The midfield is the arguably the most important zone in any game. The sheer amount of players in the zone as well as the influence exerted by constructive possession is key in this zone and it has clearly been recognised by the Premier League teams as they spend the most in this zone than any other. Players like De Bruyne and Pedro include some of those acquisitions with eye watering money offered for their services. Here we look at the ten of the best at their positions in this list.
10. Leroy Fer
Leroy Fer was the most important player for Queen’s Park Rangers over their disastrous season resulting in their relegation to the Championship. The team had hinged themselves only on the capabilities of Charlie Austin and this Dutch midfielder, hoping to stay afloat in the ever competitive Premier League and Fer’s performances were worthy of the recognition he later received by the big clubs wanting to snatch him away from the R’s. A most impressive aspect of his play is his ability to both attack and defend. He is adept at playing a splitting pass as well as making a crunching tackle on a player trying to counter his team. His impressive physical attributes made him a player in the mould of Yaya Toure. Although he was not as good as the Ivorian, he was as important to the Rangers as Toure is to the City team. His performances merited a better result than ignominious relegation but his talent has been spotted now and his class verified.
9. Ross Barkley
Barkley started the year with a relative whimper but has converted into the beast of a player we expected him to become over the new season. He is setting up goals, scoring some himself as well as making crucial defensive contributions in areas of need. He also has the indomitable English characteristic of not shying away when the boots are flying and does give back what he receives often. The most impressive capability he possesses is his shot which is sweetly struck more often than not and a long range shot from the edge of the area is steadily becoming a Barkley classic. Considering the immense talent he possesses, just in his early twenties, it is definite that he will be lured by a bigger club over the next couple of years, earning the Merseyside club a huge compensation for his services.
8. Christian Eriksen
The talented Dane is the most important cog in the Spurs’ midfield and has picked them out from sticky situations more often than not. The Ajax graduate has been immense, displaying his class and composure at every opportunity he can. He has been the single most influential player after Willian from free kicks over the last calendar year and has a tremendous creative influence passed on by the Dutch passmasters. With a single pass he can change the course of the match and the amount of chances he creates is simply ridiculous. With his assistance, Harry Kane was able to establish himself as one of the best English strikers out there and that glorious combination will clearly continue bearing fruit for Spurs considering the consistent results they obtain by this brilliant playmaker.
7. Riyad Mahrez
The Algerian was an under the radar signing for Leicester City but has shown what a proper scouting network can achieve if backed by a capable technical director. The playmaker has dazzled for Leicester this season and has been a threat every single time he has taken to the pitch in the current season. One of the two players making sure that Leicester stay at or near the top of the table, he is widely expected to leave the club this very winter because of his immense talent as well as the huge advantage of him not being cup tied for Champion’s League matches. He has been showing his class with that glorious left foot, curling in goals as well as crosses from his preferred right wing and has been extremely at turning defenders inside out from this position. He has greatness waiting for him if he can keep up this level of performance consistently.
6. Dimitri Payet
The temperamental Frenchman has been at the forefront of West Ham’s successes this season and has displayed a ridiculous dribbling abilities, complete with superb skills as well as a great eye for a pass. His through balls have been second to only Ozil over the course of the current season, a great achievement for any player, let alone a newcomer to the Premier League. With him touching the age of thirty, it might not be very financially sound for another club to snatch him away from the Hammers who have greatly benefitted from buying this player at his prime for a real bargain. He can become another member of the list of classy midfielders having plied their trade for the London club in their rich history if he manages to keep up these performances and stays relatively injury free.
5. Alexis Sanchez
The Chilean has been a firecracker. He is the sole reason why Arsenal were not in the state Chelsea currently find themselves in, over the last season. He can score delicious volleys as well as furious free kicks and is the one single player Arsenal look to when they are in trouble. He had lost his touch over the new season and is currently out injured but is the most potent threat for the Gunners. He has also been great at providing assists and was one of the only two contenders for the Player of the Year award, losing out to the effervescent Eden Hazard. It was an impressive showing for a debut campaign and had continued since his introduction into the new season but his injury as well as a relatively more number of matches where he has failed to make an impact makes him finish at a relatively disappointing fifth for the calendar year.
4. Mesut Ozil
Ozil has been on fire over the new season, single handedly taking the Gunners to the top of the table over the new years’ eve. The German has already assisted fifteen goals over the new season and has impressive goals to add to his playmaking skills. He had disappointed for Arsenal over the previous season but has recovered and toughened up to unleash his creative eye on the Premier League. He seems to be returning to the level he had achieved while at Real Madrid and if that holds true, across the season, there can be a serious argument for Gunners to win the league over the current season, especially with Giroud making sure that all the chances created don’t go to waste.
3. Eden Hazard
A strong case could be made against him ending the year at this position but we have to take into account the whole calendar year and not just the current season. Hazard over the first half of the year was simply phenomenal and displayed dribbling qualities only matched by the likes of Lionel Messi. He was the single most important reason why Chelsea strolled to the title last season instead of suffering a slump in performances due to Costa and Fabregas’ failure to recombine. The Belgian had assists, goals and solo efforts in his armoury and still continues to be the most terrifying player for opponent defences as he recovers his form under Hiddink. He is a true world class talent and as soon as he is over his current slump, he will climb back to the absolute top he was at over the previous season at Chelsea.
2. Santi Cazorla
Cazorla came over at Arsenal from Malaga and has changed their midfield completely since then. He has played in almost all the positions over the board and has been the most influential player over the last two seasons for Arsenal. He is touching the end of his prime and might soon regress to mean but his performances already merit him a place amongst the better midfielders to ply their trade for the North London club. He currently plays at a deeper position than Ozil and has excelled at the role even with his rather frail frame. He makes up for it with dogged determination and a very high work rate. The most important part of his game is distribution and it is so rare to see him misplace a pass. Whether it’s a cross field pass or a simple sideways swipe, he will have no qualms and will make sure there is exactly the right amount of weight behind the pass. A class player, it is a shame that he will be out for another couple of months.
1. Fernandinho
The Brazilian has been a relatively low key purchase for the Sky Blues but has been the most consistent player in the league for the whole of his tenure at the oil money club. He has been simply undroppable and gives complete control over the midfield to the Citizens with impressive tackling, decent dribbling and great distribution. He has been more important than the legendary Yaya Toure for the last two seasons, this simply says it all. With his defensive covering capabilities, it is possible for Toure to bomb on ahead like he prefers and this results in ominous predicaments for the opposing defences. He is clearly the best midfielder over the last calendar year simply due to the extremely high standard he has set over the year and his ability to perform consistently at this level, often chipping in with delightful goals over the course of the season.