The F365 Players Of The Season - Part One

The season is officially over now, so who did well, and who was a great big disaster for their respective clubs?


ARSENAL
Player Of The Season: Robin van Persie
In a season that was ultimately extremely disappointing for Arsenal, the consistency of Van Persie was a bright, bright spot. Andriy Arshavin certainly made a lot of noise when he arrived, but Arsenal look a much more dangerous proposition with the Dutchman in the side. The question remains though - where does he fit in Arsene Wenger's 4-2-3-1 formation if Cesc Fabregas is to play in an advanced role?
Let Down Of The Season: Emmanuel Adebayor
Feels odd writing this about someone who scored 16 goals, but there can rarely have been so much ire directed towards such a (statistically) successful player. Many Emirates regulars will be only too happy to drive him to Heathrow this summer.
Breakthrough/Newbie Of The Season: Alex Song
The obvious answer to this would be Andriy Arshavin, but while his arrival in February certainly galvanised Arsenal's attacking force, Song arguably was more important over the whole season. The worrying thing for Arsenal fans is that Arsene Wenger still seems to regard him as a centre-half for the future, rather than a spoiling midfielder for the present.
They Could've Done With...: A big, ugly centre-back
Brede Hangeland? He's the first that springs to mind, but they desperately need someone to organise their defence.


ASTON VILLA
Player Of The Season: Ashley Young
Like most of his teammates, Young's form dipped as Villa limped towards the end of the season, but that should not detract from his sterling play pre-shambles. Play that was so good he inspired Fabio Capello to comment that he, James Milner and Gaby Agbonlahor were the future of English football in December.
Let Down Of The Season: Steve Sidwell
£5million for 16 not terribly good performances? Enough said, although there is clearly still a decent player lurking under that ginger bonce, so should not be written off. Indeed, should Gareth Barry leave in the summer he may yet be given another chance.
Breakthrough/Newbie Of The Season: Stiliyan Petrov
Maligned by some Villa fans before this season, Petrov has improved immeasurably, so much so that he was named both players' and fans' player of the season. A calming yet dynamic presence in the Villa midfield, he will be crucial if Villa are to crack on next season.
They Could've Done With...: A fit Wilfried Bouma
It's not that Bouma is a particularly brilliant left-back (although he is underrated), more that his absence forced the Villa manager to play an out-of-position Luke Young or a deeply, deeply average Nicky Shorey in his stead for the whole season. Martin Laursen staying fit for the whole season would have helped too - his last game (for good, as it turned out) was on January 10, and their shoddy run began soon after. He'll be missed, and not just by Villa.


BLACKBURN ROVERS
Player Of The Season: Stephen Warnock
Blackburn's best player in three different positions, it's actually a shame for the national side that Warnock has been converted into an excellent midfielder, rather than remaining an excellent left-back. That's of no concern to Sam Allardyce, for whom Warnock is invaluable.
Let Down Of The Season: Paul Ince
It seems so long ago that Ince was being hailed as the great young hope of English management. In fact, he still might be, but this early failure has set his career back by a couple of years. And it's not really his fault. If ever there was a case of too much, too young, it's Ince. Promoted above his (current) ability and experience by Rovers chairman John Williams, Ince's lack of savvy was brutally exposed in his transfer dealings (Robbie Fowler, anyone?), his tactics (that Match Of The Day shot of his notepad with the word 'Shoot' written on it will stick in the memory) and temperament. He may well be back, and hopefully when he's really ready.
Breakthrough/Newbie Of The Season: El Hadji Diouf
Oh you can't stand him, we can't stand him, but you can't deny he's effective. Almost exactly the same can be said for the manager, too.
They Could've Done With...: A fully fit, committed Roque Santa Cruz
Made only 17 appearances for various reasons, and scored four goals, Santa Cruz probably didn't expect to even play that many times for Rovers, such was the transfer talk last summer. Him hinting at a move every time a microphone is in earshot was a hugely unwanted distraction too.


BOLTON WANDERERS
Player Of The Season: Kevin Davies
Big, brutal and effective, Davies more or less personifies Bolton. In these days of the non-scoring striker (TM, Emile Heskey), it's no surprise that Davies damn near received an England call-up earlier in the year, and would provide a better alternative to Heskey in Capello's apparent Plan A than, say, Peter Crouch. A tally of 11 goals is excellent for a side in Bolton's position, and as long as Davies keeps playing like this, Bolton should be okay for a while yet.
Let Down Of The Season: Fabrice Muamba
We were amazed to see that Muamba actually played 33 times in the Premier League. Amazed because he's been a colossal disappointment, providing nothing like value for the £5million paid to Birmingham last summer. Those comparisons to Patrick Vieira are only accurate when in reference to their appearance.
Breakthrough/Newbie Of The Season: Matty Taylor
Purchased last January, Taylor has been excellent in his first full season, and he'll curse that there are so many in front of him for the England left-sided spot. Ten league goals in 33 is a fantastic record for a midfielder, and he has compensated for the relative lack of strikes from elsewhere...
They Could've Done With...: Some more goals from elsewhere
Beyond Taylor and Davies, the next highest scorer was Johan Elmander with five. Not a great return for £11million, and with a few more contributions from elsewhere Bolton may have pushed for a top-half finish.


CHELSEA
Player Of The Season: Frank Lampard
Slipping under the radar a little when the awards were handed out, Lampard has been tremendous for Chelsea this season, and is making it extremely hard for Capello to drop him for the good of his England tactics. With Deco poor in the latter part of the season, Michael Essien injured and Michael Ballack seemingly regressing from his form of last season, the creative burden has been almost entirely on Lampard, and he's stepped up very nicely indeed. All the more remarkable when one considers his personal problems over the last year.
Let Down Of The Season: Deco
It all looked so good at first. The early-season form suggested that Deco was the missing piece in a Chelsea jigsaw that would sweep the Premier League aside. If jigsaws can do that. Since around November the wee man has been anonymous, and seems likely to rejoin Jose Mourinho in Milan. Will not be a great loss.
Breakthrough/Newbie Of The Season: Jose Bosingwa
Sort of by default really. At the start of the season Bosingwa looked brilliant, a cheaper and only marginally less effective version of Dani Alves. While he has not quite lived up to that form since the early weeks, he still provides a good balance to the Chelsea defence, with Ashley Cole on the other side.
They Could've Done With...: Michael Essien
Imagine what might have been had Essien been fit all season...


EVERTON
Player Of The Season: Phil Jagielka
After moving to the centre of defence last season, Jagielka has proved to be possibly the bargain of the last few years. Brilliant from start to (almost) finish, he has more than made up for Joleon Lescott's very slight dip in form after last season's excellence. Few things can have united fans across the country more than the sympathy shown when Jagielka's knee collapsed in April.
Let Down Of The Season: Yakubu
In a season so good, it's tricky to find a real disappointment, but given Everton had to get by without a striker for long spells, the absence of last season's top scorer must be a great disappointment. Cahill and Fellaini have coped admirably, but they are better deployed elsewhere.
Breakthrough/Newbie Of The Season: Marouane Fellaini
Beneath that hair lies an excellent footballer. Heads were scratched when David Moyes stumped up the thick end of £15million for a young Belgian few of us had heard of in August, but he has proved a remarkably versatile and effective option. Eight goals is a cracking return for a 22-year-old midfielder with no previous 'big league' experience, and all he needs to do now is work on not getting booked quite so much.
They Could've Done With...: Fit strikers
On many occasions the obvious answer is the correct one.


FULHAM
Player Of The Season: Brede Hangeland
A beast, a colossus, a giant at the back. He's been one of our favourite players here at F365 since the back end of last season, and his contribution to Fulham's terrific defensive record is huge. Of course there is plenty of talk of a move away from Craven Cottage, but it's commendable that the big man has said on a number of occasions that he wants to stay where he is. He may still be tempted by promises of cash and trophies, but for the moment we hope not.
Let Down Of The Season: Andy Johnson and Bobby Zamora
Perhaps a little harsh, but Roy Hodgson would surely have hoped for more than nine league goals for his £15-odd million.
Breakthrough/Newbie Of The Season: Mark Schwarzer
The bargain of the decade, Fulham paid not a bean for Schwarzer last summer, and only Pepe Reina, Edwin van der Sar and Petr Cech conceded less than him. Not bad.
They Could've Done With...: A reliable goal-scorer
With a defence as tight and reliable as that, imagine what Fulham could have achieved with a 15-goal forward. Trouble is, the funds that would bring in such a character are simply not available at the Cottage, so Hodgson will most likely have to continue bargain hunting.


HULL CITY
Player Of The Season: Michael Turner
For an indication of the esteem in which Turner is held on Humberside, we point you towards a recent contributor to the F365 Mailbox, who claimed he would take Turner over any centre-half in the Premier League apart from Vidic or Ferdinand. That's higher than Terry, Carragher, Jagielka, Laursen - the lot. However, that Turner has been so good is proof that Phil Brown has some serious work to do with the rest of his defence, given that they finished with the second-worst goals against column in the division.
Let Down Of The Season: Jimmy Bullard
Not necessarily his fault, but Phil Brown took a massive gamble by paying £5million for a player with sketchy knees and huge wages. It was a gamble that, this season at least, failed quite spectacularly, with Bullard's knee popping after just 37 minutes of first-team action.
Breakthrough/Newbie Of The Season: Geovanni
For those moments of brilliance at the start of the season. He's an infuriating sod at the best of times, but without those stunning strikes against Spurs and Arsenal, Hull would be in the Championship now.
They Could've Done With...: Some other defenders
Aside from Turner, Hull's back line has been something of a shambles. So much so, that they were reduced to playing Kevin Kilbane as an auxiliary centre-half on the final day. A new keeper wouldn't go amiss either, what with Brown flitting between Matt Duke and Boaz Myhill throughout the season.


LIVERPOOL
Player Of The Season: Xabi Alonso
Rafa Benitez has said on a number of occasions that he wants to keep Alonso this summer, and Liverpool fans had better hope he means it. The reason that their current formation works so well is that Alonso and Javier Mascherano provide the perfect blend of passing and spoiling to provide a creative base and protect the back four, allowing Steven Gerrard to roam free just behind Fernando Torres. Benitez got lucky when Alonso stayed last summer, going against his plans, and he should not make the mistake of trying to get rid of him again.
Let Down Of The Season: Robbie Keane
That was a weird one, eh? Whether you believe the slightly more outlandish conspiracy theories (that Keane was bought, d**ked around and sold as part of some bizarre power struggle between Benitez and Rick Parry) or not, the simple fact (sorry) is that Keane was sold for a loss a mere six months after being purchased. He was not quite the appalling flop that such a scenario suggests, but he must still be regarded as a failure.
Breakthrough/Newbie Of The Season: Yossi Benayoun
The conventional wisdom is that Benayoun was the archetypal Benitez signing - a 7/10 player who would do a solid job but not contribute an awful lot. However, a stat for you; The Israeli started 21 league games last season and scored eight goals.
They Could've Done With...: Back-up for Gerrard/Torres
And not, as The Sunday Mirror suggested, Michael Owen.

Nick Miller

Don't fret, Part Two will appear as if by magic on Tuesday...