A few tasty tempters for the next few months:
Everton to finish 5th or higher - 5/1 - Everton have finished 5th in the last two seasons and will benefit from the return of Yakubu and Arteta from injury as well as Jo on loan from Man City. City themselves are favourites beyond the top 4 and the likes of Spurs and Villa will be pressing hard but Everton have the experience and structure to pull this off.
Wayne Rooney to finish as league top scorer - 12/1 - Torres and Drogba lead the betting here but both have suffered with injuries and Drogba is likely to miss time with the African Nations Cup. Rooney will have more responsibility this year to score goals and may be a more central presence with the loss of Tevez and Ronaldo. He will play often, is not injury prone (England duty aside) and plays in a team that create chances. Berbatov at 18's and Van Persie at 20's are decent bets here too.
Thor Hushovd to win the 2010 Tour Green Jersey - 6/1 - Cavendish somehow is 1/2 for the points jersey but Hushovd showed his ability to win the numerous points available in the non-flat stages. Cav can't compete in the mountains and may also struggle to match the 6 stage wins he had this year. Again it should be close and there are others that could challenge but the Norwegian's odds are too long to turn down.
Aaron Peirsol to win the World 200m Backstroke Gold - 8/13 - Because he will.
Eric Buchman to win the WSOP Main Event - 4/1 - Meh...why not?
The St. Louis Cards to win the NL Pennant - 7/1 - They may be the team with the least question marks and the most upside. They can hit, pitch and field and, as long as they can make the playoffs (which is no guarantee thanks to the resurgent Cubs) then they have quality in the right places to close out a 5/7 game series (Holliday, Pujols, Carpenter, Wainwright, Pineiro, Franklin).
The Philadelphia Eagles to win the Super Bowl - 14/1 - Ok, I'm buying. They're strong on both offensive and defensive lines. They've got some impact rookies. They've got Andy Reid. Fine, forget the last one but this bet has value when you consider Dallas are 16/1 and Indy are 12/1. Value people!
Friday, 31 July 2009
Why Schumacher Should Not Come Back
I'm an F1 fan. I'm a Ferrari fan. For me, the two have been inextricably linked since I started watching motor racing with my grandfather as a child and I have been an avid viewer ever since.
The dominance of Ferrari and Michael Schumacher in the early years of the decade were pure bliss for me. I wasn't worried that the sport had become elitist, predictable and monopolized by one man. Schumacher won 5 successive titles from 2000 through to 2004 and I cheered every one.
Yet the news that the mighty German would be returning to the track in Valencia in a few weeks was not met with my accustomed joy at all things Schumi and Ferrari. Here's why:
He's not in race shape. Yes he has stayed physically fit since leaving the cockpit in 2006, yes he has three weeks to practice in and out of the car and yes he may well be as mentally strong as any racing driver ever. But we're talking about the physical demands of Formula 1. Just because Schumacher can remember being hurled around in speeds up to 220 mph and 5 G's doesn't mean he is ready to relive it, especially in light of his neck injury sustained in a motorcycle accident in February. Schumacher was renowned for his fitness and, as we have seen regularly across many sports, returning to a high physical level after years away from full-time training is difficult if not impossible. At 40, Schumacher will be the oldest driver in the race and more than 10 years older than many of his opponents.
He might affect his legacy. The Ferrari's have been off the pace most of the year and have little chance of winning a race (and no chance of winning a Championship). What does Ferrari and Schumi gain from finishing in the middle of the pack in the last 7 races? What if he struggles miserably? What if he gets hurt? He knows what he is getting into and his competitive juices will be flowing as fast as ever but, apart from missing the adrenaline rush and wanting to assist the stricken Felipe Massa and his former employers, what can he achieve?
He could affect team harmony. While he has stayed on with Ferrari as an advisor, his role has not been particularly hands on and he certainly wont have been around Kimi Raikonnen too much. Michael, considered an incredibly diligent and committed driver, was not always considered a tremendous team mate and, albeit Raikonnen could be on his way out at the end of the season, could well upset the camp. It won't be easy for Schumacher to accept second billing to anybody.
Moreover, how does this affect Formula One? The likes of Jenson Button, Mark Webber and Sebastian Vettel have earned their places on the podium and on the back pages and while the former may not be troubled by the returning Schumacher, the latter will certainly be. The 2009 season was already in danger of being overshadowed by events off the track and may have just reached tipping point. On the plus side, Michael Schumacher's presence will increase interest and viewers world-wide but, irrespective of his results, the spotlight will be on the record-breaking 7-time World Champion. Is that to his benefit and to the benefit of the sport? In my mind, the answer is no.
The dominance of Ferrari and Michael Schumacher in the early years of the decade were pure bliss for me. I wasn't worried that the sport had become elitist, predictable and monopolized by one man. Schumacher won 5 successive titles from 2000 through to 2004 and I cheered every one.
Yet the news that the mighty German would be returning to the track in Valencia in a few weeks was not met with my accustomed joy at all things Schumi and Ferrari. Here's why:
He's not in race shape. Yes he has stayed physically fit since leaving the cockpit in 2006, yes he has three weeks to practice in and out of the car and yes he may well be as mentally strong as any racing driver ever. But we're talking about the physical demands of Formula 1. Just because Schumacher can remember being hurled around in speeds up to 220 mph and 5 G's doesn't mean he is ready to relive it, especially in light of his neck injury sustained in a motorcycle accident in February. Schumacher was renowned for his fitness and, as we have seen regularly across many sports, returning to a high physical level after years away from full-time training is difficult if not impossible. At 40, Schumacher will be the oldest driver in the race and more than 10 years older than many of his opponents.
He might affect his legacy. The Ferrari's have been off the pace most of the year and have little chance of winning a race (and no chance of winning a Championship). What does Ferrari and Schumi gain from finishing in the middle of the pack in the last 7 races? What if he struggles miserably? What if he gets hurt? He knows what he is getting into and his competitive juices will be flowing as fast as ever but, apart from missing the adrenaline rush and wanting to assist the stricken Felipe Massa and his former employers, what can he achieve?
He could affect team harmony. While he has stayed on with Ferrari as an advisor, his role has not been particularly hands on and he certainly wont have been around Kimi Raikonnen too much. Michael, considered an incredibly diligent and committed driver, was not always considered a tremendous team mate and, albeit Raikonnen could be on his way out at the end of the season, could well upset the camp. It won't be easy for Schumacher to accept second billing to anybody.
Moreover, how does this affect Formula One? The likes of Jenson Button, Mark Webber and Sebastian Vettel have earned their places on the podium and on the back pages and while the former may not be troubled by the returning Schumacher, the latter will certainly be. The 2009 season was already in danger of being overshadowed by events off the track and may have just reached tipping point. On the plus side, Michael Schumacher's presence will increase interest and viewers world-wide but, irrespective of his results, the spotlight will be on the record-breaking 7-time World Champion. Is that to his benefit and to the benefit of the sport? In my mind, the answer is no.
MLB Power Rankings
The hunt for October is really on; The All-Star game is behind us, almost every team has played at least 100 games and the trade deadline is upon us.
Teams will rise and fall between now and the end of the regular season but we now know the identity of the 30 MLB teams. The Nats are terrible, Arizona and San Diego (with the exceptions of Dan Haren and Adrian Gonzalez) are almost as bad but this is about the beasts in the east and the best in the west.
The Power Rankings aim to highlight the teams that should be in the postseason, not the teams that will be (no AL Central teams make the grade on this occasion) or that are necessarily playing the best baseball right now.
1. New York Yankees (62-39) - The most runs, most homers, most RBI, highest OBP, highest SLG, highest OPS…basically, the Bronx Bombers are back. And not just in their home yard park. Jeter and Cano seem close to their best, Teixeira (.941 OPS, 26 HR, 74 RBI) has rebounded from a slow start and is now a serious MVP candidate and A-Rod will likely only improve as he continues to comeback from his hip surgery.
The Yanks do seem a starter light with the loss of the Taiwanese loss accumulator Chien-Ming Wang and the latest news that Joba - who has pitched superbly in his last 3 starts - will be returning to the pen but if A.J Burnett can stay healthy then, along with C.C Sabathia and Andy Pettitte, New York can eat innings and keep winning because few are going to get to their relievers. Mariano is killing it once again, Phil Hughes has been exceptional as a set-up man and Aceves and Coke are both contributing even if Brian Bruney isn’t.
This team could win 100 games and have to be favourites to represent the AL in the World Series.
2. Los Angeles Dodgers (62-39) - Maybe the most balanced team in the Majors this season, the Dodgers rank 1st in opponent BA, 2nd in ERA, BA and OBP and 5th in fielding percentage. Manny is back and seems unphased by his 50-game suspension, Matt Kemp (13 HR, .313 BA), James Loney (63 RBI, .363 OBP) and Andre Ethier (20 HR) have lead this team with the bat from opening day but they rank equal 24th (along with the Astros and Royals) with only 84 Homers in total.
Clayton Kershaw has been a revelation as of late and may be their ace at this stage; behind him are 10-game winner Chad Billingsley and efficient but decision-starved Randy Wolf. Much like the Yankees, the Dodgers would benefit from finding another starter as the 4 and 5 spots in the rotation are wide open but, also like the Yankees, they have a superior bull pen; Troncoso, Belisario, Mota and the imposing closer Jonathon Broxton all have ERA’s under 3 but have all been asked to work often. Can they remain fresh down the stretch? Breaking news is that they’ve just traded for Baltimore reliever George Sherrill…
They’ve been the NL champs in waiting virtually since day 1 and should win the West. Dodger fans will hope not to have peaked prematurely.
3. Philadelphia Phillies (58-41) - To this point, the fighting Phils have been fairly unbalanced; fearsome hitting, strong defence but below-average pitching. We know they can score runs with the likes of Ryan Howard (26 HR, 77 RBI) and Chase Utley (22 HR, .423 OBP) in the lineup but Raul Ibanez (26 HR, 74 RBI, .307 BA) and Jayson Werth (21 HR, .379 OBP) have both pleasantly surprised. Shane Victorino and Pedro Feliz are strong performers and even Jimmy Rollins has started to heat up (.327, 19 RBI since July 2nd). This team are 2nd in Runs and RBI, 3rd in Baseball in HR and 4th in OPS.
For a team with the 2nd best fielding percentage and 5.42 runs in support every game, it shouldn’t take too much from the hurlers to produce a winning team. The Phillies have gone 21-7 over the last month and a few days and now pace the NL East by 6 games but were clearly not convinced (and correctly so) that they had the pitching to close out the division and compete in the postseason. Enter Cliff Lee. Last years AL CY Young winner will head an inconsistent group featuring rising star J.A Happ (7-2, 2.97 ERA), last year's playoff hero but currently underachieving Cole Hamels, the ageless albeit very hittable Jamie Moyer (5.32 ERA) and the rollercoaster Joe Blanton (last 4 games - 29.2 Innings, 4 ER, 3-0. 4 previous games - 24.1 Innings, 11 ER, 0-1). Oh and Brad Lidge, perfect last year, has 20 saves….at an ERA of 7.11. Ugly. And they got Pedro. Nobody is quite sure why.
If Cliff Lee can impact the team the way that previous mid-season Cy Young’s have done (C.C Sabathia, Randy Johnson) then the Phils will be a match for anyone but the rest of the pitching staff will need to recapture last year’s heroics to keep the title in Pennsylvania.
4. Boston Red Sox (58-42) - The sinking Sox (3-7 in their last 10) looked the part of AL Champs right up until the All-Star break. Since then question marks have been raised about their hitting, fielding and pitching. Not a good combination for a successful ball club. The bare numbers don’t look all that terrible; 2nd in Doubles and Strikeouts, 3rd in Complete Games, 5th in OPS, 6th in Runs, 8th in ERA, 9th in Homers…but things have not been quite right. Kevin Youkilis had a fast start but is now hitting below .300, Jason Bay has knocked in 74 Runs but just 5 in his last 29 games, David Ortiz has returned to some prominence but is still only hitting .224 with a Slugging Percentage lower than Chone Figgins and Christian Guzman plus a lack of production from Right Field and Shortstop.
But at least they’ve pitched well. Or have they? Josh Beckett (12-4, 3.44 ERA) has been excellent after a couple of difficult early outings, Tim Wakefield was 11-3 before heading to the DL and Jon Lester has been better than his 9-7 record suggests but…Dice-K (8.23 ERA)…disaster...Brad Penny (5.07 ERA)…purely passable…John Smoltz (7.04 ERA)…shocking. The back end of the rotation needs work, although Clay Bucholz could help stabilise that situation, and so might the much praised bullpen. Again the numbers don’t look too bad for the Red Sox relievers and this group is still amongst the leagues best however closer Jonathon Papelbon has a 1.37 WHIP and can’t seem to buy a 1-2-3 inning while the likes of Ramon Ramirez and Justin Masterson have struggled as of late.
Boston should make the playoffs, at the very least through the Wild Card, but don’t seem quite the unit many had predicted and appear a team without a spark as we head into August. At least they know how to beat the Yankees.
5. Los Angeles Angels (60-40) - This time last year the Halos had the best record in baseball and, despite all the injuries, the tragic death of Nick Adenhart and the loss of the single-season saves leader Francisco Rodriguez, they aren’t far off that pace this year. This years version of the Angels are powered by their offense; 1st in Hits and BA, 2nd in Runs, RBI and OPS and Steals. Erick Aybar (.318 BA), Bobby Abreu (.414 OBP, 68 RBI, 22 SB), Juan Rivera (.310 BA, 17 HR), Chone Figgins (.392 OBP, 79 Runs, 31 SB), Torii Hunter (.938 OPS, 65 RBI, 17 HR) and Kendry Morales (.909 OPS, 20 HR, 60 RBI) are all hitting well and Vlad Guerrero could still catch fire later in the year.
Problematically for this team, particularly if they are to avoid another early exit from the playoffs, their pitching is far less consistent. Jered Weaver (10-3, 3.71 ERA) and Darren Oliver (12 Holds, 2.62 ERA) are the only key contributors that have ERA’s under 4 and although John Lackey (7-4, 4.00 ERA) has improved as of late, Joe Saunders’ form has dipped (8-6, 5.02 ERA) and Ervin Santana (3-6, 7.29 ERA) has been a disaster. But help is on the way; Matt Palmer and Sean O’Sullivan, new to the majors, have a combined 14-1 record, albeit largely behind strong run support. Brian Fuentes does lead the Majors in Saves (30) but has a 1.32 WHIP and 4.29 ERA. Other notable relievers Jose Arredondo (5.55 ERA) and Scott Shields (6.62 ERA) have not been the players they were last year.
The Angels could easily end up with the second best record in the AL and should win the West ahead of Texas. The real test for them will be beating a team from the AL East having been beaten by the Yankees and Red Sox in the first round of the playoffs 3 of their last 4 appearances.
6. St. Louis Cardinals (56-48) - The best player in the game is having a fantastic year and the Cards may have just found the pieces to add to the Championship puzzle. Offensively Albert Pujols leads the team in Games, At Bats, Runs, Hits, Home Runs, Total Bases, RBI’s, Walks, Stolen Bases and of course every average (34 HR, 92 RBI, 78 Walks, .443 OBP, 1.123 OPS - and leads the league in all those categories). Prince Albert aside, the introductions of Matt Holliday, Mark de Rosa and Julio Lugo have added more firepower in the lineup but currently the Cardinals sit right in the middle of most sortable Team Batting Stats.
It’s hard to write a sentence without including Pujols but it will probably the performances of his teammates that will determine whether he gets to play on the biggest stage of all. Holliday (1.313 OPS with the Cards so far) will offer protection behind Albert, Ryan Ludwick (17 HR, 66 RBI) has been hitting close to .400 over the last month and rookie Colby Rasmus (11 HR, 35 RBI) has impressed but St. Louis may live and die by their pitching staff at the end of the season. Chris Carpenter (9-3, 0.96 WHIP, 2.19 ERA), Adam Wainwright (12-6, 2.80 ERA) and Joel Pinero (9-9, 2.84 ERA) are the only trio of starters with sub-3 ERA’s and have all been outstanding as of late. If Kyle Lohse (4-6, 4.35 ERA) or Todd Wellemeyer (7-9, 5.79 ERA) could step up then this team might streak away with the tight Central. The bullpen is underrated and Ryan Franklin (23 Saves, 0.91 WHIP, 1.41 ERA) is having a fine year (yet Franklin has slipped a little since the break).
The Cards won the World Series in 2006 on the back of an 83-win season and, in a pennant race that is likely to go down to wire between up to 4 teams, may look for a similarly unlikely postseason run. If one man can propel them back to glory it’s Pujols.
7. Texas Rangers (56-43) - Currently a couple of games back from Boston in the Wild Card race and 3.5 back from the Angels in the West, the Rangers were not really contenders in many people’s minds in Spring Training due to perceived weaknesses in their pitching staff. We all knew they could hit and their ranks in Home Runs (2nd), Slugging (2nd) and Total Bases (6th) suggest that but, with the exception of their ability to pound the long ball, the Rangers have not been the offensive force many guaranteed. 24th in BA, 25th in Hits and 26th in OBP behind below-par seasons for Josh Hamilton, Chris Davis, Jarrod Saltalamacchia (all below .240 BA and .680 OPS) but Nelson Cruz (24 HR, .543 SLG), Ian Kinsler (23 HR, 63 RBI and 22 SB from the leadoff spot), the ever reliable Michael Young (.321 BA, .514 SLG) and likely rookie of the year Elvis Andrus (.266 BA, 20 SB) have kept the wheels turning for Texas.
Kevin Millwood (9-7, 3.39 ERA) and Scott Feldman (9-4, 3.99 ERA) lead the pitching staff but there’s not a name in their pen that would scare a postseason opponent. This itself may be their biggest strength; Dustin Nippert (3-0, 3.54 ERA) and Tommy Hunter (3-1, 2.00 ERA) have impressed over recent outings and mid-season trades Jason Grilli (1.10 ERA) and Darren O’Day (1.80 ERA) have been excellent acquisitions. At the back end, Frank Francisco (15 Saves, 2.28 ERA) and C.J Wilson (11 Saves, 2.80 ERA) have stabilised the entire pen this year.
Texas will hope to not be the odd one out in the American League. It would be a shock to see them win the World Series but nobody will want to face them over 5 games in the ALDS.
8. Chicago Cubs (53-46) - The Cubbies were 97-game winners last year making even the most pessimistic fans believe that their Championship drought would end at the 100 year mark. It wasn’t to be and they began this year in full hangover mode. However, they’ve gone 18-8 this month and are now tied atop the division. How have they done it? Well, not really with the bat as they rank in the bottom half of most offensive measurements and are home to Milton Bradley (8 HR, .250 ERA, $10million per year - although he has improved as of late). Aramis Ramirez (9 HR, 30 RBI, .343 BA, 1.006 OPS in just 36 games) has reignited the offense as of late and Alfonso Soriano seems to have benefited from moving down the order (3 HR, 9 RBI in the last 5 games).
If they can continue to hit then they can win the division because their pitching has been pretty good all season (yet fielding average at best). 1st in Quality Starts, 3rd in Batting Average Against, 4th in Strikeouts and 5th in ERA. They’ve got 5 good starters; Randy Wells, the least heralded of the 5, is having a great year (7-4, 2.84 ERA) and, along with Zambrano, Dempster, Lilly and Harden, could claim to be in the best rotation around (the Giants might argue that point). Carlos Marmol (23 Holds, 3.10 ERA) and Kevin Gregg (21 Saves, 3.35 ERA) are the 8th and 9th Inning mainstays and have been positively filthy as of late.
This could be their year (Version 101)….
Teams will rise and fall between now and the end of the regular season but we now know the identity of the 30 MLB teams. The Nats are terrible, Arizona and San Diego (with the exceptions of Dan Haren and Adrian Gonzalez) are almost as bad but this is about the beasts in the east and the best in the west.
The Power Rankings aim to highlight the teams that should be in the postseason, not the teams that will be (no AL Central teams make the grade on this occasion) or that are necessarily playing the best baseball right now.
1. New York Yankees (62-39) - The most runs, most homers, most RBI, highest OBP, highest SLG, highest OPS…basically, the Bronx Bombers are back. And not just in their home yard park. Jeter and Cano seem close to their best, Teixeira (.941 OPS, 26 HR, 74 RBI) has rebounded from a slow start and is now a serious MVP candidate and A-Rod will likely only improve as he continues to comeback from his hip surgery.
The Yanks do seem a starter light with the loss of the Taiwanese loss accumulator Chien-Ming Wang and the latest news that Joba - who has pitched superbly in his last 3 starts - will be returning to the pen but if A.J Burnett can stay healthy then, along with C.C Sabathia and Andy Pettitte, New York can eat innings and keep winning because few are going to get to their relievers. Mariano is killing it once again, Phil Hughes has been exceptional as a set-up man and Aceves and Coke are both contributing even if Brian Bruney isn’t.
This team could win 100 games and have to be favourites to represent the AL in the World Series.
2. Los Angeles Dodgers (62-39) - Maybe the most balanced team in the Majors this season, the Dodgers rank 1st in opponent BA, 2nd in ERA, BA and OBP and 5th in fielding percentage. Manny is back and seems unphased by his 50-game suspension, Matt Kemp (13 HR, .313 BA), James Loney (63 RBI, .363 OBP) and Andre Ethier (20 HR) have lead this team with the bat from opening day but they rank equal 24th (along with the Astros and Royals) with only 84 Homers in total.
Clayton Kershaw has been a revelation as of late and may be their ace at this stage; behind him are 10-game winner Chad Billingsley and efficient but decision-starved Randy Wolf. Much like the Yankees, the Dodgers would benefit from finding another starter as the 4 and 5 spots in the rotation are wide open but, also like the Yankees, they have a superior bull pen; Troncoso, Belisario, Mota and the imposing closer Jonathon Broxton all have ERA’s under 3 but have all been asked to work often. Can they remain fresh down the stretch? Breaking news is that they’ve just traded for Baltimore reliever George Sherrill…
They’ve been the NL champs in waiting virtually since day 1 and should win the West. Dodger fans will hope not to have peaked prematurely.
3. Philadelphia Phillies (58-41) - To this point, the fighting Phils have been fairly unbalanced; fearsome hitting, strong defence but below-average pitching. We know they can score runs with the likes of Ryan Howard (26 HR, 77 RBI) and Chase Utley (22 HR, .423 OBP) in the lineup but Raul Ibanez (26 HR, 74 RBI, .307 BA) and Jayson Werth (21 HR, .379 OBP) have both pleasantly surprised. Shane Victorino and Pedro Feliz are strong performers and even Jimmy Rollins has started to heat up (.327, 19 RBI since July 2nd). This team are 2nd in Runs and RBI, 3rd in Baseball in HR and 4th in OPS.
For a team with the 2nd best fielding percentage and 5.42 runs in support every game, it shouldn’t take too much from the hurlers to produce a winning team. The Phillies have gone 21-7 over the last month and a few days and now pace the NL East by 6 games but were clearly not convinced (and correctly so) that they had the pitching to close out the division and compete in the postseason. Enter Cliff Lee. Last years AL CY Young winner will head an inconsistent group featuring rising star J.A Happ (7-2, 2.97 ERA), last year's playoff hero but currently underachieving Cole Hamels, the ageless albeit very hittable Jamie Moyer (5.32 ERA) and the rollercoaster Joe Blanton (last 4 games - 29.2 Innings, 4 ER, 3-0. 4 previous games - 24.1 Innings, 11 ER, 0-1). Oh and Brad Lidge, perfect last year, has 20 saves….at an ERA of 7.11. Ugly. And they got Pedro. Nobody is quite sure why.
If Cliff Lee can impact the team the way that previous mid-season Cy Young’s have done (C.C Sabathia, Randy Johnson) then the Phils will be a match for anyone but the rest of the pitching staff will need to recapture last year’s heroics to keep the title in Pennsylvania.
4. Boston Red Sox (58-42) - The sinking Sox (3-7 in their last 10) looked the part of AL Champs right up until the All-Star break. Since then question marks have been raised about their hitting, fielding and pitching. Not a good combination for a successful ball club. The bare numbers don’t look all that terrible; 2nd in Doubles and Strikeouts, 3rd in Complete Games, 5th in OPS, 6th in Runs, 8th in ERA, 9th in Homers…but things have not been quite right. Kevin Youkilis had a fast start but is now hitting below .300, Jason Bay has knocked in 74 Runs but just 5 in his last 29 games, David Ortiz has returned to some prominence but is still only hitting .224 with a Slugging Percentage lower than Chone Figgins and Christian Guzman plus a lack of production from Right Field and Shortstop.
But at least they’ve pitched well. Or have they? Josh Beckett (12-4, 3.44 ERA) has been excellent after a couple of difficult early outings, Tim Wakefield was 11-3 before heading to the DL and Jon Lester has been better than his 9-7 record suggests but…Dice-K (8.23 ERA)…disaster...Brad Penny (5.07 ERA)…purely passable…John Smoltz (7.04 ERA)…shocking. The back end of the rotation needs work, although Clay Bucholz could help stabilise that situation, and so might the much praised bullpen. Again the numbers don’t look too bad for the Red Sox relievers and this group is still amongst the leagues best however closer Jonathon Papelbon has a 1.37 WHIP and can’t seem to buy a 1-2-3 inning while the likes of Ramon Ramirez and Justin Masterson have struggled as of late.
Boston should make the playoffs, at the very least through the Wild Card, but don’t seem quite the unit many had predicted and appear a team without a spark as we head into August. At least they know how to beat the Yankees.
5. Los Angeles Angels (60-40) - This time last year the Halos had the best record in baseball and, despite all the injuries, the tragic death of Nick Adenhart and the loss of the single-season saves leader Francisco Rodriguez, they aren’t far off that pace this year. This years version of the Angels are powered by their offense; 1st in Hits and BA, 2nd in Runs, RBI and OPS and Steals. Erick Aybar (.318 BA), Bobby Abreu (.414 OBP, 68 RBI, 22 SB), Juan Rivera (.310 BA, 17 HR), Chone Figgins (.392 OBP, 79 Runs, 31 SB), Torii Hunter (.938 OPS, 65 RBI, 17 HR) and Kendry Morales (.909 OPS, 20 HR, 60 RBI) are all hitting well and Vlad Guerrero could still catch fire later in the year.
Problematically for this team, particularly if they are to avoid another early exit from the playoffs, their pitching is far less consistent. Jered Weaver (10-3, 3.71 ERA) and Darren Oliver (12 Holds, 2.62 ERA) are the only key contributors that have ERA’s under 4 and although John Lackey (7-4, 4.00 ERA) has improved as of late, Joe Saunders’ form has dipped (8-6, 5.02 ERA) and Ervin Santana (3-6, 7.29 ERA) has been a disaster. But help is on the way; Matt Palmer and Sean O’Sullivan, new to the majors, have a combined 14-1 record, albeit largely behind strong run support. Brian Fuentes does lead the Majors in Saves (30) but has a 1.32 WHIP and 4.29 ERA. Other notable relievers Jose Arredondo (5.55 ERA) and Scott Shields (6.62 ERA) have not been the players they were last year.
The Angels could easily end up with the second best record in the AL and should win the West ahead of Texas. The real test for them will be beating a team from the AL East having been beaten by the Yankees and Red Sox in the first round of the playoffs 3 of their last 4 appearances.
6. St. Louis Cardinals (56-48) - The best player in the game is having a fantastic year and the Cards may have just found the pieces to add to the Championship puzzle. Offensively Albert Pujols leads the team in Games, At Bats, Runs, Hits, Home Runs, Total Bases, RBI’s, Walks, Stolen Bases and of course every average (34 HR, 92 RBI, 78 Walks, .443 OBP, 1.123 OPS - and leads the league in all those categories). Prince Albert aside, the introductions of Matt Holliday, Mark de Rosa and Julio Lugo have added more firepower in the lineup but currently the Cardinals sit right in the middle of most sortable Team Batting Stats.
It’s hard to write a sentence without including Pujols but it will probably the performances of his teammates that will determine whether he gets to play on the biggest stage of all. Holliday (1.313 OPS with the Cards so far) will offer protection behind Albert, Ryan Ludwick (17 HR, 66 RBI) has been hitting close to .400 over the last month and rookie Colby Rasmus (11 HR, 35 RBI) has impressed but St. Louis may live and die by their pitching staff at the end of the season. Chris Carpenter (9-3, 0.96 WHIP, 2.19 ERA), Adam Wainwright (12-6, 2.80 ERA) and Joel Pinero (9-9, 2.84 ERA) are the only trio of starters with sub-3 ERA’s and have all been outstanding as of late. If Kyle Lohse (4-6, 4.35 ERA) or Todd Wellemeyer (7-9, 5.79 ERA) could step up then this team might streak away with the tight Central. The bullpen is underrated and Ryan Franklin (23 Saves, 0.91 WHIP, 1.41 ERA) is having a fine year (yet Franklin has slipped a little since the break).
The Cards won the World Series in 2006 on the back of an 83-win season and, in a pennant race that is likely to go down to wire between up to 4 teams, may look for a similarly unlikely postseason run. If one man can propel them back to glory it’s Pujols.
7. Texas Rangers (56-43) - Currently a couple of games back from Boston in the Wild Card race and 3.5 back from the Angels in the West, the Rangers were not really contenders in many people’s minds in Spring Training due to perceived weaknesses in their pitching staff. We all knew they could hit and their ranks in Home Runs (2nd), Slugging (2nd) and Total Bases (6th) suggest that but, with the exception of their ability to pound the long ball, the Rangers have not been the offensive force many guaranteed. 24th in BA, 25th in Hits and 26th in OBP behind below-par seasons for Josh Hamilton, Chris Davis, Jarrod Saltalamacchia (all below .240 BA and .680 OPS) but Nelson Cruz (24 HR, .543 SLG), Ian Kinsler (23 HR, 63 RBI and 22 SB from the leadoff spot), the ever reliable Michael Young (.321 BA, .514 SLG) and likely rookie of the year Elvis Andrus (.266 BA, 20 SB) have kept the wheels turning for Texas.
Kevin Millwood (9-7, 3.39 ERA) and Scott Feldman (9-4, 3.99 ERA) lead the pitching staff but there’s not a name in their pen that would scare a postseason opponent. This itself may be their biggest strength; Dustin Nippert (3-0, 3.54 ERA) and Tommy Hunter (3-1, 2.00 ERA) have impressed over recent outings and mid-season trades Jason Grilli (1.10 ERA) and Darren O’Day (1.80 ERA) have been excellent acquisitions. At the back end, Frank Francisco (15 Saves, 2.28 ERA) and C.J Wilson (11 Saves, 2.80 ERA) have stabilised the entire pen this year.
Texas will hope to not be the odd one out in the American League. It would be a shock to see them win the World Series but nobody will want to face them over 5 games in the ALDS.
8. Chicago Cubs (53-46) - The Cubbies were 97-game winners last year making even the most pessimistic fans believe that their Championship drought would end at the 100 year mark. It wasn’t to be and they began this year in full hangover mode. However, they’ve gone 18-8 this month and are now tied atop the division. How have they done it? Well, not really with the bat as they rank in the bottom half of most offensive measurements and are home to Milton Bradley (8 HR, .250 ERA, $10million per year - although he has improved as of late). Aramis Ramirez (9 HR, 30 RBI, .343 BA, 1.006 OPS in just 36 games) has reignited the offense as of late and Alfonso Soriano seems to have benefited from moving down the order (3 HR, 9 RBI in the last 5 games).
If they can continue to hit then they can win the division because their pitching has been pretty good all season (yet fielding average at best). 1st in Quality Starts, 3rd in Batting Average Against, 4th in Strikeouts and 5th in ERA. They’ve got 5 good starters; Randy Wells, the least heralded of the 5, is having a great year (7-4, 2.84 ERA) and, along with Zambrano, Dempster, Lilly and Harden, could claim to be in the best rotation around (the Giants might argue that point). Carlos Marmol (23 Holds, 3.10 ERA) and Kevin Gregg (21 Saves, 3.35 ERA) are the 8th and 9th Inning mainstays and have been positively filthy as of late.
This could be their year (Version 101)….
Wednesday, 29 July 2009
Beefy v Freddy
Andrew Flintoff is playing his last Test series for his country. His legacy is one of excess, hitting, humiliation, bowling, drunkenness and inspiration. Remind you of anyone?
Ian Botham was England's last world class all rounder and bore many similarities both on and off the field. Both were strong, burly, aggressive batsmen and bowlers and both enjoyed their lives outside the game to the extent that their International futures were questioned and ended for lengthy periods. Both also had their finest moments in Ashes series.
Here's a quick look at their International career stat lines:
Sir Ian Botham
Batting
Tests - 102, 161 Innings - 5,200 Runs at 33.54, HS 208, SR 60.71, 14 100's, 22 50's, 67 6's
ODI's - 116, 106 Innings - 2,113 Runs at 23.21, HS 79, SR 79.10, 9 50's, 197 4's, 44 6's
Bowling
Tests - 102, 168 Innings - 383 Wickets at 28.40, Economy 2.99, 27 5W, 10 10W
ODI's - 116, 115 Innings - 145 Wickets at 28.54, Economy 3.96, 3 4W
Andrew Flintoff
Batting
Tests - 77, 127 Innings - 3,742 Runs at 31.71, HS 167, SR 61.53, 5 100's, 25 50's, 81 6's
ODI's - 141, 122 Innings - 3,394 Runs at 32.01, HS 123, SR 88.82, 3 100's, 18 50's, 93 6's
Bowling
Tests - 77, 133 Innings - 225 Wickets at 32.17, Economy 2.97, 3 5W
ODI's - 141, 119 Innings - 169 Wickets at 24.38, Economy 4.39, 6 4W, 2 5W
Clearly the game changed in the 20-odd years that separated their careers (higher run rates in all forms of the game, better fitness levels and fielding, Botham of course never got the chance to play Twenty20) but the two have eerily similar numbers to add to their similarly chequered pasts (you were drunk....and you fell off a pedalo...?).
The numbers appear to state that Botham was the stronger Test batsman, particularly in converting his starts into centuries (14 to 5), and the better Test bowler, again with his ability to be a match winner (27 5-Wicket Innings to 3 and 10 10-Wicket matches to 0).
Flintoff, however, was/is the more dynamic ODI player; far more centuries, 50's and 6's at a higher strike rate and with a much higher average. As a bowler, he has more wickets at a better average and a few 5-Wicket hauls aswell. An economy of 4.39 in the modern game (and 2.97 in Tests by the way) is incredible.
The better player? Not for me to expand on. Botham was the more dynamic Test player, the finisher over 5 days. Flintoff was and will continue to be the more rounded One Day player, the master of the single afternoon. One thing you don't need stats to know? They were both the heart, soul and stimulus of England victories.
Ian Botham was England's last world class all rounder and bore many similarities both on and off the field. Both were strong, burly, aggressive batsmen and bowlers and both enjoyed their lives outside the game to the extent that their International futures were questioned and ended for lengthy periods. Both also had their finest moments in Ashes series.
Here's a quick look at their International career stat lines:
Sir Ian Botham
Batting
Tests - 102, 161 Innings - 5,200 Runs at 33.54, HS 208, SR 60.71, 14 100's, 22 50's, 67 6's
ODI's - 116, 106 Innings - 2,113 Runs at 23.21, HS 79, SR 79.10, 9 50's, 197 4's, 44 6's
Bowling
Tests - 102, 168 Innings - 383 Wickets at 28.40, Economy 2.99, 27 5W, 10 10W
ODI's - 116, 115 Innings - 145 Wickets at 28.54, Economy 3.96, 3 4W
Andrew Flintoff
Batting
Tests - 77, 127 Innings - 3,742 Runs at 31.71, HS 167, SR 61.53, 5 100's, 25 50's, 81 6's
ODI's - 141, 122 Innings - 3,394 Runs at 32.01, HS 123, SR 88.82, 3 100's, 18 50's, 93 6's
Bowling
Tests - 77, 133 Innings - 225 Wickets at 32.17, Economy 2.97, 3 5W
ODI's - 141, 119 Innings - 169 Wickets at 24.38, Economy 4.39, 6 4W, 2 5W
Clearly the game changed in the 20-odd years that separated their careers (higher run rates in all forms of the game, better fitness levels and fielding, Botham of course never got the chance to play Twenty20) but the two have eerily similar numbers to add to their similarly chequered pasts (you were drunk....and you fell off a pedalo...?).
The numbers appear to state that Botham was the stronger Test batsman, particularly in converting his starts into centuries (14 to 5), and the better Test bowler, again with his ability to be a match winner (27 5-Wicket Innings to 3 and 10 10-Wicket matches to 0).
Flintoff, however, was/is the more dynamic ODI player; far more centuries, 50's and 6's at a higher strike rate and with a much higher average. As a bowler, he has more wickets at a better average and a few 5-Wicket hauls aswell. An economy of 4.39 in the modern game (and 2.97 in Tests by the way) is incredible.
The better player? Not for me to expand on. Botham was the more dynamic Test player, the finisher over 5 days. Flintoff was and will continue to be the more rounded One Day player, the master of the single afternoon. One thing you don't need stats to know? They were both the heart, soul and stimulus of England victories.
Tour de France
A few thoughts on Le Tour:
1. Presuming that no drug accusations come out in the next few weeks this will have been one of the best Tours in recent memory. Cavendish winning 6 stages, Hushovd's efforts to win the green jersey, Contador's immense quality, his political struggle with Armstrong, the slew of young talent breaking out...
On that note next year's Tour could be immense; Contador, the Schlecks, Wiggins, Tony Martin, Roman Kreuziger, Cadel Evans, Carlos Sastre, Vincenzo Nibali along with Lance (who could be better with another year post-retirement behind him) vying for the yellow jersey, Armstrong's new team, more of Cavendish...
2. Alberto Contador can win 5+ Tours. There is no more dynamic and proficient a climber in the game, nor has there been for a long time, and now the guy is as good a time-triallist as anybody too. Armstrong claimed that he owes his team a large debt for his victory. I'm not even sure he needs a team.
3. Mark Cavendish's victory on the final stage was Usain Bolt-esque. Has anybody won a bunch sprint (on such a stage) by such a margin? Mark Renshaw's leadout was phenomenal. Having said that, his childish response to being stripped of his green jersey points in the run in to Besancon highlights the difference between his talent and maturity.
4. Cycling commentary on Eurosport is bad. Dull and plain bad.
5. Lance Armstrong gives a great non-interview.
6. Jens Voight's injury was tortuous just to watch.
7. The stage up Mont Ventoux was epic as always but suffered for being so close to the end of the Tour. Had it been a few days earlier when the contenders legs were fresher and the race that much more open, it could have been one of the defining images of the last ten years. Cycling needs some positive ones.
1. Presuming that no drug accusations come out in the next few weeks this will have been one of the best Tours in recent memory. Cavendish winning 6 stages, Hushovd's efforts to win the green jersey, Contador's immense quality, his political struggle with Armstrong, the slew of young talent breaking out...
On that note next year's Tour could be immense; Contador, the Schlecks, Wiggins, Tony Martin, Roman Kreuziger, Cadel Evans, Carlos Sastre, Vincenzo Nibali along with Lance (who could be better with another year post-retirement behind him) vying for the yellow jersey, Armstrong's new team, more of Cavendish...
2. Alberto Contador can win 5+ Tours. There is no more dynamic and proficient a climber in the game, nor has there been for a long time, and now the guy is as good a time-triallist as anybody too. Armstrong claimed that he owes his team a large debt for his victory. I'm not even sure he needs a team.
3. Mark Cavendish's victory on the final stage was Usain Bolt-esque. Has anybody won a bunch sprint (on such a stage) by such a margin? Mark Renshaw's leadout was phenomenal. Having said that, his childish response to being stripped of his green jersey points in the run in to Besancon highlights the difference between his talent and maturity.
4. Cycling commentary on Eurosport is bad. Dull and plain bad.
5. Lance Armstrong gives a great non-interview.
6. Jens Voight's injury was tortuous just to watch.
7. The stage up Mont Ventoux was epic as always but suffered for being so close to the end of the Tour. Had it been a few days earlier when the contenders legs were fresher and the race that much more open, it could have been one of the defining images of the last ten years. Cycling needs some positive ones.
Top 100 Footballers in England
With the footballing bandwagon about to swing back into action, it seems like a prime time to evaluate the personnel playing in the country today.
Any list like this is, without doubt, both arbitrary and contentious. I’ve tinkered with the players more than Claudio Ranieri ever did. I’ve played with the numbers more than George Graham has been accused of. I’ve gone back and forth more than….well, it hasn’t been easy. I’ll leave the world of Premiership comedy to all the television analysts that can do it equally badly.
The rules of the list: The position of the players is based on what the player can offer to a club now, not two years ago (Gary Neville), not in a few years time (Kiko Macheda), now. Players oft injured over the last few years will be devalued but those currently unavailable but expected to return without any issues will not be. The list is not based purely on performance in the league, but on all-around performance both domestically and abroad and their inherent ability and attitude. Players must be currently contracted to an English club at the time of writing.
Finally, bear in mind that if you showed me this list I’d probably argue with it as vehemently as any reader may. 250 odd players were considered originally and there are a bunch of guys that could well have made the list if it had been extended.
Here goes (hands crossing heart):
1. Steven Gerrard (Liverpool) - Nobody has been as impressive for their club for the period of time Gerrard has since the likes of Henry, Vieira and Keane. Captain, inspiration, goalscorer…not too bad in a scuffle either.
2. Michael Essien (Chelsea) - Mr. Everything to his club and plays the game with joy. Watch him. Loves it.
3. Fernando Torres (Liverpool) - The best striker in Europe. Period.
4. Wayne Rooney (Man Utd) - 315 games for his club and 52 caps (24 goals) for his country all at the tender age of 23. The pressure will be on the boy from Croxteth this year with United’s high profile departures but many (including me…and my buddy Jack) expect him to revel in the responsibility.
5. Frank Lampard (Chelsea) - There are reasons to suggest he had his finest year in Chelsea blue last term but Lamps received little critical acclaim, partly because people are so accustomed to seeing the England midfielder perform at such a high level. His form in Europe has been particularly strong the last few years and he is the key cog to Chelsea’s success since 2004. Excellent technique, stamina, vision and a priceless eye for goal make him one of the most complete players in the league.
6. Cesc Fabregas (Arsenal) - A regular since the age of 17, the Arsenal captain has not been the quite the same player after his knee injury but should return to his best in the coming season. Arsenal will only go as far as he can take them.
7. Robinho (Man City) - On pure talent alone he should be in the top 3 but his maturity, both on and off the field, is a weakness. Will he a better player with the summer reinforcements or will he only produce when the mood takes him?
8. Javier Mascherano (Liverpool) - The ideal modern defensive destroyer; powerful, aggressive, decisive and loves the battle. Liverpool don’t challenge this year if he leaves.
9. Rio Ferdinand (Man Utd) - United have had the fortune of several of the best central defensive pairings in the Premiership years and may have the best one yet with Rio and Vidic. Calm, gallant and a strong leader from the back for the champions.
10. John Terry (Chelsea) - England captain for a reason; a lionhearted, committed centre-back with excellent positioning and discipline. Didn’t have a vintage year in 2008/9 but should return to his best under new coach Ancelotti.
11. Nemanja Vidic (Man Utd) - Before getting embarrassed by Fernando Torres and Liverpool, Vidic was the standout player of the season. His form dipped to the point where he looked uncomfortable on a number of occasions but we should class this as an aberration for the physical and uncompromising defender.
12. Xabi Alonso (Liverpool) - May well not be with his current employers much longer but the bidding war surrounding him shows his worth. Makes the game look easy and conceivably the smartest player on the field of play every week.
13. Robin Van Persie (Arsenal) - Arguably the most technically gifted player in the division, the Dutchman would be higher but for his constant slew of injuries. On his day, world class.
14. Didier Drogba (Chelsea) - Don’t write him off just yet. Another who has struggled with the revolving door of managers at the London club but he is exactly the style of forward that Capello craves. Strong, physical, aggressive and more intelligent on the field than people think. If he wasn’t so good he wouldn’t be so despised by opposing fans.
15. Andrei Arshavin (Arsenal) - Rarely has a player made such a quick impact after moving to the Premiership as the diminutive Russian. 6 goals in 12 league games including a fabulous 4 at Liverpool has removed any doubt that his ability wouldn’t translate to English football and he could be better in his first full season with the Gunners.
16. Carlos Tevez (Man City) - Quite the coup for City, stealing away the Argentinian pit bull from their cross-town neighbours. Tevez and Kuyt are two of the best non-prolific forwards in the game due to their work rate, selflessness and passion. Tevez is the better footballer and may still not have peaked.
17. Joe Cole (Chelsea) - Injury-riddled as of late but was Chelsea’s player of the year a couple of years back, has 53 caps for England and is still only 27. Ancelotti will love this guy.
18. Dimitar Berbatov (Man Utd) - Just imagine how good he would be if he actually tried… Actually his lethargic style may be a misnomer; he does in fact run, does hold up the ball, is decent in the air and should improve with a years experience in the United team.
19. Ashley Young (Aston Villa) - Had as impressive a first half as anybody last year and won the PFA Young Player of the Year for his efforts. Tired later in the year but developing into a constant menace for the league’s elite defenders.
20. Ricardo Carvalho (Chelsea) - Surely soon to exit but should be fondly remembered by the Chelsea faithful for his partnership with John Terry. Injuries limited his starts last year but shouldn’t rob him of his greatest strength; his ability to read the game.
21. Petr Cech (Chelsea) - Not the best keeper in the World, repeat, not the best keeper in the World but still a formidable presence between the sticks and you would imagine will return to close to his best as the hours, weeks and years pass from his fractured skull.
22. Gareth Barry (Man City) - Now an England regular, Barry had been one
of the keys to Villa’s resurgence and will look to push Man City into title contention over the next couple of years. Unselfish, consistent and a leader on the field.
23. Emmanuel Adebayor (Man City) - Underperformed last year but with renewed motivation could be back to the original version that was worth £30m to a non-Man City side last summer. Waiting for him to say that he grew up a Uwe Rosler and Paul Dickov fan.
24. Theo Walcott (Arsenal) - His hat-trick in Croatia gave us a feature length trailer as to his potential. He’s not the complete player yet but, if he can avoid injury, should be given a larger part in the Arsenal attack and could be about to take his game to the next level just in time for the 2010 World Cup.
25. Michael Carrick (Man Utd) - Another sophisticated product of the West Ham youth system and a key man for United in their title run last year. He is very good. If only he added a little extra in the tackle or a few more goals…
26. Jamie Carragher (Liverpool) - Robin to Gerrard’s Batman. Carragher has been as consistent and important a defender as there has been this decade and will retire a Liverpool legend.
27. Dirk Kuyt (Liverpool) - Oh Dirk, you are probably the finest teammate in the history of sports and I’m certain you’d give me 40p for the bus if I ever needed it. Not a bad right winger either. Although not a striker.
28. Florent Malouda (Chelsea) - The most improved player in the second half of the season. The Frenchman offered pace, goals and width to a team in desperate need of all three but may find his role altered under new management and playing time shared with Yuri Zhirkov.
29. Patrice Evra (Man Utd) - Probably the best left back in the league but was not at his best for periods last term. Has tremendous pace and fitness but hasn’t yet developed into the attacking threat that his talent suggested.
30. Mikel Arteta (Everton) - Was having a tremendous year before it was curtailed by a knee ligament injury. Provides the artistry and flair in a team full of diligence and energy.
31. Jose Bosingwa (Chelsea) - Could the uni brow be the source of his powers? If so, other full-backs should take note because the former Porto player was a revelation in his first season showing energy, defensive acumen and a willingness to burst up the right side.
32. Ryan Giggs (Man Utd) - Not the best player in the league last year (stand up Stevie G) as the PFA contended but still an important piece for the champions. May see his playing time actually increase this year with the loss of Ronaldo and, while he won’t be skinning defenders anymore, he has replaced his pace with guile. Still a threat to any opponent.
33. Pepe Reina (Liverpool) - Prone to the odd mistake but a premier shot stopper and has arguably outperformed Petr Cech since his injury.
34. Joleon Lescott (Everton) - The high level of interest surrounding the goalscoring defender is well deserved. Lescott has been excellent for the last couple of years and is still only 26. Might yet be the next on line to start at centre-back for his country after Terry and Ferdinand.
35. Robbie Keane (Tottenham) - 112 goals in 268 games and countless moments of inspiration for Spurs. Just pretend he never joined Liverpool.
36. Steven Ireland (Man City) - The Irish Tim Cahill. Only better.
37. Nicolas Anelka (Chelsea) - The embodiment of the footballing mercenary but, wherever he goes, he scores goals.
38. Ashley Cole (Chelsea) - No I don’t like him either and yes, I do take some pleasure in the fact that he isn’t quite as good as he used to be. Either way, he’s England’s best left sided defender.
39. Anderson (Man Utd) - Industrious and ever so comfortable on the ball. Might play a little further forward this season and should score a goal for the Reds. Finally.
40. Stiliyan Petrov (Aston Villa) - His club’s player of the year and potential captain after the departure of Gareth Barry. Will be required to play an even bigger role this year without Barry and is the central foil to the winged wizards of Young, Milner and Downing.
41. Michael Ballack (Chelsea) - On the downward curve and hasn’t really ever shone for Chelsea the way that he has for German clubs and country but still a classy operator. Efficient….German.
42. Bacary Sagna (Arsenal) - Had a quiet 08/09 campaign after impressing everybody in his debut season, however Sagna may be the best player in the current Arsenal back four. A quick, strong, savvy defender who plays hard every week.
43. Jermaine Jenas (Tottenham) - Steven Gerrard light. If England B team needed a captain, it would be Jenas.
44. Roque Santa Cruz (Man City) - Not entirely sure how he is still worth £18m in the current climate after a year in which he hardly played and hardly scored but this is the Chelski for the next decade I guess. Physical, direct, strong in the air and a decent finisher, Santa Cruz should enjoy being reunited with Mark Hughes but is basically a milder, more pleasant Didier Drogba.
45. Yakubu (Everton) - Sorely missed by Everton last year, as was every other forward. An excellent goal ratio (103 goals in 241 games while in England) and extra conditioning training as part of his comeback from an achilles injury will make any defence wary of ‘the Yak.’
46. Glen Johnson (Liverpool) - Was an underrated talent until Liverpool coughed up the big bucks to sign him last month. Attacks like a winger and a better defender than many give him credit for while just 24 years old. The heir apparent to the right back slot for his country.
47. Stewart Downing (Aston Villa) - Was the best player in the Championship for a few weeks but is now another young Villa winger on the edge of the England team. Didn’t score a league goal last year but has commonly been the best player on the park in games over the last few years.
48. Marouanne Fellaini (Everton) - What is there not to like? An instant cult hero for the blue half of Mersyside for his goals, unselfish play and tireless running. That and the hair.
49. Alex (Chelsea) - One of the best defenders in the league last year, the ‘tank’ is just what his name suggests. And have you seen those free kicks? He is Brazilian after all…
50. Darren Fletcher (Man Utd) - Plays up to the occasion, scores vital goals, works hard box-to-box and yet constantly underrated. Apparently being Scotland’s best player doesn’t carry that much weight anymore.
51. Elano (Man City) - Certain lo leave in the coming weeks but, despite a quiet persona, has left an imprint on the English game with his style, set pieces and passing ability.
52. Phil Jagielka (Everton) - Cruelly ruled out of the Cup final with injury last year after an excellent season that saw him make his International debut. Unlikely to return before the new year from a ruptured ACL. Everton will just hope he recovers fully to recapture his 08/09 form.
53. Samir Nasri (Arsenal) - The young man adapted quickly to the English game and rapidly endeared himself to the North London faithful with two goals against Man United. A typical Arsene Wenger signing combining speed, invention and, naturally, excellent technical ability.
54. Tim Cahill (Everton) - Played as an emergency striker last season but is more dangerous running from deep, a position he should regain in the upcoming season.
55. Luka Modric (Tottenham) - A natural playmaker who will only get better as he adapts to the physicality and pace of the English game.
56. Kolo Toure (Arsenal) - Great fun to watch even when he isn’t playing particularly well.
57. Eduardo (Arsenal) - Without the horrendous, near-career-ending injury suffered a couple of years ago, Eduardo may have already established himself as a top-20 player on this list. As it is, for all the positive signs seen in limited appearances last year, nobody knows if the Brazilian will ever be the same clinical finisher he was before.
58. Peter Crouch (Tottenham) - Joining Harry Redknapp for a third time. Has developed into a true no.9 and was a big reason why Portsmouth didn’t slip out of the division.
59. Gael Clichy (Arsenal) - Kieron Gibbs performed admirably in his stead but there is no question that Clichy is first choice at the Emirates. His injury history holds him back a little.
60. Micah Richards (Man City) - Had a phenomenal start to the 07/08 campaign under Sven before fading and suffering injury. Easy to forget he is just 21 and should continue to mature beyond the point where his physical gifts will get him out of trouble. But what’s his best position?
61. Jermaine Defoe (Tottenham) - A classic example of a very good Premiership player but limited on the international stage. 7 of his 8 England goals have come against Andorra (4), Trinidad & Tobago (2) and Kazakhstan (1).
62. Shay Given (Man City) - The starting goalkeeper on the Premiership all-decade team. Must have been a little freaked out after moving to City and not having to make several amazing saves to win games.
63. Yuri Zhirkov (Chelsea) - Capable of playing anywhere down the left flank, Zhirkov will have to impress to earn playing time but could be a key figure for Chelsea. Abrahmovic and Hiddink (who will still retain some influence over the owner at least) love his work ethic and drive so expect him to find his way into the first team at some stage. Also has the odd spectacular goal in him.
64. Owen Hargreaves (Man Utd) - Either should not be on the list due to surgery on both knees and so little football over the last two years or a top-20 player player for his ability, his harassing style, his intelligence and his passing. He sits somewhere in the middle for now.
65. Jon Obi Mikel (Chelsea) - Claude Makelele he is not, nor is he worth the £16m that Chelsea somehow ended up paying for him. However he is developing into a mature, strong, imposing figure in the middle who fills an important role within the Chelsea midfield.
66. Martin Skrtel (Liverpool) - Fierce and strong in the tackle, Skrtel performed resolutely for the Reds last year however, his ceiling may not be as high as his understudy Agger.
67. Niko Kranjcar (Portsmouth) - Didn’t seem to fancy the relegation battle but is more than a luxury player. Adroit with the ball at his feet and stronger than his frame suggests; can Portsmouth hold onto him?
68. Wes Brown (Man Utd) - Capello’s first choice right back when fit and long renowned as an elite defender. The modern full-back seems to be attacking cavalry first, last line of defence second but Brown is still good enough at the latter to be first choice for his team, at least until Fabio da Silva has matured.
69. Vincent Kompany (Man City) - Could move to his favoured central defensive spot with the arrivals of Nigel de Jong and Gareth Barry. Wherever he plays, Kompany’s strength and composure will be an asset to the Citizens this year.
70. Brede Hangeland (Fulham) - Pretty stylish for a 6’5 central defender. He, more so than any other, seemed to be the biggest reason why Fulham conceded 24 goals less last season than the year previous.
71. James Milner (Aston Villa) - Could well be in for the breakout season enjoyed by teammate Ashley Young last year. Dynamic and direct, Milner has been on the cusp of being a top player for a few years now.
72. Steed Malbranque (Sunderland) - The Wearsiders were not a pretty team to watch for most of last year but Malbranque was a standout for his vision and craft.
73. Aaron Lennon (Tottenham) - Like colleague Bentley, had been touted as England’s next no.7. Seems to be maturing but his ceiling doesn’t appear to be as high as thought previously and is unlikely to ever be a top 25 performer.
74. Michael Owen (Man Utd) - Success in team sports is so often about fit. The right team, the right manager, the right time. Newcastle was not it for Owen but United could just be. Time will tell.
75. Gabriel Agbonlahor (Aston Villa) - Another who suffered with his teams poor form down the stretch. Gabi may already be close to the finished article at 22 and may never be a standout on the International stage but is one of the players Villa are banking on to make them a top-4 team.
76. Wilson Palacios (Tottenham) - Seems to collect yellow cards like some people collects stamps but his combative approach was much needed by Tottenham last year and will allow some of the flair players the freedom they need.
77. Sanli Tuncay (Middlesbrough) - Due to leave any day now but few English fans would want the flamboyant and talented Turk to leave for foreign shores.
78. Matthew Upson (West Ham) - Its taken time but Upson is now the composed, controlled centre-back that his potential suggested he would become. His form has been extremely good for the last two seasons.
79. Emile Heskey (Aston Villa) - Fabio Capello seems to think that he is England‘s best forward after Wayne Rooney. Enjoying somewhat of an Indian summer in the eyes of the press but has always been a favourite of teammates.
80. Scott Parker (West Ham) - An English Xabi Alonso. Only not as good.
81. Antonio Valencia (Man Utd) - Ferguson doesn’t swing and miss very often and it is doubtful that he has here. The Ecuadorean is skilful, quick and agile and will be a great threat on the counter attack next season.
82. Phil Neville (Everton) - It only took about 10 years to find out that his best position is as a defensive midfielder. May have been more fondly remembered if he had left Old Trafford sooner.
83. Jussi Jaaskelainen (Bolton) - How he has been ignored by Europe’s top sides is beyond me. The one-man goalkeeping highlight reel has been Bolton’s best Premiership player and is still in his prime.
84. William Gallas (Arsenal) - Would not be thrilled to see himself clawing onto the tails of this list… he doesn’t seem the type to take criticism well. Not playing his best football and a constant off-field distraction detract from his defensive credentials.
85. Daniel Agger (Liverpool) - ‘The Dagger’ has just signed a new contract and will be confident of regaining his starting place in the team this year. Cultured, aggressive and uncompromising, the Dane has the potential to be a star.
86. John O’Shea (Man Utd) - Mr. Versatile started in the Champions League Final and had his best ever season in 08/09. Seems to play well wherever he plays due to his work rate, strength and team ethic.
87. Jonny Evans (Man Utd) - One of the best young defenders in Europe. Evans learnt quickly from his spell at Sunderland plus his first team exposure last year but is stuck behind Vidic and Ferdinand in the United pecking order.
88. Yossi Benayoun (Liverpool) - The best impact substitute in the league last term. Has no right to get in the positions he does but his direct, effective game yielded 8 goals in just 21 starts.
89. John Carew (Aston Villa) - Scores a goal every 2.5 games for Villa and is clearly one of the most intimidating strikers in the game. Might struggle for playing time in the coming season with Heskey in the squad and a strained relationship with Martin O’Neill.
90. Steven Warnock (Blackburn) - Had a very good year in spite of Blackburn’s problems. Committed, and tough and a rare driving force from left back.
91. Steven Pienaar (Everton) - Didn’t look out of place against the best at the Confederations Cup and bears a hall of fame nickname…‘the mighty peanut.’ Don’t ask.
92. Abdoulaye Faye (Stoke) - A formidable presence and a bone-crunching tackler, Faye is scary good. Well, he’s at least both scary and good.
93. David James (Portsmouth) - Could be on the decline with his 39th birthday approaching in the next few days but still England’s no.1 and has been one of, if not the, most impressive keepers in the division since moving to the south coast.
94. Sylvain Distin (Portsmouth) - Had a down year last time around and won’t be helped by the loss of Glen Johnson or Sol Campbell (on a side note I looked on the Portsmouth website at their first team profiles - only 17 of them. And half of them are nobodies. Doesn’t bode well). He will need to be the rock at the heart of Paul Hart’s backline if Portsmouth are to avoid the drop.
95. Shaun Wright-Phillips (Man City) - Still yet to match the form he showed in his first stint at City but, presuming a replacement is not signed (which is no given) is in line to showcase his best.
96.Craig Bellamy (Man City) - Unpopular. Nomadic. Annoyingly effective.
97. Lucas Leiva (Liverpool) - Dear friend and devoted reader Mr. Purchase thinks this guy should be starting for Brazil. That’s not the only reason he makes this list but may have just edged him in ahead of a few others in contention. Needs to play more often to rise on the list.
98. David Bentley (Tottenham) - A woeful year for Spurs has sent his value and reputation tumbling but he was considered one of the nation’s best prospects this time last year. His tremendous goal against Arsenal highlights his ability but he might need to move from North London to fulfil his potential.
99. Dean Ashton (West Ham) - Has to avoid ankle trouble but, when fit, looks the part of a top 50 player.
100. Gary Cahill (Bolton) - The archetypal English centre-half who, if he can refine his game to match his physical tools, could be a future International.
Any list like this is, without doubt, both arbitrary and contentious. I’ve tinkered with the players more than Claudio Ranieri ever did. I’ve played with the numbers more than George Graham has been accused of. I’ve gone back and forth more than….well, it hasn’t been easy. I’ll leave the world of Premiership comedy to all the television analysts that can do it equally badly.
The rules of the list: The position of the players is based on what the player can offer to a club now, not two years ago (Gary Neville), not in a few years time (Kiko Macheda), now. Players oft injured over the last few years will be devalued but those currently unavailable but expected to return without any issues will not be. The list is not based purely on performance in the league, but on all-around performance both domestically and abroad and their inherent ability and attitude. Players must be currently contracted to an English club at the time of writing.
Finally, bear in mind that if you showed me this list I’d probably argue with it as vehemently as any reader may. 250 odd players were considered originally and there are a bunch of guys that could well have made the list if it had been extended.
Here goes (hands crossing heart):
1. Steven Gerrard (Liverpool) - Nobody has been as impressive for their club for the period of time Gerrard has since the likes of Henry, Vieira and Keane. Captain, inspiration, goalscorer…not too bad in a scuffle either.
2. Michael Essien (Chelsea) - Mr. Everything to his club and plays the game with joy. Watch him. Loves it.
3. Fernando Torres (Liverpool) - The best striker in Europe. Period.
4. Wayne Rooney (Man Utd) - 315 games for his club and 52 caps (24 goals) for his country all at the tender age of 23. The pressure will be on the boy from Croxteth this year with United’s high profile departures but many (including me…and my buddy Jack) expect him to revel in the responsibility.
5. Frank Lampard (Chelsea) - There are reasons to suggest he had his finest year in Chelsea blue last term but Lamps received little critical acclaim, partly because people are so accustomed to seeing the England midfielder perform at such a high level. His form in Europe has been particularly strong the last few years and he is the key cog to Chelsea’s success since 2004. Excellent technique, stamina, vision and a priceless eye for goal make him one of the most complete players in the league.
6. Cesc Fabregas (Arsenal) - A regular since the age of 17, the Arsenal captain has not been the quite the same player after his knee injury but should return to his best in the coming season. Arsenal will only go as far as he can take them.
7. Robinho (Man City) - On pure talent alone he should be in the top 3 but his maturity, both on and off the field, is a weakness. Will he a better player with the summer reinforcements or will he only produce when the mood takes him?
8. Javier Mascherano (Liverpool) - The ideal modern defensive destroyer; powerful, aggressive, decisive and loves the battle. Liverpool don’t challenge this year if he leaves.
9. Rio Ferdinand (Man Utd) - United have had the fortune of several of the best central defensive pairings in the Premiership years and may have the best one yet with Rio and Vidic. Calm, gallant and a strong leader from the back for the champions.
10. John Terry (Chelsea) - England captain for a reason; a lionhearted, committed centre-back with excellent positioning and discipline. Didn’t have a vintage year in 2008/9 but should return to his best under new coach Ancelotti.
11. Nemanja Vidic (Man Utd) - Before getting embarrassed by Fernando Torres and Liverpool, Vidic was the standout player of the season. His form dipped to the point where he looked uncomfortable on a number of occasions but we should class this as an aberration for the physical and uncompromising defender.
12. Xabi Alonso (Liverpool) - May well not be with his current employers much longer but the bidding war surrounding him shows his worth. Makes the game look easy and conceivably the smartest player on the field of play every week.
13. Robin Van Persie (Arsenal) - Arguably the most technically gifted player in the division, the Dutchman would be higher but for his constant slew of injuries. On his day, world class.
14. Didier Drogba (Chelsea) - Don’t write him off just yet. Another who has struggled with the revolving door of managers at the London club but he is exactly the style of forward that Capello craves. Strong, physical, aggressive and more intelligent on the field than people think. If he wasn’t so good he wouldn’t be so despised by opposing fans.
15. Andrei Arshavin (Arsenal) - Rarely has a player made such a quick impact after moving to the Premiership as the diminutive Russian. 6 goals in 12 league games including a fabulous 4 at Liverpool has removed any doubt that his ability wouldn’t translate to English football and he could be better in his first full season with the Gunners.
16. Carlos Tevez (Man City) - Quite the coup for City, stealing away the Argentinian pit bull from their cross-town neighbours. Tevez and Kuyt are two of the best non-prolific forwards in the game due to their work rate, selflessness and passion. Tevez is the better footballer and may still not have peaked.
17. Joe Cole (Chelsea) - Injury-riddled as of late but was Chelsea’s player of the year a couple of years back, has 53 caps for England and is still only 27. Ancelotti will love this guy.
18. Dimitar Berbatov (Man Utd) - Just imagine how good he would be if he actually tried… Actually his lethargic style may be a misnomer; he does in fact run, does hold up the ball, is decent in the air and should improve with a years experience in the United team.
19. Ashley Young (Aston Villa) - Had as impressive a first half as anybody last year and won the PFA Young Player of the Year for his efforts. Tired later in the year but developing into a constant menace for the league’s elite defenders.
20. Ricardo Carvalho (Chelsea) - Surely soon to exit but should be fondly remembered by the Chelsea faithful for his partnership with John Terry. Injuries limited his starts last year but shouldn’t rob him of his greatest strength; his ability to read the game.
21. Petr Cech (Chelsea) - Not the best keeper in the World, repeat, not the best keeper in the World but still a formidable presence between the sticks and you would imagine will return to close to his best as the hours, weeks and years pass from his fractured skull.
22. Gareth Barry (Man City) - Now an England regular, Barry had been one
of the keys to Villa’s resurgence and will look to push Man City into title contention over the next couple of years. Unselfish, consistent and a leader on the field.
23. Emmanuel Adebayor (Man City) - Underperformed last year but with renewed motivation could be back to the original version that was worth £30m to a non-Man City side last summer. Waiting for him to say that he grew up a Uwe Rosler and Paul Dickov fan.
24. Theo Walcott (Arsenal) - His hat-trick in Croatia gave us a feature length trailer as to his potential. He’s not the complete player yet but, if he can avoid injury, should be given a larger part in the Arsenal attack and could be about to take his game to the next level just in time for the 2010 World Cup.
25. Michael Carrick (Man Utd) - Another sophisticated product of the West Ham youth system and a key man for United in their title run last year. He is very good. If only he added a little extra in the tackle or a few more goals…
26. Jamie Carragher (Liverpool) - Robin to Gerrard’s Batman. Carragher has been as consistent and important a defender as there has been this decade and will retire a Liverpool legend.
27. Dirk Kuyt (Liverpool) - Oh Dirk, you are probably the finest teammate in the history of sports and I’m certain you’d give me 40p for the bus if I ever needed it. Not a bad right winger either. Although not a striker.
28. Florent Malouda (Chelsea) - The most improved player in the second half of the season. The Frenchman offered pace, goals and width to a team in desperate need of all three but may find his role altered under new management and playing time shared with Yuri Zhirkov.
29. Patrice Evra (Man Utd) - Probably the best left back in the league but was not at his best for periods last term. Has tremendous pace and fitness but hasn’t yet developed into the attacking threat that his talent suggested.
30. Mikel Arteta (Everton) - Was having a tremendous year before it was curtailed by a knee ligament injury. Provides the artistry and flair in a team full of diligence and energy.
31. Jose Bosingwa (Chelsea) - Could the uni brow be the source of his powers? If so, other full-backs should take note because the former Porto player was a revelation in his first season showing energy, defensive acumen and a willingness to burst up the right side.
32. Ryan Giggs (Man Utd) - Not the best player in the league last year (stand up Stevie G) as the PFA contended but still an important piece for the champions. May see his playing time actually increase this year with the loss of Ronaldo and, while he won’t be skinning defenders anymore, he has replaced his pace with guile. Still a threat to any opponent.
33. Pepe Reina (Liverpool) - Prone to the odd mistake but a premier shot stopper and has arguably outperformed Petr Cech since his injury.
34. Joleon Lescott (Everton) - The high level of interest surrounding the goalscoring defender is well deserved. Lescott has been excellent for the last couple of years and is still only 26. Might yet be the next on line to start at centre-back for his country after Terry and Ferdinand.
35. Robbie Keane (Tottenham) - 112 goals in 268 games and countless moments of inspiration for Spurs. Just pretend he never joined Liverpool.
36. Steven Ireland (Man City) - The Irish Tim Cahill. Only better.
37. Nicolas Anelka (Chelsea) - The embodiment of the footballing mercenary but, wherever he goes, he scores goals.
38. Ashley Cole (Chelsea) - No I don’t like him either and yes, I do take some pleasure in the fact that he isn’t quite as good as he used to be. Either way, he’s England’s best left sided defender.
39. Anderson (Man Utd) - Industrious and ever so comfortable on the ball. Might play a little further forward this season and should score a goal for the Reds. Finally.
40. Stiliyan Petrov (Aston Villa) - His club’s player of the year and potential captain after the departure of Gareth Barry. Will be required to play an even bigger role this year without Barry and is the central foil to the winged wizards of Young, Milner and Downing.
41. Michael Ballack (Chelsea) - On the downward curve and hasn’t really ever shone for Chelsea the way that he has for German clubs and country but still a classy operator. Efficient….German.
42. Bacary Sagna (Arsenal) - Had a quiet 08/09 campaign after impressing everybody in his debut season, however Sagna may be the best player in the current Arsenal back four. A quick, strong, savvy defender who plays hard every week.
43. Jermaine Jenas (Tottenham) - Steven Gerrard light. If England B team needed a captain, it would be Jenas.
44. Roque Santa Cruz (Man City) - Not entirely sure how he is still worth £18m in the current climate after a year in which he hardly played and hardly scored but this is the Chelski for the next decade I guess. Physical, direct, strong in the air and a decent finisher, Santa Cruz should enjoy being reunited with Mark Hughes but is basically a milder, more pleasant Didier Drogba.
45. Yakubu (Everton) - Sorely missed by Everton last year, as was every other forward. An excellent goal ratio (103 goals in 241 games while in England) and extra conditioning training as part of his comeback from an achilles injury will make any defence wary of ‘the Yak.’
46. Glen Johnson (Liverpool) - Was an underrated talent until Liverpool coughed up the big bucks to sign him last month. Attacks like a winger and a better defender than many give him credit for while just 24 years old. The heir apparent to the right back slot for his country.
47. Stewart Downing (Aston Villa) - Was the best player in the Championship for a few weeks but is now another young Villa winger on the edge of the England team. Didn’t score a league goal last year but has commonly been the best player on the park in games over the last few years.
48. Marouanne Fellaini (Everton) - What is there not to like? An instant cult hero for the blue half of Mersyside for his goals, unselfish play and tireless running. That and the hair.
49. Alex (Chelsea) - One of the best defenders in the league last year, the ‘tank’ is just what his name suggests. And have you seen those free kicks? He is Brazilian after all…
50. Darren Fletcher (Man Utd) - Plays up to the occasion, scores vital goals, works hard box-to-box and yet constantly underrated. Apparently being Scotland’s best player doesn’t carry that much weight anymore.
51. Elano (Man City) - Certain lo leave in the coming weeks but, despite a quiet persona, has left an imprint on the English game with his style, set pieces and passing ability.
52. Phil Jagielka (Everton) - Cruelly ruled out of the Cup final with injury last year after an excellent season that saw him make his International debut. Unlikely to return before the new year from a ruptured ACL. Everton will just hope he recovers fully to recapture his 08/09 form.
53. Samir Nasri (Arsenal) - The young man adapted quickly to the English game and rapidly endeared himself to the North London faithful with two goals against Man United. A typical Arsene Wenger signing combining speed, invention and, naturally, excellent technical ability.
54. Tim Cahill (Everton) - Played as an emergency striker last season but is more dangerous running from deep, a position he should regain in the upcoming season.
55. Luka Modric (Tottenham) - A natural playmaker who will only get better as he adapts to the physicality and pace of the English game.
56. Kolo Toure (Arsenal) - Great fun to watch even when he isn’t playing particularly well.
57. Eduardo (Arsenal) - Without the horrendous, near-career-ending injury suffered a couple of years ago, Eduardo may have already established himself as a top-20 player on this list. As it is, for all the positive signs seen in limited appearances last year, nobody knows if the Brazilian will ever be the same clinical finisher he was before.
58. Peter Crouch (Tottenham) - Joining Harry Redknapp for a third time. Has developed into a true no.9 and was a big reason why Portsmouth didn’t slip out of the division.
59. Gael Clichy (Arsenal) - Kieron Gibbs performed admirably in his stead but there is no question that Clichy is first choice at the Emirates. His injury history holds him back a little.
60. Micah Richards (Man City) - Had a phenomenal start to the 07/08 campaign under Sven before fading and suffering injury. Easy to forget he is just 21 and should continue to mature beyond the point where his physical gifts will get him out of trouble. But what’s his best position?
61. Jermaine Defoe (Tottenham) - A classic example of a very good Premiership player but limited on the international stage. 7 of his 8 England goals have come against Andorra (4), Trinidad & Tobago (2) and Kazakhstan (1).
62. Shay Given (Man City) - The starting goalkeeper on the Premiership all-decade team. Must have been a little freaked out after moving to City and not having to make several amazing saves to win games.
63. Yuri Zhirkov (Chelsea) - Capable of playing anywhere down the left flank, Zhirkov will have to impress to earn playing time but could be a key figure for Chelsea. Abrahmovic and Hiddink (who will still retain some influence over the owner at least) love his work ethic and drive so expect him to find his way into the first team at some stage. Also has the odd spectacular goal in him.
64. Owen Hargreaves (Man Utd) - Either should not be on the list due to surgery on both knees and so little football over the last two years or a top-20 player player for his ability, his harassing style, his intelligence and his passing. He sits somewhere in the middle for now.
65. Jon Obi Mikel (Chelsea) - Claude Makelele he is not, nor is he worth the £16m that Chelsea somehow ended up paying for him. However he is developing into a mature, strong, imposing figure in the middle who fills an important role within the Chelsea midfield.
66. Martin Skrtel (Liverpool) - Fierce and strong in the tackle, Skrtel performed resolutely for the Reds last year however, his ceiling may not be as high as his understudy Agger.
67. Niko Kranjcar (Portsmouth) - Didn’t seem to fancy the relegation battle but is more than a luxury player. Adroit with the ball at his feet and stronger than his frame suggests; can Portsmouth hold onto him?
68. Wes Brown (Man Utd) - Capello’s first choice right back when fit and long renowned as an elite defender. The modern full-back seems to be attacking cavalry first, last line of defence second but Brown is still good enough at the latter to be first choice for his team, at least until Fabio da Silva has matured.
69. Vincent Kompany (Man City) - Could move to his favoured central defensive spot with the arrivals of Nigel de Jong and Gareth Barry. Wherever he plays, Kompany’s strength and composure will be an asset to the Citizens this year.
70. Brede Hangeland (Fulham) - Pretty stylish for a 6’5 central defender. He, more so than any other, seemed to be the biggest reason why Fulham conceded 24 goals less last season than the year previous.
71. James Milner (Aston Villa) - Could well be in for the breakout season enjoyed by teammate Ashley Young last year. Dynamic and direct, Milner has been on the cusp of being a top player for a few years now.
72. Steed Malbranque (Sunderland) - The Wearsiders were not a pretty team to watch for most of last year but Malbranque was a standout for his vision and craft.
73. Aaron Lennon (Tottenham) - Like colleague Bentley, had been touted as England’s next no.7. Seems to be maturing but his ceiling doesn’t appear to be as high as thought previously and is unlikely to ever be a top 25 performer.
74. Michael Owen (Man Utd) - Success in team sports is so often about fit. The right team, the right manager, the right time. Newcastle was not it for Owen but United could just be. Time will tell.
75. Gabriel Agbonlahor (Aston Villa) - Another who suffered with his teams poor form down the stretch. Gabi may already be close to the finished article at 22 and may never be a standout on the International stage but is one of the players Villa are banking on to make them a top-4 team.
76. Wilson Palacios (Tottenham) - Seems to collect yellow cards like some people collects stamps but his combative approach was much needed by Tottenham last year and will allow some of the flair players the freedom they need.
77. Sanli Tuncay (Middlesbrough) - Due to leave any day now but few English fans would want the flamboyant and talented Turk to leave for foreign shores.
78. Matthew Upson (West Ham) - Its taken time but Upson is now the composed, controlled centre-back that his potential suggested he would become. His form has been extremely good for the last two seasons.
79. Emile Heskey (Aston Villa) - Fabio Capello seems to think that he is England‘s best forward after Wayne Rooney. Enjoying somewhat of an Indian summer in the eyes of the press but has always been a favourite of teammates.
80. Scott Parker (West Ham) - An English Xabi Alonso. Only not as good.
81. Antonio Valencia (Man Utd) - Ferguson doesn’t swing and miss very often and it is doubtful that he has here. The Ecuadorean is skilful, quick and agile and will be a great threat on the counter attack next season.
82. Phil Neville (Everton) - It only took about 10 years to find out that his best position is as a defensive midfielder. May have been more fondly remembered if he had left Old Trafford sooner.
83. Jussi Jaaskelainen (Bolton) - How he has been ignored by Europe’s top sides is beyond me. The one-man goalkeeping highlight reel has been Bolton’s best Premiership player and is still in his prime.
84. William Gallas (Arsenal) - Would not be thrilled to see himself clawing onto the tails of this list… he doesn’t seem the type to take criticism well. Not playing his best football and a constant off-field distraction detract from his defensive credentials.
85. Daniel Agger (Liverpool) - ‘The Dagger’ has just signed a new contract and will be confident of regaining his starting place in the team this year. Cultured, aggressive and uncompromising, the Dane has the potential to be a star.
86. John O’Shea (Man Utd) - Mr. Versatile started in the Champions League Final and had his best ever season in 08/09. Seems to play well wherever he plays due to his work rate, strength and team ethic.
87. Jonny Evans (Man Utd) - One of the best young defenders in Europe. Evans learnt quickly from his spell at Sunderland plus his first team exposure last year but is stuck behind Vidic and Ferdinand in the United pecking order.
88. Yossi Benayoun (Liverpool) - The best impact substitute in the league last term. Has no right to get in the positions he does but his direct, effective game yielded 8 goals in just 21 starts.
89. John Carew (Aston Villa) - Scores a goal every 2.5 games for Villa and is clearly one of the most intimidating strikers in the game. Might struggle for playing time in the coming season with Heskey in the squad and a strained relationship with Martin O’Neill.
90. Steven Warnock (Blackburn) - Had a very good year in spite of Blackburn’s problems. Committed, and tough and a rare driving force from left back.
91. Steven Pienaar (Everton) - Didn’t look out of place against the best at the Confederations Cup and bears a hall of fame nickname…‘the mighty peanut.’ Don’t ask.
92. Abdoulaye Faye (Stoke) - A formidable presence and a bone-crunching tackler, Faye is scary good. Well, he’s at least both scary and good.
93. David James (Portsmouth) - Could be on the decline with his 39th birthday approaching in the next few days but still England’s no.1 and has been one of, if not the, most impressive keepers in the division since moving to the south coast.
94. Sylvain Distin (Portsmouth) - Had a down year last time around and won’t be helped by the loss of Glen Johnson or Sol Campbell (on a side note I looked on the Portsmouth website at their first team profiles - only 17 of them. And half of them are nobodies. Doesn’t bode well). He will need to be the rock at the heart of Paul Hart’s backline if Portsmouth are to avoid the drop.
95. Shaun Wright-Phillips (Man City) - Still yet to match the form he showed in his first stint at City but, presuming a replacement is not signed (which is no given) is in line to showcase his best.
96.Craig Bellamy (Man City) - Unpopular. Nomadic. Annoyingly effective.
97. Lucas Leiva (Liverpool) - Dear friend and devoted reader Mr. Purchase thinks this guy should be starting for Brazil. That’s not the only reason he makes this list but may have just edged him in ahead of a few others in contention. Needs to play more often to rise on the list.
98. David Bentley (Tottenham) - A woeful year for Spurs has sent his value and reputation tumbling but he was considered one of the nation’s best prospects this time last year. His tremendous goal against Arsenal highlights his ability but he might need to move from North London to fulfil his potential.
99. Dean Ashton (West Ham) - Has to avoid ankle trouble but, when fit, looks the part of a top 50 player.
100. Gary Cahill (Bolton) - The archetypal English centre-half who, if he can refine his game to match his physical tools, could be a future International.
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