Introducing the Exciting New Stars of the Premier League: Profiles of Spurs, Arsenal, Bolton, Man City, Blackburn & West Ham New Stars

The 2008/09 Season is literally two weekends away and already excitement is growing up and down the country as the anticipation for another Premier League campaign kicks in. Once again, big money signings have arrived, new managers installed and new teams are about to experience what competing in the best League in the world is all about.

Here’s part four of our preview to what is exciting us in the run up to the 2008/09 campaign:

Introducing the Exciting New Stars of the Premier League

Samir Nasri: The Gunners New French Sensation

At just 20-years-old Nasri has already made 121 League appearances for his former club side Marseille and scored 11 goals. He has already been capped 12 times for his country as well as scoring 2 international goals. The young French star was also part of France’s doomed Euro 2008 squad though he only played 29 minutes in total at the tournament.

Nasri won the French Young Player of the Year award in 2007 and great things have been expected of him since he broke into the Marseille first team four seasons ago. Last season was his most productive season in terms of League goals as he struck 6 in 30 matches. He can play anywhere along the midfield but is primarily a creative attacking force.

He joins Arsenal as a like for like replacement for Alexander Hleb and big things are expected of the young star. Expect him to be a big hit in the Premier League, after all, how often is Arsene Wenger wrong?

Luka Modric: Tottenham’s Croatian Playmaker

Tottenham were one of a number of the biggest clubs in Europe who’d been linked to the 22-year old Croatian playmaker Modric. But with illustrious names including the likes of Read Madrid, Barcelona, Ajax, Chelsea, Liverpool, Arsenal and Newcastle heavily linked to the player few expected he would end up at White Hart Lane. Yet it was Spurs who announced they had captured the much coveted midfielder.

The Croat burst onto English club’s radars following his nation’s footballing displays in the home and away European Championship qualifying wins over England. He is a two-footed creative attacking midfielder who could fill Spurs troublesome left-midfield slot or play from a more central area. Tottenham have lacked a player who can consistently dominate possession from the middle of the park since the departure of Michael Carrick to Manchester United. As both Jermaine Jenas and Tom Huddlestone have failed to prove their long-term suitability to the role.

Modric also has an excellent goal scoring record for his former club Dinamo Zagreb of 27 goals in 93 League appearances. The 2007 Croatian Player of the Year was also named in the Euro 2008 team of the tournament so has been recognised as one of the best midfielders in Europe. He has now made 29 appearances for his country (4 goals) and captains the side. Once he adapts to the Premier League he should be a major force for Spurs despite his slight frame.

Johan Elmander: Bolton’s Super Swede

Swedish Striker Johan Elmander may have been played out of position by his country at Euro 2008 but he is expected to line-up for Bolton up front this season. The 27-year-old failed to break the long-term international partnership of Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Henrik Larsson and was reduced to a role on the wing.

Elmander has built up a solid reputation during his 11-year career despite a relatively average scoring record. He’s played for 7 different clubs in five different countries but has never scored more than 13 League goals in a season. Since joining Toulouse two seasons ago from Danish outfit Brondby, the striker has scored 11 League goals in each campaign. His overall record for the club is 22 League goals in 64 appearances. This may not seem that impressive a tally but when you consider Toulouse only finished 2 points above relegation last season and only scored 36 League goals in the whole campaign, then it’s not such a poor record.

However, his career League record doesn’t suggest he’s a prolific scorer. In 273 career League appearances the 6 ft 2 Swede has scored just 75 goals. This doesn’t suggest he is worth the club record £10m fee that the Trotters paid for him though the figures may be misleading by the fact that he’s also played as an attacking midfielder, especially in his 2-year spell with Brondby. In his time with the Danish club he won a League and Cup double (2004/05) and was voted player of the year despite only scoring 9 League goals that season.

Elmander’s record at international level is 11 goals in 38 internationals and with his size and physical strength he should fit straight into the Bolton side. He will add to both the creativity and goal threat of a Trotters side that seriously struggled for goals last season. Therefore, his performances in the early weeks of the season are worth studying if you are serious about winning on Premier 10 and Footy 15.

Carlos Villanueva: Rovers South American Star

Blackburn completed the signing of Carlos Villanueva on a season-long loan deal from Chilean outfit Audax Italiano. The 22-year old attacking midfielder replaces David Bentley at Rovers and has already captured the imagination of new manager Paul Ince.

Villanueva was recently voted Chilean Footballer of the Year and if he impresses will join in a £4m deal. Rovers beat the likes of Newcastle and Man City to the highly-rated young playmaker after a proposed move to Spain’s Real Sociedad collapsed due to a lack of funds.
The left-footed midfield star has plenty of potential and is a relatively cheap replacement for Tottenham new boy Bentley in the Rovers line-up.

The youngster has played for Audax all his professional career and despite playing in an attacking midfield role he has an excellent scoring record at club level. In just under 4 years Villanueva has scored 49 goals in 113 League appearances. His nickname is ‘Cabeza de Pina’ which interestingly translates as the head of a pineapple.

Villanueva represented Chile in the 2005 FIFA World Youth Cup and has since become a mainstay of the senior side after scoring on his debut. He has since made eleven appearances but has only 1 goal to his name. He was also part of Chile’s 2007 Copa America squad.

He may have a key part to play in Paul Ince’s debut season as Blackburn manager after losing key players Brad Friedel and Daid Bentley already this summer. If the little Chilean can adapt quickly he may prove to be an inspired signing. However, Premier 10 and Footy 15 players need to examine how the new looks Rovers side performs after a summer of change.

Jo: Man City’s Samba Striker

Brazilian striker João Alves de Assis Silva or Jo for short signed for Manchester City in a reported £18m deal this summer.

The 21-year-old Brazilian forward previously plied his trade in Russia with CSKA Moscow where he’d been a revelation. The striker scored 30 goals in 52 matches for his club which had led to him being linked to both Arsenal and Everton in the past. His form in the Russian capital also led to a call-up for the Brazilian national side though he has only won 1 cap.

The 6 ft 3 forward had been playing for CSKA since 2005 after moving from his first club Corinthians where he scored 13 goals in 81 games. He had since become hot property with AC Milan reported to have tracked his progress over the past 2 seasons. Jo has also won his fair share of silverware after picking up one title, 2 cups and 2 Super Cups whilst in Moscow.

Man City were crying out for a proven striker last season after using numerous players in that role that failed to deliver. If Jo is that man then City may well prove to be the best signing of the summer. However, Premier 10 and Footy 15 players should note that the Brazilian has joined up with his country’s Olympic squad so will miss the beginning of the season.

Valon Behrami: The Hammers Swiss Wing-Raider

West Ham announced the signing of Swiss midfielder come defender Valon Behrami last week. The 23-year-old Kosovo-born player joined in a £5m deal whilst signing a 5-year contract at Upton Park.

The flying right-sided player has been playing in Italy for the past 5 seasons with Genoa, Verona and Rome giants Lazio. He can play on either flank but was mainly used on the right by his former club either at full-back or on the wing.

In 3 seasons in Rome, Behrami has played 65 League games and scored 4 goals. He is one of the stars of the disappointing Swiss national side and has 19 caps and two international goals to his name.

The 6 ft 1 player will add pace to the Hammers side and increase competition for places as Alan Curbishley welcomes back his injured stars.

Heurelho Gomes: Spurs New Samba Stopper

Tottenham’s goalkeeper search finally ended after months of which Espanyol’s Carlos Kameni, Rangers Alan McGregor, Celtic’s Artur Boruc, Man City’s Joe Hart and Lyon’s Gregory Coupet amongst many others had all been linked. However, it is former PSV 6 foot 4 keeper who will be the new number 1 at White Hart Lane next season.

The 27-year-old has played in Holland for the past 4 seasons after joining from his first club Cruzeiro and has proven to be an unequivocal success after four consecutive title wins.

Gomes had to win over the critics in Eindhoven he quickly established himself as one of the best keepers in European football. Not only did he excel domestically but also in Europe as PSV reached the Champions League semi-final in his 1st season, the quarter-finals in his 3rd season and the Uefa Cup quarter-finals last season. Ironically, he was the hero in the Dutch club’s Uefa Cup penalty shoot-out win over Spurs last season too.

Last season alone Gomes kept 21 clean-sheets in 47 appearances in all competitions (17 in 34 League games) and has now played a total of 128 League games for the club.
Gomes is renowned for his reflexes and ability to throw the ball as far as many keepers usually kick it and should prove to be an astute bit of business for Tottenham. After all, he’s illustrated his undoubted ability for the Dutch club time and time again both domestically and in Europe. Despite his excellent form the keeper has only represented his country on 9 occasions which has often baffled the Dutch public and media.

The Brazilian was signed to improve Spurs dismal defensive record and with his presence in goal Premier 10 players should not necessarily write off Tottenham as defensive no-hopers once again.

It will also be exciting to see the likes of the Mexican starlets Giovani Dos Santos and Carlos Vela at North London rivals Spurs and Arsenal as well as the Argentine winger Jonas Gutierrez at Newcastle. There’s also the likes of Deco and Jose Bosingwa at Chelsea which should add to their attacking threat. This should be another exciting season and all these new arrivals should add to the Premier League though their significance to Premier 10 and Footy 15 cannot be underestimated.

Read part one: The New Look Attack-Minded Chelsea 

Read part two: Liverpool’s Deadly Striking Duo

Read part three: The Rise and Rise of the Black Cats

Tags: Arsenal, Blackburn, Bolton, Man City, Premier League, Tottenham, West Ham

This entry was posted on Tuesday, August 5th, 2008 at 11:20 and is filed under Features, Home Features, Transfer News. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.