EPL: Top 20 Number 2’s Countdown
Jul 23, 2014; Columbus, OH, USA; Crystal Palace FC defender Joel Ward (front) fights for the ball with Columbus Crew defender Waylon Francis (back) during first half action at Crew Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Joe Maiorana-USA TODAY Sports
17 – Billy Jones – Sunderland
Having moved from West Brom on a free transfer, Jones is yet to cement his place in the Sunderland defence, which says a lot considering how poor they have been at the back this season. He is 27 and therefore can no longer be considered a prospect and if he stays in the EPL he will likely continue is his role as a squad player.
16 – Liam Rosenior – Hull City
Rosenior seems to have slipped down from his guaranteed starting spot of the last few seasons with Hull this year, having made 5 EPL appearances. He is solid if unspectacular, after being capped at Under 21 level for England between 2005 and 2007, he never really kicked on from there and at 30 his career is winding down.
15 – Ritchie De Laet – Leicester City
De Laet was on the books of Manchester United as a youngster and there were hopes that he had a bright future with the club. However, after a number of loans where he failed to shine, he moved to Leicester in 2012 and was part of their promotion winning side. He is now an important player for the club, despite making only 3 EPL appearances thus far. He hasn’t reached his potential, but could form a solid defence alongside Morgan and Moore as the season goes on.
16 – Joel Ward – Crystal Palace
I rate Joel Ward highly and the fact the he is down at 14th in the countdown shows how the strength of players that tend to receive the number 2 jersey. He is consistent for Crystal Palace and has been for a couple of seasons. Converted from a centre back to a right back, he is a dependable performer that Neil Warnock will be happy to rely upon this season.
13 – Nathan Baker – Aston Villa
Baker comes in higher than many people would expect given his importance to his Aston Villa side and his leadership qualities. He is only 23 yet it feels like he has been around for a while. His versatility means he his a valuable player in a middle of the table EPL side and his no nonsense approach makes him a fan favourite. It is often argued he might not perform to the level required for a top level centre back, but at 23 he can still learn a lot from playing with people like Ron Vlaar.
12 – Kieran Trippier – Burnley
Trippier is going to be essential to the survival hopes of Burnley and that might seem like an excessive pressure to put on a young right back. However, it was Trippier’s emergence as a threat down the right flank during Burnley’s promotion from the Championship last season that was a massive factor in their overall success. His whipped balls from the right and combination play with Danny Ings definitely caught the eye and with Burnley lacking goals this season, they will be looking to reignite this link up.