MaraDon
Wants you to learn about football
Keepers:
The Ups:
De Gea: Another season where this guy saves at least 20 points for United, world class and probably the best in the world atm.
Kasper: How much has this guy improved? If you asked me at the beginning of the season, he was the weak spot on Leicester first season at the PL. He has so much in his locker now, a completely different player. A great example of what a confidence boost can do.
Adrian: he keeps showing year after year that he is a great keeper, he has some questionable moments but he is so strong, so elastic, top keeper.
Cech: this guy saved us at least 15 points, world class addition to the team, and great character.
Fraser Forster: Another awesome season from the guy that should be playing at the national team. Best English keeper.
The Downs:
Courtois/Begovic: both came to Chelsea with great pedigree, Courtois had a great 1 season but his injury and the lack of consistency at the back (Cahill dropped, Terry on his way out and not as motivated as always etc.,) hurt both of them. I expected more from Begovic when he was given a chance.
Mignolet: Another season where he showed that he is not a top level keeper, and he was awarded with a new contract, inexplicable.
Lloris: Even when playing with a great defensive system, his work with his feet is so questionable, he is a coin in the air, you never know what`s going to happen with him.
Defenders:
The Ups:
Toby Alderweireld:CB of the year, what a player, what a partner they found for vertonghen, Fierce, fast, mobile, good with his feet full of confidence, great player.
Wes Morgan: An organizer, a player that can be trusted, physical, good in the air, strong in challenges, and a personality, he stepped up big time and was not scared to prove himself at the very top.
Reid: Another great year for the all rounded defender, key player. I like the fact that he knows exactly what’s going to happen next, he is great at reading the game. He found in Ogbonna a great partner, and he helped his adaptation quite well.
Olsson:Pulis try to bench him at the beginning of the season but it didn’t work. Yes he is slow, but you can see his importance when the game gets to a point where you are been attacked by 11 players, he is a force, strong, intelligent, commanding, great, great defender. He is that type of guy that we are seeing less and less now, a proper leader.
Blind: The utility man by excellence, he can play anywhere, he can be a defender a full back and a midfielder, great player, probably the biggest addition United made since LVG.
The Downs:
Coloccini: Another season of crappiness, another season when you wonder why this guy still plays at such top level, and not to forget he is the captain of the team. He is not good enough for the PL for about 3 years now yet he is still playing.
Okore: This was his season, fully recovered from his injury we all thought he was going to be able to show his skill, yet he is a part of what’s probably the poorest team in the history of the PL, he finished the season refusing to play, much uncalled for.
Muniesa: such a letdown from this guy, he needed to fill big shoes in a team that is knowing for his defensive power, and he is still far away from what it is expected, It seems that his confidence is down now and after the disappointment in the league cup I’m not sure if he is going to continue in Stoke city.
Mertesacker: A season to forget, especially for him, terrible form and responsible for many let downs, possibly his worst and last season with us, he never settled a strong partnership neither with Gabriel or Koscielny this year, and he looks uninterested now.
Full-Backs:
The Ups:
Monreal: What a player!, finally he blossom, mister consistency, yes we lost Sagna on the right side of our defensive system, but we won this guy on the left. Gibbs lost his place completely against an elite professional that is obligating our opposition to attack towards the right side of the field. World class player.
Cresswell: England strongest LB, excellent player, intelligent, full of power, a fighter and a very good crosser, incisive and fast, a gem that Big Sam found on the championship, he cemented his place in a very strong west ham side.
Clyne: Again, another very solid player always involved, always strong, always fast, consistent and flourishing under kloop system. Sometimes Liverpool buys well. This is one you keep.
Souaré:He adapted himself very well to the league and the demands of Pardew, great engine and physically very strong player. I like that he is always there, when he needs to be, when the ball is on his territory he is always alert.
Coleman: Another season of consistency, a guy that you don’t want to mess with, love his power, he is a bit raw technically but he is a personality, a key player for Everton.
Bellerin: Second seasons are always difficult, and if you ask me he coped with it very well, he made his competition flew in January and he is on the way up, he needs to improve his positioning and his crosses, and he doesn’t have to lose his adventure nature. Still a long way to go, but we have something very promising in our hands.
The Downs:
Debuchy: I had great hopes for him but once Bellerin cemented his place as a starter he completely lost interest. Such a shame. It wasn’t meant to be.
Richards: He is not a footballer, his technically awful, and his attitude left a lot to the desire, never understood the hype around him.
Zabaleta: He started the season with injuries, and now he apparently lost his place with Sagna, such a shame, very hard season for him.
Midfielders:
The Ups:
Dyer- Dembele: Partnership of the season, strong, technically sound, great in transitions, balance, speed, every single duel they are there, kudos again to Poch, he found Dyer position and he give Dembele an instrumental role when he was rotting on the bench.
Drinkwater-Kante: This one is not about creation but labor, they are everywhere, no matter where the ball is on the field, you know one of them is going to be there, either to link up with a partner on a fast direct transition or just to help pressing and defending. They work great together as well, the system suits them and they coped with losing Cambiasso with ease.
Kouyate-Noble: The amazing thing is that the former still plays for West ham, what a player, and Noble complements each other so well, if you add the possibility of Song and Obiang, Billic has an extraordinary Midfield to experiment with. I hope Kouyate goes to a better club soon. Underrated player.
Special Mention to Capoue and Barry.
The Downs:
Arsenal: a new season started and we are left with an AM-winger converted into a DLP, Coquelin, Flamini Arteta and another AM converted into a midfielder. Not good enough, we needed to wait till January to bring a proper midfielder in the team.
Ki-Shelvey: A partnership that could have been incredible, but Shelvey poor attitude made it collapse.
Matic-Fabregas: Probably due to Mourinho expectable collapse, but this really was disappointing, from the best to having to play Obi Mikel and Ramires.
Fernando: Another awful signing from City, paying over the odds for a player that offers nothing out of the ordinary and has problems adapting himself to the league.
Milner: Expected more from him, I felt that he could make a strong partnership with Henderson, but they have let me down, maybe next season he can show more about his game.
The Ups:
De Gea: Another season where this guy saves at least 20 points for United, world class and probably the best in the world atm.
Kasper: How much has this guy improved? If you asked me at the beginning of the season, he was the weak spot on Leicester first season at the PL. He has so much in his locker now, a completely different player. A great example of what a confidence boost can do.
Adrian: he keeps showing year after year that he is a great keeper, he has some questionable moments but he is so strong, so elastic, top keeper.
Cech: this guy saved us at least 15 points, world class addition to the team, and great character.
Fraser Forster: Another awesome season from the guy that should be playing at the national team. Best English keeper.
The Downs:
Courtois/Begovic: both came to Chelsea with great pedigree, Courtois had a great 1 season but his injury and the lack of consistency at the back (Cahill dropped, Terry on his way out and not as motivated as always etc.,) hurt both of them. I expected more from Begovic when he was given a chance.
Mignolet: Another season where he showed that he is not a top level keeper, and he was awarded with a new contract, inexplicable.
Lloris: Even when playing with a great defensive system, his work with his feet is so questionable, he is a coin in the air, you never know what`s going to happen with him.
Defenders:
The Ups:
Toby Alderweireld:CB of the year, what a player, what a partner they found for vertonghen, Fierce, fast, mobile, good with his feet full of confidence, great player.
Wes Morgan: An organizer, a player that can be trusted, physical, good in the air, strong in challenges, and a personality, he stepped up big time and was not scared to prove himself at the very top.
Reid: Another great year for the all rounded defender, key player. I like the fact that he knows exactly what’s going to happen next, he is great at reading the game. He found in Ogbonna a great partner, and he helped his adaptation quite well.
Olsson:Pulis try to bench him at the beginning of the season but it didn’t work. Yes he is slow, but you can see his importance when the game gets to a point where you are been attacked by 11 players, he is a force, strong, intelligent, commanding, great, great defender. He is that type of guy that we are seeing less and less now, a proper leader.
Blind: The utility man by excellence, he can play anywhere, he can be a defender a full back and a midfielder, great player, probably the biggest addition United made since LVG.
The Downs:
Coloccini: Another season of crappiness, another season when you wonder why this guy still plays at such top level, and not to forget he is the captain of the team. He is not good enough for the PL for about 3 years now yet he is still playing.
Okore: This was his season, fully recovered from his injury we all thought he was going to be able to show his skill, yet he is a part of what’s probably the poorest team in the history of the PL, he finished the season refusing to play, much uncalled for.
Muniesa: such a letdown from this guy, he needed to fill big shoes in a team that is knowing for his defensive power, and he is still far away from what it is expected, It seems that his confidence is down now and after the disappointment in the league cup I’m not sure if he is going to continue in Stoke city.
Mertesacker: A season to forget, especially for him, terrible form and responsible for many let downs, possibly his worst and last season with us, he never settled a strong partnership neither with Gabriel or Koscielny this year, and he looks uninterested now.
Full-Backs:
The Ups:
Monreal: What a player!, finally he blossom, mister consistency, yes we lost Sagna on the right side of our defensive system, but we won this guy on the left. Gibbs lost his place completely against an elite professional that is obligating our opposition to attack towards the right side of the field. World class player.
Cresswell: England strongest LB, excellent player, intelligent, full of power, a fighter and a very good crosser, incisive and fast, a gem that Big Sam found on the championship, he cemented his place in a very strong west ham side.
Clyne: Again, another very solid player always involved, always strong, always fast, consistent and flourishing under kloop system. Sometimes Liverpool buys well. This is one you keep.
Souaré:He adapted himself very well to the league and the demands of Pardew, great engine and physically very strong player. I like that he is always there, when he needs to be, when the ball is on his territory he is always alert.
Coleman: Another season of consistency, a guy that you don’t want to mess with, love his power, he is a bit raw technically but he is a personality, a key player for Everton.
Bellerin: Second seasons are always difficult, and if you ask me he coped with it very well, he made his competition flew in January and he is on the way up, he needs to improve his positioning and his crosses, and he doesn’t have to lose his adventure nature. Still a long way to go, but we have something very promising in our hands.
The Downs:
Debuchy: I had great hopes for him but once Bellerin cemented his place as a starter he completely lost interest. Such a shame. It wasn’t meant to be.
Richards: He is not a footballer, his technically awful, and his attitude left a lot to the desire, never understood the hype around him.
Zabaleta: He started the season with injuries, and now he apparently lost his place with Sagna, such a shame, very hard season for him.
Midfielders:
The Ups:
Dyer- Dembele: Partnership of the season, strong, technically sound, great in transitions, balance, speed, every single duel they are there, kudos again to Poch, he found Dyer position and he give Dembele an instrumental role when he was rotting on the bench.
Drinkwater-Kante: This one is not about creation but labor, they are everywhere, no matter where the ball is on the field, you know one of them is going to be there, either to link up with a partner on a fast direct transition or just to help pressing and defending. They work great together as well, the system suits them and they coped with losing Cambiasso with ease.
Kouyate-Noble: The amazing thing is that the former still plays for West ham, what a player, and Noble complements each other so well, if you add the possibility of Song and Obiang, Billic has an extraordinary Midfield to experiment with. I hope Kouyate goes to a better club soon. Underrated player.
Special Mention to Capoue and Barry.
The Downs:
Arsenal: a new season started and we are left with an AM-winger converted into a DLP, Coquelin, Flamini Arteta and another AM converted into a midfielder. Not good enough, we needed to wait till January to bring a proper midfielder in the team.
Ki-Shelvey: A partnership that could have been incredible, but Shelvey poor attitude made it collapse.
Matic-Fabregas: Probably due to Mourinho expectable collapse, but this really was disappointing, from the best to having to play Obi Mikel and Ramires.
Fernando: Another awful signing from City, paying over the odds for a player that offers nothing out of the ordinary and has problems adapting himself to the league.
Milner: Expected more from him, I felt that he could make a strong partnership with Henderson, but they have let me down, maybe next season he can show more about his game.