[article=http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/11679/9223964?]Manchester City striker Alvaro Negredo has been voted the signing of the season so far by Barclays Premier League managers.
The Spain international, who has scored 23 goals in all competitions since moving from Sevilla last summer, was voted the division's best signing of 2013-14 by 59% of top-flight bosses.
All 20 Premier League managers voted as part of a survey by the Barclays 'Thank you' campaign, with Liverpool striker Luis Suarez chosen as the player of the season so far and Arsenal midfielder Aaron Ramsey thought of as the best youngster.
The managers also recognised the achievements of three of their peers, with Crystal Palace's Tony Pulis, Manchester City's Manuel Pellegrini and Southampton's Mauricio Pochettino chosen for having done the most impressive work this season.
Pulis has guided struggling Palace out of the bottom three since taking over in November, while Pellegrini has made Manchester City the Sky Bet favourites for the title and Pochettino has made the Saints outsiders for a Europa League place.
Managers were also asked which Premier League stadium had the best atmosphere, with 40 choosing Anfield over the likes of Old Trafford, White Hart Lane or the Emirates.
Manchester United fans are considered to give the best away support, followed by Liverpool and Aston Villa, and England in general is considered by 41% of managers to have the most avid supporters in the world.
The study also found that 80% of managers attended their first ever game as a fan before the age of nine, with over half of them going to a match before they were five, suggesting that watching football from a young age leads to a greater understanding of the game.[/article]
SURVEY RESULTS
1. How old were you when you went to your first live football game?
3 months old 7%
2 years old 12%
3 years old 17%
5 years old 17%
7 years old 12%
8 years old 17%
11 years old 7%
12 years old 11%
2. Who did you go with to your first live football game?
Your dad/mum 70%
Another family member 12%
Family friends 12%
Mates 6%
3. What was your favourite thing about watching live football when growing up?
Seeing the players up close 41%
Whole match day experience 29%
The camaraderie of being among fellow fans 6%
Celebrating a goal 12%
Winning 6%
Other 6%
4. Did you ever travel to away games as a fan?
Yes 59%
No 41%
5. Which region in the world do you think has the most passionate supporters, according
to your experiences?
England 41%
Wales 6%
Germany 6%
Spain 12%
Asia 6%
South America 29%
6. What is the best way for your club to engage with international fans?
Overseas tours/matches 36%
Social media e.g. Twitter Q&As 12%
Winning trophies 23%
Signing players from that country 29%
7. Apart from your own team, which Barclays Premier League club do you think has the most vocal away support?
Liverpool 23%
Aston Villa 12%
Chelsea 6%
Manchester United 29%
Swansea City 6%
Manchester City 6%
Newcastle United 6%
West Ham United 6%
Other 6%
8. Apart from your own, which Barclays Premier League stadium do you think has the best atmosphere?
Anfield 35%
White Hart Lane 12%
Emirates Stadium 12%
Old Trafford 17%
Britannia Stadium 12%
Selhurst Park 6%
Other 6%
9. Which player do you think has been the signing of the season in the Barclays Premier
League so far?
Nemanja Matic 6%
Romelu Lukaku 17%
Alvaro Negredo 59%
Mesut Ozil 12%
Willian 6%
12. Who has been the best player in the Barclays Premier League so far this season?
Eden Hazard 6%
Sergio Aguero 35%
Luis Suarez 41%
Mesut Ozil 6%
Alvaro Negredo 6%
Leighton Baines 6%
11. Who has been the best young player in the Barclays Premier League so far season?
Eden Hazard 17%
Aaron Ramsey 30%
Adnan Januzaj 12%
Daniel Sturridge 17%
Raheem Sterling 6%
Ravel Morrison 6%
Oscar 6%
Luis Suarez 6%
12. Which manager in the Barclays Premier League have you been most impressed with this season?
Tony Pulis 17%
Roberto Martinez 13%
Mauricio Pochettino 17%
Arsene Wenger 13%
Manuel Pellegrini 17%
Paul Lambert 6%
Other 17%
The Spain international, who has scored 23 goals in all competitions since moving from Sevilla last summer, was voted the division's best signing of 2013-14 by 59% of top-flight bosses.
All 20 Premier League managers voted as part of a survey by the Barclays 'Thank you' campaign, with Liverpool striker Luis Suarez chosen as the player of the season so far and Arsenal midfielder Aaron Ramsey thought of as the best youngster.
The managers also recognised the achievements of three of their peers, with Crystal Palace's Tony Pulis, Manchester City's Manuel Pellegrini and Southampton's Mauricio Pochettino chosen for having done the most impressive work this season.
Pulis has guided struggling Palace out of the bottom three since taking over in November, while Pellegrini has made Manchester City the Sky Bet favourites for the title and Pochettino has made the Saints outsiders for a Europa League place.
Managers were also asked which Premier League stadium had the best atmosphere, with 40 choosing Anfield over the likes of Old Trafford, White Hart Lane or the Emirates.
Manchester United fans are considered to give the best away support, followed by Liverpool and Aston Villa, and England in general is considered by 41% of managers to have the most avid supporters in the world.
The study also found that 80% of managers attended their first ever game as a fan before the age of nine, with over half of them going to a match before they were five, suggesting that watching football from a young age leads to a greater understanding of the game.[/article]
SURVEY RESULTS
1. How old were you when you went to your first live football game?
3 months old 7%
2 years old 12%
3 years old 17%
5 years old 17%
7 years old 12%
8 years old 17%
11 years old 7%
12 years old 11%
2. Who did you go with to your first live football game?
Your dad/mum 70%
Another family member 12%
Family friends 12%
Mates 6%
3. What was your favourite thing about watching live football when growing up?
Seeing the players up close 41%
Whole match day experience 29%
The camaraderie of being among fellow fans 6%
Celebrating a goal 12%
Winning 6%
Other 6%
4. Did you ever travel to away games as a fan?
Yes 59%
No 41%
5. Which region in the world do you think has the most passionate supporters, according
to your experiences?
England 41%
Wales 6%
Germany 6%
Spain 12%
Asia 6%
South America 29%
6. What is the best way for your club to engage with international fans?
Overseas tours/matches 36%
Social media e.g. Twitter Q&As 12%
Winning trophies 23%
Signing players from that country 29%
7. Apart from your own team, which Barclays Premier League club do you think has the most vocal away support?
Liverpool 23%
Aston Villa 12%
Chelsea 6%
Manchester United 29%
Swansea City 6%
Manchester City 6%
Newcastle United 6%
West Ham United 6%
Other 6%
8. Apart from your own, which Barclays Premier League stadium do you think has the best atmosphere?
Anfield 35%
White Hart Lane 12%
Emirates Stadium 12%
Old Trafford 17%
Britannia Stadium 12%
Selhurst Park 6%
Other 6%
9. Which player do you think has been the signing of the season in the Barclays Premier
League so far?
Nemanja Matic 6%
Romelu Lukaku 17%
Alvaro Negredo 59%
Mesut Ozil 12%
Willian 6%
12. Who has been the best player in the Barclays Premier League so far this season?
Eden Hazard 6%
Sergio Aguero 35%
Luis Suarez 41%
Mesut Ozil 6%
Alvaro Negredo 6%
Leighton Baines 6%
11. Who has been the best young player in the Barclays Premier League so far season?
Eden Hazard 17%
Aaron Ramsey 30%
Adnan Januzaj 12%
Daniel Sturridge 17%
Raheem Sterling 6%
Ravel Morrison 6%
Oscar 6%
Luis Suarez 6%
12. Which manager in the Barclays Premier League have you been most impressed with this season?
Tony Pulis 17%
Roberto Martinez 13%
Mauricio Pochettino 17%
Arsene Wenger 13%
Manuel Pellegrini 17%
Paul Lambert 6%
Other 17%
