Top 5 Players in EPL to you?!?!

[JoeCole#8]

#1 : C.Ronaldo
#2 : C.Fabragas
#3 : D.Drogba
#4 : R.Santa Cruz . This season playing insane
#5 : Carlos Tevez

[roykeanes_safc]

1. Ronaldo
2. Drogba
3. Essien
4. Fabregas
5. Rooney

[Teso Dos Bichos]

I agree with your comment on #1. Ronaldo is the best player in the world right now. Though I'll say that he does slack off a bit under pressure.

Drogba has a poor scoring record? That's news to me.

Fabregas is good but does not merit a #3 spot.

Who I better than Gerrard at this spot in the EPL? Rooney? :rolleyes:

Torres is awesome. As much as I hate him and Liverpool, this Spaniard is a natural.

I don't think Ronaldo slacks off under pressure but there is a big difference in his level of performance when he is allowed to play his natural attacking game compared to when he is tactically restricted to one wing. Our conservative style of play against some sides works against us and I have no idea why we do it.

Take a look at Drogba's scoring record, particularly in his first two seasons for Chelsea. Even last season, while very good for him, it was relatively poor in comparison to his peers. That he was somehow labeled the best striker or even the best player in the world by certain people was baffling.

I don't think Fabregas merits any place in this top 5. I would not even include him in the top 5 of offensive minded central midfielders in the Premiership. For more of my thoughts on Fabregas see the following thread: http://www.bigsoccer.com/forum/showthread.php?t=286131

It's not really about there being better options in his position but more to do with there being better and more inflential players who merit a place in a top 5 ahead of him. Although in saying that it all depends on what you want. Play him in central midfield and I would take a couple of players over him (Scholes and Ballack) because I don't think he operates best with tactical and defensive responsibility. Allow him to play at his best with the freedom to roam forward and there are another couple of players I would add (Rooney being one).

I rate Torres highly but he has only been here for half a season and I do not think he is in the top 5 yet. There are better players (like Rooney, Berbatov, etc) who were left out. Plus in general there is a distinct lack of defenders in these lists who are not only better in terms of their position but also far, far more influential for their clubs.

[plavin1125]

Here's my pick for the top 5 players in EPL ;)

Cristiano Ronaldo
Torres
Gerrard
Drogba
Fabragas

Cheers,
Plavin

[The_ChelseaSupporter]

I don't think Ronaldo slacks off under pressure but there is a big difference in his level of performance when he is allowed to play his natural attacking game compared to when he is tactically restricted to one wing. Our conservative style of play against some sides works against us and I have no idea why we do it.

Take a look at Drogba's scoring record, particularly in his first two seasons for Chelsea. Even last season, while very good for him, it was relatively poor in comparison to his peers. That he was somehow labeled the best striker or even the best player in the world by certain people was baffling.

I don't think Fabregas merits any place in this top 5. I would not even include him in the top 5 of offensive minded central midfielders in the Premiership. For more of my thoughts on Fabregas see the following thread: http://www.bigsoccer.com/forum/showthread.php?t=286131

It's not really about there being better options in his position but more to do with there being better and more inflential players who merit a place in a top 5 ahead of him. Although in saying that it all depends on what you want. Play him in central midfield and I would take a couple of players over him (Scholes and Ballack) because I don't think he operates best with tactical and defensive responsibility. Allow him to play at his best with the freedom to roam forward and there are another couple of players I would add (Rooney being one).

I rate Torres highly but he has only been here for half a season and I do not think he is in the top 5 yet. There are better players (like Rooney, Berbatov, etc) who were left out. Plus in general there is a distinct lack of defenders in these lists who are not only better in terms of their position but also far, far more influential for their clubs.

Fair enough. Though you are often biased, you often give just as many good justifications as well. Being a relatively new fan of the EPL, its interesting to see what you have to say. I don't always agree with you, in fact, I rarely agree with you, but I hardly ever see people who can defend their points better than you will do.

Here are my new top 5 in the EPL btw:

1. Ronaldo
2. Essien
3. Gerrard
4. Drogba
5. Torres

And the next 5:

6. Cech
7. Adebayor
8. Lampard
9. Toure
10. Terry

I'm sick, tired, and not thinking straight, so this might not be my actual views, just a warning. ;)

[phil80]

#1 : C.Ronaldo
#2 : C.Fabragas
#3 : D.Drogba
#4 : R.Santa Cruz . This season playing insane
#5 : Carlos Tevez
for someone with a username joecole, im surprised you didnt include him in your top 5. he has been incredible this season.

[The_ChelseaSupporter]

for someone with a username joecole, im surprised you didnt include him in your top 5. he has been incredible this season.

I don't know if you're talking about for England or for my Chelsea.
I don't watch England, but for Chelsea, he's been up and down. At times he's brilliant, dominating the game. Other times he's just a show off who pretends he's Ronaldinho on the ball and ends up giving up the ball. I guess it all depends on which games you watch though.

[phil80]

i have not caught all of chelsea's games but have seen quite a few and the ones ive watched he has been without question the difference maker. No doubt he's got flaws in his game, but overall he has looked impressive in the attacking 1/3 and has been one of chelsea's most creative (if not the most creative) players this season

[Teso Dos Bichos]

Joe Cole's productivity is abysmal.

[yasik19]

Joe Cole's productivity is abysmal.

not in the last month.

[phil80]

not in the last month.
not in the last season. he has had subpar performances, but without him, chelsea wouldve been in a lot worse position than they are currently.

[The_ChelseaSupporter]

i have not caught all of chelsea's games but have seen quite a few and the ones ive watched he has been without question the difference maker. No doubt he's got flaws in his game, but overall he has looked impressive in the attacking 1/3 and has been one of chelsea's most creative (if not the most creative) players this season

Yes and the fact that a show pony brit is our most creative player speaks tons about our creativity. Just kidding, he's one of my favorite players. :p

[Joelzinho]

Yes and the fact that a show pony brit is our most creative player speaks tons about our creativity. Just kidding, he's one of my favorite players. :p

He is without a doubt England most creative player. No question.

[The_ChelseaSupporter]

He is without a doubt England most creative player. No question.

I'll agree with that one too.

[roykeanes_safc]

for someone with a username joecole, im surprised you didnt include him in your top 5. he has been incredible this season.

Good player, nowhere near the star performers this season though

[Teso Dos Bichos]

not in the last month.

not in the last season. he has had subpar performances, but without him, chelsea wouldve been in a lot worse position than they are currently.

Joe Cole has three goals and one assist over the last season and a half in the Premiership. In the whole of January he has a single assist and in the whole of December he had two goals. Granted he was injured last season but those are the figures. Even if you look over his entire career he has only managed to hit 8 league goals in a season twice. He's consistent but far from great. He is a very talented player but productivity is the main problem when you consider his talent, team and role.

Yes and the fact that a show pony brit is our most creative player speaks tons about our creativity. Just kidding, he's one of my favorite players. :p

He is without a doubt England most creative player. No question.

For England he has two goals in WCQ, one in ECQ and one in the WC. Again, simple not enough for a player in his postion and with his talent. Particularly when you consider that his inclusion in recent sides has had an impact on other players because of his tendency to cut inside and add to the mess in the middle of the park.

Good player, nowhere near the star performers this season though

Agreed.

[Grinners89]

Joe Cole has three goals and one assist over the last season and a half in the Premiership. In the whole of January he has a single assist and in the whole of December he had two goals. Granted he was injured last season but those are the figures. Even if you look over his entire career he has only managed to hit 8 league goals in a season twice. He's consistent but far from great. He is a very talented player but productivity is the main problem when you consider his talent, team and role.

For England he has two goals in WCQ, one in ECQ and one in the WC. Again, simple not enough for a player in his postion and with his talent. Particularly when you consider that his inclusion in recent sides has had an impact on other players because of his tendency to cut inside and add to the mess in the middle of the park.

Agreed.

Its not all about the stats...im sure hes been involved in many of Chelsea's goals whilst not getting the direct assist.

[Teso Dos Bichos]

Joe Cole plays in a position that demands either goals or assists. I accept that there are things outside of those but to have such low figures in both for a player of his ability, his position in the side and the players he operates with is simply not acceptable. He needs to step up and do more or his career will be one of talent wasted.

[phil80]

not in the last season. he has had subpar performances, but without him, chelsea wouldve been in a lot worse position than they are currently.
meant to say not in THIS last season, meaning 07/08, where he has 6 goals and 3 assists and has saved chelsea on many occassions with key plays.

[roykeanes_safc]

Joe Cole plays in a position that demands either goals or assists. I accept that there are things outside of those but to have such low figures in both for a player of his ability, his position in the side and the players he operates with is simply not acceptable. He needs to step up and do more or his career will be one of talent wasted.

Couldnt have put it better myself, I still believe he would be better suited in the middle than on the wing.