Players who caught the eye profiled
(the number before a player's name indicates his overall ranking among the 403
players)
12 W ROONEY Manchester United, forward Pitch time 87.13%
Time-adjusted points 9.20
Has not distinguished himself for his country recently, but 14 Premiership
goals was a solid effort from Rooney, only two fewer than he managed in
2005-06.
Inevitably, the excellence of his Manchester United teammate, Cristiano
Ronaldo, has overshadowed Rooney’s impressive efforts.
4 P CECH Chelsea, goalkeeper Pitch time 50.15% Time-adjusted
points 14.41
The goalkeeper was badly missed by Chelsea during his three-month absence
because of a serious head injury suffered against Reading in October.
Shortly after his return, he recorded eight successive clean sheets in the
Premiership and showed that he had lost none of his elasticity and bravery.
121 R FOWLER Liverpool, forward Pitch time 15.29% Time-adjusted
points 1.63
Fowler would once have expected to feature in the top ten of any such list,
but his career is petering out. One of the greatest English goalscorers, he
failed to score a Premiership goal for Liverpool from open play this season.
39 T HENRY Arsenal, forward Pitch time 44.29% Time-adjusted
points 5.48
A poor season for Arsenal and their captain, by their high standards. Before
his season was ended by injury, Henry did manage ten goals in 17 league
games.
22 D BERBATOV Tottenham Hotspur, forward Pitch time 78.27%
Time-adjusted points 7.97
The Bulgaria striker enjoyed an outstanding debut season in England,
impressing with his creativity and precise finishing, although he does not
quite make it into our top 20. Berbatov’s partnership with Robbie Keane was
highly fruitful.
84 S SIDWELL Reading, midfield player Pitch time 92.91%
Time-adjusted points 2.95
Chelsea have just signed Sidwell on a Bosman free transfer. While he is
unlikely to dislodge Michael Ballack, Frank Lampard and friends, the
midfield player is clearly an above-average Premiership performer.
82 D JAMES Portsmouth, goalkeeper Pitch time 100% Time-adjusted
points 3.07
His excellent performances garnered some buzz, but Steve McClaren, the England
head coach, decided not to recall the 36-year-old. Considering how poorly
Paul Robinson fared in our rankings, perhaps McClaren should think again.
46 K DYER Newcastle United, midfield player Pitch time 48.02%
Time-adjusted points 5.03
A typical season for the injury-prone Dyer, his eighth at Newcastle United. He
made only three league appearances before mid-December.
356 D VASSELL Manchester City, forward Pitch time 74.29%
Time-adjusted points -5.10
The striker made four appearances for England at the 2004 European
Championship, but has scored only 18 Premiership goals since then, including
three in 32 games this season.
394 D HENDERSON Watford, forward Pitch time 64.89% Time-adjusted
points -9.87
A long-term injury to Marlon King left a large goalscoring burden on Henderson
at Watford, but, despite playing regularly, he broke his duck only in
February.
FIVE OF THE BEST
Key: Ranking, Player, Pitch time, Time-adjusted points, Team
Goalkeepers
4 Petr Cech 50.15% 14.41 Chelsea
5 Jens Lehmann 97.30% 13.94 Arsenal
7 Tim Howard 94.59% 12.96 Everton
14 Brad Friedel 98.61% 9.06 Blackburn
17 José Manuel Reina 94.56% 8.47 Liverpool
Defenders
8 Nemanja Vidic 66.11% 10.48 Man United
11 Rio Ferdinand, 90.28% 9.37 Man United
15 Ricardo Carvalho 81.45% 8.52 Chelsea
20 Linvoy Primus 91.74% 8.08 Portsmouth
21 Sylvain Distin 97.27% 8.03 Man City
Midfield players
1 Cristiano Ronaldo 85.12% 19.12 Man United
2 Frank Lampard 97.31% 16.24 Chelsea
3 Gilberto Silva 88.14% 16.01 Arsenal
6 Paul Scholes 79.10% 13.50 Man United
10 Alexander Hleb 68.14% 9.87 Arsenal
Forwards
9 Benni McCarthy 88.98% 9.91 Blackburn
12 Wayne Rooney 87.13% 9.20 Man United
18 Robbie Keane 47.53% 8.19 Tottenham
19 Didier Drogba 88.09% 8.14 Chelsea
22 Dimitar Berbatov 78.27% 7.97 Tottenham
FIVE OF THE WORST
Key: Ranking, Player, Pitch time, Time-adjusted points, Team
Goalkeepers
344 Antti Niemi 80.21% -4.42 Fulham
381 Paddy Kenny 88.35% -7.16 Sheff Utd
383 Jussi Jaaskelainen 100.00% -7.44 Bolton
391 Ben Foster 74.32% -9.77 Watford
402 Paul Robinson, 100.00% -12.03 Tottenham
Defenders
390 Graeme Murty 59.58% -9.68 Reading
393 Leighton Baines 90.87% -9.85 Wigan
396 Nicky Shorey 97.30% -11.14 Reading
397 Phil Neville 90.78% -11.15 Everton
398 Nicky Hunt 78.98% -11.29 Bolton
Midfield players
377 Gary O'Neil 90.60% -6.61 Portsmouth
378 Kevin Kilbane 70.84% -6.67 Wigan
380 Keith Gillespie 68.83% -6.69 Sheff Utd
389 Matthew Etherington 60.81% -8.64 West Ham
395 Gavin Mahon 88.23% -10.58 Watford
Forwards
394 Darius Henderson 64.89% -9.87 Watford
399 El-Hadji Diouf 80.72% -11.59 Bolton
400 Tommy Smith 75.68% -11.77 Watford
401 David Bentley 89.35% -11.82 Blackburn
403 Kevin Davies 73.24% -14.08 Bolton
TEAM OF THE YEAR
Key: Player, Team, Time-adjusted points
Goalkeepers
Petr Cech Chelsea 14.41
Defenders
Nemanja Vidic Manchester United 10.48
Rio Ferdinand Manchester United 9.37
Ricardo Carvalho Chelsea 8.52
Linvoy Primus Portsmouth 8.08
Midfield players
Cristiano Ronaldo Manchester United 19.12
Frank Lampard Chelsea 16.24
Gilberto Silva Arsenal 16.01
Paul Scholes Manchester United 13.50
Forwards
Benny McCarthy Blackburn Rovers 9.91
Wayne Rooney Manchester United 9.20
Substitutes
Jens Lehmann Arsenal G 13.94
Alexander Hleb Arsenal M 9.87
Cesc Fàbregas Arsenal M 9.19
Michael Essien Chelsea M 8.50
Robbie Keane Tottenham F 8.19
