The Premiership Talk Friday Five: Surprise Packages

By Brian Lofrumento | 29th August 2008

The Premiership Talk Friday Five: Surprise Packages | read this item

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Each year the English Premier League casts many surprises. Whether it’s a surprise team (think back to Wigan in their first season in the Premiership), a surprise player, or a surprise manager (hello, Mr. Mourinho), there are always twists and turns to each season’s story. Already this season has seen a few twists, especially when it comes to the following five players and their early season triumphs.

Dean Ashton

Dean Ashton certainly isn’t an unknown quantity, but few could’ve expected the form we’ve seen from him in preseason and in the first match of the Premier League season. West Ham fans got to see Ashton exploit his pace and power against the Major League All Stars in preseason, and he carried that stellar form into the season. With two goals on the first match of the season, Ashton is largely responsible for three points already – three points which will surely go a long way. Last year it appeared Ashton’s career was done and dusted; few players can make a full recovery from the injuries that he has had. Now, though, Ashton looks like he could have a shot at making the England squad, and he is ready to surprise people further as he continues his goalscoring form.

Rodrigo Possebon

Who is Rodrigo Possebon? Exactly – that’s why he’s one of the top five surprise packages of this season. The young Brazilian is already exciting Manchester United fans up and down the country (yes, not just the ones in Manchester) with his composure and passing prowess. Reminiscent of a younger Michael Carrick that looks like Owen Hargreaves, Possebon is beginning to show fans why Sir Alex Ferguson signed him from Brazil. After a successful term in the reserves in 2006/07, Possebon is ready to make the step up, and with two appearances already under his belt he will be aiming to play a role this year. His willingness to get the ball at such a young age has been perfectly complemented by his positive use of the ball. Watch this youngster as the season progresses.

Djibril Cisse

Sure, the Frenchman has only made one appearance for Sunderland in the Premier League, but that sole appearance came in dramatic fashion. Coming off the bench away to Tottenham, Cisse showed he hasn’t lost his pace and did enough to score a match winning goal with his head. Like Dean Ashton, the entire world assumed Cisse’s career was over after suffering two horrible leg breaks. Under Roy Keane, Cisse is reviving his career and has already surprised England with his newfound positive attitude and workrate. Already becoming sort of a cult hero at The Stadium of Light, the 2008/09 Premier League season could be exactly what Cisse’s career needs. There are many more surprises yet to come from him.

Gabriel Agbonlahor

Agbonlahor has been ripping Premiership defenses apart with his speed for a while now, but this season he is still surprising many fans around the league. The English hopeful made everyone take notice after announcing himself on this season’s stage with a hat trick. Still sitting atop the Premier League’s goalscoring charts, Agbonlahor could find this year to be his breakout season. The timing couldn’t be any better, either; England are in desperate need of a striker who can score goals, and Gabriel might just be that man. If he continues his good form, Aston Villa will easily find themselves in the top half of the table and in pole position for a UEFA Cup spot.

Mido

You might ask yourself how a fat and out of shape striker made it onto this list. The answer is simple – there are no fat and out of shape strikers on this list! Mido is now a new man; no longer overweight and past it, Mido has already grabbed two goals in as many games this year. You can’t accuse him of scoring against lesser opponents, either, as both of his goals game at important times. His first goal of the year was a surprise to him as well. With Boro hanging on to a slender one goal lead, Mido got his foot out far enough to deflect a shot into the back of Gomes’s net. It ended up being the difference, as Middlesbrough won 2-1. In his second league game of the season, Mido gave Boro the lead against Liverpool at Anfield. It took a late revival for Liverpool to win, but Mido’s efforts didn’t go unnoticed. He certainly isn’t past it yet.

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