Michu

Rayo Vallecano

Attacking midfielder/Forward - Spain

2010/2011 Mid-season: Unranked
End of 2010/11 - Start of 2011/12:  Unranked
2011/2012 Mid-season:  287
End of 2011/12 - Start of 2012/13: 227
 
2011/12 Mid-season:

By all accounts a hugely improved player this season carrying Rayo Vallecano to some impressive performances and being absolutely instrumental to their attacking play.

What has really caught my eye is his rather unique play, at least in some games, combining to some extent target-man play (he is top 3 in Spain with 4.4 aerial duels won per game), linking very well with others, head or feet through skillful one touch play, with more along the lines of attacking midfield play being a presence in more places on the pitch and even doing some intense defensive work. There is certainly not anything wrong with Michu's workrate, and when you then can somehow add to all of that, some impressive looking poaching in the box featuring good positioning, quality runs and sheer reaction/anticipation resulting in impressive goalscoring, then all in all, I'm not really sure I've ever quite seen all of those things done before by a good player simultaneously in games, quite that way, in the style, that Michu manages.

Maybe those words are too big. Way too big even. Maybe he is just in a short spell of unreal form. After all it was not long ago that he more looked like a player destined for an average professional career. Maybe even below La Liga, but this season at least, and I guess I'm celebrating that here in a non-holding-back manner, Michu is a pretty unique player.

Thinking about it, I can't quite find anyone to compare him with. A Spanish version of (one who is based more on technique than physique) Tim Cahill (in his prime)? I'm really not sure.

If I was to speculate it's possible Michu's improvements could just be much better fitness and becoming a lot stronger, allowing him to play up to his natural talent and do many more things than he ever could before. It could also be something tactical, being in the perfect role at the perfect time and no matter what Rayo manager José Ramón Sandoval definitely deserves a lot of credit for Michu's fantastic breakthrough this season.

To conclude, I do think I'll know more once the next list comes around. For now he was just too damn interesting not to include.

José Callejón

Real Madrid

Winger/Attacking midfielder/Forward - Spain

2010/2011 MID-SEASON RANKING: Not ranked

End of 2010/11 - Start of 2011/12: Not ranked

2011/2012 MID-SEASON RANKING:

291


Well, I'm not really decided one way or the other when it comes to this player currently, but I'm definitely apprehensive about excluding someone getting more and more playing time on what is clearly one of the strongest teams in the world.

It's funny though, because I don't think Callejon was seen as anything really special at Espanyol or for that matter did anything truly special, but while other players in similar situations in recent times, like Sergio Canales the much hyped Spanish wonderkid or the well respected and proven La Liga winger Pedro Leon, were both harshly kicked off the Madrid bench and found basically useless, not worthy of minutes at all, by Mourinho, Callejon of all people (with the help of some injuries of course) has been getting a good amount of playing time, not least in the Champions League where he rewarded the confidence being shown with some good performances, and just last week (at the time of writing), even started a crucial knockout game away is Russia playing CSKA.

Overall I see some good technique and skill. Some pace and perhaps most importantly some good off the ball movement expertly cutting in behind and between defenders from the right-wing, finding space, and he's used those abilities to take advantage of the luxury that is, being surrounded by a lot of excellent players.

The final question, and what will determine in large part his future rankings, is if he is really more than "just" a good useful roleplayer at the right time in the right place? I think it's a real possibility, and that alone is a good argument for his inclusion.

2011/2012 Mid-Season Rankings so far

300: Julian Draxler Germany - Schalke 04
299: Marcel Schmelzer - Germany - Dortmund
298: Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain - England - Arsenal
297: Juan Arango - Venezuela - Borussia Mönchengladbach
296: Nolito - Spain - Benfica
295: Deco - Portugal - Fluminense
294: Maxime Gonalons - France - Lyon
293: Yuto Nagatomo Japen - Inter
292: Łukasz Piszczek - Poland - Dortmund
291: Gastón Ramírez - Uruguay - Bologna
290: Gary Medel - Chile - Sevilla

For ongoing discussion and realtime (at random times) updates go HERE

Gary Medel

Sevilla

Central midfielder - Chile

2010/2011 Mid-season: Unranked
End of 2010/11 - Start of 2011/12: Unranked
2011/2012 Mid-season: 292
End of 2011/12 - Start of 2012/13: 274

End of 2011/12 - Start of 2012/13:

While Sevilla continued to disappoint Medel established himself as a fan favorite. I think he's become that on all his teams now, with his bulldog style of play winning the hearts of the fans.

He also continued to see a lot of the ball (one of only 7 non Barcelona/Real Madrid players in the 20 most passes per game in Spain), and while I still don't see quite enough constructiveness in his touches and passes to compare to the very best, there is also a chance a lot of it is still very tactical surrounded by all-round midfielders (Rakitic, Trochowski) and plenty of attacking wingers (Navas, del Moral, Reyes, Perotti) Medel is very much guarding the fort, both with and without the ball, not unlikely somewhat limiting showing what he can really do.

He has definitely shown that he has range of passing by now, and he is one of those players where I wouldn't be surprised if he'll be much better ranked eventually.



 2011/2012 Mid-season:

Medel came to Europe with a big reputation from South America where I think he was something of an idol for Boca Juniors and also when playing in Chile.

He has been very good for his national team, though when I was watching I paid more attention to more ambitious passers of the ball like Carmona, and of course Vidal whenever he was playing a more central role.

Sevilla hasn't seen the best of times while Medel has been there. I do seem to remember some good form in the end of last season (I remember giving Ivan Ratikic a lot of credit there), which Medel was part of, but this season again, with a strong looking squad, they've been underachieving enormously.

Medel isn't called "Pitbull" for nothing, he is very aggressive in his defensive play and has Mascherano-like spoiler qualities when it comes disrupting opponent play.

He is more uneven with the ball though. Especially his distribution which hasn't been good or constructive enough with his many touches. At 50.3 per game he is leading the team. I'll be surprised if there is anything wrong with his technique though, he does show he can spread the play at times, and it could just be tactically where he is struggling within the team setup. Where to put the ball? Even defensively where his effort is immense otherwise, that can undo a lot.

Speculating a bit, but either yet to find his ideal role and/or struggling with a role not defined to his strengths, for an example if he is too much of a restricted holding midfielder limiting his aggressiveness (or in the worst case scenario making it a liability) and therefore not getting the best out of him, not least defensively, but possibly even when Sevilla tries to attack where he is then too much of a non-factor.

Gaston Ramirez

Gaston Ramirez - Bologna

Attacking midfielder - Uruguay

2010/2011 Mid-season: Unranked
End of 2010/11 - Start of 2011/12:  Unranked
2011/2012 Mid-season: 293
End of 2011/12 - Start of 2012/13: 202

End of 2011/12 - Start of 2012/13:

Overall I would say Ramirez playmaking is still inconsistent. Maybe a little bit too much for this jump up the list. He is clearly a talented difference-maker though and when you can add intangibles like a very good work-rate, apparent hunger to succeed, you have a very promising player.

Maybe he is trying to do too much sometimes though? Of Serie A players you can categorize as attacking midfielders, only two fouled more than Ramirez. One of them Kevin Prince Boateng. If my guess is correct, that moreso than with Kevin-Prince the fouls are less misguided aggression and more hard intentions (following the example of Bologna soldiers Perez and Mudangayi) when it comes to defensive work (and his interceptions, tackles and clearances being above Boateng would at least indicate such) then it might not be such a bad sign after all.

Offensively he stayed in the top 5 in successful dribbles (2.5 per game, Cuadrado, Jovetic, Biabiny, Lavezzi) and he competed with the likes of Marek Hamsik and Antonio Nocerino (great off-the ball movers into the area) when it comes to needing less than two shots on target per game for a good amount of goals. Hamsik 9 goals (1.6 shots), Nocerino 10 goals (1.4 shots thx Zlatan) and Ramirez 8 goals (1.8 shots) which goes well with the sheer pace of his runs, his technique and if it also indicates an ability to make quality runs into the area, then the goalscoring should continue. 

 2011/2012 Mid-season:

Ramirez started the season brilliantly but along with the team is starting to slow down a little bit.

He plays the number 10 role and it will be interesting (with all their strikers) if or when there will be room for him on his national team as a starter. Not that Uruguay, with all their success, should be strongly encouraged to change anything, but Ramirez (21 years old) definitely has the talent to become an impact player for them.

The passing-game of his playmaking is possibly still plagued by lack of experience, they don't make it easy in Serie A either to be creative, but what he does have on top of actual playmaking talent (including a nice through-ball) is that one-on-one ability, which can be such a valuable difference maker in this team sport.

In fact his 2.6 successful dribbles per game (and remember this is likely central in tight space a lot of the time) is very good in Serie A and I believe in the whole league currently only bettered by Lavezzi, Jovetic and Biabiany.

His workrate isn't lacking either, which is good for someone in his position, but at least for now, more than making a real solid defensive contribution, the results are sometimes too many freekicks.

Bologna managed to quickly tie him to a long-term contract and they'll be very disappointed if that eventually won't earn them a lot of money.

Łukasz Piszczek

Dortmund

Right-back - Poland

2010/2011 Mid-season:  Unranked
End of 2010/11 - Start of 2011/12: Unranked
2011/2012 Mid-season:  281
End of 2011/12 - Start of 2012/13: 139

End of 2011/12 - Start of 2012/13:

Well, Piszczek has been the best attacking fullback in the Bundesliga for at least two seasons now. So much so that Klopp's "interesting" comparisons to Dani Alves have become more and more valid.

To be honest I'm still not totally sure of his overall technique (isn't it uneven sometimes?) but his pace, work-rate, power, tactical soundness, off the ball relentlessness have made him one of the greatest forces in the Bundesliga during Dortmund's great run. Yeah, there is a chance this is too high, I do have some reservations still and it's become clear that good players have every chance to look great in Klopp's superbly oiled Dortmund machine, but overall it's time to reward the Piszczek-impact and catapult him up the list. 


2011/2012 Mid-season: 

Well, he is ahead of Nagatomo, and Schmelzer for that matter, because I think he has made more of an impact this season.

I'm not sure he is as polished as some other fullbacks and will maybe struggle to keep some of them behind, but as of right now with his pressure game, aggressiveness, and maybe in general, being somewhat better defensively, at least than Schmelzer, and like seemingly every Dortmund player his teamwork within the setup could hardly be better.

Piszczek is tall for his position, strong and has been an impactful force coming forward consistently for some time now.

I'm still unclear about how good his technique really is (passing and control related) and that should determine his future ranking.

Yuto Nagatomo

Inter

Wing/Full back - Japan

2010/2011 MID-SEASON RANKING: Not ranked

End of 2010/11 - Start of 2011/12: Not ranked

2011/2012 MID-SEASON RANKING:

282:

It's hard to get impressed by anyone at current Inter but I think Nagatomo's play deserves a lot of respect.

Performed well enough in the Asian Cup and lowly Cesena in order to make the move to a big club and I think he has been very solid in just about everything he has been doing.

Actually I think he would prefer to be more attacking. He is held back a little when Maicon goes on his raids on the other side and often instead of showing his own speed and skill, he is reduced to make more safe contributions.

Now, no one at the moment will look really good defensively for Inter, at the time of writing the team defense doesn't work, but one-on-one I like him, and that's more than I can say for a lot of fullbacks, he has speed and good control both when dribbling and passing. Excellent teamwork, very good decision making, and seemingly unlimited work rate.

Unless I find something that I don't like, I think he'll be climbing the list in the future.