As the title says. Who (if any) have been the hits or the misses as far as our signings are concerned? It was built as the best transfer window in a long time for us, and compared to the 2010 window when Silva, Toure, Kolarov and Boateng signed. We spent a lot of money, ok we had it so for some you won't see that as an issue, but did we really improve the team/squad in the way that we should have done?
I'll start with a positive:
Delph: Arguably our lowest key signing of the summer. "Fits a criteria because he's English" was the feelings and comments amongst some of us, probably including myself. He missed a huge chunk at the start of the season with niggling injuries but when involved in the team of late he's done a job. Make no mistake, he's not been brilliant or at least consistently so. A couple of excellent displays but also a few where he's not managed to produce the quality we needed. Whether that's because of himself or his team mates is up for debate. One thing that cannot be faulted is his outstanding work rate and energy getting around the pitch. We could certainly go some more players with his attitude. With that in mind, and his low transfer fee, it seems pretty smart business from the club - 7/10
De Bruyne: A ridiculously good start to his city career but he's been the invisible man for a few months now, away from home in particular. Rarely involved in the match whether left, right or central. His stats are certainly impressive, but of course they only tell part of the story. A bit like the Toure dilemma, can we afford to carry a player for 89 minutes a match to be rewarded with a minute of magic which he has in his locker? He's certainly not a shit player, just that I seem to have the same questions about him that Mourinho did. I remember watching Belgium at the world cup in Brazil and time and time again the team offered nothing. That was despite having guys like KDB, Hazard, Mertens, Lukakau etc. Most of KDB's performances since November time have reminded me of their world cup. If I had done this thread pre December time I'd be giving KDB a 9 out of 10 and that could easily have been justified. As it is, again keeping in mind his tranfer fees and such is the deterioration of his performances it's a 6.5/10 for me.
Otamendi: Like many on here I was perplexed when we went in for him. Kompany and Mangala were unbeatable at the beginning of the season and we had high hopes for Denayer. As it goes Kompany has missed much of the season and Demichelis isn't the player he once was, so in theory Otamendi was an inspired signing. And at times, he's been superb. United away sticks out, and there's been plenty of other occasions where his positioning has saved our arses. Admittedly I knew little about him before we brought him in, and I was impressed by a few videos doing the rounds - notably jockeying Messi as he ran at him one on one before stepping in composed and taking the ball away. So ironically my question is, how the fuck does he become about the most rash defender we've had in recent times? Diving in all over the place, commuting stupid needless fouls, not to mention being a dick himself and diving about the place when he's hardly been touched. He's extravagant alright. Sometimes brilliant, other times...WTF?. With his price tag in mind, it's an inconsistent 6.5/10
Sterling: Tin hat on here. I've made my feelings perfectly clear on him on his own thread. As far as our transfer business goes, we've spent 44m rising to 49m on someone who the club believed he has "potential" and was young and English. Combined, that's a shocker of a reason to justify that sort of transfer fee on a player. Sure, there's not many decent attacking English players out there. But there's ways around that ruling and spending silly money on one regardless of how poor a player he is isn't good enough imo. Give him his dues, outstanding couple of games notably Sevilla away and Bournemouth at home. Decent in a couple of others. Improved much? No. Arguably loses possession and falls over more these days. Gets little protection from the ref's which isn't his fault but poor ball control and poor decision making puts him in positions where he ends up relying on the ref to blow for a foul - sometimes there is one and sometimes there isn't. Can't use his left foot, can't cross a ball, poor finishing, terrible decision making, and despite his pace he rarely attempts to beat his man and when he does the ball is more often than not shielded out by the opposing defender for a goal kick. Got age on his side, but that only means something if he's got the ability. Some tell me has, I'm yet to be convinced. 3.5/10
