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Premier League Review, Part 2

Snapshots of the best and worst of the season.

Article by : SpunOut.ie

Read Part 1 of the review.

 

Aston Villa

Best Player: Ashley Young
Worst Player: Emile Heskey
High Point: Beating Arsenal 2-0 at the Emirates, making 4th place look not only possible, but likely.
Low Point: Losing 5-0 at Anfield, and having Brad Friedel sent off as Steven Gerrard completed his first League hat-trick.
Key Moment: Home defeat against Chelsea in Guus Hiddink’s first match led to their dramatic decline in fortunes.
One to Watch: Nathan Delfouneso
Most Improved Player: Stiliyan Petrov
Manager Watch: Martin O’Neill is one of the best managers alive, but his team tailed off badly from February. He must revive the team for another shot at Champions League football.
League Rating: 7/10

 

Fulham

Best Player: Mark Scwarzer
Worst Player: Chris Baird
High Point: Beating Manchester United 2-0 at home, causing Wayne Rooney to blow a fuse and punch the corner flag after getting sent off.
Low Point: Losing at West Bromwich Albion. Ouch.
Key Moment: Beating Arsenal in August gave the squad incredible confidence.
One to Watch: Toni Kallio
Most Improved Player: Brede Hangeland
Manager Watch: Roy Hodgson has created a clever, attractive team with little fuss. However, their activity in next year’s Europa League will be a drain on their squad.
League Rating: 9/10

 

Tottenham Hotspur

Best Player: Aaron Lennon
Worst Player: David Bentley
High Point: 2-1 win over Liverpool in November which began Harry Redknapp’s revival.
Low Point: Losing 1-0 at home against Hull, when it looked like Spurs would be relegated, and Hull would be chasing Europe.
Key Moment: If Redknapp hadn’t replaced Juande Ramos in October, Spurs would be making plans along the lines of those that Newcastle have.
One to Watch: John Bostock
Most Improved Player: Aaron Lennon
Manager Watch: After the Ramos horror-show, Redknapp eventually hauled Spurs into the top-half, and a whisker away from Europe.
League Rating: 6/10

 

West Ham United

Best Player: Robert Green
Worst Player: Luís Boa Morte
High Point: 3-1 defeat of Newcastle in Ginafranco Zola’s first home game.
Low Point: Losing 3-2 against West Bromwich Albion.
Key Moment: The un-ambitious Alan Curbishley was forced out, replaced by the exciting Zola.
One to Watch: Freddie Sears
Most Improved Player: Carlton Cole
Manager Watch: Somehow, Zola took over a lazy, uninspired group, and by playing good football, took West Ham into the top half, and, for a period, into European contention.
League Rating: 8.5/10

 

Manchester City

Best Player: Stephen Ireland
Worst Player: Benjani Mwaruwari
High Point: Beating Arsenal 3-0 at the City of Manchester Stadium in November.
Low Point: Having United do the double on them, in a reverse of last year’s results.
Key Moment: Being bought by the Abu Dhabi Investment Group, allowing the signing of Robinho.
One to Watch: Gareth Barry.
Most Improved Player: Stephen Ireland
Manager Watch: Mark Hughes has probably been distracted by all the off-field hubbub at City, especially the rumours of wild signings. Must improve next year, with the quality of transfers that are expected, beginning with Aston Villa’s Barry.
League Rating: 6/10

 

Predictions:

Me: 1/5
FourFourTwo: 0/5
Steve McManaman: 1/5
Miguel Delaney: 0/5

 

By: Ciaran Leinster

 

Read part three here.

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