Time to make a move?
Monday, 18 May 09, 12:21 PM · Comments(3)
By Michael Sinnerton
As the season draw to an end Students of the Game takes a look at which players have had a good enough season at the bottom of the league to guarantee themselves a move onwards and upwards.
Chris Brunt - A strange season for West Brom, one in which at no point did they look like they would grace the Premier League next year but one in which they were never disgraced. One shining light was the performances of the Northern Ireland international. Brunt has made 37 appearances and scored 8 goals and is particularly dangerous from set-pieces. With a wand of a left foot, Brunt has begun to take on more responsibility later in the season and has been linked with a move to Rangers, the team he supported as a boy. At 24 he is still young enough to progress and could also be a decent signing for Wigan, Bolton or Portsmouth.
Stewart Downing - Ok, so it was hard to pick a Middlesbrough player who has excelled this year but Downing is their best player and despite an average season is almost certain to stay in the Premiership without his home town club. Tottenham, annually, have been linked with the left-winger who would finally add some much needed balance to their midfield.
Sebastian Bassong - A centre back who managed to emerge with credit after a whole season with Newcastle...sign him up.
Bernard Mendy - I want to suggest George Boateng to any promoted team needing a midfield general, Boateng's absence corresponded with Hull's collapse this season, but the Dutchman really is getting on a bit. So three cap wonder Mendy gets the nod, if Hull go down. His relatively utility on the right hand side is basically down to the fact that he is ridiculously fast; this also makes him a decent offensive weapon.
Glen Johnson - Whether or not you're totally convinced about his as an England player, Johnson is one of the best right backs in the Premier League and with Manchester United, Chelsea and Liverpool all having has problems with his position over the last year Johnson could be set for a Champions League team. Alternatively the form of Arbeloa and Bosingwa could lead to a bid from Aston Villa or Everton, whose current right backs are Luke Young and Tony Hibbert.
With players like Peter Crouch and Paul Robinson also enjoying good seasons but unlikely to move, who do you think has excelled this season whilst their club has faltered?
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3 Comments · Add yours
Oh, I really hope Rafa Benitez makes a move at Glen this summer! Liverpool need a good defense, if they want to win next season...
Yeah would be a decent buy provided the price was right. I like Arbeloa, but would be interesting to see how Johnson would fare on a bigger stage
Surprised you left out Tuncay at Middlesbrough - class player and too good for the Championship (I have nightmare about what he'd do to Clint Hill) although I suspect he's off to foreign pastures.
Bullard (injuries permitting) and Turner at Hull are also good players although I suspect they'll stay at Hull who will still be in the prem next season.
Wouldn't touch any newcastle player with any sort of barge pole no matter how long. A lot of vastly overpaid and over rated players. Any manager blessed with the healing powers of jesus and in desperate need of strikers on a budget could do worse than turning to viduka who's still got a year of top flight football in him.
Portsmouth have a lot of quality players who'll get snapped up and leave them struggling. Crouch, johnson, kranjcar, distin and campbell are all players who could slot into a mid table / top half team.