Each and every season throws up a number of players who seemingly come from nowhere or break the shackles of mediocrity to make a name for themselves with successions of top quality performances for their clubs. So, with that in mind, here’s a selection of players I think might just surprise a few people this season.
Roger Johnson (Birmingham City)
After three seasons of superlative performances in defence for Cardiff City, Roger Johnson has finally earned himself the move to the Premiership which his talents have warranted for several years now. If he can continue the flawless form he has displayed in the Championship in recent years then he will be key to Birmingham’s fortunes and could be one of the surprise stars of the season.
Jordi Gomez (Wigan Athletic)
Whilst on loan at Swansea City last season, Gomez, who has recently joined Wigan from Espanyol, impressed in the Championship with twelve goals and some inspirational performances from central midfield. The Spaniard undoubtedly has the talent to succeed in the Premier League and will be out to prove himself to top flight audiences this coming season. He might just be worth a punt for your fantasy league team…
Bobby Zamora (Fulham)
Ade Akinbyi aside, few strikers have been so widely and regularly lambasted for their perceived lack of goalscoring ability as Bobby Zamora. After coming to prominence with Brighton in his early twenties, Zamora has, at a number of clubs, often struggled to fulfil the obvious talent he possesses. His decision to stay at Craven Cottage and prove his doubters wrong rather than accept a lucrative move to Hull City over the summer shows an inner drive which should serve him well this season. If his pre-season form is anything to go by, this could be the year Bobby Zamora comes of age as a Premiership striker.
The Race For The Golden Boot
Last season it was Chelsea’s Nicolas Anelka who claimed the golden boot with nineteen Premiership goals to his name; Cristiano Ronaldo, Steven Gerrard, Robinho and Fernando Torres all close behind. This season, however, the smart money must surely go on Torres to walk away with the award at the end of the campaign. Despite missing fourteen games through injury last season, the electrifying Spaniard still amassed an impressive fourteen goals and is surely set to substantially improve upon that haul in 2009/10.
With the departure of Cristiano Ronaldo to Real Madrid, other players likely to be in the frame include Anelka, Gerrard, Robinho, Dimitar Berbatov and Arsenal’s Robin Van Persie. Obviously, with the Premiership boasting a number of the world’s finest forwards, this season’s race for the golden boot will be as hotly contested as ever as the league continues to increase in its competitiveness and skill level year after year.
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