Five defenders that took their time getting to grips with the Premier League.
Defenders are often under more scrutiny than anyone else on the pitch, so when they’re signed by a club and don’t deliver pretty quickly, the heat gets turned up and they can be judged quite harshly. This summer saw the likes of Eliaquim Mangala and Kurt Zouma arrive to the Premier League, and though they’re young the nature of the club’s they play for don’t allow them much scope for error. With that in mind, below are five defenders that took their time to get going in the English top flight, but eventually turned into veritable superstars.
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5. Patrice Evra – Manchester United
The France international struggled to adapt to the English game immediately upon his arrival from Monaco back in 2006, and suffered a virtual humiliation on his debut. He was substituted at half-time when the side were 2-0 down to cross-city neighbours Manchester City. However, he got to grips with the demands soon after and became a cornerstone of their defence until he left for Juventus over the summer.
4. Fabricio Coloccini – Newcastle United
The Argentine arrived at St James’ Park with a big price tag and an even bigger reputation, though it took a while for him to live up to it. He was largely at fault for his side’s 5-1 mauling at the hands of Liverpool during his first campaign, but is now widely considered one of the club’s best players. His absence for the majority of the 2012/13 season showed just how much they rely on him.
3. Kolo Toure – Arsenal
It wasn’t that he wasn’t talented, but more a case of not knowing when to rein himself in, as his runaway train style of play often left him, and the side, vulnerable at the back. He made a surefire recovery, though, and 12 years down the line he can look to the two league titles and three FA Cup wins to be certain of his success in the English top flight.
2. Nemanja Vidic – Manchester United
Having joined the club during the January transfer window of 2006, the giant Serb found himself in and out of the United starting line up for the remainder of his first season. However, as he adapted to life in England he formed a strong understanding with Rio Ferdinand, which was virtually unbreakable until they both moved on over the summer.
1. Gareth Bale – Tottenham Hotspur
Now up there as one of the best players in the world, but when he joined Spurs life wasn’t so easy. Starting out as a left-back, it took the flying Welshman two years, three managers and 25 games to experience his first league win. He then spent the next couple of years carrying the team through an impressive European run.
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