By Akshat Tandon
The Barclays English Premier League, for the past decade has been categorized as a battle between the top 6 and the rest of the teams.
In the early 2000’s there was hardly any doubt regarding the identity of the top 4 teams with Manchester United, Chelsea, Arsenal and Liverpool competing for the Premier league trophy.
A few years later, Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester City entered the frame with the latter having had more success at breaking the mould by winning two PL trophies in the last five years.
What about the rest of the 14 teams in the Premier League? Most of these ‘mid-table’ teams showed little ambition in terms of challenging the top clubs for the coveted top 4 spot in the early years of the 21st century.
In recent years, though, the trend has changed with mid table clubs actively challenging the top clubs thereby making the Barclays English Premier League the most competitive league in Europe.
The likes of Southampton, Swansea City and West Ham have been proficient and prudent in the transfer market in the past few seasons and have caused major upsets in the Premier League.
Let’s analyse the top 5 players signed by these ‘mid-table’ teams so far in this transfer window in their quest to rise from obscurity.
Dimitri Payet – Marseille to West Ham United
West Ham United announced their first major signing in the form of ace French midfielder Dimitri Payet. The France international joined West ham from Marseille in a deal worth more than £10 million.
West Ham United changed their playing style last season by adopting a more attack based approach than their previous ‘18th century’ defensive and direct football by signing attackers like Enner Valencia and Diafra Sakho among others.
Dimitri Payet is an experienced attacking midfielder who enjoyed one of his best seasons with Marseille last season with 17 assists from 36 league games. He made more successful through balls than any other with the exception of Lionel Messi across all five major leagues.
Payet, with his Champions League experience, could prove to be crucial for West Ham as they ply their trade in the Europa League this season. Payet, who has represented France on 15 occasions, could be played as a number 10 right behind Valencia and Sakho to make up for a mouthwatering attack.
Andre Ayew– Swansea City (free agent after contract with Marseille)
Ghana international Andre Ayew joined Swansea City after his contract with Marseille expired at the end of the 2014-15 season. The impressive winger scored 52 goals in 181 appearances for Marseille.
Garry Monk has introduced a very dynamic system at Swansea where attacking players like Wilfried Bony, Nathan Dyer, Jefferson Montero and recently Bafetimbi Gomis have all flourished under his management.
Ayew is an exciting and experienced winger with an ability to take on defenders in order to cut inside the box with pace and strength. The fiery headed Ghanaian is brilliant at back-tracking and tackling which could be a massive help to Swansea defenders.
Andre Ayew is a shrewd addition to the squad by Garry Monk. If he manages to gel up with other attackers like Gomis, Montero and Eder, Swansea City could pose a potent threat in front of goal.
Shinji Okazaki – Mainz to Leicester City
Leicester City had a remarkable turn of fortunes in the second half of the 2014-15 season. Leicester City were the favourites for relegation at the half way stage. The trio of Jamie Vardy, Riyad Mahrez and Esteban Cambiasso inspired a miraculous comeback and Leicester City managed to secure the 14th place in the table.
Continuing their revival and desire to stay in the Premier League, Leicester signed Japan International striker Shinji Okazaki from Mainz for a sum believed to be £7million. Okazaki had 2 successful years with the Bundesliga league where he notched up 29 goals from 70 games.
Okazaki also referred to as ‘Samurai’ is a versatile forward, with the ability to play wide or as no.9. He is player known for his tremendous work rate and pace. With Ulloa, Mahrez and Vardy having had a topsy-turvy 14-15 season, the addition of Okazaki is sure to add some stability in their attack.
Georginio Wijnaldum– PSV to Newcastle United
Newcastle United announced the first arrival under head coach Steve McLaren in the form of PSV captain Georginio Wijnaldum for a sum believed to be £14.5million. Their desperation to acquire the services of the Dutch international can be traced back to the troubles they faced last season where they staved off relegation on the last day of the Premier League because of a horrendous second half of the season.
Wijnaldum, despite being just 24 years old has played more than 200 competitive matches and brings in a lot of European experience along with him. He is a creative midfielder who has a lot of tricks up his sleeve and excellent dribbling skills.
Known for his ability to dissect the defence with his through balls, Wijnaldum also has an eye for goal with 41 goals in 109 appearances for PSV. In a midfield that already boasts of Siem De Jong and Remy Cabella, it remains to be seen how McLaren deploys Wijnaldum.
Yohan Cabaye- PSG to Crystal Palace
Yohan Cabaye’s transfer from French giants PSG to Crystal Palace for a sum believed to be €13.9million sounds too good to be true. But, as a matter of fact this is very much true and a strong signal of intent from the dark horses Crystal Palace.
Cabaye reunites with his former Newcastle United manager Alan Pardew, this time at Selhurst Park. While Cabaye did endure a tough and frustrating spell in the French capital, there is hardly any doubt regarding the quality of the player.
A proven quantity, Yohan Cabaye is a midfield maestro who could transform Palace into a formidable force if he manages to strike a camaraderie with Puncheon, Bolasie and Zaha.
Other notable transfers include the transfers of Jordy Clasie to Southampton from Feyenoord, Etienne Capoue to Watford from Tottenham Hotspur, Valon Behrami to Watford, Jeremain Lens to Sunderland from Dynamo Kiev and Angelo Ogbonna to West ham United from Champions League runners’ up Juventus.
The step up of efforts of the mid-table clubs to acquire top talent among their ranks has put the onus on the top clubs to make some shrewd and high profile signings of their own to maintain their superiority over these clubs.
Credit: Sportskeeda