The Best Three Left Midfielders of the 2008-09 Premier League Season
A problem position for some with left footed players being rarer than right, but for those who do get it right the left winger can be the spear head of any attack. In this review I will reveal some of the best left wingers in the Premier League this season…
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Below are my three nominations for left winger of the season…
Ashley Young
He is the PFA’s Young Player of the Year and was nothing short of deadly for Aston Villa in the first half of their campaign. As Villa dropped form later so did Young, but not enough that he wasn’t still a threat. With seven league goals he’s racked up a decent tally, but it has been his 9 assists that have made him such a weapon. He’s also been particularly useful when it comes to winning free kicks and corners for Villa.
Once described as ‘world class’ by manager Martin O’Neil, Young is quick and skilful with a great eye for a pass and a rather decent crossing ability. He won two player of the month awards this season, one for September and one for December, after really flaunting his exploits in some terrific performances for Villa. This also made him the first player ever to win three player of the month awards in a year after winning one in April of the season before. Young’s biggest asset is his flair and it is this that has made him such a force in the Premier League this season.
Matthew Taylor
This season Taylor has been Bolton’s Mr consistent, and with 10 league goals he has been an asset in attack. This goal tally is the first time that Taylor has scored double figures in a Premier League season. He also scored the 50th goal of his career in early October against West Ham, in what has been one of the best seasons that Taylor has ever had. Calls for Taylor to be tested in the England squad have been ongoing throughout his career, though they have been given added strength by his excellent performances this season.
Taylor is famed largely through his often terrific shooting ability that has won him a number of wonder goals through the years. Taylor also has a decent amount of pace and skill, and is a particularly hard working player who will often go the distance to help his teams cause. This season his presence has made Bolton a more dangerous side, and his consistency has meant that he has rarely ever put a foot wrong. All in all he’s a terrific player in terrific form and well deserving of a spot amongst the top three left wingers of the season.
Steven Pienaar
Pienaar is a player that has got better and better as the season has gone on. In particular he has formed a pretty solid link with Baines on the left for Everton that has proved to be a definite asset. Pienaar hasn’t scored as many as other left wingers this season with only 2 goals, but what he’s lacked on the score sheet he’s made up for in tenacity. Everton club captain Phill Neville has gone far enough to say that “He has been our best player by an absolute mile.”
Pienaar’s prized attribute for Everton this season has been his desire to win the ball. This desire has helped to put Everton on the front foot time and time again, and has contributed well to Everton’s Europa League spot finish. The quality of the two goals he scored have shown that he does have a ability to finish, and will probably look to improve on that next season. In all he’s turned out to be an excellent replacement for the injured Arteta and looks set to have a good career ahead of him at Everton.
