A list of the ten most improved players this season.
10. Ashley Williams – Swansea City
Nobody had heard of the 28-year-old two years ago, but since Swansea earned promotion he’s become a rock at the heart of the team as well as one of the country’s hottest properties with both Liverpool and Arsenal said to slugging it out to land his signature this summer.
Though he’s had his injury problems this term he can count this as his most successful season to date.
When Michel Laudrup arrived he carried on from where the predecessor left of, adding a more continental flair. Paired next to Chico Flores, he’s looked more solid than he did last year and his fine form earned him a new three-year extension.
A strong league campaign that has seen The Swans establish consolidate themselves in the top flight was capped off with a Capital One Cup victory in March, with Williams leading the side out at Wembley to collect their first major trophy in English football.
Despite Wales’ lowly standing in their World Cup qualifying group, his form has extended to the national side. He has confirmed himself as another genuine talent that the country has produced that may never get to perform on the biggest stage.
9. Daniel Sturridge – Liverpool
There’s no doubt that Sturridge has all the necessary ingredients to become one of the most talented strikers in the country, but it’s taken so long for him to settle that many worried that he would never reach his true potential.
However, since joining Liverpool there’s a sense that this move will be the making of him and that in Brendan Rodgers, he has a manager that will use him correctly.
He showed glimpses of what he was all about last season with Chelsea, a campaign that saw him finish with 13 goals in 43 games as well as adding seven assists. But it was clear that it was going to be a flash in the pan and that he would never be a first choice player in West London.
In just the three short months since making the switch to Merseyside he’s managed to notch six goals in 12 games and his general all-round performances have suggested that he’s already proving to be worth the £12 million outlay.
8. Rafael – Manchester United
There’s a certain stigma attached to Brazilian footballers that means they are expected to hit the ground running and become a world-beater overnight.
The 22-year-old is proving his doubters wrong this term as he’s made the right-back slot at Old Trafford his own, making more appearances this year than he has at any other point in the five years he’s been at the club, playing 37 games.
Though he can still show his inexperience where discipline is concerned, he more than makes up for the bumps in his education by combining spectacularly well with Antonio Valencia to form a key component of the side’s attack.
He has also added goals to his repertoire too. A 30-yard wonder strike against QPR must surely be his season highlight, coming second only to winning his third Premier League title.
With Dani Alves in front of him for the national side, it isn’t likely that he’ll earn too many starts with Brazil, but last summer he was called up as a late replacement for the Barcelona man for two games as well as featuring in the under-23 squad that won the silver medal at last year’s Olympic games.
7. Moussa Dembele – Spurs
The Belgian attacker had already made a name for himself as one of the league’s most electric players after two years with Fulham.
A summer switch to Tottenham last year has seen the 25-year-old step up another gear to become one of the club’s most important players.
His influence over the side has been so great, this in 29 of the games he’s featured in this season, he’s been on the losing side just five times.
Furthermore, he is a regular starter in a crowded, yet talented Spurs midfield. His technical abilities have seen him keep the likes of Scott Parker reduced to a limited role.
He is also a key figure in a new ‘golden generation’ of Belgian footballers and could very well expect to be packing his bags for Brazil next summer as the lowland country top their group.6. Ramires – Chelsea
Another Brazilian who was expected to make an immediate impact upon coming to England, it’s fair to say the 26-year-old has had to bide his time before earning the trust of supporters.
He earned plaudits last year for a vastly improved performance winning a list of accolades along the way.
An FA Cup, a Champions League title, the Chelsea goal of the season and the club’s player’s player of the year award all found their way into the former Benfica man’s back pocket.
He’s continued his development at a similar pace only now he appears to have an air of maturity about him and he has increased his presence in within the squad more than ever.
In three years at Chelsea he’s managed to make 143 appearances with 55 of them coming this season. His goal scoring may be down, but his protection of the back line has been exceptional.
5. Brad Guzan – Aston Villa
The American goalkeeper has seen a dramatic upturn n form this season that has made him one of Villa’s most important players in an otherwise dismal campaign.
Now in his second spell at the club, he was officially released at the end of last season but was talked back to the Midlands by new boss Paul Lambert.
Guzan has made more appearances for Villa this season than he had in his previous four years. Under Martin O’Neill and Alex McLeish he made just 20 appearances, mostly in cup competitions, this season he has been the first choice goalkeeper, making 31 starts.
It’s easy to scoff at his inclusion in this list, but people have a tendency to only look at goals he’s conceded.
However, he ranks number one in the league for % of saves from inside the box (68.2%,) Successful high claims (85,) accurate goal kicks (196) and successful smothers (10). He also ranks fourth in the league for total saves with 107.
He’s come along way since filling in for Shay Given last season where he looked quiet and unassured. Given began this season as first choice too, but the American quickly changed that with a series of fine performances that has kept Villa’s goal difference down. Without him, that number could be near triple figures.
4. Leighton Baines – Everton
Baines has been a solid performer ever since he first arrived in the Premier League with Wigan Athletic in 2005.
However, over the years he’s seen his influence grow and he’s now one of the finest, most consistent English players in the top flight.
His importance to Everton this season has been crucial as his performances have reached a new peak.
Together with fellow left-footer, Steven Pienaar he orchestrates 43% of Everton’s attacks from the left side. He crosses the ball more than any other player in the Premier League makes a division record of 3.3 key passes per match.
By his own standards he’s stepped it up a gear this term and there is no wonder that there is heavy speculation linking him with a move away from Goodison Park this summer.
He has also began to get the jump over Ashley Cole for the England national team too. Baines was part of the squad that travelled to Euro 2012 but didn’t feature, since then he has started in six of the sides previous nine games following the tournament.
He notched his first international goal with a free kick in the 5-0 win over Moldova in September.
As Cole heads in to his 30’s there’s no doubt that Baines will be the natural successor and could stand a good chance of being the county’s first choice should they make it to Brazil.
3. Juan Mata – Chelsea
The Premier League is not an easy place to come for a big fee when you’re 22 years of age. Especially when you’re as quiet and reserved as Juan Mata.
However, not one to let that sort of thing bother him, Mata set about making himself one of the buys of the season by notching 12 goals in 54 appearances as well as an incredible 22 assists. Those great numbers were of course crowned with a Champions League title too.
Not a bad year all round then!
Building on a strong maiden campaign, the former Valencia man has already bettered his own personal best with four games of the domestic season still remaining. In 56 games this time around he’s bagged 18 goals and 31 assists, confirming him as one of the most creative players in the world.
It’s been another season of transition at Stamford Bridge and the managerial merrygoround continued to spin and the club have felt the pressure since appointing Rafa Benitez on an interim basis. But the side’s one constant has been Mata who is now a firmly established Spanish international now too.
2. Robin Van Persie – Manchester United
This current Manchester United side have been called ‘the worst United side to win the title’ this year. That may or may not be true, depending on who you ask, but one thing is certain is that they wouldn’t have had the title wrapped up with four games to go without him.
A lot of players fold under the pressure of moving from one big club to another in the same division, but the 29-year-old has thrived, looking deadlier than ever.
28 goals in 44 games represents an excellent return for the money United paid with three of those goals coming as a first half hat trick against Aston Villa to seal the title.
However, despite teaming up well with Wayne Rooney, his form has cast doubts over the Englishman’s future as Sir Alex Ferguson considers Van Persie as his first choice striker. Able to play next to Rooney or Welbeck with equally as much comfort as he is alone, he is a genuine danger to any defence and unquestionably the best forward in the country.
1. Gareth Bale – Tottenham Hotspur
It was hard to imagine the Welshman would end up having this sort of impact when Spurs paid Southampton £15 million for his services in 2007.
A series of poor performances and an unwanted record of not scoring a victory whenever he played and a loan move to lowly Birmingham City was mooted to give him some much needed experience.
Of course, he was an entirely different player back then and he has grown steadily into a world-class player over the past four years. So much so that he is now mentioned in the same breath as Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo.
Furthermore, he’s getting better with every season. His goalscoring has become such a regular occurrence that something seems wrong when he doesn’t find the net. He is currently on 18 in the league, adding up to 23 in all competitions.
He even managed to win two consecutive goal of the season awards in January and February for his strikes against Norwich and West Ham.
He picked up an injury in the Europa League quarterfinal defeat to Basel and the club’s league form suffered, highlighting just how important he is to Andre Villas-Boas plans.
He continues to earn plaudits for his style and at the rate he’s going it won’t belong before he tops Messi and Ronaldo on one of the plethora of player rating lists that emerge every year.