Liverpool, Bolton Wanderers, Manchester United, Wolves, and Chelsea players feature in our list.
Have these players been a success this season? They may have ended it in form, but that doesn’t quite tell the full story…
Andy Carroll
A strong finish to the season has seen Andy Carroll touted for the England squad at Euro 2012, with Steven Gerrard his biggest fan. It’s fine to suggest it, but it does not mean it should happen. Carroll’s FA Cup performances have been impressive, but in the league he has been highly inconsistent, scoring just four league goals all season. Does a late flourish in a couple of high profile games make up for a season of poor showings? No it doesn’t, and we hope Hodgson is not swayed to pick him in front of a more deserving man like Grant Holt who has performed well all season.
Martin Petrov
Martin Petrov has risen to the plate for Bolton over the last month, but it may not be enough to save his side from relegation. Since March 31 he has scored three goals (two penalties) and provided three assists and has been the club’s most productive player. But prior to that you have to go back to September 17 for his most recent goal. In that six month period in between he assisted three goals but was inconsistent as Bolton sunk to the bottom of the table. Had he, and his teammates, been in better form over the course of the season, then they may not be sitting in the relegation zone. It may be unfair to single out Petrov here, as he is one who has shown his capability at times where others haven’t, but that makes the previous months even more frustrating.
David de Gea
Harsh? Hear us out. Had David de Gea found his form sooner, United would probably have won the league. Since February he has been superb, but prior to that, he took a while to settle. One game which will stand out is Blackburn Rovers at home. De Gea was culpable of poor goalkeeping which led to Blackburn forcing home three goals, and saw United slip to a surprising 3-2 loss. The lines between success and failure at the very top level are so fine, and De Gea will be glad at how he ended his season, but will rue not finding his form earlier.
Matt Jarvis
The Wolves winger won an England cap this time last season, but seems well out of contention for a spot one year on. Jarvis has been really underwhelming this season, left out by Mick McCarthy on occasions, and only decided to spring into life when Wolves had been condemned to relegation. Against Swansea when the pressure was off, he scored two goals in a spurring fightback to finish 4-4, serving a reminder of what he can do. Too little too late we’re afraid.
Jon Obi Mikel
There have been many players who have produced comebacks under Roberto Di Matteo, which could save their careers at Chelsea. The jury is still out on Jon Obi Mikel. Does two good months outweigh two bad years? Mikel was typical of the lack type of immobile player Villas-Boas wanted to move on from the club’s midfield, and he may well have been heading for the exit door in the summer. He might have done enough to avoid that- but has saved his best performances for the cups and not the league, and increased competition will come in for a first team spot this summer. If he, and his Chelsea teammates had found form sooner, perhaps Champions League qualification would already have been secured. Despite his FA Cup winners medal and impressive displays against Barcelona, he still has a lot of convincing to do next season.
Which of these five would you argue have in fact been a success? Who else has waited until the end of the season to hit form?
image: © wonker
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