Monday 21st July 2014 12:47
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Andriy Shevchenko: A former high-profile flop himself
To mark our look at some of the biggest transfer flops of all time, James Dixon and Mark Holmes debate which of this summer's buys might fail.
In Daily Debate, two TEAMtalk writers give their views on a hot topic and then invite readers to decide who has put forward the best argument.
You can vote for your winner using the story comment facility at the bottom of the article, or by declaring your support on Twitter.
Which summer signing will be the biggest flop?
To coincide with our gallery looking at some of the Premier League's worst ever transfer flops, we want to know which of this summer's signings so far you think will fail to justify their transfer fee.
Will Adam Lallana and Lazar Markovic prove to be money badly spent on Liverpool's part? Will Luke Shaw and Ander Herrera turn out to be wasted buys in Manchester United's bid to turn around their fortunes? Or will a manager slightly further down the food chain find himself in the firing line for splashing the cash on a flop?
James Dixon and Mark Holmes have their say on which summer signings they believe might be in for a season of struggle.
James Dixon (@JDixon_88) - Ander Herrera
Manchester United’s increased activity in this summer’s transfer window was exactly what the club, and just as importantly, the fans needed. Luke Shaw’s addition at around £30million was expensive but an intelligent purchase of a player who has shown remarkable potential and will inevitably improve.
The other main transfer to Old Trafford is Ander Herrera and, like Shaw, his £28.4million transfer will have made others recoil at the price, especially as he is someone who hasn’t exactly set La Liga on fire.
Herrera fits the typical Spanish midfielder role perfectly - technically gifted with a great vision in attacking areas, he fits the bill of playmaker who likes to get involved. However the former Bilbao man lacks the devilment and graft in the centre of the park that Louis van Gaal needs most and what appeared so elusive to United under David Moyes last season.
Much is made of the physicality of the Premier League and time required to adapt after a move from the continent In order to succeed, but without the protection that United currently has on offer Herrera won’t be able to deal with the raw pace and aggression we’re used to in the Premier League.
Deprived of an out-and-out midfield enforcer at United the Spaniard will be starved of the opportunity to turn and create chances, and although comparisons can be draw between his and Cesc Fabregas’ style of play, Fabregas enjoyed a gradual introduction to the Premier League from a young age before going on to mature to the level he is now.
Summer targets like Toni Kroos and Paul Pogba would have been much better suited to like in the United midfield as Nicky Butt recently suggested, but they appear to be out of the Red Devil’s reach – giving a feeling of, ‘he’s not the best, but the best we can get.’
Herrera’s level of success at Old Trafford will be determined by who else Louis van Gaal adds to midfield – if they don’t bring in a world class player to base the foundation of the midfield, Herrera will look classy, but rudderless, and with the hefty price tag of £28.4million hanging over his head, we could see him lose his way very quickly.
State your support for James using the story comment facility below or by getting in touch on Twitter @TEAMtalk.
Mark Holmes (@homzy) - Rio Ferdinand
The noises coming out of QPR are that they have learned the lessons of their last spell in the Premier League but the signing of Rio Ferdinand on a free transfer from Manchester United suggests the west Londoners are once again more concerned by the reputation rather than the suitability of new signings.
Ferdinand, of course, was one of the finest central defenders in the world at his peak, and the fact that he managed 23 appearances for United last season might suggest he's plenty good enough to slot into the heart of a newly-promoted side's backline - even at 35.
However, anyone that has watched Ferdinand regularly over the past two seasons will be able to attest to the marked deterioration in the former £30million man's powers. It looked certain as though retirement - or, at best, a move to Major League Soccer - was on the cards.
Instead, though, Ferdinand has bravely decided to expose his lost pace to Premier League strikers for another season. With QPR likely to be doing a lot more defending than United ever did - even under David Moyes - there is a worrying possibility Ferdinand could bow out in a far less dignified manner than a player of his stature deserves.
Unless he proves me drastically wrong, I fear a Gary Neville-style retirement midway through the season after a particularly difficult afternoon or, even worse, a full campaign in which he battles through despite all the evidence suggesting he is no longer fit for it. This won't end well.
State your support for Mark using the story comment facility below or by getting in touch on Twitter @TEAMtalk.
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