The Unsung Heroes of EPL 2010-11 Season

Gary Cahill

Nationality: England

Position: Defender

Club: Bolton Wanderers

Previous Clubs: Burnley (Loan), Sheffield United (Loan) & Aston Villa

Right now one of the sought after defender in English football, Cahill has had an amazing 2010-11 season at the Reebok stadium proving to be the heart and soul of Bolton’s defense. Even though Bolton ended the season in the bottom half of the table this rock solid centre back struck the perfect note with his fellow defenders Zat Knight and David Wheater. After his loan spells at Burnley and Sheffield United from Aston Villa this Yorkshire born defender has grown incredible in his lone season at Bolton earning his full cap for England against Bulgaria in 2010. Coming through the youth system at Villa I am sure today they are ruing the day when they let Cahill leave and would have felt the pinch .

Wojciech Tomasz Szczęsny

Nationality: Poland

Position: Goalkeeper

Club: Arsenal

Previous Clubs: Brentford (Loan)

Popularly known as Szczęsny, this lanky polish defender has a history in football with his dad Maciej Szczęsny also a former goalkeeper who played in top division Polis league. But the worth of this young 21 year old gunner was known this season under critical situation at Emirates Stadium with all the three goalkeepers Almunia, Fabianski and Mannone out injured. Wenger had no choice but to go to his fourth choice keeper who was still in Arsenal’s youth system and as it proved this decision of the Magician turned out to be the perfect solution to the goalkeeping problem at Emirates. The Pole had the perfect Champions League debut against Barcelona with 2-1 victory for Arsenal and Szczęsny came out as the star of the match along with another youngster Wilshere.

Leighton Baines

Nationality: England

Position: Left Back

Club: Everton

Previous Clubs: Wigan Athletic

Baines is an attacking and tenacious Left back who is good on both side of the field. Ample of energy and high speed makes him the most versatile defender in English Premier League. And that’s what he proved in the past season playing 44 matches for Toffees and scoring 7 goals that’s actually a good track record. Many of us thought that after the sale of Lescott to Manchester City the Everton defense would fall apart which actually did happen at the start of the season when the Toffees were hovering in the relegation zone, but then Baines got his act together and formed a good partnership with Distin, Jagielka and Heitinga to bring Everton to a respectable 7^th position.

Matthew Jarvis

Nationality: England

Position: Midfielder

Club: Wolverhampton

Previous Clubs: Gillingham

Matt is another English player who achieved his first cap for the national side all because of his hard work at Wolves. Jarvis has been a revelation for his club and has shown the world what he is actually capable of. He has the ability to rush up the field with great ease on the left flank then may be beat the defenders with his bag of tricks or just provide an inch perfect pass into the box all this has proved to be a great asset for the Wolves and helped them get out of the relegation zone. Another weapon in Jarvis armory seems to be his ability to take control of the dead ball situation be it FK or corners, he surely is a talent that Capello has his eye on.

Cheick Tioté

Nationality: Ivory Coast

Position: Midfielder

Club: Newcastle United

Previous Clubs: Roda JC (Loan), Anderlecht, Twente

This Ivorian midfielder is known for his no nonsense attitude which does get him on to referees book quite often but the speed and technicality he possesses its an attribute that any defensive midfielder would love to possess. Tiote last season would mostly be remembered for his left footer thunderous volley against Arsenal which completed the return of Newcastle to end the match 4-4. He is young and still has lot of room to develop and I think the Toons should do everything to keep him at the club especially with the eye of Arsenal, Chelsea and Real Madrid already on him.

Peter Odemwingie

Nationality: Nigeria

Position: Striker

Club: West Bromwich Albion

Previous Clubs: Lille, Lokomotiv Moscow

Supposedly bought in 2010 at very small sum from Moscow by former Manager Di Matteo, Odemwingie today is the prized possession of the Baggies. No one had thought the Nigerian striker to be a big thing in England but he surely proved all his critics wrong when he ended the season with 15 goals in 32 appearances that is almost one goal in every two matches. These many goals were not only important for Albion to achieve 11^th position in the table but these goals came when they were most needed by the club. Known for his versatility to play as a winger and also a lone striker the Nigerian has bag of tricks matched with ultimate presence of mind and great speed. It would be interesting to see how Fulham fame and Liverpool shame manager Hodgson uses him next season.

Applause for the new comers

End of the season 3 go down 3 come thats how things roll and thats how life in football goes on. So here I am finding some itsy bitsy stuff about who are going to be the new Blackpool, Newcastle Utd and West Bromwich Albion of the coming new season.

QUEENS PARK RANGERS

Good news for Indian fans first time in the history of Premier League there would be two clubs with some Indian connection first being rejuvenated Blackburn Rovers and other thanks goes to the club from West London club Queens Park Rangers or QPR. QPR were promoted after being the run away winners in The Championship.

Stadium: Loftus Road

Nickname: The Super Hoops or just The Hoops or The Rs

Current Manager: Neil Warnock

Rivalries: Chelsea, Fulham and Brentford

Taarabt

Player to watch: 

Adel Taarabt

Taarabt is the captain marvel for QPR he leads by example at an age of only 22. He is not only the leading goal scorer for QPR in all competition but was also Football League Player of the year 2010-11. QPR must just keep their fingers crossed that he is not taken away from the club cause this player is surely in demand by the big clubs.

NORWICH CITY

They are the old men of The Championship having played 21 seasons in top flight. They won automatic promotion as they finished runners up in the Championship. This club was formed after a meeting in a cafe nice place to start a club as it is said anything can happen over coffee.

Stadium: Carrow Road

Nickname: The Canaries

Current Manager: Paul Lambert

Rivalries: Ipswich town

Player to watch: 

Holt

Grant Holt

Holt is another of the captain in the blog who has an eye for goal and he notched up 23 goals in all competition. Awarded the Norwich city player of the year for his contribution and was second only Taarabt in player of the year nominee. A hugely experienced contender and proved to be a goal scoring machine for all the clubs he has played for.

SWANSEA CITY

This club has actually earned their place in Premier League when they won the Championship playoffs against Reading. It is the club with a huge history dating back to post World War era. Their supporters are officially called the Jacks any relation with Captain Jack Sparrow on a serious note they are called so due to sailor history.

Stadium: Liberty Stadium

Nickname: The Swans or The Jacks

Current Manager: Brendan Rodgers

Rivalries: Cardiff city

Player to watch: 

Sinclair

Scott Sinclair

The talented 22 year English winger is amazing at both feet and known for his dribbling ability. Notching up 24 goals for the club in all competition is known for his ability to unlock any defense. Former Chelsea youth teamer has been amazing this season striking goals when the team most needed it most notable scoring a hatrick agains Reading in the Championship playoffs.

P.S. this blog is written at the start of the summer break so i am sorry if the players to watch decide to leave their present club the good part is you can still keep a tab on them in some other club and all the best to the new comers :)