The Telegraph has named the 20 best Premier League players of the season, according to its Babbelo index…
Shockingly, despite the fact he made the Premier League Team of the Year, our Brazilian magician Coutinho didn’t make the list – while United’s summer signing Ander Herrera did…
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Explain that one!
Below, we’ve named the players, and added our own opinions and analysis.
20) Esteban Cambiasso – Leicester City
No arguments here. The legendary Argentine was the main reason The Tigers are still in the Premier League. Should we consider signing him on a free, now Gerrard has left?
19) Ander Herrera – Man United
Has Herrera really been as good as the Mancs have made out? Probably not – and besides, for the money he cost, you’d hope he’d be half decent.
18) Cesar Azpilicueta – Chelsea
The best left-back in the league barely put a foot wrong all term for the champions, rendering the also excellent Filipe Luis a substitute.
17) Jordan Henderson – Liverpool
It’s nice to see our vice-captain and probable skipper for next term recognised. He put in some monumental performances during a difficult campaign, and proved he deserves the armband full-time. Henderson can pass, tackle and create – and score goals, too.
16) Thibaut Courtois – Chelsea
Another player we think has actually not enjoyed as good a season as people make out. Although the young Belgian is destined for greatness, and while he claims crosses for fun – he sometimes lets goals in where we’d hope for a save. Lucky to have the best defence in the country playing in front of him, too.
15) Mesut Ozil – Arsenal
An injury decimated the first half of his campaign, but since winning the no.10 spot instead of being used on the wing, he’s been at his mercurial best. A lovely player to watch.
14) Nemanja Matic – Chelsea
Probably the best defensively minded midfielder in the top flight. Actually – definitely. Why Chelsea let him go before forking out £21m to sign him back is anyone’s guess.
13) Nathaniel Clyne – Southampton
We’ve been strongly linked to Clyne – and have reportedly already made a £10m bid for his services which has been rejected (via the Guardian). As a long-term Glen Johnson replacement, Clyne would be a good addition.
12) Joe Hart – Manchester City
Hart won the Golden Glove this term, pipping Simon Mignolet to the award thanks to a clean-sheet on the final day of the season. He had a dodgy period last season, but was frankly superb in 2014/15. Deserves to be mentioned alongside David de Gea as the country’s best.
11) Diego Costa – Chelsea
The horribly dislikable forward hit the ground running after arriving from Atletico Madrid. He might be heading back to Spain if today’s rumours in the Independent are to be believed. Good riddance, we say – following his dirty showings against Liverpool.
10) Santi Cazorla – Arsenal
Like Ozil mentioned earlier, Cazorla has been a joy to watch in Arsenal’s midfield. The Spaniard controls tempo, and the fact he is equally capable off either foot is a testament to his talent. We’d still rather have Coutinho though.
9) Wayne Rooney – Manchester United
A little high for a striker who scored 12 Premier League goals all campaign…? We certainly think so.
8) Cesc Fabregas – Chelsea
Fabregas slumped after Christmas, but still finished the season as the top flight’s highest assist maker. He’s a lot more irritating since moving to Stamford Bridge, of course.
7) Harry Kane – Tottenham
We wonder if Kane might struggle to replicate the form he showed this season just gone… The Englishman plundered plenty of goals – but will be given much more attention next time around.
6) Branislav Ivanovic – Chelsea
Probably the top flight’s most consistent defender, in truth. Although we can think of five more players who enjoyed better overall seasons than the Serb.
5) David de Gea – Man United
Another excellent campaign from the Spaniard. If he wasn’t playing between the United sticks, we’d have likely pipped them to the top four, annoyingly.
4) Sergio Aguero – Manchester City
The country’s best player, for us. Aguero bags goals for fun – and if he didn’t have such an unfortunate injury record – he’d have scored even more since his arrival from Spain. World-class.
3) John Terry – Chelsea
We begrudgingly accept that in terms of Premier League centre-backs, Terry was in a league of his own in 2014/15. Shame he’s such an awful person.
2) Alexis Sanchez – Arsenal
It really is a crying shame that we missed out on the Chilean last summer when Luis Suarez departed. He’s brilliant – and has proven as much with Arsenal – notching 16 goals and registering eight assists to boot.
1) Eden Hazard – Chelsea
The Premier League Player of the Season comes it at no.1 here, too. He enjoyed a great season for the title winners, but his campaign wasn’t even in the same league as Suarez’s last term – which he similarly scooped the accolade.
