'Premier League 2014-15: which new strikers are the best value for money?' diff viewer (0/1)

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Premier League 2014-15: which new strikers are the best value for money?	Premier League 2014-15: which new strikers are the best value for money?
2014-10-20 11:25:45 UTC	2014-10-20 14:20:44 UTC (about 3 hours later)
Diego Costa, Chelsea, £32m – 9/10 (value for money rating)	Diego Costa, Chelsea, £32m – 9/10 (value for money rating)
Chelsea’s attack has been transformed by the signing of the bullish Costa, who has the hard-eyed demeanour of a man who looks like he would be as comfortable in a bar fight as he is grappling with Premier League defences. The former Atlético Madrid striker has taken no time to settle at his new club, scoring nine goals in his first nine matches, and has relished the battle with opposition defenders. But those pesky hamstrings are a cause for concern. Chelsea are managing the situation carefully. They are not dependent on Costa but they could do without him getting injured.	Chelsea’s attack has been transformed by the signing of the bullish Costa, who has the hard-eyed demeanour of a man who looks like he would be as comfortable in a bar fight as he is grappling with Premier League defences. The former Atlético Madrid striker has taken no time to settle at his new club, scoring nine goals in his first nine matches, and has relished the battle with opposition defenders. But those pesky hamstrings are a cause for concern. Chelsea are managing the situation carefully. They are not dependent on Costa but they could do without him getting injured.
Graziano Pellè, Southampton, £8m – 9/10	Graziano Pellè, Southampton, £8m – 9/10
There were a few misgivings about how the Italian would fare at Southampton given how strikers from the Eredivisie have struggled in the Premier League in the past – by which we mean: how Afonso Alves and Mateja Kezman struggled in the Premier League after moving here from the Eredivisie. But Southampton need not have worried. Pellè scored freely for Ronald Koeman at Feyenoord and has continued doing so at St Mary’s. He has seven goals already, including a stunner against QPR, and scored on his Italy debut last week.	There were a few misgivings about how the Italian would fare at Southampton given how strikers from the Eredivisie have struggled in the Premier League in the past – by which we mean: how Afonso Alves and Mateja Kezman struggled in the Premier League after moving here from the Eredivisie. But Southampton need not have worried. Pellè scored freely for Ronald Koeman at Feyenoord and has continued doing so at St Mary’s. He has seven goals already, including a stunner against QPR, and scored on his Italy debut last week.
Diafra Sakho, West Ham, £3.5m – 9/10	Diafra Sakho, West Ham, £3.5m – 9/10
With six goals in his first seven games for West Ham, Sakho has made it look easy since his £3.5m move from Metz in August. The Senegal striker is quick, powerful and a potent threat in the air, while he demonstrated his subtlety with that neat chip over Simon Mignolet in the 3-1 win over Liverpool last month. He has been quite the find for Sam Allardyce’s side.	With six goals in his first seven games for West Ham, Sakho has made it look easy since his £3.5m move from Metz in August. The Senegal striker is quick, powerful and a potent threat in the air, while he demonstrated his subtlety with that neat chip over Simon Mignolet in the 3-1 win over Liverpool last month. He has been quite the find for Sam Allardyce’s side.
Abel Hernández, Hull, £10m – 8/10	Abel Hernández, Hull, £10m – 8/10
The Uruguay forward may have been criticised by Palermo for leaving them to join Hull but that has not stopped him from becoming an instant hero at the KC Stadium. He scored on his debut against West Ham with a cracking header and also hit the bar, and there have been further efforts against Arsenal and Manchester City. It is hard to argue with three goals in his first five matches.	The Uruguay forward may have been criticised by Palermo for leaving them to join Hull but that has not stopped him from becoming an instant hero at the KC Stadium. He scored on his debut against West Ham with a cracking header and also hit the bar, and there have been further efforts against Arsenal and Manchester City. It is hard to argue with three goals in his first five matches.
Leonardo Ulloa, Leicester, £7m – 8/10	Leonardo Ulloa, Leicester, £7m – 8/10
The Argentinian’s goals have helped Leicester beat Stoke City and Manchester United and draw with Arsenal and Everton since his £7m move from Brighton & Hove Albion, although Nigel Pearson will be hoping that Ulloa’s failure to score in his past three matches is nothing more than a blip, rather than it turning out that his earlier potent finishing was the flash in the pan.	The Argentinian’s goals have helped Leicester beat Stoke City and Manchester United and draw with Arsenal and Everton since his £7m move from Brighton & Hove Albion, although Nigel Pearson will be hoping that Ulloa’s failure to score in his past three matches is nothing more than a blip, rather than it turning out that his earlier potent finishing was the flash in the pan.
Enner Valencia, West Ham, £12m – 7/10	Enner Valencia, West Ham, £12m – 7/10
The striker’s performances for Ecuador at the World Cup convinced West Ham to sign him for £12m but he did not make a great first impression, missing the decisive penalty in the shootout against Sheffield United in the first round of the Capital One Cup. But then came his 25-yard thunderbolt against Hull City, followed by Saturday’s bullet header against Burnley. Work those neck muscles!	The striker’s performances for Ecuador at the World Cup convinced West Ham to sign him for £12m but he did not make a great first impression, missing the decisive penalty in the shootout against Sheffield United in the first round of the Capital One Cup. But then came his 25-yard thunderbolt against Hull City, followed by Saturday’s bullet header against Burnley. Work those neck muscles!
Loïc Rémy, Chelsea, £10.5m – 7/10	Loïc Rémy, Chelsea, £10.5m – 7/10
It is not easy to judge Loïc Rémy’s start at Chelsea given that he only arrived on the last day of the transfer window and has since had to play second fiddle to Costa. He scored on his debut after coming on as a substitute in the 4-2 win over Swansea City last month but he had to wait until Saturday’s 2-1 win at Crystal Palace for his first start. His performance was encouraging, however, and Chelsea have no reason to think that Rémy will let them down.	It is not easy to judge Loïc Rémy’s start at Chelsea given that he only arrived on the last day of the transfer window and has since had to play second fiddle to Costa. He scored on his debut after coming on as a substitute in the 4-2 win over Swansea City last month but he had to wait until Saturday’s 2-1 win at Crystal Palace for his first start. His performance was encouraging, however, and Chelsea have no reason to think that Rémy will let them down.
Danny Welbeck, Arsenal, £16m – 7/10	Danny Welbeck, Arsenal, £16m – 7/10
Danny Welbeck has done his Danny Welbeck thing – score a few, miss a few, frustrate a bit, be likeable – and maybe he deserves 10 out of 10 simply because he is not Yaya Sanogo. But maybe everyone got a bit overexcited after the hat-trick against the travelling circus act who were masquerading as Galatasaray. Some people even compared him to Thierry Henry afterwards and, well.	Danny Welbeck has done his Danny Welbeck thing – score a few, miss a few, frustrate a bit, be likeable – and maybe he deserves 10 out of 10 simply because he is not Yaya Sanogo. But maybe everyone got a bit overexcited after the hat-trick against the travelling circus act who were masquerading as Galatasaray. Some people even compared him to Thierry Henry afterwards and, well.
Mame Biram Diouf, Stoke, free – 7/10	Mame Biram Diouf, Stoke, free – 7/10
The Senegal striker arrived on a free transfer from Hannover and started well for Stoke, scoring an eye-catching solo goal in their surprise 1-0 win at Manchester City in August and then finding the back of the net in the 2-2 draw at QPR. He has gone off the boil a little since then but the early signs are promising for Mark Hughes.	The Senegal striker arrived on a free transfer from Hannover and started well for Stoke, scoring an eye-catching solo goal in their surprise 1-0 win at Manchester City in August and then finding the back of the net in the 2-2 draw at QPR. He has gone off the boil a little since then but the early signs are promising for Mark Hughes.
Romelu Lukaku, Everton, £28m – 6/10	Romelu Lukaku, Everton, £28m – 6/10
Lukaku has to deal with raised expectations at Everton now that he is a £28m striker rather than a loan signing and, perhaps a little fatigued after his World Cup exertions, he has not quite hit the heights of last season yet. With three goals in 11 matches, he is not having the same sort of impact. Yet the price tag makes it easy to forget that Lukaku is still a youngster who is learning his trade. He will get better as the season goes on.	Lukaku has to deal with raised expectations at Everton now that he is a £28m striker rather than a loan signing and, perhaps a little fatigued after his World Cup exertions, he has not quite hit the heights of last season yet. With three goals in 11 matches, he is not having the same sort of impact. Yet the price tag makes it easy to forget that Lukaku is still a youngster who is learning his trade. He will get better as the season goes on.
Samuel Eto’o, Everton, free – 6/10	Samuel Eto’o, Everton, free – 6/10
The Cameroonian striker scored within six minutes of coming off the bench on his Everton debut but that was in the 6-3 defeat to his former club, Chelsea, and that remains his only league goal for Roberto Martínez’s side. He did rescue them a point in their Europa League match against FK Krasnodar, though.	The Cameroonian striker scored within six minutes of coming off the bench on his Everton debut but that was in the 6-3 defeat to his former club, Chelsea, and that remains his only league goal for Roberto Martínez’s side. He did rescue them a point in their Europa League match against FK Krasnodar, though.
	Fraizer Campbell, Crystal Palace, £900,000 - 6/10
	There’s not too many international strikers available on the market for less than £1m these days so Palace’s purchase of Campbell in the summer from Cardiff looked a shrewd piece of business. Granted, the 27-year-old won his solitary England cap under Stuart Pearce back in 2012 but a return of three Premier League goals from his eight appearances is a decent start. Now the test is whether Campbell can maintain that ratio and surpass last season’s tally of six.
Shane Long, Southampton, £12m – 6/10	Shane Long, Southampton, £12m – 6/10
Eyebrows were raised when Southampton signed the Irish forward from Hull City for £12m – further evidence, it was said, that there was no value in the transfer market. Long has always been persistent and will get you a few goals but he has never been deadly. However he has buzzed around promisingly in a wide role for Southampton despite not scoring yet and appears to be a useful addition.	Eyebrows were raised when Southampton signed the Irish forward from Hull City for £12m – further evidence, it was said, that there was no value in the transfer market. Long has always been persistent and will get you a few goals but he has never been deadly. However he has buzzed around promisingly in a wide role for Southampton despite not scoring yet and appears to be a useful addition.
Eduardo Vargas, QPR, loan – 6/10	Eduardo Vargas, QPR, loan – 6/10
The Chilean impressed in the World Cup, so Queens Park Rangers were delighted to secure him on a season-long loan from Napoli and after a slow start, he exploded into life with that dramatic brace against Liverpool on Sunday. It was just a shame that his heroics turned out to be in vain.	The Chilean impressed in the World Cup, so Queens Park Rangers were delighted to secure him on a season-long loan from Napoli and after a slow start, he exploded into life with that dramatic brace against Liverpool on Sunday. It was just a shame that his heroics turned out to be in vain.
Radamel Falcao, Manchester United, loan – 6/10	Radamel Falcao, Manchester United, loan – 6/10
Could be better, could be worse. The worry about Falcao is whether he has fully recovered from the knee injury that he suffered in January. If he has, then Manchester United will have one of the world’s most fearsome strikers in their side. And there have been little glimpses of his potential during his first few matches – an assist for Robin van Persie against Leicester and a poacher’s goal that helped United beat Everton. One feels that there is more to come.	Could be better, could be worse. The worry about Falcao is whether he has fully recovered from the knee injury that he suffered in January. If he has, then Manchester United will have one of the world’s most fearsome strikers in their side. And there have been little glimpses of his potential during his first few matches – an assist for Robin van Persie against Leicester and a poacher’s goal that helped United beat Everton. One feels that there is more to come.
Mauro Zárate, West Ham, free – 6/10	Mauro Zárate, West Ham, free – 6/10
The Argentinian has a reputation for causing trouble and no one was sure what to expect when West Ham signed him on a free transfer, but he has actually slotted in quite nicely, his unpredictability evident when he scored a cracking volley in the 3-1 win at Crystal Palace in August. The test for Zárate is whether he can accept that he is not part of West Ham’s strongest lineup.	The Argentinian has a reputation for causing trouble and no one was sure what to expect when West Ham signed him on a free transfer, but he has actually slotted in quite nicely, his unpredictability evident when he scored a cracking volley in the 3-1 win at Crystal Palace in August. The test for Zárate is whether he can accept that he is not part of West Ham’s strongest lineup.
Didier Drogba, Chelsea, free – 5/10	Didier Drogba, Chelsea, free – 5/10
It goes without saying that Didier Drogba’s second spell at Chelsea is not going to be as spellbinding as the first and there is a suspicion that they have brought him back as head cheerleader, someone who can use his experience and status as a club legend to gee up the troops when they are swimming against the tide. Now 36 and in the twilight of his career, he is yet to score in seven appearances this season and has had a couple of niggling injuries. But plenty of time remains for Drogba to make an impact. You may recall that he has done it in the past.	It goes without saying that Didier Drogba’s second spell at Chelsea is not going to be as spellbinding as the first and there is a suspicion that they have brought him back as head cheerleader, someone who can use his experience and status as a club legend to gee up the troops when they are swimming against the tide. Now 36 and in the twilight of his career, he is yet to score in seven appearances this season and has had a couple of niggling injuries. But plenty of time remains for Drogba to make an impact. You may recall that he has done it in the past.
Brown Ideye, West Brom, £10m – 5/10	Brown Ideye, West Brom, £10m – 5/10
The Nigeria striker signed for West Brom for £10m from Dynamo Kiev but he has been troubled by a foot problem in recent weeks. However he did open his account for his new side in the Capital One Cup win over Hull.	The Nigeria striker signed for West Brom for £10m from Dynamo Kiev but he has been troubled by a foot problem in recent weeks. However he did open his account for his new side in the Capital One Cup win over Hull.
Georgios Samaras, West Brom, free – 5/10	Georgios Samaras, West Brom, free – 5/10
The Greek striker is yet to score for West Brom since signing for them on a free. The hope is that he can recapture his Celtic and Greece form at The Hawthorns – but it may be a forlorn one.	The Greek striker is yet to score for West Brom since signing for them on a free. The hope is that he can recapture his Celtic and Greece form at The Hawthorns – but it may be a forlorn one.