Underrated Players from Premiership Football to Look out for 2011-12: Part 1

Most teams will have a couple star players, the ones who adorn the magazine covers and are often emulated across playgrounds each year. Every team needs these stars, even though it is often the unsung heroes who'll lay the foundation for success, quietly going about their job without much hype or fanfare. This is a tribute to these talented few.

The list was chosen on the criteria that the player is underrated and that I don't hate them (Anderson, Lucas failed on the second criteria). Sometimes, I just closed my eyes and pointed out a player, who knows how I came to the conclusion as they're obviously terrible and you lovely people will be happy to correct me.

Arsenal

It's Tomas Rosicky! Oh no wait, he's awful.

Laurent Koscielny is the player I have deemed to be the most underrated Arsenal player.

Perhaps a slightly contentious choice but he has risen in prominence since his early Arsenal days, seemingly forging a healthy partnership with Vermaelen in which he compliments the Belgium Beast well. He is a brilliant reader of the game and is apt at intercepting passes which sometimes makes up for him having the strength and aggression of a newborn.

Humiliated today at Old Trafford, partner him with Djourou or that guy who looks like and plays like the living dead (Sebastien Squillaci) and it shows that without Vermaelen holding his hand, he isn't commanding enough to keep the defense organised.

Aston Villa

Take a bow Marc Albrighton, who'll be chuffed to be chosen because he ain't winning much else.

The main quality that Albrighton possesses is staying upright with that hooter on his face, truly impressive stuff from the young winger.

Despite not being considered a starter for his club (Don't take it personally son, it's a privilege to keep the bench warm for Heskey) he is only 21. He is quick, has a decent shot and isn't afraid to take a man on, however, his specialty is his sublime delivery.

Blackburn

Steven N'Zonzi, standing at about five meters and weighing 20 pounds, spends most of his time at Ewood Park desperately running away from Samba.

A defensive midfielder, N'Zonzi has good technical ability and isn't a bad dribbler for someone who is always on the lookout for low flying aircraft.

Often likened to Patrick Viera (mainly by Steven N'Zonzi himself) due to his physical presence and technical ability going hand in hand. 

Bolton

It was a toss up between Lee Chung-Yong and Mark Davies for this one, so each with a 50 percent chance, I flipped a coin and Stuart Holden came up lucky.

The half Yank/half Scottish hybrid is a quality player who would probably be less underrated if he wasn't such a magnet for people wanting to kick him in the leg.

A solid tackler, despite having a small frame and average height, Holden is useful at breaking up play and timing his tackles, then going on to orchestrate his team's attack.

He also spends his spare time cattle ranching.

Chelsea

Bosingwa may win more worst facial hair awards than individual plaudits but he's a talented footballer nonetheless and played brilliantly in the 2008 Euro's.

Despite not having forced himself as a Chelsea first team player due to a mixture of injuries and poor personal hygiene, this looks to have changed due to a decent season start and the arrival of 12-year-old manager Andre Villas-Boas.

Everton

I've gone with Sylvain Distin because if I didn't, I'm scared he'd find me and kill me then wear my corpse as a trophy in the Everton changing rooms to warn the likes of Phil Neville of his prowess.

Big, strong and not completely immobile, he's formed a fairly strong partnership with Phil Jagielka, albeit one that will lay dormant until after January then make a strong European push but ultimately fall short.

Fulham

Aaron Hughes has made over 400 appearances and has never been sent off. To top that statistic off, he's made at the very least a couple of tackles in that quadruple century of appearances.

Not particularly good at anything, he is a consistent performer who alongside Hangeland forms one of the toughest defensive partnerships outside of the upper echelons of the Premiership.

Liverpool

It's got to be Lucas hasn't it? Wrong. He's still awful and anyone who disagrees is getting flagged and petrol-bombed.

Raul Meireles takes the plaudits here, admittedly the guy looks like the lads at the local bookie's who hassle me on the way to work but he can kick a ball and was probably the best player for Liverpool last season (not hard though). His reward? Being forced to sit next to Maxi Rodriguez on the bench.

It's not all doom and gloom though, because at least he ain't Christian Poulsen.

Manchester City

This was a hard one because each and every player cost at least a billion pounds.

Adam Johnson is a winger who ticks all the boxes

-speed

-final ball

-skill

-tricks

-handsome

And yet despite some stellar appearances, he will be settling for a place on the bench due to the incredible talent he has to contend with.

Manchester United

It had to be the little Asian didn't it. With an engine that just doesn't stop running and a superb big game mentality, he has won over the cynical fans who considered it a ploy for money.

Park is a hero in South Korea and is now one of the senior United members. Other than having a bad haircut, he's a perfect footballer.

Conclusion of Part 1

Well that's the end of part one.

I want to hear your comments. Who is the most underrated player in the premiership?

Any players you feel aren't underrated or maybe even overrated?

Part two coming soon.