismove and i hope we can get him signed on in the summer.

Mpenza - B+ 2 goals in 3 starts is very good could have been 3 in 3 if his 30 yarder had dipped under instead of onto the bar at Newcastle

Corradi - D - very dissapointing to be fair

Beasley - C - not bad squad player but not shone like i thought he might, prob cos not given much of a chance to start as a left winger, still like Dabo if we keep him then he could improve into a decent buy.

Hamman - C looks decet at times and quiet at other but his season has really been dogged by injury so unfair to really judge.

Hart - B - Only one first team game but kept a clean sheet. He has done well on loan and also broken into the England U21 squad, he looks like a star of the future.

@ CT

What the fuck is that?

Kimbo wrote:@ CT

What the fuck is that?

Summer signings, dumb ass. Guess what the A team is, and guess what the B team is...No? well, you are a Geordie. The A team is players I'd give an 'A' to, and the B team is players I'd give a 'B' to.

CT wrote:

Kimbo wrote:@ CT

What the fuck is that?

Summer signings, dumb ass. Guess what the A team is, and guess what the B team is...No? well, you are a Geordie. The A team is players I'd give an 'A' to, and the B team is players I'd give a 'B' to.

Well why are loads of signings missing dumbass?

Kimbo wrote:

CT wrote:

Kimbo wrote:@ CT

What the fuck is that?

Summer signings, dumb ass. Guess what the A team is, and guess what the B team is...No? well, you are a Geordie. The A team is players I'd give an 'A' to, and the B team is players I'd give a 'B' to.

Well why are loads of signings missing dumbass?

What, the January ones?

CT wrote:

Kimbo wrote:

CT wrote:

Kimbo wrote:@ CT

What the fuck is that?

Summer signings, dumb ass. Guess what the A team is, and guess what the B team is...No? well, you are a Geordie. The A team is players I'd give an 'A' to, and the B team is players I'd give a 'B' to.

Well why are loads of signings missing dumbass?

What, the January ones?

Martins etc, we didn't only buy Duff.

missing Woody Huth and Euell from ours.

Denilson A
Gallas B
Rosicky B
Baptista F

on other clubs Kalou will prove to be an A signing for Chelski next season.

Imo 3 best sginings were Denilson, Kalou & Tevez

Kimbo wrote:

CT wrote:

Kimbo wrote:

CT wrote:

Kimbo wrote:@ CT

What the fuck is that?

Summer signings, dumb ass. Guess what the A team is, and guess what the B team is...No? well, you are a Geordie. The A team is players I'd give an 'A' to, and the B team is players I'd give a 'B' to.

Well why are loads of signings missing dumbass?

What, the January ones?

Martins etc, we didn't only buy Duff.

Oh I googled summer premiership transfers, and thats the list that came up. In hindsight, I, am the dumbass

jonathan de guzman wrote:

Imo 3 best sginings were Denilson, Kalou & Tevez

Long term? Because I wouldn't say any would be top 3 based on this season.

Parks lives wrote:

jonathan de guzman wrote:

Imo 3 best sginings were Denilson, Kalou & Tevez

Long term? Because I wouldn't say any would be top 3 based on this season.

Neither would I.

I'd say the best three have been McCarthy, Martins and Berbatov

Parks lives wrote:

jonathan de guzman wrote:

Imo 3 best sginings were Denilson, Kalou & Tevez

Long term? Because I wouldn't say any would be top 3 based on this season.

Denilson will be 1 of the best midfielders ever. With Kalou it's the same as with Van Persie they're so freaking talented, you know they'll get there. Just takes a while to get settled. Kalou is on track with the amount of playing time he got this season. He'll score 15+ next season. From waht I've seen of Tevez I'ld love him at the Arsenal. He's got everything to succeed too.

Tweedle wrote:

Parks lives wrote:

jonathan de guzman wrote:

Imo 3 best sginings were Denilson, Kalou & Tevez

Long term? Because I wouldn't say any would be top 3 based on this season.

Neither would I.

I'd say the best three have been McCarthy, Martins and Berbatov

couldn't pick a Spud, but Berby did very well. Best season of a new signee.

I'll forget this is EPL board:

Pontus Farnerud - Strasbourg (free): D

competent midfielder, but doesn't add value to the team.

Carlos Paredes - Reggina (free): E

specially compared with all our expectations. He is a class midfielder that after his first injury got completely out of shape (I believe the word is FAT) and can't work his class and experience that we miss so much to compensate our extreme youth

Carlos Bueno - Paris SG (loan): D+

half a season of F, and now struggling and improving to be a decent player in the team. Doesn't have any class, most of the time can't score easy goals, but at least puts lots of effort and tires the defenders so that others do his job. Perhaps he will grab a C before ending the season.

Alecsandro - Cruzeiro (loan): E-

the first games he looked what we needed: a tall powerfull striker, with a good header and good technique. Afterall, he is a big fat player that plays in slow motion and can mess the best things in life... the simple ones. It would be an F if he failed to score one or two goals.

The other 'signings' were actually players from youth system (Veloso - B+; Pereirinha - C-; Djaló - C+), or players on loan from last season's winter (Romagnoli - C; Caneira - B).

Zambrotta - B+
I've really liked his play now that he's settled in.

Thuram - B
A little dodgy with the ball at his feet but he's been faster and more agile than I expected, and he's absolutely immense at heading the ball. Every single time he's played it's like watching a looping tape of him standing in the centre of the penalty box heading away a cross.

Gudjohnsen - C+
Hasn't quite delivered the goods, but I don't think anyone really knows what we want from him. As a squad player he's done a relatively good job considering he's gotten about 7-8 goals. Plus the more the season has gone on, you can see him understanding the system and his teammates more and more.

Carrick B+

Considering my expectations of Carrick at the beggining of the season he should probably get an A because I thought we made the wrong signing and were headed for the toilet. He has upped him game more considering he's scored as many for us this season as he has in his whole career.

So far he's been very good, just needs to want the ball more and take more responsibility.

Kuzy D

Technically a good keeper in terms of shot stopping and the other basics but lacks the goods that seperate a good keeper from a briilliant keeper which is domination of your centre backs and distribution.

S4P2 wrote:

Hardrada wrote:

Ashley Cole - CD

His inability to kick with his right has cost us 2 goals, which is unacceptable for a pro. .

Reading and...?

I think you're being a tad harsh. Going forward, he's been fucking awful, but defensively he's been class. Like I said before, only Messi has really 'won the battle' against him this season.

Tottenham IIRC

He hasn't been good enough defensively to compensate for the poverty of his offensive skills.

I haven't watched too much of Ashley Cole this season, but many people are criticising his offensive play...to me it sounds like it's potentially down to the system as well, Chelsea don't really play with overlapping wingers. Even when they play the diamond midfield and are supposed to have overlapping fullbacks, it doesn't really work out that way.

Wayne Bridge whenever he plays overlaps effortlessly and actually produces telling crosses, how Ashley starts ahead of him is beyond me.

Benoit Assou-Ekotto C+. Still Hampered by injuries - it's been a steep learning curve for him, but he's handled it well. One for the future.

Dimitar Berbatov. A-. He's the player that will take us to the next level. Glad to see many rival fans on this messageboard, and elsewhere, realise that something pretty special is happening here. In an era where athleticism seems to be of increasing importance, Berbatov is a refreshing throwback.

Dorianne Dervitte N/A Young French defender, haven't seen too much of him, but he's looked ok. Time will tell if he'll make the grade.

Didier Zokora B-. Getting better & better. Seems to be finally adapting - and it's his improved form that has been a catalyst behind our surge up the league table in recent times. Wasn't helped by suffering from a bout of Malaria earlier in the season.

Mido D- His heart genuinely seemns to be in with the club. Being so overshadowed by Berbatov hasn't helped his confidence - but he's got to look after himself. His goal at home to West Ham, and his loan stint with us last season shows that when he's fully fit & focused, he's a very good player.

Pascal Chimbonda A- I admit to being apprehensive when we signed him for £5.2m last summer. But he's proven to be worth every penny. Great in the air, comfortable going forward, and ever-improving defensive positioning, now mean that he has no major weakness. He's a character player too, not afraid to stir things up to fire up both his team-mates and the crowd.

Ben Alnwick N/A Young 'keeper signed from Sunderland. Like many of our players, now isn't the time to judge him. Hope he does develop into something very good though.

Ricardo Rocha C Seems to have fitted in well - Ledley shoes are big ones to feel, but he has the resumé to cope with the expectations. Versatile too, which is always a bonus.