The Premier League last season was one of the most exciting leagues to watch with Chelsea and Tottenham pulling away from the chasing packs. While the likes of Harry Kane, Eden Hazard and N’Golo Kante took away all the plaudits. there were some players who surprised everyone with their performances.
The league in England is known for its competitiveness and is often claimed as the “most competitive league in the world”. Used to throwing up surprises with the most recent being Leicester City winning the title in a spirited 2015/16 campaign.
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There were some players who came out of the blue and took the Premier League by surprise last season. They went toe to toe with the big names and often came out on top. Here are eleven players who surprised us the most this season.
Goalkeeper: Lee Grant
The rise of Jack Butland over the last few seasons meant that Stoke City rarely had a bad game in goal. Thus, when the Potters signed 34-year-old Lee Grant from Derby on loan, not many expected him to guard the Stoke goal with such consistency.
Playing his first season at the top level, Grant performed admirably and exceeded all expectations before the England goalkeeper was back to take his spot.
He recorded 9 clean sheets in 28 appearances for the Potters and was influential in helping his team close matches. His most memorable performance has to be against Manchester United at Old Trafford. Grant made 8 saves in the match as the game ended in 1-1 draw, earning a crucial point for the team from Staffordshire.
Right-back: Victor Moses
A year ago, no one would have imagined Victor Moses winning a Premier League medal. Since his move to Chelsea from Wigan Athletic, his career had been constantly spiraling down. After spending a solitary season at Stamford Bridge, the Nigerian was considered surplus and was shipped out to various clubs on loan each season. And not many would have expected the winger to play for the Blues again.
However, like Chelsea, Moses too experienced a renaissance after Antonio Conte came in. With the Italian mastermind preferring to involve wing-backs in his starting eleven, the Nigerian international was offered a more defensive role than he has ever played. The rest, as they say, is history.
Moses made 34 appearances and scored three goals as Chelsea would go on to lose only three games in which he was involved – showing how important he was to the team. The pace winger added discipline to his game and won 81 percent of his tackles a Premier Lague winner’s medal.
Centre-Back: Ben Gibson
Middlesbrough had a torrid season on their return to first division football as they finished 19th, only four points above 20th placed Sunderland. While they were decent in defence, their main struggles were in the opposition half of the pitch. Middlesbrough scored only 27 goals in all of their matches – lowest for any team in the Premier League this season.
Boro had a defensive approach under Aitor Karanka and one player pivotal to their performance was central defender Ben Gibson. While most of his teammates were struggling to live up to the challenges of the Premier League, Gibson played like a seasoned veteran. The 24-year-old was the only player for the Teesiders to play in all league matches.
The young defender’s performance though didn’t go unnoticed and he was soon rewarded for his performances as he earned a maiden call-up to the national side in the absence of Chris Smalling and Phil Jones.
Gibson might have to ply his trade in the Championship next season, but a move back to the top flight shouldn’t surprise anyone.
Centre-Back: Ben Mee
Burnley had one of the most stubborn defences this season and the Clarets put in some spirited performances (especially at home) to maintain their top flight status. Their watertight defence meant that they had the highest number of blocks and clearances in the league this season. Burnley finished just two places above the relegation zone. While they struggled to score goals, their defence has to be credited for keeping them in the Premier League.
While Burnley skipper Tom Heaton and young centre-back Michael Keane took away all the plaudits, it was Ben Mee who surprised everyone.
The Manchester City youth product has been a permanent fixture in the Burnley starting eleven for the last couple of seasons now. For a player converting from left back to centre back, his performances were admirable and surpassed all expectations. The 27-year-old recorded the highest number of blocks and second highest number of clearances this season. With Burnley looking to survive another season in the top flight, Mee’s contribution will be important to Sean Dyche’s team.
Left Back – James Milner
Milner signed for Liverpool after his contract at Man City came to an end at the end of 2014/15 season. Considered as good acquisition mainly due to his versatility and the fact that the team lacked experience since the departure of Steven Gerrard, few would have expected him to star as a defender.
He, however, had a hot and cold season at Anfield, to begin with at the heart of the midfield. However, with the arrival of Jurgen Klopp and his brand of “Heavy Metal” football, the England international had to vacate his favoured position at the centre of the park.
Used as a left back this season, the English international impressed everyone with his defensive capabilities. Apart from his new found proficiency in discipline, Milner contributed in 10 of his team’s goals and converted all seven of his penalties, which shows how reliable the veteran is.
The vice-captain of the current Liverpool squad, Milner has surely made an impression on Klopp and should hold onto his position for one more year.
Central midfielder: Idrissa Gueye
Everton finished seventh this season after a fine performance by the Toffees and much of the credit had been given to Belgian striker Romelu Lukaku for his 25 goals. However, one player whose performances went under the radar because of Lukaku’s performance was Idrissa Gueye.
The Senegalese international was signed by Everton for a fee of £7 million last summer after the defensive midfielder failed to make much impact last season for as his former side, Aston Villa – who were relegated. However, that wasn’t to be the case this time round. Ross Barkley has often criticised for his defensive shortcomings, and with Gareth Barry possibly in his last few years, Gueye fit in perfectly in Ronald Koeman’s eleven.
The 27-year-old provided the perfect defensive cover for the likes of Barkley and Lukaku and protected his back four. The fact that Gueye had more successful tackles than N’Golo Kante, proves his worth to the Merseyside club. Apart from that, the Senegalese international recovered the ball more times than the Premier League Player of the Year and had a better tackle success percentage.
While Everton might have trouble in front of goal with Lukaku rumoured to leave them. Their midfield is well secure with the Gueye and his everlasting energy.
Centre midfield: Oriol Romeu
Romeu spent his first season at Southampton under the shadows of Victor Wanyama, who was their chief central destroyer at that time. But Wanyama’s move to Spurs meant that the Spanish midfielder would now have to play a more important role at the heart of the midfield.
The 25-year-old stepped in and fulfilled what was asked of him. Along with Virgil van Dijk, he made sure that the Saints reach the EFL Cup final. A product of the famous La Masia academy, Romeu made the third highest amount of tackles after Idrissa Gueye and N’Golo Kante in the Premier League season.
For a player who was not guaranteed first team football two years ago, his rise has been phenomenal. The Spanish midfielder was rightly awarded as the club’s Player of the Season award. Should he continue with his fine performances, a call-up to the national call-up may not be far off.
Right-wing: Matt Phillips
Matt Phillips’ first season in the Premier League season with QPR was a disappointing one, as the team from London got relegated. However, his performances caught the eye of Tony Pulis who snapped up Phillips and Nacer Chadli in order to solve the team’s attacking woes last summer. While Chadli was West Brom’s marquee signing, it was Phillips who turned more than a few eyeballs.
The Scottish international impressed everyone on his return to the Premier League. With four goals and eight assists to his name, he was one of the best in the league in created opportunities – better than Philippe Coutinho and David Silva in terms of numbers.
His progress from League Two to a regular premier league starter has been inspirational and the 25-year-old would look to carry on with his fine form for the Baggies next season.
Left Winger: Son Heung-Min
Tottenham have had an impressive couple of seasons, finishing in the top three under the watchful eyes of Mauricio Pochettino. And one man imperative to their success in 2016/17 was South Korean international Son Heung-Min.
Signed from Bayer Leverkusen at the start of the 2015/16 season, Son was expected to partner Eriksen and Harry Kane upfront, but he struggled to get into the starting XI.
Son made 28 appearances in his first season at White Hart Lone with 15 of those coming from the bench. Compared to that, he made 34 appearances last season, starting in 31 of them. The winger scored 14 and assisted six goals as Hotspurs had the best home record in the Premier League.
Son was easily the most improved player in the Premier League this season, and not many would have expected him to deliver with such consistency.
Forward: Joshua King
When a striker is involved in 33 percent of a team’s goals, you know he is special. Josh King took the Premier League by storm as he recorded a personal best tally of 16 goals last season. Inspired by their striker, the Ian Howe’s men had their best ever season in the English top flight.
His goal scoring exploits ensured that Bournemouth stays in the top flight for one more year as the Cherries displayed great spirit and grit to finish above the likes of West Ham, Leicester and Stoke City.
The rise of the 25-year-old has turned a lot of eyeballs and linked him with top clubs such as Tottenham. With a good temperament and pace at his disposal, King could fit in well for a top English club.
Forward: Manolo Gabbiadini
One of the best January signings of the season, Manolo Gabbiadini become a fan favourite at the St Mary’s in no time.
The Italian striker showed promise ever since he started his career at Atlanta but couldn’t perform with the same consistency at the top level. Not so successful spells at Sampdoria and Napoli meant that his stock among the Serie A clubs was falling, and a change of scenery was just what the doctor ordered.
In January 2017, Southampton signed him in order to solve their goal scoring woes. Gabbiadini had a terrific start to his Southampton career as he scored on his Premier League debut against West Ham. And then went on to become the first Saints player to score in each of his first four matches for the club. His fine display against Manchester United in the EFL Cup final almost turned the tide in his team’s favour.
The 25-year-old striker ended up with four goals in 11 premier league appearances before missing out due to injury. In the short span he was involved, he surprised a lot of people and has sent out a warning to teams before the start of next season.
