Behind these men, Owen pushed the case for Sunderland’s Simon Mignolet as the year’s outstanding ‘keeper, as well as name checking Manchester United’s fast-improving David De Gea and his club-mate Asmir Begovic.
How about another Spur, Hugo Lloris? The Frenchman, after surmounting the not inconsiderable hurdle of taking the White Hart Lane gloves from the still terrific Brad Friedel, has proven himself one of the finest exponents of his art in world football.
A string of meritorious displays between the posts for West Brom have ensured that Ben Foster’s renewed availability to Roy Hodgson for England selection is a welcome development.
At the other end of the pitch, Steve Clarke’s credible first term in charge at the Baggies’ has benefited from Romelu Lukaku’s confirmation of his early promise as a striker of some repute. Beside the authoritative contribution of the on-loan Chelsea teenager at the Hawthorns, Shane Long is fast growing into a near-complete forward. Clarke’s free-transfer capture of the Argentine midfielder Claudio Yacob is one of the few acquisitions this term which can rival that of Michu for its value.
A striker of comparable stature to Lukaku, Christian Benteke, has borne the responsibility of leading the line under the suffocating pressure of a relegation battle at Aston Villa. The imposing 22 year-old has averaged a goal in every other one of his 28 Premier League outings. The Belgian’s presence has provided his team with a genuine threat and reliable outlet.
If the Midlands outfit can survive this term, and in turn retain their star man, there is the potential offered by a core of exciting fledglings at Villa including; Matthew Lowton, Ashley Westwood, and Andreas Weimann for a notable upturn in the fortunes of the 1982 European Cup winners.
Southampton are a side gradually etching a reputation as an adventurous, high-pressing, and slick unit. Rickie Lambert is proving to be a rounded Premier League attacker, while Jay Rodriguez’s quick feet and vision are thriving under Mauricio Pochettino.
Adam Lallana’s season has been disrupted due to different ailments, but his magnificent wing-play and old-fashioned dribbling skills are a joy.
Nevertheless, the shining light in a heartening top-flight return for the South Coast club has been Luke Shaw. The 17 year-old left-back has started sixteen of his team’s league fixtures, and not suffered for matching up against the significant attacking artilleries of Chelsea or Manchester City.
Shaw might yet prove a saviour for Evertonians if Sir Alex Ferguson seeks his successor to Patrice Evra at St Mary’s rather than Goodison Park.
There are no candidates to challenge the imperious status of Juan Mata and Gareth Bale, who join to form an attacking midfield triumvirate with Routledge in Owen’s eleven. Bale is destined for a straight fight with Liverpool’s exceptional Suarez over this year’s individual player awards.
Owen also finds room in his team for Michael Carrick whose form in the second half of the season has been exemplary.
The trickery and ability of Chelsea’s fresh imports, Oscar and Hazard, – employed in tandem with Mata – was a standout feature of this campaign’s early months. That trio promise much joy for Chelsea followers and neutral watchers alike in years ahead.
Jack Wilshere’s return after 16 months on the side-lines has illuminated both the Premier League and his national team – and reminded all English football fans quite what a blessed playmaker we have in our grateful hands.
Alan Pardew’s Newcastle United, and the startling impact of Yohan Cabaye and Papiss Demba Cisse in their embryonic Premier League careers, was a major feature of last term. In common with their team as a whole, those two players stuttered out of the blocks before belatedly finding their feet this season.
St James’ Park has nevertheless provided the home for more exciting new arrivals to these shores. Pardew’s January shopping took him back to France, and delivered a combination of power, skill, and menace in Moussa Sissoko, Yoan Gouffran, and Mathieu Debuchy.
Partnering Suarez in Owen’s attack is Robin Van Persie – another straightforward choice after the Dutch forward’s talismanic input to Manchester United’s regaining of their champions’ crown.
Shaun Maloney might not attract the attention of his Red Devils counterpart but the Scottish attacker, whose first foray into English football with Aston Villa six years ago was distinctly underwhelming, is central to Wigan Athletic’s entertaining brand of forward thinking football.
Now 30 years-old, Maloney is only 3 league appearances short in the current campaign of the thirty he managed in 19 months at Villa Park. Quick-thinking and equally fleet-footed, the former Celtic man links play expertly and carries a potent goal threat.
Reading have little of cheer to remember their year with the big boys by, but the better moments have come as a consequence of the striking feats of Adam Le Fondre – a man who like Lambert has evidenced a knack for translating lower league goal-scoring success on to the biggest stage.
There will be a surfeit of names that seasoned Premier League watchers will champion as being every part the equal of those mentioned here – testament to both the calibre of our league and the perpetual uniqueness of opinion which characterises every self-respecting football fan.
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