The stars that perhaps don’t receive the credit that they deserve.
In the Premier League any English football fan worth their salt knows the talent of the likes of Gareth Bale, Luis Suarez and Robin Van Persie.
Yet what about the teams that aren’t challenging for title, where do they fit in? Well fanatix has taken the best 10 players that play for sides that ended outside of the the top 10 in 2012/13.
Asmir Begovic – Stoke City (13th)
Begovic is pure class between the sticks and was a great signing for Stoke when the Bosnian joined the Staffordshire club in 2010.
At a team where ‘bully-boy’ tactics are accused of being used, the ‘keeper has too much talent for that style of play and kept an impressive 12 clean-sheets in the league last season.
Hatem Ben Arfa – Newcastle United (16th)
The Frenchman has been at St James’ Park for two-and-a-half years and was a key component in the Magpies’ fifth place finish in 2012.
Admittedly that all fell apart last season, but Ben Arfa has become a stalwart in the France national team and despite being plagued by injuries, is still one of the most deadly wingers in the league.
Christian Benteke – Aston Villa (15th)
OK, Benteke has received plenty of praise and the Belgian’s proposed move away this summer did give the 22-year-old the limelight for some time.
Yet 19 Premier League goals, in a quite frankly poor Villa side, in the striker’s debut season is something not to be sniffed at and it will be interesting to see if Benteke can keep up that form.
Dimitar Berbatov – Fulham (12th)
The Bulgarian was a steal when the Cottagers paid just £4m to Manchester United for the striker’s services 12 months ago.
Berbatov comes with a superb reputation and under manager Martin Jol the 32-year-old found his superb form again and netted 15 Premier League goals in 33 matches.
Yoann Cabaye – Newcastle United (16th)
Alongside Ben Arfa, the midfielder is arguably the only other player at Newcastle who could easily be playing at a much higher level.
Say what you like about Alan Pardew, but signing Cabaye from Lille for just £4.4m in 2011 is a great piece of business and the France international brings class and composure in midfield.
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