2014 will always be remembered fondly by all the football fans as this year gave us the experience of enjoying FIFA World Cup, which is not a regular occurrence. In football, one of the key attractions among fans is to track and hope for the next BIG SIGNING their club will be making. It keeps us (FANS) awake late at nights, trying to read through the most reliable sources and journalists so that we can sleep in piece after knowing how legit a particular rumour is.
With 2014 reaching its glorious end Sportzwiki presents to you, the TOP 5 SIGNINGS of the year 2014. Many would be anxious to know the criteria for this list, “It’s simple, it is based on the fact of how effective that signing has been to his new team”. There will be many arguments about the list we are building but then that is the beauty about the game of football, everyone loves it and everyone has an opinion.
Enough of the build up, now we give you Sportzwiki’s Top 5 Signing of the year 2014 and as I said our list is solely based on the impact a player has had since moving to his new club in the year 2014.
5. Xabi Alonso and Toni Kroos replacing each other
Real Madrd’s 24 Million move foe Toni Kroos was out in the public before the signing even happened, but no one saw Xabi Alonso’s 8 Million move to Bayern Munich coming. It happens so quick that not many people knew how to react. People saw Alonso moving, but a probable move to his former side Liverpool was on the cards but not to 2012-13 Champions League winning side Bayern Munich.
Since their respective moves, Kroos and Alonso have been at the heart of every single game for their new clubs. It is not a surprise to know that Kroos and Alosno have the stats for most number of successful passes attempted in their respective league. Since moving to Bayern, Alonso has broken all sorts of German passing record.
Toni Kroos and Xabi Alonso are the prime example of two different modern day mid field players playing two different style of play. Whilst Kroos has taken to the role of being the creator of Real Madrid’s counter attacks by spreading the ball out to Cristiano Ronaldo, Gareth Bale, and Luka Modric, at the same place Xabi Alonso has enjoyed being the enforcer for Bayern Munich in a 3-4-3 formation where he has just passed his way to the hearts of millions.
Toni Kroos has scored 2 goals and assisted in 9 of the Real Madrid goals since his transfer, while Alonso has scored 2 assisted in 2 goals for Bayern Munich. Kroos’ going forward is his strength while for Alonso it’s his defensive understanding and breaking up the play and commanding the mid field is his biggest asset. Both of these mid-field generals have been great for their new clubs and thus feature on our Top 5 Signings of the year 2014.
4. Angel Di Maria (Real Madrid to Manchester United)
This was the bumper signing of the year when Manchester United prized Di Maria from Real Madrid. One of the best things about an astonishing transfer is that, no one sees it coming and neither believes in the rumours. Not even the most loyal Manchester United fans would have seen this coming, but it did and happened for a fee of 59.7 Million, a new British transfer record.
No many doubted Di Maria’s potential but few had doubts over his ability to adapt to the English game and more importantly will he be able to buy in to Louis Van Gaal’s new philosophy at Manchester United. To be fair, it has been a mixed start for Di Maria. Van Gaal has played him in a 3-5-2, 4-2-3-1, 4-3-1-2 and 4-4-2 formations. DI Maria has seen his role constantly changed during this season but he has brought the X-Factor back to Old Trafford.
Last season Manchester United’s biggest criticism was the lack of efforts and decisiveness going forward well Di Maria has changed it all. He loves to take on the defenders and he is not shy of taking shots from outside the box. In 12 appearances he has 3 goals, 6 assists and 37 shots to his name. More than the stats the speed and energy which has added to United’s play is once again the eye catchy aspect at Old Trafford. Fair to Di Maria is the darling of Old Trafford right now and that’s why he features in our list of Top 5 signings of the year 2014.
3. Cesc Fabregas (Barcelona to Chelsea)
Chelsea seem to have secured a real coup for 28.6 Million by signing one of the best players in the Premier League this season in Cesc Fabregas. He has been the Mr. Assist this season for the blues, notching up 15 assists this season, YES 15 assists in just 23 games this season. You would understand the importance of this figure when you will realize someone like Jack Wilshere, has not had 15 assists in his entire Arsenal career.
Barcelona let go of their favourite son after Fabregas was not able to break in to the first team under Tito Vilanova and Tata Martino. This presented Jose Mourinho with an opportunity to bring Fabregas to Stamford Bridge and so he did, the result so far, well Fabregas’ numbers tell us the story in that regards.
Cesc Fabregas has slotted in the mid field for Mourinho’s men and has been an ever present figure in Chelsea’s attack and defense. Safe to say Cesc needed this move as well as he was benched out of form at Barcelona and it was hampering his chances to start for Spanish national side.
Fabregas deal to Chelsea has been a win win situation for both the parties involved here and the fact that Fabregas has settled in so seamlessly in Mourinho’s playing style, it should not be a surprise to man why he features in our list of Top 10 signings of the year 2014.
2. Alexis Sanchez (Barcelona to Arsenal)
A Barcelona outcast, that is how Alexis Sanchez was welcomed in the Premier League by few of the English and Spanish journalists. I would be very interested in asking those same journalists and Fc Barcelona a question now, Has Sanchez made an impact to Arsenal’s play and would Barcelona prefer those 35 Million or they would like to have Alexis Sanchez back at Cam Nouu. I think we all know the answer to that one, don’t we?
Alexis Sanchez has had a flying start to the season with Arsenal and now he is their main match winner with his goals and assists virtually in every game. In 22 games Sanchez has played for Arsenal so far he has scored 13 Goals and created 6 Goals for Arsenal. It is not just the stats it’s the number of match winning or match saving goals Sanchez has been scoring is the key for Arsenal.
Alexis Sanchez has been a consistent figure in Premier League and in the Champions League for Arsenal. Alexis Sanchez has brought an added speed to Arsenal’s attack and his adoptability of playing as the lone striker or the supporter behind the striker has seen him grow as one of fan favourite at the Emirates in his short spell with Arsenal. This is why he features in our list of Top 5 signings of the year 2014.
1. Nemanja Matic (Benfica to Chelsea)
Many eyebrows were raised when Chelsea paid 21 Million for Matic and I am sure many would be raised here as well considering we are snubbing Diego Costa and going for Nemanja Matic instead, but honestly Matic has been the biggest reason Chelsea are going out and winning most of their games and shutting other teams with ease. The initial investment of 21 Million on Matic looks like a bargain now, seeing how he is developing in to one of Europe’s most complete Defensive Mid Field Players.
Matic has missed just one game since joining Chelsea in Jnauary 2014 and has acted as unbrecahable shield in front of Chelsea’a back. The kind of cover Matic provides to the likes of Terry, Cahill and Azpilicueta, those guys can play till their 40’s. Matic is truly a rare breed of player, a natural holdind mid field player who can pass with efficiency. Matic thrives on the defensive attributes of his game and when he is on the pitch, Chelsea do not look like conceding at all and then they have other resources like Fabregas, Hazard and Costa to go and win the game for Mourinho’s men.
Why look further for stats, in Chelsea’s win in their last game against Stoke, A physical side, Matic had more interceptions and tackles than John Terry and Garry Cahill. It really speaks for the talent Matic is and the team he has turned Chelsea in to since joining them in January 2014. This is why he tops our list of the Top 5 signings for the year 2014.
Honorable Mentions to Diego Costa, Robert Lewandowsski, Frank Lampard, James Rodriguez, Jeremy Menez, Dusan Tadic these men cam very close to be featured in the top 5 list but I truly believe the men who have topped them deserve to be in our list for Top 5 signings for the year 2014.
Image Credits: Goal.com, express.co.uk, mirror.co.uk, arsenal.com,westlondonsport.com