The Premier League is again – however the Barclaysmen by no means left. Cult heroes took over throughout the worldwide break and also you could not escape them on social.
The pattern caught fireplace. Yakubu was named the last word Barclaysman by the pod, whereas golf equipment copied the compilation type. We got here up with our personal favorite half-century of ‘Streets Will not Overlook’ stars who deserved just a bit extra adoration, too. Viva les Barclaysmen.
FourFourTwo’s 50 favorite ‘Barclaysmen’ in Premier League historical past: 50. Charles N’Zogbia
Sir Bobby Robson’s final signing at Newcastle United , Frenchman N’Zogbia performed his total profession within the Premier League courtesy of later spells at Wigan Athletic and Aston Villa . We’re unsure we have to say far more about how influential N’Zogbia was on the DW Stadium than to level out that he earned two full caps for France whereas a Wigan participant.
Nonetheless, we’ll add that the winger additionally scored the winner in a sensational 3-2 comeback victory in opposition to Arsenal in April 2010 to successfully safe Wigan’s Premier League place in 2010. He then grabbed 5 targets within the final six video games of the 2010/11 season – together with one other late winner in a 3-2, this time in opposition to West Ham United – to take his aim tally to double figures and assist Wigan declare ten very important factors that stored them within the division once more.
49. Matty Taylor
Who doesn’t love a scorer of good targets? And that’s what Taylor was, serving to Portsmouth get promoted in 2003 and changing into an everyday on Objective of the Month montages over a effective Premier League profession that lasted till 2015 (bar one yr again within the Championship with West Ham).
We may let you know concerning the left winger/left-back’s profession a bit extra – like how he breached double figures for Bolton in 2008/09 – however let’s be sincere, you simply wish to see that aim in opposition to Everton , don’t you? Alright then.
48. Stelios
Stelios Giannakopoulos in motion in opposition to Manchester United (Picture credit score: Getty Pictures)
Or Stelios Giannakopoulos, to present his full identify, although he was identified mononymously all through his spell at Bolton Wanderers (and Hull, however he solely performed three video games for them, so let’s ignore that). The attacking midfielder was certainly one of a sequence of good low-key signings from abroad made by Bolton Wanderers within the early 2000s, arriving in 2003 and attracting curiosity from Manchester Metropolis and Liverpool in his first two seasons on the membership.
Stelios’ seven- and nine-goal hauls in 2004/05 and 2005/06 had been very important in serving to Bolton scale to sixth and eighth respectively, however Sam Allardyce’s departure in 2007 spelt the start of the tip for Stelios, who was launched the next yr.
47. Dean Ashton
Dean Ashton throughout the 2006 FA Cup last
West Ham followers will nonetheless let you know that issues may have been very completely different for them within the 2010s had it not been for Ashton’s ankle. A prolific Crewe youth product, the striker made an enormous and quick impression for Norwich Metropolis in 2004/05 with seven targets in 16 video games regardless of the Canaries being relegated from the Premier League that season, incomes a transfer again to the highest flight with West Ham.
Ashton’s type earned him an England call-up in 2006, however he was pressured to drag out with a severe ankle damage suffered in coaching that stored him out for almost a yr and from which he by no means really recovered. Ashton managed another full season, scoring 10 in 31 for West Ham and at last getting a deserved England cap, earlier than having to return to the therapy desk after which retiring aged simply 26 in December 2009. The Hammers had been relegated the next season.
46. Paul Robinson
The goalkeeper one, not the left-back one or the Neighbours one. One of many last merchandise of the Leeds United youth academy earlier than the monetary disaster that precipitated their demise from Premier League standing, Robinson had an actual Joe Hart profession: early success adopted by a swift fall from prominence.
Robinson earned his first England cap whereas nonetheless at Leeds and established himself as primary in 2006, by which period he had been at Tottenham for 2 years. However an more and more error-strewn run of type meant he was ousted first by England in 2007 after which by Spurs in 2008. He improved once more at Blackburn Rovers , however was missed for the 2010 World Cup squad, and his profession petered out following Rovers’ relegation in 2012. Oh… and Robinson additionally scored two targets in his profession, getting ahead late on to go house for Leeds within the League Cup in 2003, then watching an extended free kick bounce over Ben Foster for Spurs in 2007.
45. Loic Remy
Loic Remy throughout his Lyon days (Picture credit score: MARTIN BUREAU/AFP through Getty Pictures)
There are these gamers whose stars shine brightly for only a season or two earlier than disappearing simply as rapidly. Remy was a superb instance of the phenomenon, becoming a member of Queens Park Rangers for a membership file price in January 2013 and exhibiting sufficient promise in a relegated facet to earn a mortgage transfer to Newcastle.
Remy was good within the first half of the season, however accidents and suspensions meant he missed plenty of the second half of the marketing campaign; he nonetheless completed with a superb 16 targets in 24 video games and earned a transfer to Chelsea .
As soon as once more, Remy was nice to start out off with, ending his first season with seven league targets in 6 begins and 13 appearances from the bench, however was unable to hold that into his second marketing campaign and was loaned to Crystal Palace , for whom he performed eight video games with out scoring. And with that, he was gone from English soccer perpetually.
44. Lucas Neill
Lucas Neill
A tough-tackling and old school Australian right-back with a disciplinary file to match, Neill took his first steps in senior soccer at Millwall and made a reputation for himself within the decrease tiers earlier than getting a transfer to Blackburn Rovers.
Neill’s type attracted curiosity from Liverpool within the January 2007 switch window – not popularly, after he had damaged Jamie Carragher’s leg with a deal with some years space – however opted to hitch West Ham as an alternative. Neill cited a scarcity of non-public contact from Rafa Benitez as the first issue.
43. Shola Ameobi
Shola Ameobi celebrates in opposition to West Brom (Picture credit score: Alamy)
Loads was anticipated of the 6ft 3in centre-forward when he broke by the Newcastle United academy, and in fact he by no means bought there together with his goalscoring tally – not that it stopped Newcastle from giving him a complete 14 years to return good.
In equity to Ameobi, the strain of expectation that he could be a long-term successor to Alan Shearer could be a lot an excessive amount of for anyone to reside as much as. His wonderful work ethic, likeable character and goalscoring file in opposition to Sunderland (seven in seven from 2005-12) made him a favorite nonetheless, with the latter incomes him the nickname ‘The Mackem Slayer’.
His look on MTV’s Cribs remains to be legendary.
42. Hugo Rodallega
Hugo Rodallega left within the mud by David Silva (Picture credit score: Paul Gilham/Getty Pictures)
Sure, we’re going to get plenty of Wigan on this checklist. The Colombian winger with distinctive lengthy hair arrived from his house nation in 2009 and shortly began to point out he had a aptitude for the spectacular that grew to become an increasing number of of a trademark of that hard-working Athletic facet after Roberto Martinez took over as supervisor.
Rodellega scored the successful aim in opposition to Stoke Metropolis that confirmed Wigan’s security from relegation on the ultimate day in 2011, and went on to assist information Fulham out of a interval of poor early-season type with some very important targets quickly after becoming a member of in 2012.
41. Brad Friedel
Brad Friedel in aim for Blackburn (Picture credit score: Getty Pictures)
The file holder for many consecutive Premier League appearances, the goalkeeper went over eight years with out lacking a single league recreation for Blackburn Rovers, Aston Villa or Tottenham from 2004-2012. Additionally, taking part in at Galatasaray below Graeme Souness is unbelievably Barclays, for some cause.
On prime of that sheer longevity, Friedel established himself as a cult hero. His story may have ended after he flopped at Liverpool, however Friedel progressively earned himself an increasing number of respect for his more and more spectacular performances. Friedel additionally has a pleasant (1) in his “Apps (Gls)” column, having as soon as scored a last-minute equaliser Blackburn in opposition to Charlton… solely to concede on the different finish moments later.