Artikel menarik dari ESPN Soccernet soal pemain terbaik masing-masing klub EPL
sd paruh musim. Ada dua pemain Liverpool dan Arsenal dalam daftarnya Soccernet.
Players of the season... so far
Norman Hubbard
As the season reaches its half-way point, some players in the Premier League
can reflect upon their efforts thus far with satisfaction. With nothing set in
stone, currently leading the way at their respective clubs and potentially on
course for the Player of the Year awards are:
Arsenal: Alexander Hleb
Cesc who? Admittedly Cesc Fabregas' dominance, particularly during three months
of non-stop scoring, makes the Spaniard the outstanding candidate to be named
Footballer of the Year. But Alexander Hleb has been as influential in Arsenal's
transformation from elegant outsiders to league leaders. His reinvention as the
bridge between attack has enabled a player previously derided for being
lightweight and anonymous to emerge as a crucial creative influence. Operating
largely in the final third, the quality of his passing - he had a 98% success
rate against Aston Villa - has made Hleb a revelation.
Manchester United: Nemanja Vidic
As ever, Cristiano Ronaldo has provided the more eye-catching contributions,
and it is hard to argue with the Portuguese's recent run of 15 goals in 15
games. Yet the records United have set have been largely defensive and only six
Premier League goals have been conceded when Nemanja Vidic is present. The
fearsome Serb's ability to intimidate opponents is one reason, his habit of
conjuring the best from the often infuriating Rio Ferdinand another. Messrs
Rooney and Ronaldo excepted, he is United's most important player.
Chelsea: Ricardo Carvalho
Chelsea hold their comparatively lofty league position in spite of the failure,
sometimes because of injury, of their blue-chip players to operate at their
optimum level for the entirety of the campaign. But while the debate tends to
centre on whether Didier Drogba or John Terry is their key player, both results
and his performances suggest it is Ricardo Carvalho. He has only managed seven
Premier League appearances this season, but Chelsea won the first six of them,
with the assurance of the confident Carvalho in the centre of defence a major
factor.
Manchester City: Elano
Partly for the finesse of his free kicks, but partly because Elano has enabled
a particularly rapid transformation of Manchester City's style of play and, in
turn, the mindset of their supporters from perennial pessimism to
uncharacteristic optimism. The Brazilian has become the fulcrum of an attack
who, not so long ago, were the butt of many a joke. In the process, he has made
the City of Manchester Stadium the preferred escape route from Ukraine, with
Nery Castillo set to join him. Yet it is the range of his passing and the
quality of his finishing that earns Elano this vote as Sven-Goran Eriksson's
outstanding performer.
Liverpool: Steven Gerrard
Javier Mascherano has displayed most consistency while Fernando Torres is the
greatest cause for optimism, but an in-form Steven Gerrard remains Rafa
Benitez's trump card. Equipped with a ravenous appetite to dominate, Gerrard
has spent much of the last two months overpowering opponents, employing both
his physical and footballing superiority to devastating effect. Scoring in
seven consecutive games - the sort of statistic that eludes most strikers
during their careers - is one indication of his excellence, but others abound.
Portsmouth: Sulley Muntari
Singling out any one individual from a side that have exceeded expectations so
dramatically is unfair on others, from the workhorse-turned-goalscorer Benjani
to the excellent defensive triumvirate of David James, Sol Campbell and Sylvain
Distin. Yet Portsmouth's improved form, especially away from home, has been
based on a midfield that bristles with menace and instigates counter-attacks by
combining athleticism with ability. Both have been evident from the physical
Ghanaian Sulley Muntari, whose talent was showcased in his spectacular brace at
Villa Park.
Everton: Lee Carsley
In a team whose improvement stems from their greater attacking arsenal, it may
seem contradictory to select a defensive midfielder, but Lee Carsley's
unselfish contributions have allowed Mikel Arteta, Tim Cahill, Leon Osman and
Steven Pienaar to surge forwards. Carsley's merits - positional discipline,
safe and steady passing and a willingness to graft for the cause - are not
flashy, but he has provided the balance required in the centre of the pitch as
well a dramatic late strike against Birmingham to convert a draw into a
victory.
Aston Villa: Ashley Young
Martin O'Neill's decision to commit £9.6million on Ashley Young was greeted by
a soundtrack of sneers. Now it isn't being questioned. Along with Gabriel
Agbonlahor, Young is at the forefront of an emerging generation of energetic
talent at Villa Park, making it a tortuous arena for slow defenders to visit.
Sheer speed has been allied with a quality of crossing that means Young ranks
near the top of the assists charts and, while more goals are required, he has
been among the most dangerous wingers of the season so far.
Blackburn: Roque Santa Cruz
If it may appear logical that a former forward becomes an excellent judge of a
striker, it is rarely that simple. Yet Mark Hughes has excelled in recruiting
scorers, with Roque Santa Cruz excelling as Benni McCarthy and Craig Bellamy
have done before him. The Paraguayan's aptitude for English football - and, in
particular, for the steady stream of crosses that David Bentley and co. can
supply - was immediately apparent and the surprise is that his goals have not
delivered more success. Few players will score five in two games, as Santa Cruz
recently did, and lose both matches.
West Ham: Robert Green
There are reasons enough to distrust Steve McClaren's judgment, but Robert
Green has provided more. The major cause of West Ham's injury-hit squad's
elevation into mid-table, the goalkeeper has never played better. Three penalty
saves would be an achievement for any keeper; that Green had never previously
stopped one makes it all the more remarkable. West Ham's defensive record is
excellent and, though the explanation appeared to elude McClaren, it is no
secret why.
Newcastle: James Milner
The path to popularity at St James' Park is a rather unusual one. Being
deployed out of position, left on the bench or taken off all help, together
with the essential ingredient of having arrived at Newcastle United before Sam
Allardyce. James Milner scores highly on all counts but, in addition, he has
performed admirably this season, usually on the left flank and occasionally in
his preferred role on the right. It accounts for the high esteem in which
Milner is held on Tyneside, though scoring against Sunderland, albeit
fortunately, also contributed.
Tottenham: Robbie Keane
When one of the season's worst refereeing decisions handed Robbie Keane an
impromptu mid-season break, Tottenham's stand-in captain was threatening to
reach Christmas as the Premier League's top scorer. That Keane's contributions,
in a struggling side, extend far beyond simply scoring would have rendered it
remarkable. Instead, the Irishman, whose quick footwork and impish
demonstrations of skill make him much more than an out-and-out goalscorer, is
closing in on a century of Tottenham strikes, and averages better than one
every other start.
Reading: Stephen Hunt
The idiosyncratic Irishman is fast acquiring cult status at the Madejski. The
sort of energetic irritant who annoys opponents - characteristics guaranteed to
endear him to his own supporters - Hunt has combined his work ethic with
glimpses of quality. The calm penalties converted against Liverpool and
Birmingham were indications that Hunt possesses more than mere nuisance value
as, when many of his team-mates have struggled to emulate their form last
season, he is an exception. A dreadful tackle on Manchester City's Gelson
Fernandes is the only blight on his campaign.
Middlesbrough: David Wheater
Insipid defeats, the occasional surprise victory and consistent inconsistency:
just the average Middlesbrough season, then. While others' form has mirrored
their team's, David Wheater has been an unusually reliable presence in the Boro
defence. Jonathan Woodgate's performances have suffered but those of the junior
partner in the heart of the defence have not, enabling him to displace Robert
Huth and Chris Riggott and force Emanuel Pogatetz to switch to left-back.
Birmingham: Johan Djourou
Steve Bruce gave Birmingham's squad a much-needed makeover in the summer and,
while Alex McLeish may yet benefit, he will be parted from the most talented of
the newcomers in January. Johan Djourou's return to Arsenal deprives Birmingham
of their speediest defender, but his assured displays in the first half of the
campaign have enhanced his chances of figuring at the Emirates Stadium, as well
as Birmingham's of maintaining their top-flight status.
Bolton: Danny Guthrie
Nicolas Anelka, a scorer in each of their three wins and the likeliest saviour
in Bolton's battle for survival, would be a more obvious choice. But Anelka's
abilities were already well known whereas Danny Guthrie represents more of
revelation. Gary Megson's appointment, and his fondness for combative
midfielders, could have counted against a neat passer such as Guthrie, and
especially one recruited by Sammy Lee. Instead, the on-loan Liverpool man has
ensured that the experienced duo of Gary Speed and Gavin McCann have stayed on
the sidelines by forming an effective midfield trio with Ivan Campo and Kevin
Nolan. A man-of-the-match performance against Manchester United endeared him to
Liverpool and Bolton fans alike.
Sunderland: Kenwyne Jones
If there are ample reasons to suggest that Roy Keane should not be allowed near
a chequebook for quite some time, his lavish spending has yielded at least one
success. Four goals may appear a modest tally for a £6 million investment, but
Kenwyne Jones has spent much of the time operating as a lone strike-force, both
battering ram and tireless chaser of causes, lost or otherwise. And without
him, the composition of the Sunderland forward line scarcely bears thinking
about.
Fulham: Clint Dempsey
As Lawrie Sanchez spent his summer accumulating left wingers, the conclusion
could be drawn that he either had forgotten about, or was hoping to cast aside,
Clint Dempsey, even though it was the American's winner against Liverpool that
effectively earned him the job. Instead the Texan, either operating on the left
flank or in attack has rather upstaged Diomansy Kamara by emerging as Fulham's
top scorer. In a season of few positives, he represents one.
Wigan: Paul Scharner
The eccentric Austrian, having already rejected the chance to join Steve Bruce
at Birmingham, then contrived to irritate his new manager by suggesting Wigan
played direct football. No matter, Scharner's place is secure, because Bruce
cannot afford to drop the powerful midfielder. His total of three goals is
exceeded only by Marcus Bent and, given Wigan's habit of conceding, Scharner
could also prove Bruce's best central defender in the second half of the
season.
Derby: Matt Oakley
In a side that can be damned with faint praise but attract few genuine
compliments, Matt Oakley has not been embarrassed in the Premier League this
season. For Derby, that is about as good as it gets, sadly, but their captain
has provided a reminder of why he was an effective top-flight performer for the
best part of a decade with his neat passing. Two goals is an unexceptional
tally, but it nonetheless constitutes one-third of Derby's meagre total.
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