World Football Round Table : "What's Your Signing Of The Summer?"

The Bleacher Report World Football Round Tables are back!

We asked several of our top writers: "What is your signing of the summer, and why?"



Salaar Shamsi

The shock of the summer was definitely Robinho's move to City. However, there were other big moves like Ronaldinho going to Milan, Deco to Chelsea, Keane to Liverpool, Nasri to Arsenal, Van der Vaart to Madrid, Hleb to Barcelona, Quaresma to Inter, and Berbatov to United.

I'm going to stick with Dimitar Berbatov's move to Manchester United as my 'signing of the summer' because Berbatov is deadly finisher, he has an amazing first touch, he has loads of quality, and he will add another dimension to Manchester United.



Andrew McNair

For me it has to be Deco. I chose him as my transfer of the summer originally and see no reason to change my mind. Two goals (both of which were pretty spectacular) in his first three games and remains undefeated with Chelsea.
 
The transfer fee of under £10 million is a snip for such a talented individual and must be a factor when considering the buy of the summer.
 
Deco is a special player and I expect the Portuguese international to hit double figures in goals and assists this season and challenge for the player of the season awards. I just hope he can stay fit.



Salomon Gonzales

There is a group of players that gain their fame through spectacular dribbles, outstanding technique, or by scoring a great number of goals. Deco isn't necessarily one of these players. What he stands out for is his huge passing ability, his vision on the field, and his decisiveness.

Oftentimes, Deco is the kind of player you don't really see on the pitch, but without whom, his team would be utterly inefficient.

Deco will have his work cut out for him. With Lampard and Essien signing new five-year contracts, and Ballack having already declared his intentions of ending his career at Chelsea, Deco may well form a formidable quartet of midfielders that compliment each other's game.

He's had a bright start to his Chelsea career scoring two goals in his first three games. Although, in the 1-1 draw with Tottenham he was truly awful.

Deco offers a new dimension to Chelsea and his slick one-two football is sure to dazzle many Premiership followers.



Stefan Vasilev

There have been a lot of high profile signings during this summer.

In my opinion, one signing stands above all others. That's Berbatov going to Manchester United. He is exactly what United need.

His style is very different from the one most United players have and he will surely add another dimension to the team.



Thomas Leemon

This summer has had a lot of surprises.  I think the biggest surprise is Robinho going to Manchester City. Robinho is not the biggest signing of the summer though, Ronaldinho is. Ronaldinho was bought by AC Milan to help the club get more firepower. Last season, they failed to even qualify for the Champions League.

Ronaldinho was brought in to fix this for the next season. Ronaldinho was unhappy at Barcelona for reasons I won't discuss. However, now he is at a new club with fellow Brazillian, Kaka. I think these two players will rip the opposition apart in Serie A. We'll see what happens.



Alan McGuinness

At first my instinct was to say Deco, but after Manchester United nabbed him on transfer deadline day, I'll have to go with Berbatov. With him in the side, Manchester United will have a frightening attacking quartet that will almost guarantee you goals. He can have the odd game where he just sulks, but when he is on top form he is almost unplayable, much like Didier Drogba for Chelsea.

It could be the signing that means the title will stay at Old Trafford for a third consecutive season.



Mark Andrew

It's hard for me to say who I think is the best buy of the summer because there have been many for starters, plus there are players who haven’t kicked a ball for their new club's yet.

Samir Nasri is looking good at Arsenal up to now, Coloccini had a fantastic debut at Old Trafford for Newcastle, Djibril Cisse had a great debut, as did Shaun Wright Phillips on his return to Manchester City. Then we have City's new boy Robinho who could be a revelation and Dimitar Berbatov at Man United, both of whom haven’t kicked a ball for their respective clubs as of yet.

Pavlyuchenko, Bentley, and Modric at Spurs could be good buys for Juande Ramos, come the end of the season.  

So who do I vote as the best buy of the summer up to now? Well there is only one man and it has to be Deco of Chelsea, two goals in his opening two Premier League games, I thought players were supposed to settle in! It just shows that when you actually buy quality it doesn’t matter where they go, they will perform.

Ask me in a month’s time, I might have changed my mind, it could be Berbatov or even Robinho—but for now it is Deco.



Alex Dimond

Talk about difficult decisions! Honourable mentions to Hatem Ben Arfa, who will prove an adept replacement for Samir Nasri at Marseille and Ivan Klasnic (how did Nantes pull of his signature?!) but my vote goes with Rafael van der Vaart.

The Dutchman delivered on the promise he has always shown at Euro 2008, and for nine million euros he cannot be considered anything less than an absolute bargain. I fully expect the Dutchman to prosper at the Bernabeu for many years to come—Hamburg's loss is very much Real Madrid's gain.

Having said that, the German club's capture of Brazilian Thiago Neves should ease their pain, I will be very interested to see how the 23-year-old gets on in such a talented young team.

Yes, I have taken the easy way out and pretty much named four transfers. I just couldn't decide!



Jonathan Marum

I have been most impressed with is Newcastle United's capture of Jonas Gutierrez from Real Mallorca. I just think this guy looks fantastic; he's quick, good with the ball at his feet but aware of his teammates too. His link up play with Obafemi Martins at Old Trafford against Manchester United was impressive, and it was a great début. He is a good crosser of the ball as well.

He only needs to add more goals to his repertoire to become the world-class player I believe he can be. He is an important player now that James Milner has gone and I believe he can handle the added expectation, which could help him nail down a regular starting place with Argentina.

A mention also has to go to Robinho. In many ways it doesn't matter how he does at Man City because of the sensational nature of his transfer he is the signing of the season too. I mean not a single person would have predicted that!



Dakota Rubin

It has to be Rafael van der Vaart, purely for what Real Madrid gets for the money. It was a pure steal. Van der Vaart is one of the best up-and-coming midfielders in the world and Madrid robbed him from Hamburg for just nine million euros (sure it could get up to 13 million with clauses, but still).

Not only was he a steal, he was also exactly what los Blancos needed in terms of his attitude—think opposite of the self-centered nature of Cristiano Ronaldo—and his position and playing style.

Van der Vaart can fill the void left by Sneijder until he is healthy and begin to take the reins from the ageing Guti who has run Madrid's midfield for years.

Zahi Sahli

Ronaldinho.

The Brazilian joins Milan in what I view as a perfect move for both player and club. The player wants to revive his career and can now do so at a club that plays beautiful football. Ronnie should fit in well with the players at Milan with a host of Brazilian players in the Rossoneri squad.

While the club wants to have a good season after a terrible one last year in which the team failed to qualify to the UEFA Champions League. Once he finds his best form, Ronaldinho will be the man who can change Milan's fortunes.

Thats a wrap! Thanks to all our writers who participated! There will be another discussion out very soon!