Saha 's Back

A lot may have been said about Louis Saha in the past , but in the last couple of months he has proved what a class striker he still is . More often than not its seen that certain players cant step up to the mark when give a shot . That was the case with Saha when he moved from Fulham . Manchester United had very high expectations of him , however a he failed to deliver on a number of occasions . Also the fact that he had been suffering a long nagging injury didn't help the cause .

But since moving to Everton he seems like a striker reborn . Has been in great striking form of lately and is scoring a variety of goals . With already 7 goals this season , Hes definitely back .

Fran Mérida has arrived..

I knew very little of

Fran Mérida ,

until a day when my friend who's a Arsenal supporter showed me a couple of videos of him on you tube . To be honest I was flabbergasted with the skill this very young teenager showed on the ball , and to think Barcelona couldn't hang onto him . In England a footballer can sign a professional contract for as young as 17 yrs of age which in Spain is 18 , too bad... . Though making substitute appearances here and there , he has spent much of the last couple of seasons training hard to get accustomed to English style of play . He was also out on loan to Real Sociedad harnessing his skills .






With what has been seen of him so far Fran Mérida could become the next most prized young talent in Football . He announced his arrival this season with a screamer of a goal scored against Liverpool in the 2 -1 victory for Arsenal . For a player described as "an absolutely amazing player" by Arsene Wenger the future looks great for this young Gunner .

Real Madrid's interest in Gerrard & Villa 's Arrival

Real Madrid president Florentino Perez is already putting together a shortlist for next summer’s transfer market, and it appears that his priority is a swoop for Liverpools Steven Gerrard .

“It’s no secret Gerrard is a player Perez and technical director Jorge Valdano admire,” a source inside the club announced to British tabloid The Sun.

“There is a shortlist for next season and Gerrard is the first name on it.”

Having signed Xabi Alonso from the Premier League side last summer for €30 million, Los Blancos are looking to spend around the same amount on the 29-year-old.

Liverpool coach Rafael Benitez is already under heavy fire after an awful start to the season and he would be loath to lose his star midfielder.

How this story develops is still to be seen in the near future . As far as Real Madrid are concerned , what they have done this summer already is unprecedented in World Football and could only be signs of things to come .

Meanwhile Manchester United seem to be making head way in swooping Spain of its two best talents . As the Mirror reported United are very close to signing the attacking pair of David Villa and David Silva for a fee belived to be of 50 million pounds after Valencia said that they were prepared to sell . Sir Alex Ferguson has been tracking the pairs progress for quite some time , but no deal could be agreed upon this summer . But as United continue to struggle in the absence of the departed Cristiano Ronaldo, Ferguson needs to find a world-class source of goals - and could be ready to splash a large chunk of the £80m transfer kitty he got from Real Madrid.

Gabriel Obertan

Gabriel Obertan made his first senior debut for Manchester United last night against Barnsley in the League Cup . During his 90 minutes display , Obertan started on the right and helped to create United's early breakthrough with a jinking run on that flank . The following corner led to United 's first goal scored by Danny Wellbeck . Though Gary Neville was sent off later in the game United went on to win it with a second from Owen in the 59th minute .


Bought from Bordeaux in the summer , he was nursing a back pain for the past three months with which he was forced to play in France . Hes highly rated and has featured in Frances U-16s,U-17s,U-18s and U-19s squad . Known for his pace , play making and dribbling skills on the ball much is expected of him this season .

Centre Forward

These are players operating highest up the pitch , closest to the opposing teams goal . They have the important task of holding up the ball so that their team mates can move up the pitch for support . Off course there main task is to score goals and make them . They are highly talented players and therefore often the most costliest .



The Nominees are :




1.Fernando Torres : El Niño " the kid " as he is known is one of the most polished strikers out there that money can buy . His main weapon has to be his blistering pace . With an acceleration like a Ferrari hes easily able to outrun the best of defenders and score some awesome goals . Hes pinpoint and precise and has an exquisite finish . He can score from distance too and is one complete package .









2.Didier Drogba :Strong as an Ox , when Drogba is not up to his usual antics , hes busy making goals or scoring them which was evident in the Liverpool Game . Drogba can pretty much do what he wants too because hes able to run defenses ragged , turn defenders and boss them around with his sheer strength . A peach of a player , a living physical specimen of what a footballing physique should look like .








3. Wayne Rooney : The Manchester United talisman has a lot to prove this season . Whether or not Rooney will be able to shoulder the responsibilities left by the departure Christiano Ronaldo is still to be seen but one things for sure and that hes enjoying the challenge . Built like a bulldozer and having a hammer for a right foot are just some of his strong points .










4. Jermain Defoe : This summer Defoe has worked extensively hard on his upper body stregth . Now a more complete striker than he was with explosive speed an a pinch of a right foot Defoe has been scoring a lot of goals . 6 already this season hes in red hot form at the moment and a man to watch for the future .










5.Darren Bent : The surprise package this season has been Sunderland . Defeating Liverpool and coming close to doing so against Manchester United . Much of it can be credited to Darren Bent and his free scoring form . Hes tall , strong , pacy and can be a real hand full for defenders , but the thing different about him this season is that hes improved his shooting accuracy and is benefiting from this .







6.Louis Saha : Saha seems to have rediscovered his best form since moving to Everton . His old touch , his eye for the goal which made him a prized asset in the Premier League during his Fulham days seems to be back . Scoring with both his head and his foot , hes on a roll . His goal against Bolton was a class act .










7.Gabriel Agbonlahor : He was very impressive last season with a lot of match winning performances . Hes not firing on all cylinders yet this season but when he does he will be a treat to watch . His sheer pace and stamina are unmatched in the whole Premier League . Has already made his senior debut for England , and it is a certainty that he will be on a plane to South Africa next year .










8. Robin Van Persie : He is Arsenal's first choice penalty, corner kick and free-kick taker. He is also known for his shot technique and has the ability to score from awkward positions .Van Persie often drifts out to the right-hand side when playing upfront in order to cut inside onto his favourite foot to unleash a shot or cross . His kicking technique is unmatched and his overall reading of the game and understanding of space are vital for Arsenals method of football.











My Verdict : The attacking pair of Drogba and Torres can make a Sunday Brunch out of opposing teams .

Attacking Midfielder

These are midfielders who tend to attack at every given opportunity . They are responsible for driving the team forward on the pitch . They are skilled attackers and posses many traits . They can be good passers , dribblers or sharp shooters . They can have one or more qualities . Its in their ability to change the face of the game as it progresses . Often they may also be referred to as the play makers and every team needs one . They are the most important gear in the teams machinery and a teams incomplete without them .




The Nominees are :





1. Frank Lampard : He needs no introduction . His eye for the long ball is quite uncanny , making passes others wouldn't think of .The accuracy of his long balls is quite extraordinary . Apart from his passing skills , his sheer will power to go forward right through the heart of the other team to support an attack is quite evident for the number of goals he scores every season . Hes an important weapon for both his club and country . His reading of the game is quit phenomenal.







2. Cesc Fàbregas : Fàbregas has come a long way since joining Arsenal from the Barcelona youth setup . He has matured into one of the finest midfielders in the game . He has been often described as being the kernel of Arsenal's first team, bringing vision, creativity, selflessness and an innate understanding of timing and space to Arsenal's intricate passing game, displaying maturity that belies his age . Hes one of the most celebrated young talents in the game and its shown with 9 assists he has already had this season .







3.Steven Gerrard : His sheer hard work & drive on the pitch is quite infectious and helps to lift the team as a whole . Nothing much is needed to be said about him that we already don't know . With him no match is ever lost till the last moment . Hes an absolute raw footballer . Time and again he has come to Liverpool's rescue . Now playing as a second striker with Torres , hes able to move with greater freedom on the pitch and create more goal scoring opportunities for his team mates and himself . Known for his long range drives , cross field balls and strong running with the ball hes one player no team can do without .





4.Gareth Robert Barry : The influential Aston Villa Captain left for Manchester city this summer under much speculation regarding his future . He has been putting in some good solid performances proving that its money well spent by Manchester City and Mark Hughes . A box to box midfielder , doing a lot of running on the pitch connecting players , spreading passes and firing in some good shots on goal . Converting penalties is another strong plus point for Barry. Its almost a certainty that he will be in England's World Cup squad next year .






My Verdict :

Cesc Fàbregas

Defensive Midfielder or Holding Midfield Player

Most successful teams in recent history have comprised of a World Class DMF or Defensive Midfielder . His role in the course of any game is enormous . He plays the pivotal role in connecting the Defense with the forward line . Operating in front of the back two , they help in shielding the defense and reflecting opposition attacks . There main task is to break up attacks, to retain possession of the ball, and to feed it to the strikers, and perhaps, to score as well . They have to be physically strong and imposing . Intercepting passes , winning tackles and headers are all in the days work .


My Nominees are :





1.Michael Essien : The costliest African player at £24.4 million before the transfer of Aderbayor to Manchester City this season . Hes worth every penny spent by chelsea for him . Hes one of the best Box to box player right now in world football . He personifies the term " Utility Player " as he can be playe d almost anywhere on the pitch . Essien is also referred to as "the Bison" for his tough tackling style, boundless energy and physical presence on the pitch . He has been nominated many a times for some of the most prestigious footballing awards including the Fifa World Player of the Year 2007 which was third time in a row .








2.Darren Fletcher : For many a seasons Fletchers contribution on the pitch had been overlooked but all that has changed in the recent seasons . His absence was most felt during the Champions League Final loss to Barcelona .Though hes not the most physically imposing player on the pitch , hes able to make up for it with his tenacity and hard work to win the ball . With surplus amount of energy hes able to cover every single blade of grass and pressurize players in possession to commit mistakes . Now a regular in the United starting Lineup fletcher has certainly matured into a fine player.






3.Danny Murphy : He has been putting up some stalwart performances for Fulham this season Now entering the twilight of his career Murphy has just a few more seasons of football left before hanging up his boot . The ex Hotspurs man seems to recovering the form that made him a fan favorite during his Liverpool days . He has always had a knack of finding the right passes at the right time . This season particularly he has been in good form and shown some real quality on the ball .









4.Wilson Roberto Palacios Suazo : Ever since his highly speculated move from Wigan to Tottenham Hotspur Palacios has been flying . Hes not your usual Defensive Midfielder and the main reason for that is the fact that hes very good on the ball . Having a great technique he always some how manages to emerge with the ball from very sticky situations . He also likes to match his prowess on the ball with some hard tackling making him a more complete player .








My Verdict :

Michael Essien

Left Winger

A left winger should be a combination of power , speed , trickery and have that special ability to produce something special . Hes the ignition spark of the teams running engine . Often it is his persistent hard work that helps to turn defenses .

The Nominees are :


1.Andrei Arshavin: An absolute gem to watch , Arshavin has a distinctive style of playing keeping the ball close to his feet much like Messi . Good at dribbling with the ball and a very creative player with a distinctive flair . His acceleration is really good and a player of his quality is capable of scoring with both his feet . Arshavin became the first player to score four league goals at Anfield since 1946 .







2.Ryan Giggs : The veteran Manchester United winger is a crucial asset to the team . Even at his age when most players start to think of hanging up their boots Giggsy is going long and strong . He has given some vintage performances from the start of this season . Coming up with two important trademark deliveries in the Arsenal game which was crucial to securing the win . The never say die attitude is what personifies Ryan Giggs .






3. Florent Johan Malouda : The tough chelsea man gives defenders a run for their money every time he is on the pitch . A very physically imposing player not only possesses good pace but great technique also . A strong fan favorite , he pledged his loyalty to Chelsea by signing a deal which will keep him at the Bridge till 2013 .








4.Martin Petrov : Petrovs been in good knick this season . Hes famous for his lightning pace down the left wing and his powerful shots . Hes also able to provide a lot of important assists with his excellent crosses . Mark Hughes unwillingness to let Petrov go even with the signing of so many big names shows how important a role he has to play this season for Manchester City.








My Verdict :

Andrei Arshavin

Midfield Formation & Right Winger

A lot of debate can be made about formation . Some are attacking , some are defensive while some are balanced . A Teams ability to cope with a formation determines its success . A lot of new formations have been introduced in the Premier League like the diamond formation of Chelsea employing which Ancelotti had managed a lot of success from A.C Milan .

However I would like to use the classic 4-4-2 formation which in the past decade and a half has brought a lot of sucess to many EPL teams . Since its a fairly simple formation to play , players dont have much trouble adjusting to it . This formation is most potent employing a DMF with a AMF and two explosive wingers . The Fall backs also provide support in the flanks . And the team tends to move forward with the ability to form triangles as they advance through the pitch . A more direct approach can also be employed with long balls .


The Nominees are :




1.Aaron Lennon : The England International has been voted by many pundits to be the best player in the last couple of friendlies and WC qualifiers for England . He was named nationwide man of the match for the 5-1 thrashing of Croatia . He has the uncanny ability to turn defenses inside out with his explosive pace and quick turns . Now scoring goals with his Left Foot a lot of England's World Cup Hopes depend on his young shoulders .







2.Shaun Wright-Phillips : A real bundle of energy, he was frequently called upon throughout England's World Cup qualifying campaign . Has been having a decent run of games with Manchester city so far this season . He is one to keep an eye on this season with Manchester City looking forward to being title contenders .











3.Ashley Young : Despite being rejected by Watford earlier on in his carrer , he persisted and trained and was finally offered a proffesional contract with Watford . Eversince then Young has matured as a player and one of the finest right wingers that now Aston Villa & England have in their possession . Even though not a first choice to play for Engalnd with the likes of Lenon and Wallcot , he still has a different dimension to his game .








4.Steed Malbranque : A product of the Lyon youth Academy , Malbranque is still going strong in the Premier League . He once let go of a chance to join Arsenal feeling that he wasn't ready for the Premier League . Now fast approaching his thirties , he still manages to give solid performances . In his recent outing against Manchester United he was absolutely brilliant.







My Verdict :

Aaron Lennon

Centre Backs

Center backs are the back bone of the team . a good pairing means that the team can go forward without any fear and know that they have some one marshaling the defense with out most authority.

Personally I like a guy who is a strong header of the ball and doesn't care who or what is in the way . He will head through anything even if its a kitchen sink . The second cntre back should also have the same attribute but also have a certain other ability ..like the ability to see a long ball , make forward runs occasionally etc .


The Nominees are :

1.John Terry :This guy needs no introduction. Hes been there done that . Most of Chelsea's success in recent years can be credited to him . His leadership qualities are absolutely vital.The cool head on his shoulders manages to stay in control even when everything around him maybe in chaos. Last ditch tackles and off the line clearances are his specialty. And he also comes up with important goals here and there.


2.Thomas Vermaelen : Frankly speaking I don't know what position this player is meant to play. One of the best buys of this season for any team in EPL , when Thomas is not defending this player is busy going forward and scoring goals with his head and his foot . Goals which can put a striker to shame .


3.William Gallas : This veteran Arsenal defender is probably one of the fastest center backs in the game and in EPL . This may be the reason why Chelsea had to play him often as a Left Back when Wayne Bridge was injured . Along side all his defending hes also able to chip in with crucial goals in most of the big games . Regarded as a highly capable player , he has now formed a solid partnership alongside Thomas Vermaelen .


4.Nemanja Vidić : This is what dreams are made off . From his humble beginnings in Serbia , Vidic has come a long way and now is widely regarded as one of the best center backs in Europe . Solid as the rock of Gibraltar , his strong heading capability is crucial asset to the defense and also when important goals are required to be scored . A strong tackler and a no nonsense defender are some of his other hard hitting points.


5.Sébastien Bassong Nguena: Had a impressive debut for Tottenham this season with a winner against Liverpool.He has really come of his own since leaving Newcastle in the summer. As the season has went on Bassong has became a regular starter for Tottenham playing in all of the first 7 games of the Premier League . Hes good on the ball and generally reads the game quite well .


6.Kolo Habib Touré : Kolo has made a great debut for Manchester City this season . The X Arsenal center back has settled right into the Manchester City setup under Mark Hughes who has always stressed his importance to the building of the new team . With great pace and power he is easily able to force weaker attackers off the ball and to keep up with pacy strikers . Although relatively short 6ft to be precise for a center-back, he makes up for it with an impressive vertical leap.


7.Richard Patrick Dunne : Following the arrival of Kolo Tourre and Joleon Lescott to Manchester City , Richard Dunne was sold to Aston Villa . Can be described as good old fashioned defender , strong in the air and ground . Scored his first goal for Villa against his former club .


8.Martin Škrtel : An aggressive , quick and decisive player Škrtel is now an integral part of the Liverpool team . Along side Jamie Carragher he has formed a good defensive partnership which should provide Liverpool with a good enough platform to achieve success this season . Hes come back strong after injuring his jaw in a collision with Carragher in the opening game of the season for Liverpool.
My Verdict : Best Defensive Pairing

Nemanja Vidić and John Terry

Right Back

Similar to Left Backs Right Backs have an integral role to play in both attack and defense . Making off-the-ball runs into spaces down the channels and supplying crosses into the opposing penalty box and defending their territory are all in the days work .


My Nominees are :

1. Bacary Sagna :Taking over the number 3 shirt from Ashley Cole after his departure to Chelsea Sagna has fitted in perfectly with Arsenal's way of play . With great pace and power this Arsenal right back is one to be reckoned with . Now a regular with the French first team Sagna has come a long way .


2. Vedran Ćorluka : Ćorluka scored his first Premier League goal for Tottenham during a 2-2 draw against Bolton on 3 October 2009. With consistently good performances since the start of the season Ćorluka can only improve .


3. José Bosingwa da Silva : A great attacking right back whose off the ball runs have helped unlock many defenses in the Premier league . He attracted attention from the German Giants Bayern Munich who failed in their attempts of signing him .


4.Glen Johnson : This guy has been on fire right from the start of the season . Hes a man on a mission to prove something . Hes been coming up with crucial goals for Liverpool and when hes not scoring goals hes busy making darting runs , taking on the defense , winning penalties . What more can you ask from a right back and hes not shrugging off his defensive duties either .


My Verdict...without a shadow of a doubt :

Glen Johnson

Left Wing Back

The modern day Left Back has to be a perfect balance of Attack and Defense .



And The Nominees are :




1.Ashley Cole : Hes been at his usual best . The pacy left back has also become quite a goal threat in recent weeks . After starting Chelsea's first six games of the , Cole scored his third and fourth Chelsea goals at home and Tottenham and Burnley .












2.Patrice Evra : He has been the epitome of consistency throughout . There has hardly been a game yet in the season so far when he has had an off day . Having one of the best running engines in EPL hes able to contribute equally in attack and defense . Though not scoring many goals his contributions in going forward and defending have been vital to Manchester Uniteds success .










3.Gaël Clichy : Now a regular with the Arsenal first team Clichy still has a long way to prove himself . With a solid physique and very good acceleration he remains one of the most attacking left backs in the EPL . However his main let down is his lack of experience .
















4.Leighton John Baines : He has been in impressive form lately . On 30 August 2009, he scored a last minute penalty in a 2-1 win over his former team Wigan and on 17th September he was named captain of Everton for the first time in a Europa League match against AEK Athens . Being a fan favorite hes one to keep your eyes on .







My Verdict :

Patrice Evra

The Goal Keeper

One of the most important positions on the pitch . Without a doubt a good goalkeeper gives any team in the Premier LEague a fighting chance irrespective of their place in the table. Some of the goalkeepers who have caught my eye in recent weeks with a string of good performances are.....

1.Vito Mannone:

The Arsenal goalkeeper was thrown in the frame out of the blue . Replacing Almunia at the goal as hes out injured , Mannone caught the eye keeping a clean sheet in the game against Fulham at Craven Cottage 26 September 2009, in which he single-handedly kept in the game, receiving the man of the match award he made a string of high class saves in the Fulham Match ensuring a 1-0 victory.


2.Thomas Sorensen

This veteran goalkeeper requires no introduction . It seems that the former Aston Villa man is working wonders at stoke city . Even with the odd hiccup here or there hes still reamins a hard man to beat.

3.Tim Howard

Keeping four consecutive clean sheets so far in the season , most recently away to portsmouth where Tim excelled and made many great saves to help his team secure a 1-0 win against Portsmouth . Tim claimed the man of the match award in this match for hise superb performance .


4.Peter Cech

Mr dependable himself has been in a rich vein of form since the season opener at Wembley saving two penalties against Manchester United helping Chelsea to lift the Community Shield . Except for the odd sending off at Wigan hes been at his best.


My Verdict :

Vito Mannone