Top 5 players of the season so far?

I thought since we're unbeaten, and we're in the middle of the international break just before we play our toughest game of the season, that It would be a good time to discuss who have been the top toon players so far.

THIS IS IN NO ORDER! - I don't want to debate who has been the best player, down to 5th best, this is just your 5 best players so far.

In no particular order -

Ryan Taylor - He had to step into some big boots, and fill the spot where a top class LB used to be. He has never really looked like a full back to me, he always looked like a midfielder. He has fantastic passing and shooting ability, along with great dead ball deliveries. To me It was pretty much nailed on that he was a midfield player, not a defender, seeing as he seemed to have most of the qualities of a top class midfield player, but very average defensive qualities.

I think he's dealt with the extreme pressure very well, and has been fantastic. He has certainly improved his defensive abilities. I know he's had a lot of help from Jonas, but there's no denying he's been quite a significant part of the defense. His main highlights of the season have been in his attacking, no doubt. His goals have been 3 quality and vital goals. 1 won the derby and made him a hero for life. 1 helped seal our place in the next round of the cup. And 1 won us a very good 3 points vs a very tough Everton side.

He's given us something we've lacked for a long time. A goal threat from set pieces. He's a very good set piece expert who can threaten the goal and score. Barton could create goals from set plays, but his FK's on goal rarely looked like getting us one. Raylor has been a great part of our defense, and an even greater part of our attack.

Steven Taylor - Apart from a few slip ups, he's been extremely solid. We always knew he had the ability, but he struggled to find a long stretch of form and fitness. He's finally found his form, and has been a complete rock at the back. We totally miss him when he's away from the team. Even though Coloccini played in the cup games, we still leaked goals and it was clear we lacked a defender with great power like Stevey Taylor.

Last season we lacked strength in the central area of our defense. Coloccini is a fantastic defender, but he's not really a very powerful one. Williamson wasn't awful, but for a 6ft 3 inch lad, he wasn't very strong. We leaked goals at times last season, because we lacked some muscle in the center back area.

Since Saylor joined the team late last season, we've looked a lot stronger defensively. No player in this league so far has made Saylor look weak, and no player has bullied him. Saylor has proven to be a rock on his feet and also in the air. Yes I know on few occasions he can be a bit sloppy, but overall he's greatly improved our defense. Coloccini has taught him some things, and Saylor gives Coloccini more confidence IMO. Coloccini has looked a lot better since Saylor joined, Saylor looks better than ever with Coloccini. They truly compliment each other. Saylor has been great for us so far.

Fab Coloccini - Truly excellent for us so far, not just because of his performances, but by the way he's worn the captains armband. He's been fantastic as a captain for us, and I'll be the first to admit I should eat some humble pie in this case. I've thought Coloccini has been a fantastic player for a while now, but I personally didn't agree with him being captain at first. He's clearly intelligent and tactically sound, but he never really seemed to be vocal enough to be considered as a captain like figure. But I was wrong. He's been brilliant.

He's looked great with Saylor at his side, and also helped him improve his game. Colo and Saylor have benefited from each other greatly. There's nothing much more I could say about Coloccini that I haven't said a million times before in match reviews and Colo appreciation threads. He's just amazing.

Jonas Gutierrez - He's probably been one of the most improved players next to Raylor, and he keeps on getting better. His deliveries have certainly improved. I'd say now 1/2 of his deliveries are quite threatening, compared to like 1/10 around a year ago. His all round play keeps on getting better.

The main reason he's in my top 5 is his work rate and stamina. His work rate is incredible. His defensive work has been excellent, and his tackling even looks good!! I can't believe that Jonas can actually put in a good tackle now and dispossess players!! I still wouldn't consider him as a back up full back, but still, he could make any full back happy with him in front of them.

I think his goals tally could increase, his shooting isn't fabulous but It looks quite a bit better now. His footwork is excellent, and he moves so quickly around the box at times, that players are afraid to tackle him and can only stand and watch him. Prime example, the goal he may have scored last minute vs Spurs, when Friedel almost spilled it. He made a run into the box, and the Spurs defense were just statues, and didn't know what to do. Jonas you feckin beast!!!!

Leon Best - He's been great since the start of the season. He wins a lot in the air, holds the ball up, works very hard, and Ba could not have scored the amount of goals he has so far without Best's contribution.

I feel sorry for Best in a way because his stats may not impress most, but if some of the chances he'd set up had have been taken, he'd have a tonne of assists under his belt by now. He's been a great partner for Ba.

Ba has been immense since he came off Ramadan, but Best takes the final spot for me. I have a feeling that Ba will be one of the players of the season by the end, but for the work he's done so far, It's got to be Best for me. Great player, so under rated. I know he rarely plays 90 mins, but for the 70-75 mins he plays, he does put in a great shift. BEST is the best of the best coz he's best.

 

No Cabaye, Krul or Ba?

It is all opinion though, so add Saylor and Colo to them 3.

 

Feck. Forgot about Krul.

Cabaye and Ba have been great but not in the top 5 IMO.

 

Its hard to pick a top 5 in this form.

 

Agree. Well, lets just say they're my top 5 out field players. Krul has been immense.

 

This.

 

too hard to narrow it down, as most of our players have been outstanding

 

Id go Krul,Colo,Stevie Taylor,Ba and Tiote.

No Cabaye as he has went missing at times (not very often but often enough to leave him out this list)

 

Ba has to be in that list, 2 hat-tricks already this season!

Had it been Rooney, the media would be jizzing all over him!

 

Got to have Cabaye in there. Been our playmaker, all that is good goes through him. Make's well timed challenges, sprays the ball all over the park, one player who has led to our unbeaten run is Cabaye, we looked nowhere near as good when he came off against Everton.

 

Has to have Cabaye, for me. When we play without him we're a noticably completely different team, and certainly for the worse.

Krul, Cabaye, Gutierrez, Coloccini, Ba

So many were close contenders though, very hard to single people out when the whole team has performed well together.

 

Saylor
Gutierrez
Krul
Coloccini
Ba

 

Rooney scored two hat tricks consecutively this season I'm pretty sure, needless to say the media absolutely licked his arse so clean he won't have to start wiping it again until ten ****s' time.

 

Pffft, this is impossible...

Krul has been the most consistent.
Raylor has been the most surprising.
Taylor has been the most pleasing.
Coloccini has been the most impressive.
Cabaye has been the most important.
Gutierrez has been the most improved.
Best has been the most underrated.
Ba has been the most prolific.

There's my top 8, pick any, place in any order and I couldn't grumble!

 

I'd have to name 11 and Shola

 

Gutierrez,
Krul
Cabaye,
Ba,
Coloccini

 

I would swap Jonas for Cabaye

 

These

 

Krul
Coloccini
Raylor
Cabaye
Ba

 

Jonas, Colo, Krul, Raylor, Ba, Saylor, Cabaye.

I don't wanna pick 5!!!