By Oliver Yew
31 Mar 2011 10:10:00
EPL ; Rafael Van der Vaart, Tottenham vs Aston Villa (Getty Images)
Related Links
Players
Tottenham‘s Rafael van der Vaart has been voted by Barclays Premier League managers as the best signing of the season.
The Dutchman has been a revelation since Harry Redknapp brought him to England for £8 million on the last day of the summer window, scoring 12 goals and becoming Spurs’ leading goalscorer.
The former Real Madrid man won 80 per cent of the vote, beating Manchester City’s David Silva and West Brom’s Peter Odemwingie, who both picked up 7% each of the votes cast by members of the League Managers Association.
The survey, answered by 15 of the 20 Premier League managers, also revealed that Lionel Messi is their dream signing. The Barcelona and Argentina star landed 46% of the vote.
Wayne Rooney, Cesc Fabregas and Nemanja Vidic all claimed 14%.
Gareth Bale and Steven Gerrard (both 6%) also featured on the list.
Jack Wilshere’s impressive form for Arsenal and England has not gone unnoticed by the country’s top managers.
The 19-year-old came out on top of the most impressive young English player category ahead of £35m Liverpool striker Andy Carroll, on-loan Sunderland striker Danny Welbeck and Blackburn’s Phil Jones.
Bright future | Wilshere was voted as the most impressive England youngster
Meanwhile, Manchester United were backed by 80% to win the Premier League title this season, while manager Sir Alex Ferguson was voted as the greatest boss of all time, ahead of the likes of Jock Stein, Bob Paisley and Jose Mourinho.
Manchester United’s Ryan Giggs, who has scored in every Premier League season since its inception in 1992, was voted as the league’s greatest player ever ahead of former team-mate Eric Cantona, Alan Shearer, Thierry Henry and Steven Gerrard.
Ian Holloway’s Blackpool have been a breath of fresh air in their first season in the league and they were recognised as the team of the season so far.
Remarkably, tactical know-how received no votes at all when the managers were asked what the most important prerequisite to being a successful boss was. Man management came out top with 53% of the vote.

| LMA PREMIER LEAGUE MANAGER SURVEY | The full results |
| Why do you think this season is so close? | |
|
60% 13% 7% 7% 7% 6% |
| What has been the performance of the season so far? | |
|
20% 20% 13% 13% 7% 7% 20% |
| Premier League team of the season so far? | |
|
80% 13% 7% |
| Best new signing in the Premier League? | |
|
80% 7% 7% 7% |
| Young English player who has impressed most this season? | |
|
60% 26% 7% 7% |
| Who will win the Premier League title? | |
|
80% 7% 7% 7% |
| ‘Home-grown’ rule has had a positive impact? | |
|
74% 13% 13% |
| Greatest ever player in the Premier League? | |
|
47% 27% 13% 7% 6% |
| Most important pre-requisite to being a successful manager? | |
|
53% 27% 7% 7% 0% 0% 6% |
| Best manager in Premier League history? | |
|
86% 7% 7% |
| Best manager ever? | |
|
26% 20% 13% 7% 7% 7% 7% 13% |
| If you could buy any player, who would it be? | |
|
46% 14% 14% 14% 7% 7% |
| What would you be if you weren’t a manager? | |
| Recruitment Pilot Accountant Unhappy A three handicap golfer Youth coach Bank director Politician Businessman Toolmaker Teacher Football Coach Don’t know Less stressed/out of work Retired |
Continued here:
Premier League managers rate Van der Vaart as best summer buy and choose Sir Alex Ferguson over Paisley, Busby & Stein as greatest boss ever