Footy Rhubarb - Keep an eye out for these wee little scamps

The new Premier League season is just over 2 weeks away and with a new season comes new talking points, teams, managers, and players. Every season we are blessed with seeing some fresh young faces come in and announce themselves to British football. Some last the test of time and grow into quality players, while some are end up being mediocre stop starters. Here are a few players to keep an eye out for who aren’t big stars in the shape of the Ronaldo’s or the Rooney’s but can be just as important to their clubs season.

Nathan Redmond

Now he’s not a big name, not yet. Redmond recently signed for Norwich from Birmingham City and has been linked with Premiership teams for the last two years. The winger is an England u21 International and has blistering pace as well as a few tricks up his sleeve. He was part of the dreadful England team at the Euro u21 but he definitely has more to offer. He can play on either wing but is often used on the left so he can cut in on his right foot where he packs quite a shot. Canaries boss Hughton worked with Redmond at Birmingham and was the first to give him a consistent run in the team so it’s no surprise the youngster chose Norwich as his destination once it was made clear that Brum has to sort their wage bill out. Norwich play good expansive football as well and it’s a further sign on the manager wanting to improve attacking potency so it looks to be a great move for all concerned – Redmond could very well flourish this season. 

Wilfried Bony

The biggest reason for looking out for this fella is the fee that Swansea paid for him – 12m. It’s a huge fee for a club like Swansea and for a player who isn’t a big name player. However now he’s in the Premier League that could well change. The 24-year-old Ivorian has a great goal scoring record especially at previous club Vitesse where he netted 46 goals in 65 appearances. From various clips he’s a very powerful striker and a great finisher. He can score with either foot or his head and reminds me most of former Pompey and Everton striker Yakubu. He has great positional sense and awareness to link up with teammates so I get the impression he will be perfect for Swansea’s style of play. Michu has been considered by many the buy of the season last season with a price tag of only 2m but he did struggle for goals in the second half of the season and Laudrup has been astute in making sure Swansea don’t rest on their laurels and splash the cash on Bony. Michu can be played behind the striker and is just as useful creating goals as well as scoring them so I think the Michu/Bony partnership will prove to be very fruitful for the impressive Welsh club. He may take time to settle but with the system Swansea play I think he’ll prove a great investment from Swansea so credit to the club.

Jozy Altidore

This isn’t the first time the American has graced the Premier League as he had a spell at Hull City under Phil Brown a few season back where he didn’t set the world alight but still showed elements of quality. He’s big, athletic, fast, and a decent finisher in the air and on the ground. At the age of only 23 Altidore already has 60 caps for USA and has played in 5 different countries – mostly on loan. He was at Villareal for 3 years but only appeared for them 9 times due to him being shipped out on loan for every year he was with them so his only long term spell at a club is where Sunderland signed him from – AZ Alkmaar. He has a fantastic goal scoring record in the Dutch league with 38 in 67 games and that shows how useful he can be when he is settled. I think he is going to be a successful addition to Di Canio’s Sunderland team. He’s perfectly fitted to English football being big, strong, quick, good in the air, and already having Premier League experience. It’s a shrewd signing by Di Canio and I think it’s going to pay off.

George Boyd                     

It’s a surprise one but very intriguing player to keep tabs on. Now this fella is by no means a fresh faced starlet but nor is he a dinosaur. He comes from humble footballing backgrounds having played a large amount of his career in the lower leagues and has been rewarded doing it the hard way by making his first appearance in the top flight at 27 with Hull City. At Peterborough United he is known as ‘the White Pele’ due to him being flash, tricky, and capable of brilliance – a fan favorite. However he has only been making real progress in the last year with Championship teams taking a punt on him such as Nottingham Forest and then Hull City on loan. He proved he can be just as exciting and dangerous at a higher level and has done enough to convince Steve Bruce to sign him permanently as Hull take their place in this season Premier League season- lucky boy. He can play in the hole behind the striker, in midfield, or as a full-fledged striker but either way he has the ability to get people off their seats and is very unpredictable. He has one cap for Scotland but he should expect a few more if he is able to feature enough for Hull this coming season.

Gary Hooper

Another Norwich signing which shows just how hard Hughton’s been working this summer to improve his squad and let’s face it, it’s needed having just survived last season. Hooper has been attracting interest from Premier League teams for a few years now and it seems clubs have been hesitant to take a punt on the England hopeful. He has been playing for Celtic in recent seasons and has a decent goal scoring record winning many fans in Glasgow. This has had led to many calling for Hooper to be given a chance in the England set-up but it seems that the SPL isn't seen as a high enough quality of competition for a player to prove his credentials and rightly so. This makes it a huge chance for Hooper to show what he can do and maybe earn himself a last minute ticket to the World Cup – if England qualifies that is. He’s a sharp player with great pace and deadly in the box – Norwich will be relying on him for goals this season and if he continues the form of recent season he will do just that and may well give Hodgson something to ponder come June next year, yet again, if England qualify that is.