another failure to qualify for the AFCON

This week the 2013/14 Premier League season comes to a close. Here at TSN.ca we will take a look back at the season by bringing together a panel of experts to help pick the best 50 players of the season. This list is based purely on their performances this season. It is not a list of who we think the best 50 players in the league are. Fourteen members were asked to take part (panel below) and submit their top 20 players of the season. Their list was then placed into a scoring system and then the totals determined the overall positions in the top 50. Each day this week we will release the list in 10s. The sport is very much about opinions, so please feel free to write your own list in the comments below. Here is how the Top 20 were scored – 1st place – 30pts; 2nd place – 25; 3rd place – 22; 4th place – 20; 5th place – 18; 6th place – 17; 7th place – 15; 8th place – 14; 9th place – 13; 10th place – 12; 11th place – 10; 12th place – 9; 13th place – 8; 14th place – 7; 15th place – 6; 16th place – 5; 17th place – 4; 18th place – 3; 19th place – 2; 20th place – 1. The Panel Six members of TSNs soccer team were on the panel and were joined by eight other members from around the world who were asked to represent their specific field. Joining our staff members were two outstanding statistical experts, Jonny Blain and Simon Gleave, two brilliant reporters/commentators covering the league, Stewart Coggin and Paul Sarahs and two extremely knowledgeable tactics writers, Tim Palmer and Ritesh from the False9 website and a man who covers the development side of the league like no other, Aidan from the England Youth website. In addition, also involved was arguably one of the knowledgeable writers covering the league in the world, Michael Cox, aka Zonal Marking. Follow the Panel on Twitter Aidan from England Youth – https://twitter.com/englandyouthJonny Blain - https://twitter.com/jonoblainNoel Butler - https://twitter.com/TheSoccerNoelStewart Coggin - https://twitter.com/StewartCogginMichael Cox - https://twitter.com/Zonal_MarkingJason DeVos - https://twitter.com/jasondevosSimon Gleave - https://twitter.com/SimonGleaveKristian Jack - https://twitter.com/KristianJackTim Palmer - https://twitter.com/timhpalRitesh from The False9 - https://twitter.com/TheFalse_9Paul Sarahs - https://twitter.com/PaulSarahsPete Schaad - https://twitter.com/PeteSchaadGareth Wheeler - https://twitter.com/WheelerTSNLuke Wileman - https://twitter.com/LukeWileman 50. Winston Reid (West Ham) – It has been a frustrating year for the New Zealand centre-back in terms of injuries as ankle surgery forced him to miss more than a dozen Premier League matches and it was during this time that his loss was really noticeable. The Hammers have shown glimpses of a very solid unit this past season but it never looks better unless the 25-year-old is in the team. Could be on the move this summer to a bigger club. 49. Martin Skrtel (Liverpool) – Some people who watch Liverpool often` belief Skrtel should not be a part of their future. The Slovakian can be far too aggressive in his own penalty box and, despite improvement, doesnt seem comfortable enough on the ball to suit the style Brendan Rodgers demands. However, this season his strength and bravery, in both penalty boxes, have helped Liverpool win many games. With regular issues surrounding who plays the other side of the centre-back tandem, Skrtel has given Rodgers much needed solidity at the heart of his defence. 48. David De Gea (Man Utd) – There are very few positives for Man Utd fans to take from this past season. However, one of the advantages to having an aging, poor defence was that their goalkeeper was tested more than usual. De Gea had an excellent season and, for some on this panel, was the clubs best player. Arguably one of the best saves of the entire season came in October when Sunderlands Emanuele Giaccherini headed the ball towards the top corner and a stretched De Gea tipped it wide. It was a brilliant save, as was the instinctive stop he had on a volley by Jonathan Walters a few weeks later. 47. Santi Cazorla (Arsenal) – It was a mystifying season for the Spaniard. Some think he has the talent to carry a team on his back and showed glimpses of that when Arsenal were at their peak in November (he was outstanding in their home win over Liverpool) yet consistency at the highest level is still lacking. This may not be Cazorlas fault. Although a wonderfully pleasing player on the eyes, it is, perhaps, an indictment on Arsenal in 2014 that he is one of their best players. If he had two or three world class players around him (particularly playing behind him centrally), Cazorla would blossom more often. 46. Jason Puncheon (Crystal Palace) – On January 11, Crystal Palace were having fun at Tottenham, playing the high-flyers completely off the pitch. Then they got a penalty, one Puncheon smashed into Row Z. The look on his face showed just how distraught he was. Palace would lose 2-0 and manager Tony Pulis admitted that the winger couldnt get over the miss for the rest of the game. The next two weeks, Palace won 1-0 twice with goals, each time, from the man who started the season at Southampton. Then, at the start of April, he scored in three straight games to guarantee the teams safety. 45. Joel Ward (Crystal Palace) – Puncheon got a lot of the headlines, but Crystal Palaces best player of the season was arguably a man very few Premier League fans had heard about 12 months ago. Joel Ward was asked to play all different positions across the back four and in central midfield this season but really excelled under Tony Pulis, showing a real assurance in possession, while enjoying the freedom of width by causing overlaps down the wings. 44. Olivier Giroud (Arsenal) – Arsene Wengers side have holes and when asked what they need to do to become a title contender, many people think they can do better up top by replacing Giroud. That might be true but the 27-year-old is a striker who should be monitored not just for the goals he scores. Obviously they are essential for a man in his position but the Frenchman is a very clever link forward, comfortable with his back to goal, bringing in to play the multiple playmakers in behind him. He is also very good in the air and has won key aerial battles in both boxes this season. 43. Curtis Davies (Hull City) – What a difference three seasons can make. Once seen as a future star, Davies, cast aside by Aston Villa, had to go down to the lower leagues and improve his craft and when Steve Bruce paid just over two million pounds for him last summer to play in the Premier League there were those who werent sure he was up to the task. Davies (Saturdays game against Villa aside) proved the doubters wrong, starting all but one of the teams league games this season and being, unquestionably, the teams player of the season in what has been a very good season for the club. 42. Alvaro Negredo (Man City) – If this list would have been done at Christmas, the Spaniard would have been in the top 20. All of Negredos nine Premier League goals this season came before the middle of January and if he doesnt score a goal in the final week of the season he will have gone four months without a league goal. However, this is no Roberto Soldado. The beast, as he is called in the blue half of Manchester, is no flop and is a wonderful footballer who can score goals from set pieces, drop deep and play in opponents and score goals in the six-yard box. Expect him to come back stronger and fitter in August. 41. Laurent Koscielny (Arsenal) – What a strange season for Arsenals defence. Impressive against most of the league, diabolical away from home at Man City, Liverpool, Chelsea and Everton. The Frenchman can be a very polarizing figure, often looked down on because of highlight-reel mistakes such as own goals or high-profile red cards, but when not being put into highlight packs, the 28-year-old shows he is very steady in defence. Like many defenders, he isnt always at his best when forced to turn and face his own goal but very few opponents force him to do so. Andy Van Slyke Jersey . With Bernard hurt, the second-round pick has emerged.Hill ran for 152 yards during a 27-10 win at New Orleans on Sunday, his second big game. He also ran for 154 yards against Jacksonville earlier this season. Kevin Kramer Jersey .ca! There is plenty of blame to be shared as a result of the most recent NHL player (Pittsburghs Brooks Orpik) to be evacuated from the ice on a stretcher following an ugly incident Saturday night in Boston. https://www.cheappiratesjerseys.us/2052e-kebryan-hayes-jersey-pirates.html . Vincent Lamar Carter is no longer the lean, athletic dynamo who dazzled Raptors fans with eye-popping dunks that posterized even the leagues best defenders. Kent Tekulve Jersey . It was well worth the wait. Manning and the Denver Broncos waited eight long months, then another 33 minutes to get the season started because of a lightning storm. Billy Meyer Jersey . At a news conference Tuesday where it was thought that the fiery Schallibaum may be shown the door after a dismal finish to the Major League Soccer season, team president Joey Saputo said no decision has been made on whether the Swiss Volcano will be back in 2014.By now you will know all about the American Pharaoh story. Told well by the New York Times and Sports Illustrated recently, it is a tale highlighting the influence coach Bob Bradley has had on Egyptian football at a turbulent time in the countrys history. "Its one of the best stories in world sport right now," said iconic soccer commentator Ray Hudson. On Tuesday we all got to see why those stories were written now. Better to have a great story told in the current tense than one left for the history books. Warner Bros can blow the whistle on any plans they had of making it a movie. Bradleys time in Egypt is coming to a close. The American had hoped he could make the difference, turn the tables on a team that has suffered misery on and off the field for the past four years. Instead, in leg one of the crucial World Cup qualifier against Ghana, Bradleys side was destroyed 6-1, ending any realistic hopes they have of making Brazil. The Pharaohs looked nervous and paid the price for a horrendous first 25 minutes. Ghanian star striker Asamoah Gyan, formerly of Sunderland, should have put his side ahead after 12 seconds but he needed no second chances in the fifth minute when his powerful drive across the box sent the home crowd wild. On 22 minutes Egypt were down 2-0, Andre Ayew breaking on a transition before feeding Michael Essien in the box. The Chelsea midfielder then rolled back the years with every step, causing Egyptians to fall to the ground with every turn, before Wael Gomaa kicked the ball away from him and into the net for an own goal. Bradley, showing no emotion on the sidelines, waited for his team to insert their influence and got a break on 41 minutes when star man Mohamed Salah was bundled over in the box for a penalty, which was easily taken by Mohamed Aboutrika. A key away goal for Egypt could have caused a turn in momentum, but a minute later Sulley Muntaris free kick was met by the head of rising Majeed Waris to make it 3-1 before half-time. Egypt slumped off the pitch unable to cope with the pace and aggression shown by Ghanas front four and, in particular, their tactic of targeting right back Ahmed Fathi. The brilliance of goalkeeper Sherif Ekramy was the only reason the score was close at the interval. Eight minutes into the second half, not even Sherif in net could do anything to stop Gyans second goal, another header that left questions about Egypts backline. 4-1 turned into 5-1 when Ahmed El-Shenawi was harshly called for a foul in the box later in the second half and by now Bradley was only too aware that he was just another part in what has been a terrible four years for the national side, dating back to the misery caused by Algeria in 2009. Back then, much like 2013, things were supposed to be different. They had played four minutes and forty seconds of injury time the moment Emad Moteab headed the ball into the ground and just out of reach of the goalkeeper. Moteab sent Cairo into hysterics, only this time the scenes were of jubilation. Playing despised North African rivals Algeria in the final qualification group for South Africa 2010, Egypt needed to win by three to qualify and by two to earn a playoff. Moteabs stunning late goal gave them a 2-0 win, giving the two teams identical records in group play. The goal allowed Egyptians everywhere a chance to dream, to finally make the World Cup for the first time since 1990, and an opportunity for their team to show the world what they already knew; that Egypt were the true kings of African football. The second group game between the twoo nations had already been surrounded in controversy, with the Algerian bus being attacked as they arrived, forcing some players to wear protective headgear to cover up their gashes.dddddddddddd Now there would be a third matchup. After six group matches the teams couldnt be separated and a one-game playoff on neutral grounds was required to see who went to the World Cup. Egypt, already winners of the 2006 and 2008 African Cup of Nations, felt they had the momentum and were heavy favourites. They lost 1-0 and were forced to watch the first ever World Cup on African soil at home. Without a ticket to South Africa, incredibly they won a third successive AFCON tournament in 2010, beating Ghana in the final, giving them their seventh continental crown, the most won by any African team. By the time the World Cup kicked off in 2010 nobody else in the continent cared about Egypts local success. The Black Stars of Ghana shined bright, coming precariously close to a semifinal berth, after losing a dramatic penalty shootout to Uruguay. If Egyptian Football thought that was their lowest point they were in for a rude awakening. In 2011 they failed to qualify for the next AFCON, prompting coach Hassan Shehatas resignation, which led to Bradleys hiring. In two years Bradley has stayed with Egypt through the Port Said Stadium massacre - which saw over 70 people lose their lives, another failure to qualify for the AFCON of 2013, a military takeover and a national revolution that has caused so much social unrest, Egypt had to play all of their home qualifiers for Brazil 2014 behind closed doors for safety reasons. Most men would have turned their back on the country by now. Not Bradley. His reward? Another date with Ghana. It was a nightmare draw. Egypts World Cup bad luck had continued. Six wins from six in qualification gave them arguably their toughest opponent. Another change in the qualification process this time saw teams having to finish in the top two of their group before then playing off over two legs against a side for a chance at the World Cup. Ghana are now, for Egypt, Algeria of 2009. For Bradley they are also the team that ended his last World Cup campaign when they beat the Americans in Rustenburg. The American Pharaoh had the chance at redemption, and what a script that would have been, but facing an unthinkable 1-6 deficit ahead of the second leg on November 19th (still to be decided if it will be played in Cairo) it likely means Ghana will bring Bradleys time in Egypt to a close, much earlier than he would have hoped. Maple Leaf Sport & Entertainment President and CEO Tim Leiweke has publicly said Toronto FC coach Ryan Nelsen will return next season, but for a man who thinks big on and off the field, Bradleys upcoming availability certainly should make him think otherwise. Bradley is obsessed with the game and many thought his thirst for the day-to-day requirements of club football would lead him to MLS when he left the US national team in 2011. Toronto isnt previously a destination that would have interested him because of its constant failures but with the ambitious Leiweke at the helm the link is now more than plausible. Leiweke, former President and CEO of AEG, has known Bradley for many years including when Bradley coached the New York-New Jersey Metrostars, a club he left from Chicago Fire, when both teams were owned by AEG. Bradleys task at Toronto may not come as close to being made into a movie like his current one but it is certainly one both sides could well be interested in exploring. ' ' '