Top 50 Players of the Season: 30-21 – Liverpool and Manchester United stars joined by Aston Villa’s hero

At the Offside Rule Podcast, we’ve been voting for our Top 50 Players of the Premier League season since the latest campaign wrapped up just over a week ago. Over 20 people nominated 25 players, first place gaining 25 points, right down to 25th place getting a solitary 1 point and slowly the whole thing came together.

Here’s the players that just missed out on our top 20…

30. Christian BENTEKE (Aston Villa)
Points: 78

Perhaps one of THE men of 2015 in the Premier League. Benteke couldn’t hit a barn door with a banjo under Paul Lambert, he looked a shadow of the player who took the league by storm during his first campaign, but Tim Sherwood certainly had a positive effect on him.

Where Tottenham’s Emmanuel Adebayor went on a great run of form for Sherwood last season, the big Belgian performed even greater miracles to single-handedly pull Villa away from relegation. But confirmation of Benteke’s release fee from the boss himself seems to suggest the club are preparing for the striker’s move away this summer.

 

29. Ryan BERTRAND (Southampton)
Points: 79

At the time it appeared a strange signing. Southampton had lost the most promising young full-back in the country and replaced him with someone who had struggled to impress during a number of loan spells, including one in the Premier League with Aston Villa.

But for one reason or another, Bertrand just hit it off at Southampton. He was solid defensively and added a new dimension to attacks, bringing in a couple of goals where his predecessor had failed. His move was made permanent in January for a third of fee Saints had received for Shaw, and he’s just one of several impressive signings Ronald Koeman has made so far.

 

28. Gylfi SIGURDSSON (Swansea City)
Points: 84

Some players just have a level, a level where they shine, where they can help take apart even the best teams in the league. Gylfi Sigurdsson’s level appears to be Swansea City. He set the Liberty alight during his first spell at the club, one that earned him a big move to Tottenham.

But it never worked out, despite his quality. His form back at Swansea this season has been superb though; he’s come up with big goals and big performances in big games and is the cog that makes Garry Monk’s ever impressive team tick. Whilst his Tottenham move is likely to put off any admirers for a while, it’s a huge gain for the Swans.

 

27. Raheem STERLING (Liverpool)
Points: 85

Where to begin with Raheem Sterling? The SAS branded attack for Liverpool last season was slightly disrespectful, it could easily have been SASAS, Sterling really came out of his shell playing alongside Suarez and Sturridge and did his best to pick up the pieces this season.

He had a bright start to the campaign, he was the spark as Liverpool struggled to adapt to life without their star man. But rumours of a move away and some ugly quotes from his agent so Sterling’s form suffer, culminating in him being dropped for the last game of the season. Whilst it seems almost impossible for him to remain at Anfield, it shouldn’t detract away from the talent he holds.

 

26. Yannick BOLASIE (Crystal Palace)
Points: 86

Yannick Bolasie always seemed one of those players who could nail the tricks and the flicks but had no end product to show for it, which changed significantly this season. Whilst Palace struggled in the early part of the season, an attacking trio of Bolasie, Wilfried Zaha and Jason Puncheon (with some Glenn Murray thrown in) sparked into life once Alan Pardew arrived from Newcastle.

Bolasie was undoubtedly Palace’s star man as his team went on a great run of form to pull them well clear of relegation, and included impressive performances against the likes of Man City at Selhurst Park and a dominant performance at Anfield. Palace should be able to keep hold of Bolasie this summer, but another season like that one and he’ll be hot property next year.

 

25. Jordan HENDERSON (Liverpool)
Points: 87

Henderson experienced a similar season to his team, when things were going well, he was superb. When things started to go sour, his form suffered. With Liverpool struggling to adapt to life without Luis Suarez and an injured Daniel Sturridge, Henderson was a force in the midfield, taking on the mantle of the regularly dropped Steven Gerrard, playing key passes and scoring superb goals.

Whilst he went off the boil with the rest of the team after defeat at home to Manchester United in March, Henderson will likely captain Liverpool come August and is now a regular in the England midfield, a fairly solid season all round all things considered.

 

24. Morgan SCHNEIDERLIN (Southampton)
Points: 100

Despite some controversial quotes being thrown around last summer, the Frenchman was one of few key players who stuck around at St. Mary’s last summer, whilst the club’s English stars departed around him.

He flourished once again under Ronald Koeman, adding more goals to his game, becoming an even better passer of the ball, and continuing to be good in the tackle. So it’s no surprise Arsenal and Manchester United are supposedly fighting over him. A French international, this midfielder has all the qualities necessary to make the step up and it seems he will very soon.

23. Christian Eriksen (Tottenham Hotspur)
Points: 118

The Dane had a simply excellent start to the season, but like many others, he couldn’t quite keep up his early season form. Eriksen was the driving force behind several Spurs comebacks, regularly finding the back of the net with some brilliant free-kicks, and he was usually the man who stole regular points in the final minute, he was Tottenham’s crucial man before Christmas.

Enter Harry Kane, the striker’s superb form took attention away from Eriksen, and whilst the midfielder’s form did indeed slip going into 2015, it was still an excellent campaign ad it’ll be interesting to see if he has any suitors from the big boys this summer.

 

22. Danny Ings (Burnley)
Points: 118

Whilst it’s now almost certain Ings won’t be back in the Championship next season, he has done a good enough job to attract the attention of some of the Premier League’s top bosses.

11 goals is no mean feat for a team who were constantly struggling to create meaningful chances and it now seems as though Ings is set for a move to Liverpool after apparently turning down advances from Tottenham. Manchester United was also thought to be sniffing around, whilst their former boss David Moyes is apparently keen to take him to Spain.

Whilst his second half to the season wasn’t fantastic, he’s given himself a platform to go and shine at the top of the league.

 

21. Ander HERRERA (Manchester United)
Points: 120

One of the best signings of the season, especially one of the best who somehow spent half the season sat on the bench. Herrera burst on to the scene at Old Trafford, scoring two goals in his three games, looking every bit the United star who could add goals from midfield.

But a freak injury allowed Marouane Fellaini his chance to shine, and Herrera found himself without a spot in the starting line-up for almost two months. But behind the scenes Louis van Gaal was moulding Herrera into a less instinctive player, and it worked. Herrera shone in the latter half of the season as United pulled their way to a top four spot, supporters will be excited to see what he can achieve playing week in, week out next season.

 

You can view our picks from 50 down to 41 here.

You can view our picks from 40 down to 31 here.