With the year coming to a close, here’s the time to have a look back on the past twelve months of intense action delivered by the Barclays Premier League. This list comprises of the top 10 defenders over the calendar year in the EPL and has all the usual culprits but also a couple of unexpected faces popping up in surprising positions.
10. Hector Bellerin
The Young Spaniard, signed from le Masia has taken the Premier League by storm and has been a fixture in the Arsenal squad ever since he impressed one and all with his debut. He is easily the quickest defender in the league, if not the world and utilises this immense physical blessing to atone for his occasional defensive errors. He has kept out Mathieu Debuchy from the Arsenal squad, no mean feat considering he joined Arsenal for top dollar in just the previous transfer window. With his age, he can only get better and improve his positional and disciplinary records over the next few years. If he maintains that level of player over this stretch of his career, he can easily go on to be a legend at Emirates. He can be a true successor to Ashley Cole as a quality defender blossoming at a tender age.
9. Cedric Soares
This most intriguing player was signed by Southampton to replace Nathaniel Clyne at the Right Back position and it would be an understatement to say that he has performed very well as the immediate replacement. The young Portuguese has shone in all the matches he has played this season and has, in fact, played much better than the same player he was meant to replace. He is a finished article and would be an under the radar player for most of the scouts for the big clubs. He is also a shining example of Southampton’s astute transfer policy and is a reminder to all the big clubs that a proper management structure in a club is invaluable. With his current performances, it is very clear that he will outgrow the South Coast club soon and would probably be snapped up by one of the bigger clubs in the upcoming transfer windows but would definitely command a transfer fee worthy of his talents considering the importance of his role at the Welsh club.
8. Kurt Zouma
The young Frenchman is the best young defender in the league. Ever since Mourinho dropped Cahill for Zouma, there has been no looking back to the point that he is the de facto starter in the Chelsea squad ahead of Terry as well as Cahill. A monstrous physique and immense pace is what separates him from the rest and like Bellerin, has his occasional lapses of concentration, albeit with a much lesser frequency due to his much higher discipline. He is a nailed on starter for Chelsea in the future and is also definitely going to be a legend if he plays to the standards he has upheld so far. The list of players to have been kept at bay by the man mountain is simply impressive and includes superstars like Aguero, Sterling, Martial and Kane. His recovery of the ball with last ditch tackles is also nothing short of spectacular. The future is bright for Chelsea if they manage to pair him up with another young centre-back who would be a capable partner for this prodigy. Also the fact that his middle name is Happy makes him instantly a cult hit.
7. John Stones
Another young defender who has emerged rapidly over the last season, Stones is the de facto starter for Everton alongside Jagielka and has been instrumental in saving their blushes more often than not. He is a defender in a side which rest on their attacking principles and hence would not have as many impressive clean sheets but does have immense talent and it is fair to say that Everton would’ve conceded much more if not for the talented English International. He was most importantly the subject of a 40 million bid by Chelsea over the past transfer window, which was rejected by the Everton board. It goes to show how highly rated he is if he is mooted to be the successor to the legendary John Terry. A feature he could work on is his slight frame and this would help him get the better of physical strikers along with the quick ones. He has decent tackling skills along with astute positioning. He can mature into a leader on the pitch and would be a very valuable addition to any team which would end up affording his services.
6. Vincent Kompany
The Manchester City legend has had a terrible spell with injuries but has shown that he is still one of their most important players as City have struggled tremendously with his absence. Kompany is a quality player and would definitely had been amongst the top three if not for the unimpressive start to 2015 as well as the alarmingly frequent injuries sustained by the Belgian captain over the year. Tackling, positioning and leading, he can do it all. He also is an aerial beast and practises the dark arts in tackling, often leaving strikers in a heap with a strong challenge early in the game to let them know who they are up against.
5. John Terry
The defender of the season last year has dropped his performances along with the team over the new season with Terry looking like he could be done once and for all at the wrong side of the thirties. A player always devoid of pace, it is impressive how he owns his area and uses his immense positioning skills to cut out passing lanes and channels to run into for the opposing strikers. The most underappreciated skill he possesses is his distribution, he can loft a ball with either foot, right across the field with pinging balls. A timeless image in English football comprises of John Terry blocking a close-range shot from the opponent. He is second to none in that regard and has saved Chelsea many a blushes with his contributions.
4. Winston Reid
The New Zealand international has been one of the main reasons for West Ham’s meteoric rise in the table under Bilic. He has gone from strength to strength ever since coming up with the Hammers from the championship and is one of the hidden gems in the Premier League. He commands the defensive line, tackles immaculately and has a great understanding of the game. Also, his passing ability is well over the average mark and could make the cut at a bigger club if given the chance.
3. Chris Smalling
The Manchester United youngster has been handed the key to the defence by Louis van Gaal and he has more than justified that confidence with brilliant displays over the last calendar year. A major component in his recipe for success is the immense physicality he has developed. He simply won’t be bullied off the ball and is more than capable to hold his own against the most physical of strikers. Also, a great ball playing ability has made him indispensable to van Gaal who expects his teams to build up from the back.
2. Cesar Azpilicueta
The best overall defender in the league if Chelsea had been any better in their showings over the new season. The only reason Koscielny takes the top spot is because of Arsenal having a much better season than the Blues. Mourinho famously said that he could win the Champions league with eleven Azpilicuetas and with his all action play, it is not hard to see why. In all his matches, he simply owns his wing and doesn’t afford the opposing forward a single yard. Also, turning him inside out is the possibly the hardest task for an opposing winger. The fact that he bombs ahead to support Pedro/Hazard as well as comes back always on time to stifle opposing attacks is nothing short of commendable for the diminutive Spaniard. The only discernible weakness in his game is the lack of aerial prowess, although that might be a bit harsh for a full back. The best left back in the league has held his own even as Chelsea as a unit have struggled and is one of the sole reasons why almost all the opponent goals come exclusively from the opposing flanks.
1. Koscielny
Laurent Koscielny was signed as a relatively unknown player in the French league by Wenger and has turned out to be one of the buys of his career. The impressive Frenchman is the bedrock of the Gunners’ defence and is the main reason why they are still in the title race over the festive season as, without his immense composure at the back, Arsenal are extremely shoddy in defence. He is an aerial beast and chips in with the occasional goal at the other end too while he wins almost all of his aerial duels against the opposing strikers. A complete defender and one who has been the most consistent over the last year, Koscielny deserves to be the best amongst the hard men of the Premier League. Any player who beats the likes of Terry, Kompany and Azpilicueta in the defending department deserves all the plaudits he receives and hats off to Wenger for spotting this brilliant talent from across the channel.