Most improved players in the English Premier League – Clint Dempsey, http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Nani-c27299 and Van Persie (Part 3)
After explaining as to why Charlie Adam from Blackpool and http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Peter-Odemwingie-c29794 from West Bromwich Albion were included in this list, now it is time to shed some light on the other stars that feature in this series...
Lucas Leiva
A much maligned player in the 2009-2010 season when Liverpool ended up finishing 7th in the English Premier League under http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Lucas-c22528 was perhaps public enemy no. 1 at Anfield due to his lacklustre performances
for the Reds.
The Brazilian midfielder was touted up as one of the worst players to grace the Anfield pitch and outrageous critics were bold enough to say that he was anything but “Brazilian” in his approach to football. In the 2010-2011 season
under Roy Hodgson, Leiva was left on the bench and on occasions that he was included in the first team squad, he failed to deliver from the centre of the park.
Perhaps it was his inability to play in a two man central midfield or Roy’s lack of man management that failed to bring the best out of his Brazilian starlet but when Kenny Dalglish took over at http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Liverpool-c39809 in the winter of 2010-2011,
Leiva was given a new life line. He was not sold in the January transfer window as Liverpool were lining up a bid for Charlie Adam. Kenny’s faith in Lucas was repaid by the former Gremio star by some stellar displays from central midfield.
Leiva flourished in Dalglish’s 3-5-2 formation and he was pivotal in their win at Stamford Bridge in the second half of the Premier League season. Lucas ended the season as a fan favourite as his transformation from being the joke
of the town to the hero was complete. In the next Premier League season, the Brazilian playmaker might find himself struggling for a first team spot as Kenny has gone for “flooding the midfield policy” but one can say that his performances have now raised
his profile.
http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Leighton-Baines-c21987
When the http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/England-c749 squad is announced for the European Championships in 2012, Baines will expect to be a foremost candidate for a spot at the left back position. It can be said that Ashley Cole’s left back berth in the English national
team is now under threat given the extent of improvement that has been showcased by Baines in an http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Everton-c13019 shirt during the 2010-2011 season. Baines was excellent at the left wing back position and he showed that he has got what it takes to excel at the international
level. Under http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/David-c10409 Moyes’ management the former Wigan man has excelled beyond belief.
Baines contributed with 11 assists in the 2010-2011 Premier League season which is far more than any other defender in the English league. His meteoric rise to fame has been assisted by his unending stamina as well and his appeal
with the ladies. Leighton’s assist tally is more than what http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Steven-Gerrard-c34196 managed
at Liverpool.
To be continued in part 4...
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