With only ten games of the season left, it’s time to assess which Premier League players have done superbly well after a summer move to their new team. The Premier League has been really unbelievable this season, who would have thought before the season started that Leicester would be the current league leaders and league champions Chelsea would have a poor campaign.
Goalkeeper:
Petr Cech
Cech definitely wins this, despite picking up an injury which will keep him out for a month he has been vital for Arsenal this season. Arsenal have had many goalkeeper issues in the past, especially not having one who isn’t a natural leader and hardly commits mistakes like Cech. Chelsea will regret selling the 33-year-old, due to their number one goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois picking up a serious injury which kept him out for three months. The Czech Republic international has already saved a lot of points for the club and won few games with his individual performances including vital saves.
Defence:
Nathaniel Clyne
After making a £12.5m move from Southampton to Liverpool, it took him a small time to settle into the team but now he’s proving everyone why he is worth every penny he was signed for. Liverpool have finally found a full-back who can do well on the defensive side of the game and also provide options when going forward. There is a small weakness of Clyne handling playing who are taller than him in aerial situations, but he has the pace and intelligence of taking care of his weakness. With the defence of Liverpool being out of position on many occasions, Clyne has the ability with fast pace to track back very quickly.
Robert Huth
Huth has really been an unsung hero for Leicester, despite everyone buzzing over the fantastic football from Jamie Vardy and Riyad Mahrez. Huth has played for the current league leaders Leicester 27 times, has three goals to his names and has one Man of the Match award this season. His goals speak for its self, two against Manchester City away and one against Tottenham away. Huth has played a big part to Leicester’s season, his experience along has been vital and knows the game inside out especially playing for three different Premier League teams before Leicester.
Toby Alderweireld
After having a loan at Southampton last season, the Belgian international has shown why he is the real deal at Tottenham. Alderweireld has been very consistent for the Spurs who are doing really well in the Premier League and in Europe. There were a few who doubted him, but he has been very solid at the back and shown why he was worth the fee the club paid him for. Football fans all over social media definitely think he is the signing of the season, Tottenham have the best defensive record in the league and Alderweireld has played the most minutes out of the whole squad.
Christian Fuchs
Leicester signed Christian Fuchs on a free transfer, brings vital experience from his days at Schalke and provides a good option going forward from the full-back position. Another key player for Leicester who deserves a lot of credit alongside the well known Jamie Vardy and Riyad Mahrez, the Austrian has managed three assists and 2 Man of the Match awards so far this season. He has settled into the club very quickly and has become a fan’s favourite.
Midfield:
N’Golo Kante
Another Leicester player, the Frenchman has provided solid protection in front of the defence and has been involved in few of the goals for the club too. Has been a pure machine in the middle of the park, hardly see him placing a pass wrong or making any silly mistakes. Has the energy to go on to play until the last seconds of the game, fantastic vision whilst on the ball and has one of the best stats in tackling and interceptions from all the defensive midfielders in the league. With the consistent performances Kante has completed this season, surely he deserves a place in the France squad for the Euros in the summer.
Etienne Capoue
Watford signed the ex-Tottenham play for £6m, a real bargain for a promoted team. Good signing, a player who has experience in the Premier League and has shown his fantastic performances to his previous club. He may have not gone into the Tottenham team, due to couple of players fighting for a start in the same role as him, but playing for Watford week in and out has given the Frenchman the chance to show his natural talent. Leaving Tottenham has got to be a good choice he has made and now he is the key player in midfield for the Hornets.
Dimitri Payet
The 28-year-old Frenchman has been a brilliant coup for West Ham, just recently he was awarded London Player of the year Award. Payet has been in sparkling form for the Hammers this season, completing eight goals and seven assists in 22 appearances. He has been the key player in all of the attacks and has managed to pick up 4 Man of the Match Awards. Despite being out for seven-eight weeks, the playmaker has been a fantastic player to watch on and off the ball. He has instantly become a fan’s favourite and the fans feel that he is better than Zidane too.
Kevin De Bryune
After his big money move from German side Wolfsburg, De Bruyne has been one of the most effective players for Manchester City who have been having an average season. With key players like Sergio Aguero and David Silva picking up injuries here and there, the Belgian international stepped up as a key player and managed to contribute to five goals and nine assists this season. Unfortunately for him, he picked up a knee injury during the Capital One Cup semi-final against Everton which has kept him out for two-three months. It was really bad news for someone who was on great form and for the club who haven’t been really convincing this season in the league.
Roberto Firmino
In his first season at Liverpool, Firmino has easily been their best player this season. Liverpool had management problems a month or so into the season, Brendan Rodgers got sacked and Jurgen Klopp has come in who has used Firmino as a false nine really well. The Brazilian has already contributed to seven goals and seven assists in his first year in England and has also picked up 5 Man of the Match awards for Liverpool. He has slotted into Klopp’s philosophy really well, despite not being used in his best position. Klopp hasn’t had a good chance of buying his own players, without a doubt when he gets the players he likes, the team will once again be built around Firmino.
Striker:
Anthony Martial
The 20-year-old couldn’t have started life in the Premier League any better, coming on from the bench and scoring on his debut against rivals Liverpool. Questions were raised after the deal was confirmed, £35million for someone who isn’t well known or proven but he has proved a lot of people wrong already. The Frenchman has seven goals and three assists under his name, Martial has been misused as a winger this season, but he would have had more goals to his name if he was played in his preferred position.
