Premier League Transfers: Grading Each Team's Transfer Signings Compared to 2011

The summer transfer window is a great opportunity for a clubs to either build on their success from the season gone by or rectify those wrongs to be stronger for the season that is to come.

Every team in English Premier League and indeed the entire globe knows the importance of using the summer transfer window to benefit the squad and increase their chances of success.

So, how have the clubs gone? Have they succeeded so far or have they struggled? More importantly, have they improved on the transfers they made last season?

That's what we'll explore in this list now—how the 20 English Premier League clubs have gone over the summer transfer window compared to last season. I'll give them a grade—compared to last year—and explain the rationale for the grade.

If there's a club that you think is graded too high or too low, I'd love to know your opinion and reasoning behind it. Oh, and for those playing along at home, you can view the full 2012 transfer listings here and the full 2011 transfer listings here.

Ready? Let's roll.

Arsenal

Arsenal have added the likes of Lukas Podolski and Olivier Giroud to their squad this year—strengthening their attack—but the real question remains as to whether they can keep hold of their captain Robin van Persie.

Last season, the summer transfer window saw Cesc Fabregas, Samir Nasri and Gael Clichy all leave the club and whilst the Gunners did bring in Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Gervinho and Per Mertesacker, they simply weren't in the same class as the likes of Fabregas.

Thus this year has been so far stronger, as long as they keep hold of Van Persie. For if he leaves, the 2012 summer transfer window might even be considered worse than that of 2011—if it's at all possible.

Grade compared to 2011: B, though it all depends on RVP.

Aston Villa

Last year, Aston Villa lost the likes of Stewart Downing, Brad Friedel and Ashley Young, unable to replace them with players of the same caliber. Thus this year, anything has to be considered an improvement on the last.

The club has brought in Australian midfielder Brett Holman as well Karim El Ahmadi from Feyenoord, and whilst they aren't names likely to make their Premier League rivals tremble in their boots, at least it is a step in the right direction from Paul Lambert's men.

Grade compared to 2011: B-minus

Chelsea

Chelsea have been one of the busiest teams in England over the transfer window—hardly a surprise there—with the Blues establishing themselves as an even more promising landing destination since their UEFA Champions League victory.

The club have brought in Eden Hazard, Oscar and Marko Marin this year—spending well over £60 million in the process—and have managed to improve on last year's transfer window, which saw the club land Juan Mata and Romelu Lukaku as their two main targets.

They have lost Didier Drogba, Jose Bosingwa and Salomon Kalou this year, but it still doesn't detract from what has otherwise been an excellent transfer window.

Grade compared to 2011: A-minus.

Everton

Everton didn't do much in last year's transfer window and they haven't done much again this year, signing just the one player so far.

Last year, their window was defined by the loss of Mikel Arteta to Arsenal and it seems that this year, their season will also be defined by who they keep at Goodison Park. If they can hang on to Marouane Fellani and Leighton Baines, it will be a success and an improvement from last year. If one goes, it will be about the same and if both go, it can officially be considered a disaster.

Grade compared to 2011: C-plus, for now.

Fulham

Another club that could be defined by who it retains this year is Fulham, with the Cottagers desperate to keep both Clint Dempsey and Moussa Dembele.

Having said that, Fulham have been strong so far this year in terms of signing players—especially on free transfers. Hugo Rodallega and Mladen Petric could both be surprising players in the Premier League this year and for that, we've got to give Fulham credit when it's due.

The loss of Dempsey or Dembele would obviously affect their mark, but considering neither have left yet, it's been a fairly good window so far for Fulham.

Grade compared to 2011: A-minus

Liverpool

Last year, it was Stewart Downing, Craig Bellamy, Jordan Henderson, Charlie Adam and Sebastian Coates all making their way to Anfield. This year, it has just been Fabio Borini so far.

That makes it tough to gauge—particularly since Borini is yet to play in the Premier League—but given the depth they added last season—albeit relatively weak—and the money they saved in letting players leave the club, you'd have to say that 2011 has been the stronger year.

Could have been higher had they landed Gylfi Sigurdsson.

Grade compared to 2011: C-plus

Manchester City

This one is incredibly easy considering that Manchester City are yet to sign a single player over the summer transfer window.

That means we are comparing nothing to the additions of Sergio Aguero, Samir Nasri, Stefan Savic and Gael Clichy—hmmm, let me think about that for a minute.

Roberto Mancini is appearing to pin his hopes this year on the acquisition of wantaway Arsenal striker Robin van Persie, which given the depth he already has, might not be such a bad move. But even still, compared to last year, it's been a whole lot of nothing so far.

Grade compared to 2011: F, most likely to end up around a C-minus unless they land RVP.

Manchester United

Manchester United have done what they needed to do so far this year—improve their midfield and look for new additions to solidify their defense.

They've picked up Shinji Kagawa and Nick Powell for the first part, and are chasing Everton defender Leighton Baines to answer the second. The departure of Park Ji-Sung is a lot bigger for Queens Park Rangers than it is United.

However, comparing it to last year, you'd have to say United are still a little short. They added David De Gea, Ashley Young and Phil Jones last year, which I don't quite think they've covered this year.  Should United pick up either Lucas Moura or Leighton Baines, 2012 will have been the stronger year. Until then, 2011 it is.

Grade compared to 2011: B-minus.

Newcastle United

Whilst Newcastle have signed some players and let some players go so far this year, in reality, they haven't done a whole lot in the transfer window—which doesn't give us a lot to go off.

Last year was a strong year—picking up Yohan Cabaye and Demba Ba, as well as getting rid of then-popular player Joey Barton before he caused any more trouble.

It's tough to argue against that, though the retention of Ba and Cabaye are good things, with possible 2012 transfer Mathieu Debuchy the deciding factor in which transfer window has been the stronger.

Grade compared to 2011: C-plus

Norwich City

Middle-of-the-range signings this year; middle-of-the-range signings last year.

Middle-of-the-range exits this year; middle-of-the-range exits last year.

Nothing exciting, nothing fancy, with only the fact that this year's deals have so far been free. That just gives 2012 the nod over 2011 for me.

Just.

Grade compared to 2011: B.

Queens Park Rangers

Last year's signings—Anton Ferdinand, Luke Young, Shaun Wright-Phillips—are good players in their own right, but they didn't fit well for Queens Park Rangers.

Compare that to this year, where they've picked up Park Ji-Sung and Fabio Da Silva from Manchester United, and I think Mark Hughes has done what needed to be done, and that was improve.

Park Ji-Sung especially is a huge signing for the club—giving them a selfless but dominant player in midfield and someone who isn't going to get himself sent off and suspended during their biggest match of the season.

Grade compared to last 2011: B-plus.

Reading

Who haven't Reading signed this summer?

Chris Gunter, Adrian Mariappa, Pierce Sweeney, Pavel Pogrebnyak, Danny Guthrie, Garath McCleary and Nicky Shorey are all on their way to the Royals—a testament to the club's desire to succeed now that they've been promoted to the English Premier League.

It is a little unfair then, comparing the attraction of Premier League to the Championship, but if that's the comparison's we're making, then this year has been excellent.

Grade compared to 2011: A.

Southampton

Southampton have only signed the one player so far—Jay Rodriguez—who despite being a solid goal-scorer, isn't capable of carrying the Saints through the summer transfer window.

Considering that last year they saw talented winger Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain leave for Arsenal and then England at the European Championships, the fact that they haven't lost anybody good this year is probably a good thing.

But that might just be because there isn't a whole lot of talent to choose from.

Grade compared to 2011: C. C for effort.

Stoke City

Stoke are another one-signing club so far this transfer window, with Jamie Ness the only addition to their squad this summer.

Not much more is expected from the club, either—meaning that we're comparing Jamie Ness to the addition of Peter Crouch on a permanent deal and Nicklas Bendtner on loan.

Which is kind of like comparing apples and oranges—a nice orange at half-time of a football match compared to an apple that fell down the back of the fruit bowl and you only just found it now, six weeks later.

Grade compared to 2011: D-minus.

Sunderland

The Black Cats were one of the best surprises of the Premier League last season under Martin O'Neill, but as far as transfer goes, they really haven't offered much to write home about.

They have let Asamoah Gyan go and have only added Carlos Cuellar on a free transfer from Aston Villa—not something that inspires a whole lot of confidence.

Couple that with the solid additions of 2011 such as Connor Wickham, John O'Shea and Wes Brown and you'd have to say that this year still leaves a lot to be desired.

Grade compared to 2011: D.

Swansea City

Swansea's two biggest transfer departures this summer won't appear on any information sheet, but they are significant losses for the Swans next season.

Manager Brendan Rodgers and on-loan midfielder Gylfi Sigurdson both won't be returning to the club—huge losses for a side that improved greatly last year.

On top of that, they did sign Michel Vorm last year, who was one of the most underrated goalkeepers in the Premier League for my liking, making 2012 a significant step down from what many would have liked.

Grade compared to 2011: D-minus.

Tottenham Hotspur

What a transfer window it has been for Tottenham Hotspur!

They've a new manager in Andre Villas-Boas, kept Gareth Bale and Rafael van der Vaart, brought in Gylfi Sigurdson and Jan Vertonghen and are set to make a stack load of money from the sale of Croatian midfielder Luka Modric.

No players that Spurs have let go this summer will affect the club and with Emmanuel Adebayor's future still unknown, 2012 has the potential to be one of the best transfer windows in the club's history. 

It is far better than last year, anyway.

Grade compared to 2011: A, with potential to improve depending on the future of Modric and Adebayor.

West Bromwich Albion

Roy Hodgson is no doubt a loss for West Bromwich Albion, but the retention of goalkeeper Ben Foster on a permanent deal does help ease some of the pain.

Foster was surprising solid last season for WBA, and the confirmation of him on a permanent deal beats anything that the club signed last year and anything that the club let go this year.

Grade compared to 2011: C-plus.

West Ham United

Last year, West Ham lost Robbie Keane, they lost Wayne Bridge, they lost Boa Morte, they lost Demba Ba, they lost Scott Parker and they lost Manuel Almunia.

This year, they've added Stephen Henderson, Jussi Jaaskelainen and Mohamed Diame, and whilst none of the players mentioned are what you'd call world-class signings, anything has to be better than letting go a plethora of quality players.

Big Sam Allardyce has been busy throughout the summer transfer window and it could pay off in the Hammers' return to top-flight football.

Grade compared to 2011: A-minus.

Wigan Athletic

Losing the likes of Mohamed Diame, Hugo Rodallega and Chris Kirkland are not what you'd call a strong transfer window from Wigan—especially given that they haven't really replaced them with anyone.

They have added Mauro Boselli in attack, but there really isn't much taking place at the Lactics that oozes confidence. 

Having said that, they didn't do a whole lot last year either. With the fact that they lost Charles N’Zogbia over the 2011 summer transfer window, the only thing that is making 2012 look promising.

Grade compared to 2011: C-plus.

Anything you disagreed with?

Comment below or hit me up on Twitter:  Follow @dantalintyre