Thursday, May 2, 2013

Premier League Most Underrated Players 2013

GK; Asmir Begovich





Asmir Begovic: Best keeper in the Premier League according to Tony Pulis

The Bosnia and Herzegovina international has been linked with a move to United, Chelsea and Arsenal this summer but Pulis is far from convinced that he wants to leave the club.

"I think he has been consistently the best goalkeeper in the Premier League this season," Pulis said.

"He's been different class for us. I think the experience he's got from playing games regularly has been the biggest factor.

"Asmir has had a full run at the team this season and grown in stature because of it.

"There is no substitute for playing games and that's why I would always encourage youngsters at this football club to go out and play league football to gain experience."

RB; Sascha Riether



Sacha Riether: Defender quickly established himself after arriving from Cologne on loan

Riether has impressed since moving to Craven Cottage on a year-long loan from German side Cologne at the start of the season, with boss Martin Jol previously indicating his desire to keep him.

Riether had never played outside of his home country until making the move to Fulham but the 29-year-old, who made his two Germany appearances in 2010, admitted he had felt at home straight away. With more than 30 games for the cottagers this season. Riether has shown tremendous consistency down the right flank for fulham

CB; Gareth McAuley 

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Aside from Adrian Chiles poking fun at Peter Odemwingie during West Bromwich Albion's end-of-season award ceremony (via John Percy at The Telegraph), the main takeaway from the gala event was Gareth McAuley receiving both the Players’ Player of the Season and Supporters’ Player of the Season awards (per WBA.co.uk).

10 days before the ceremony, West Brom blogger Warren Stephens was ardent in his belief that Gareth was the club's best player (via Expressandstar.com):
"My vote for Player of the Year would have to go to Gareth McAuley. When he signed I remember message boards being awash with criticism from supporters who hadn’t heard of him or were sceptical of his pedigree being a free transfer. Perhaps, more amusingly, many despaired that we hadn’t coughed up the money to make a big-money signing like Roger Johnson instead! Gareth McAuley has grown and grown, perhaps the biggest compliment he can be paid is that this season he’s even out-performed Mr Reliable [Jonas Olsson]."

CB; Ashley Williams

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"If I was manager of a top-four club I'd have no qualms in looking at Ashley Williams and trying to sign him. I'm not surprised that he's being linked with big clubs [and] I'm not surprised he's done as well as he has done. He's a terrific defender and a great personality [and has] a great mentality towards football." This are the words from Chris Coleman, current Wales Manager
 
It's been a steep rise for the 28-year-old, who won League One in 2008 with the club he will lead into Europe next year should he stay. In between those two extremes there's been transfer bids declined, multiple awards and, most notably, the awarding of the captain's armband for Wales.

LB; Danny Rose
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Rose is a contender for Sunderland's player of the year after he put in a series of impressive displays during a season-long loan at the Stadium of Light.

The 22-year-old has made 27 appearances for the Black Cats after slotting in to the first XI at left-back and last night he opened his scoring account for the club in their 6-1 defeat at Aston Villa.

Rose says he will make a decision on his future at the end of the season and he has hinted recently that he would like to stay at the Wearside club.

This is the fourth time Rose has been out on loan and he has only made eight Premier League starts for the north London club since he signed from Leeds in 2007.

RM; James Milner
 

 Many criticised when Manchester City paid Aston Villa £28million for James Milner in 2010 and in truth the price was inflated but Milner has been invaluable since his arrival at the Etihad. Milner is willing to play in any number of positions for the good of the team and always puts in a performance with total commitment. Players with such determination and adaptability are certainly vital for evry big clubs and also for City.

This season, though, City has desperately needed Milner to raise his level of play given the chips and dings the City midfield has suffered throughout the regrettably unsuccessful title defense.Each time Mancini needed the ship steadied at midfield, Milner dutifully stood in and put in a solid shift.

CM; Leon Osman 

Osman won his first England cap in November (©GettyImages)

The rest of England are starting to realise what Everton fans have known for years, which is that midfielder Leon Osman is one of the most consistent midfielders in the Premier League.

Osman made his England debut against Sweden at the age of 31 in November 2012. Despite age being against him, Osman will be knocking on Roy Hodgson's door for a place in England's 2014 World Cup squad.

“Leon has got better with time. “He’s become an essential midfield player. He was always the one with the most football intelligence — you’d explain something to him and he’d know exactly what was wanted." Accordin to David Moyes

CM; Morgan Schneiderlin
 
Morgan Schneiderlin: Southampton midfielder wants to keep progressing

The 23-year-old Frenchman, signed from Strasbourg in 2008, has impressed for Southampton as they battled to stay in the Barclays Premier League and says he wants to keep on improving.

The Saints' number 4, Frenchman Morgan Schneiderlin, has had a great season in the Southampton midfield. He has had made the most tackles out of any player in the whole of the Premier League, which is a remarkable statistic for a player in a lower-half club. Still only 23, he has rapidly earned himself a reputation as one of the most tenacious and determined defensive midfielders in the league. He has even weighed in with 5 crucial goals to help steer his club towards survival.

His performances have understandably led to attention from elsewhere, with Arsenal being linked with a move for him once the transfer window opens.

LM; Shaun Maloney



Shaun Maloney has enjoyed a successful season with Wigan.

I cant see myself writting the underrated list without Shaun Maloney. Weather he has had a great season or not, Maloney was always destined to be on this list.

The Scotland international was an integral part of the successful Celtic squad under Martin O'Neill, but it was under Gordon Strachan during the 2005-2006 SPL season where he rose to prominence.

Maloney won the Players' Player of the Year and Young Player of the Year awards in 2006, becoming the first footballer ever to achieve the feat after Strachan switched him to the left side of midfield from his traditional central forward role.

Always expect to see A Messi type perfomance coming from Maloney towards the last several games of the season

ST; Andreas Weimann


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The Austrian international is a hero at Villa Park, and if it wasn't for Christian Benteke, he would be the fan's No. 1 by common consensus. Weimann is someone who goes the extra mile without question, and his recent hardworking Man of the Match performances proves why he's so valuable to Villa.

The 21-year-old has long been touted as the next big thing at Villa Park, but only broke through this season after bagging 11 goals in 30 matches.

Weimann has fully impressed in his first full campaign and Lambert has made a new contract for the Austrian a top priority. The forward’s current deal has only 12 months to run after this season and he is attracting attention from across Europe.

 Liverpool are believed to see Weimann as a potential Dirk Kuyt replacement, with Rodgers’ side lacking an industrious forward who can play out wide ever since the Dutchman’s sale to Fenerbache.

ST; Rickie Lambert

 Rickie Lambert: Is the top English goalscorer in the Premier League this season.
Lambert is the top English goalscorer in the Premier League this season, He's got great feet, excellent movement and reads the game really well. He's not just a target man, he's a very intelligent player.

31 year-old Rickie Lambert, a Southampton stalwart for such a long time, has had a great season, leading to calls ? although unanswered, as yet ? for him to be picked for England. A prolific season in front of goal ? 14 overall, in 31 appearances in the league ? has been coupled with a great work rate and also, tremendous vision to equal a fabulous first season in England?s top division. This fan favourite thoroughly deserves all of the plaudits coming his way.

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