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2005: Player of the year for each of the Premiership clubs

The last year has been as good as any in the Premiership. For some clubs it is hard to pick out one individual from a host of impressive performers, while in other cases it is easy to spot the big fish in the small pond. Here is who has impressed me the most from each of the Premiership clubs over the past twelve months:

Arsenal - Thierry Henry

The Gunners have struggled over recent months, but you still can't help but be impressed by the rise of such youngsters as Robin Van Persie and Cesc Fabregas. But Thierry Henry always stands out above the rest and once again has consistently shown his class over the last year. You have to wonder how badly Arsenal would be struggling without him, and they will be praying he doesn't depart in the summer.

Aston Villa - Steven Davis

For Villa's player of the year, young Irishman Steven Davis just edges out Gareth Barry. Villa are struggling at the moment and while Barry has put in many impressive displays, Davis' breakthrough has been a beam of sunshine in a depressing time for Villa fans. He has looked tenacious in the tackle, dangerous going forward and has shown an outstanding commitment to the cause.

Birmingham City - Jermaine Pennant

2005 has been a make or break year for Jermaine Pennant. Having been charged with drink-driving and told he was surplus to requirements at Arsenal, his career seemed to be in real trouble. Steve Bruce took a gamble on him and has reaped the rewards. He causes even the best defenders trouble down the right flank and has an excellent delivery, which has attracted reported interest from Liverpool. Unfortunately for Pennant, the ability of David Beckham and Shaun Wright-Phillips on the right-wing means Sven Goran Eriksson need not consider him.

Blackburn Rovers - Ryan Nelson

After a couple of years hanging around the lower depths of the Premiership, Blackburn now look a safe mid-table bet. The foundation of Mark Hughes' team has been a solid defence, and Ryan Nelson's no-nonsense style has been pivotal. He doesn't stand out a million miles like Chelsea's John Terry, but if a defender doesn't make the headlines then he is doing his job. Nelson does exactly that week-in week-out.

Bolton Wanderers - Tal Ben Haim

Bolton are fast becoming regulars in the battle for European football and that is a credit to Sam Allardyce. Among his older, established signings are some younger players who have proved to be cute pieces of business. Israeli international Tal Ben Haim has been a major player in the Bolton side, and a talisman in leading them to the seemingly endless 1-0 victories they acquire. They are not a team of stars but a team of workmen and Ben Haim epitomises this.

Charlton Athlectic - Dean Kiely

After a superb start to the Premiership season, Charlton have gone tumbling down the table. While their explosive start was largely down to the goals of Darren Bent, he has only been at the club since July. Throughout 2005 Dean Kiely has on countless occasions turned probably losses into draws, and draws into wins. This has been essential in establishing Charlton as a Premiership force and he has to be one of the most underrated 'keepers in the league.

Chelsea - Frank Lampard

Having cruised to the Premiership title last year, and looking to do the same again, there have been many stars for Chelsea. John Terry and Claude Makelele have been the models of consistency, but Frank Lampard has managed to emulate this consistency while also standing out as a playmaker and outstanding goalscoring midfielder. He may seem like an obvious choice, but he wasn't second in both World and European player of the year for no reason.

Everton - Nigel Martyn

If you're good enough, you're young enough. David Moyes spent good money on Richard Wright, but until Nigel Martyn's recent injuries he hasn't had a look in. Last season's fourth-spot finished was built upon clean sheets from a solid defence. But no defence can be solid without having full confidence in the man behind them, and Martyn has been extremely consistent and it is hard to think of a mistake he has made since joining the blues.

Fulham - Papa Boupa Diop

In recent months Senegalese midfielder Papa Doupa Diop has been touted as a possible replacement for both Roy Keane and Patrick Vieira, but Chris Coleman will want him to stay exactly where he is. Nicknamed 'The Wardrobe', Diop marshals the Fulham midfield with his pace, power and control as well as chipping in with a goal or two. It is he who makes the side tick.

Liverpool - Jamie Carragher

Picking Steven Gerrard here might seem as obvious as picking Lampard for Chelsea, but Jamie Carragher has been hero in a resurgent Liverpool team. Much of Liverpool's Champions' League success was down to superb defending, which Carragher was at the heart of. And he was also the central figure - along with Sami Hyypia - of the side's club record 11 clean sheets this season. Gerrard might be the man who stands out, but Carragher has hardly put a foot wrong in 2005.

Manchester City - Sylvain Distin

At the end of the 2004/5 season, this would undoubtedly have been Shaun Wright-Phillips. But his decision to move on meant City had to pull together to continue to progress under Stuart Peace. And a notorious 'Kevin Keegan Defence' now looks like a solid unit. Distin has shown pace, tackling, discipline and is also very good on the ball. Pearce will be keen to fight off interest from the 'big clubs' come the new year.

Manchester United - Wayne Rooney

In among the so-called 'crisis' going on at Old Trafford, Wayne Rooney has continued to blossom as one of the world's most talented players. Not only has he been banging in the goals, but all of them seem to be great goals. At the same time, he has laid plenty on a plate for his team-mates and if he continues to improve at this rate, his future is frightening.

Newcastle United - Shay Given

Poor old Shay Given must be the most overworked man in Newcastle. While Michael Owen and Alan Shearer forge an impressive partnership up-front, Newcastle's back line continues to look calamitous. Fortunately for the likes of Titus Bramble and Jean-Allain Boumsong, they have a world-class goalkeeper behind them. Every week Given seems to pull of a string of outstanding saves to bail out his back line.

Middlesbrough - Chris Riggott

Boro are such a hit and miss team that it is difficult to single out one man among the inconsistency. For week-in week-out performances of a high standard, the best place to look is Steve McClaren's back line. Veteran Gareth Southgate has continued to be outstanding and Chris Riggott has followed his example superbly. He has improved greatly over the last year and will surely be captain at the Riverside within a couple of years.

Portsmouth - Gary O'Neill

Moaning players and management run-arounds have been dominating the headlines at Fratton Park, but in among all of this a promising young English player has been developing. Gary O'Neill has impressed in both the Premiership and with the Under 21s and it can't be long before he is plying his trade with a club at the other end of the Premiership.

Sunderland - Julio Arca

Unfortunately for Sunderland, they will be remembered this year for their abysmal return to the Premiership, and not the impressive automatic promotion they achieved to get back in the top flight. But even among their struggles, Julio Arca has continued to put in outstanding displays down the left flank, showing both the class and desire that is needed to stay in the top flight. Sunderland won't, but Arca probably will.

Tottenham Hotspur - Paul Robinson

It wasn't too long ago that the position of goalkeeper was a worrying one for the England side. The fans didn't trust David James, and the young pretenders hadn't proved that they were good enough to play at the top level. But having been given his chance at international level, over the last 18-months Paul Robinson has proved that he is one of the best 'keepers around. He inspires confidence in those around him and has made a number of key saves for both club and country.

West Bromwich Albion - Zoltan Gera

'The Great Escape' in May brought many heroes at the Hawthorne's. The peripheral factor behind all of this was the odd goal here and there from midfield, and Zoltan Gera was usually the man to provide. Highly under-rated, Gera may have missed out through injury in recent months, but his sublimely-timed late runs into the box are one of West Brom's biggest weapons, and something they have dearly missed in his absence.

West Ham United - Nigel Reo-Coker

West Ham and Alan Pardew deserve every ounce of credit they deserve for their return to the Premiership. With Pardew on the verge of the sack six months ago, West Ham scraped promotion and now they admirably attack teams in the Premiership, showing no fear. The playmaker behind all of this has been midfielder Nigel Reo-Coker, who has bags of energy to match his vision, passing and tackling. Sven Goran Eriksson has even stated he has an outside chance of going to Germany, which is no mean feat - especially with an "unfashionable" club.

Wigan Athletic - Jimmy Bullard

Paul Jewell's achievements and attacking football have even outshone that of Pardew, and singling out one player is a difficult task. Jason Roberts scored the goals that got them promoted, and continues to do so as they fly high in the Premiership. But as with West Ham, to play flowing football you need a clam, creative playmaker, and they have that in Jamie Bullard. Some people questioned Wigan's Premiership credentials, but Bullard is one of many who have taken the division by storm

Simon Cole
29 December 2005

(Squarefootball.net)