The finest team made up of players signed in the 2013/14 season.
As the 2013/14 Premier League season draws to a close it’s the perfect opportunity to look back with hindsight and see which signings over the year have been the most successful.
Whilst there have been some noticeable flops, including the expensive signings of Erik Lamela, Ricky van Wolfswinkel and Jozy Altidore, there have also been some brilliant acquisitions.
So here is the best XI from the division made up entirely of new faces.
GK – Vito Mannone, Sunderland
With Simon Mignolet being sold to Liverpool for £9m, then Black Cats manager Paolo Di Canio was scrambling for a goalkeeper to compete with Keiren Westwood for the No.1 spot.
Both Di Canio and Westwood have had poor years, but with Gus Poyet now in charge the £2m signing of Mannone from Arsenal looks to be a brilliant one as the Italian shines in an under-performing team.
RB – Leandro Bacuna, Aston Villa
This was a tough position to fill as not too many right-sided defenders were bought by English clubs this term, but at Villa Paul Lambert acquired this versatile full-back.
With the ability to play at either full-back and even in midfield, Bacuna has shown his class and has even contributed five goals.
LB – Erik Pieters, Stoke City
It has been a surprisingly successful campaign for the Potteries as manager Mark Hughes has shown just why he had such a good reputation at both Blackburn Rovers and Fulham and the fans at the Britannia Stadium have enjoyed a better passing style.
Whilst not many new players were bought in, the best by far was the signing of Netherlands international Pieters – who quite frankly wouldn’t look out of place in a top four side.
CB – Curtis Davies, Hull City
Not many gave Hull much hope when they were promoted from the Championship and the £2.5m signing of Davies from Birmingham City hardly looked to change that view.
Yet the 28-year-old has been brilliant at the back and has helped the Tigers to most probably avoid relegation and reach the FA Cup final – as well as being made captain.
CB – Dejan Lovren, Southampton
Saints manager Mauricio Pochettino is highly regarded as a coach now and rightly so having improved things at St Mary’s with grace and class and the signing of Lovren was a masterstroke.
The side’s problem during their return to the top flight in 2012/13 was their tendency to concede goals, so the Argentine went into the market and bought this Croatia international from Lazio – who has helped make the side’s defence one of the best in the league.
RM – Mesut Ozil, Arsenal
There may be a few raised eyebrows at the inclusion of the Gunners’ club record £42.5m signing as in many peoples’ eyes the German has not lived up to his expensive price-tag.
Whilst that may be true to an extent the 25-year-old hasn’t been a disaster either and eight assists and four goals in 22 matches proves that.
LM – Willian, Chelsea
One of the more confusing transfer sagas of last summer was the pursuit of this Brazilian, who Liverpool looked like signing from Anzhi Makhachkala before Tottenham Hotspur swooped in.
However, after having a medical at White Hart Lane the Blues then stole the march once again and landed Willian for £30m, who’s work rate and skill since has shown it was worth the hassle.
CM – Fernandinho, Manchester City
Another £30m Brazil international now and someone who many thought was extremely expensive when arriving from Shakhtar Donetsk, considering the South American is a 28-year-old defensive midfielder.
Yet what Fernandinho has brought to the team cannot be faulted, with unselfish displays breaking up play in front of the back four and also allowing Yaya Toure to go forward and score 18 league goals to date.
CM – Gareth Barry, Everton
The man that Fernandinho essentially replaced at the Etihad Stadium was this veteran England international, who seemed to be past it towards the end of last campaign.
Regardless of that new Toffees boss Roberto Martinez was moved to sign Barry on-loan on transfer deadline day last September and certainly won’t have regretted the decision, with the 33-year-old having been brilliant since.
ST – Loic Remy, Newcastle United
There was a lot of fuss at St James’ Park last summer when owner Mike Ashley was moved to employ unpopular former manager Joe Kinnear as director of football.
Kinnear has since left the post and whilst he was hardly busy during his time at the Magpies, securing Remy on-loan from QPR was a fine piece of business, with the Frenchman having scored 13 league goals since.
ST – Romelu Lukaku, Everton
It’s our third successive loan signing now and another who arrived at Goodison Park on September 3 and has since impressed with 13 league goals and six assists in 27 appearances.
The Belgium international was somewhat bizarrely shipped out by the Blues this campaign despite the fact he had shined for West Bromwich Albion the previous year and Martinez is the one who has benefited.
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