Following on from submissions by Nick Szczepanik and Howard Swains, we continue our series on players likely to exceed expectations in the coming season with the views of Phil Myers. This is a less than exact science as evidenced by the fact that none of our contributors has named a single player twice. Phil's list follows:
Michael Dawson - Tottenham Hotspur conceded 54 league goals last season, 16 more than in 2005-06, but that hides the fact that Ledley King missed more than four months of the campaign. Dawson will be part of a solid defence alongside the captain and summer reinforcements.
Joey Barton - The midfield player will miss the start of the season with a metatarsal injury but expect rich dividends on his return. Sam Allardyce’s disciplined management will bring out the best in Barton, who will be asked to drive Newcastle United’s attacks.
Shay Given - The replacement of Titus Bramble with David Rozehnal can only improve a defence in which Steven Taylor is maturing well. Allardyce’s arrival should also ensure Newcastle will concede fewer than the 47 league goals let in last season.
Kieran Richardson - The England midfield player leaves behind his "small fish in a big pond" role at Manchester United to become one of Sunderland’s key players and should be moved up the PlayTheGame rankings accordingly.
Emmanuel Eboue - The Ivorian will miss games during the African Cup of Nations but he is being considered for the right of midfield rather than full back. Such an attacking position for a club like Arsenal will always be lucrative in PlayTheGame.
And so our list thus far is as follows:
Robin Van Persie (Arsenal)
Sulley Muntari (Portsmouth)
Andriy Voronin (Liverpool)
David Healy (Fulham)
David Bentley (Blackburn Rovers)
Luke Moore (Aston Villa)
Adel Taarabt (Tottenham)
Darren Bent (Tottenham)
Michael Dawson (Tottenham)
Joey Barton (Newcastle United)
Shay Given (Newcastle United)
Kieran Richardson (Sunderland)
Emmanuel Eboue (Arsenal)
