SOCCER ANGLES:Outside of the top four sides, there are some very good, sometimes undervalued, players doing sterling work, writes MICHAEL WALKER
TWENTY-SEVEN points separate Premier League champions Manchester United from fifth-place Everton as the final day of the season approaches. By tomorrow night it could be 30. Although Everton are only nine points behind Arsenal in fourth, by tomorrow that gap feels more likely to be 12 rather than six.
Last season between fifth and fourth – Everton and Liverpool – it was 11 points; the season before – Tottenham and Arsenal – it was eight points.
This is mathematical confirmation of what we know already, that the top four are in a league of their own. They have the most money, year after year, and that puts them in a virtuous cycle of being able to buy the best players.
The Premier League should be considerably more boring than it is. Despite this obvious gulf in class, the other 16 clubs manage to provide entertainment and intrigue virtually every weekend of the season.
There are also some very good, sometimes undervalued players in there, doing literally sterling work.
Here is an alternative, non top-four team of the season. It is vaguely meant to resemble a team playing 4-4-2 and the individuals chosen are for what they mean to their club this season, as opposed to whether they are better players than rivals. Over-achievement is a theme. For indefatigability, you could simply choose the entire Everton squad.
Goalkeeper
Mark Schwarzer (Fulham)Without chest-thumping, Fulham have conceded less goals than Arsenal this season, and Everton and Aston Villa. Schwarzer arrived at Craven Cottage aged 36 after 12 years at Middlesbrough and as manager Roy Hodgson says with understandable delight, Schwarzer has been part of a virtually unchanged back five. That has been the core of Fulham's rise from a side who evaded relegation on the final day of last season, to one now challenging for Europe.
Honourable mentions:Jussi Jaaskelainen (Bolton), Brad Friedel (Aston Villa).
Right-back
Glen Johnson(Portsmouth)
Portsmouth have had a strange season. It began with Harry Redknapp as manager, then Tony Adams, finally Paul Hart. It was no way to celebrate last year’s FA Cup and in the midst of change Johnson has re-built his reputation. Six seasons on from his debut, Johnson is 24 and looks physically and emotionally mature compared to his days at Chelsea. A move to Liverpool is rumoured.
Honourable mentions:John Pantsil (Fulham), Lucas Neill (West Ham).
Left-back
Maynor Figueroa(Wigan Ath)
Like several in this selection, an ever-present in the Premier League. A 26-year-old from Honduras, Figueroa has just had his first full season in England and was strong and athletic throughout. Before their drop once safety was secured, Wigan were one of the over-achievers of this season. Ditto Figueroa.
Honourable mentions:Stephen Warnock (Blackburn), Paul Konchesky (Fulham).
Centre-halves
Chris Samba(Blackburn)
Michael Turner (Hull City) Samba: A stalwart at yet another club to undergo managerial upheaval, Samba has had a remarkable season in defence and in attack. The 25-year-old was brought by Mark Hughes from Hertha Berlin to Ewood Park and his height and agility have made an instant impact. When Sam Allardyce ran out of forwards recently, Samba played up there on his own. He was a handful.
Turner: Hull’s player of the season in their first-ever in the top flight. Turner has played in every game and while fatigue may have been evident in the last few games, Turner has acclimatised impressively. He has chipped in with four goals, one of them a winner against West Ham. He has only four yellow cards. Considering he came from Brentford three seasons ago, Turner has been excellent.
Honourable mentions: Aaron Hughes, Brede Hangeland (both Fulham), Matthew Upson (West Ham), Phil Jagielka and Joleon Lescott (both Everton).
Right midfield
Antonio Valencia(Wigan Ath)
Fast, strong, composed, Valencia has settled in England and is now the subject of great speculation about a move to Manchester United. The 23-year-old’s season has tailed off a little but he was part of Wigan’s surging start and should only get better.
Honourable mentions:James Milner (Aston Villa), Aaron Lennon (Spurs), Liam Lawrence (Stoke).
Central midfielders
Ian Ashbee(Hull City)
Stephen Ireland (Manchester City) Ashbee: Not as slick as some but Ashbee, Hull’s captain, has carried responsibility throughout the season without complaint. There is no flash for the cameras, just tackle after tackle, the odd good pass and leadership. Had Ashbee not been injured at Villa recently, Hull might be safe.
Ireland: the 22-year-old Irishman has just been voted City’s player of the season and it is no surprise to hear Ireland linked to City’s neighbours United. That is how good Ireland has been in a team being moulded by Mark Hughes with the sometimes destabilising influence of huge finance. Creative, swift and 13 goals to boot.
Honourable mentions:Rory Delap and Glenn Whelan (both Stoke), Gareth Barry (Aston Villa), Scott Parker (West Ham), Danny Murphy (Fulham), Mikael Arteta and Phil Neville (both Everton).
Left midfield
Ashley Young(Aston Villa)
When Villa were thrilling the league with their vibrant attacking up until late February, Young part of a dynamic trident featuring John Carew and Gabriel Agbonlahor. Martin O’Neill could scarcely have spoken more highly of Young, who if he progresses at this rate may play a big part in South Africa next summer. Deserves a good rest this summer though.
Honourable mentions:Nadir Belhadj (Portsmouth), Stewart Downing (Middlesbrough).
Striker
Tim Cahill(Everton)
Another consistently dangerous season from the 29-year-old Australian. Dubious goal celebrations aside, Cahill has led Everton in the absence of injured forwards such as Yakubu and Saha. Nine goals is a useful return in the circumstances, but Cahill’s game is about so much more. A menace who will cap his season at Wembley next Saturday.
Honourable mentions: Gabriel Agbonlahor (Aston Villa), Craig Bellamy (Manchester City).
9
Kevin Davies(Bolton Wanderers)
At 32 Davies plays with enthusiasm of a teenager. Without someone like Davies Bolton could easily be embroiled in a relegation game this weekend. Steven Gerrard is the only Englishman to have scored more goals than Davies, who has 12. Davies is another ever-present in the league and one of the best-ever free transfers when he left Southampton six years ago.
Honourable mentions:Ricardo Fuller and James Beattie (both Stoke), Carlton Cole (West Ham).
Manager
Tony Pulis(Stoke City)
When Pulis became manager of Stoke for the second time, three years ago next month, the club had just finished three places below Luton Town in the Championship. This morning they are 11th in the Premier League. Pulis has gone for graft over beauty but not for graft to the exclusion of beauty. Midfielders such as Whelan, Lawrence and Etherington do not possess physical prowess. Pulis’s January trading, bringing in James Beattie, Dave Kitson’s transfer from Reading having not worked out, was a masterstroke.
Honourable mentions:David Moyes (Everton), Harry Redknapp (Tottenham), Roy Hodgson (Fulham), Gianfranco Zola (West Ham).
