The 20 best players outside the Premiership

redout · 10-01-2009 1:16am #1

This has come from the Independent.

Who we spoke to:
Players, managers, pundits and fans with an emphasis on people involved in, or observing, the Championship. Current players and managers were guaranteed anonymity. Only players under 30 on New Year’s Day 2009 were considered. Players on loan from Premier League not included. Nearly 100 names were mentioned, but the top five stood out.

1. Michael Knightly (Wolves)
2. Stephen Hunt (Reading)
3. Joe Ledley (Cardiff)
4. Kevin Doyle (Reading)
5. Chris Eagles (Burnley)
6. Ferrie Bodde (Swansea)
7. Daniel Fox (Coventry)
8. Sylvan Ebanks-Blake (Wolves)
9. Matt Jarvis (Wolves)
10. James McFadden (Birmingham)
11. Ben Watson (Crystal Palace)
12. Ross McCormack (Cardiff)
13. Liam Rosenior (Reading)
14. Tommy Smith (Watford)
15. Wayne Hennessey (Wolves)
16. Lewis McGugan (N Forest)
17. Kevin Foley (Wolves)
18. Kyle Naughton (Sheffield Utd)
19. Owen Garvan (Ipswich)
20. Jimmy Kebe (Reading)

In one way its nice to see so many Irish players in that list and on the other hand a bit disappointing some of them are not figuring in the Premiership. Wolves and Reading appear to dominate the list.

mormank · 10-01-2009 1:24am

i would rate messi as better than that lot..he plays outside the prem..

redout · 10-01-2009 1:34am

mormank wrote: »

i would rate messi as better than that lot..he plays outside the prem..

Aye brother. The title is a bit misleading but its obviously only concerning the lower tiers of English football.

JPA · 10-01-2009 1:56am

Stephen Hunt better than Kevin Doyle? GTFO

mayordenis · 10-01-2009 2:23am

JPA wrote: »

Stephen Hunt better than Kevin Doyle? GTFO

I would have be on the side of Stephen Hunt on this if forced to choose - but they're obviously completely different players.

JPA · 10-01-2009 2:45am

mayordenis wrote: »

I would have be on the side of Stephen Hunt on this if forced to choose - but they're obviously completely different players.

Really? Hunt has a fantastic attitude and workrate but Doyle has that and actual talent.

eirebhoy · 10-01-2009 11:06am

redout wrote: »

In one way its nice to see so many Irish players in that list and on the other hand a bit disappointing some of them are not figuring in the Premiership. Wolves and Reading appear to dominate the list.

All 4 of them should be in the premiership next year. Hunt, Doyle and Foley without a doubt and I'd be very surprised if Garvan wasn't snapped up.