Michael Dawson

Michael Dawson - Tottenham

Centreback - England

2010/2011 MID-SEASON RANKING: Unranked
End of 2010/11 - Beginning of 2011/12: 192

2011/2012 MID-SEASON RANKING:

263

I realize having him ahead of Kaboul, who is having a better season, is a bit strange and a tough argument, especially since Dawson's injury issues have resurfaced this season, but I like him a lot as a player, he has great range of passing and can move the ball pretty good out of defense (meaning less defending!) where he is also a natural leader. His team just happen to have one already in Ledley King.

I like that he is kind of both the sweeper style defender (while tall) clearing trouble and reading the game higher up, making interceptions, at his best able to overcome lack of mobility, I guess that I really like what seems be to great defensive instincts, but that he is also fully at home playing the more traditional English centreback, making strong tackles, winning headers, protecting the box right where it's at.

I see Kaboul more as a very strong athletic version of that type of centreback, including the kind of pace that puts him ahead of just about anyone of those, but if his technique is also even better than I've already given him credit for, not least his passing repertoire, then Dawson with worse health and less athletic ability, has little argument left and I'm guessing Kaboul will have caught up to him on the next version (remember at 192 last time around Dawson had a good head start).

Younes Kaboul

Tottenham

Defender - France

2010/2011 Mid-season: Unranked
End of 2010/11 - Start of 2011/12: Unranked
2011/2012 Mid-season:  285
End of 2011/12 - Start of 2012/13:  215

 End of 2011/12 - Start of 2012/13:

A solid jump up the list for Kaboul and if you consider his tools this feels more like his territory on the list after a long period of playing very well.

He was even very close to being elevated further, but I'm holding out somewhat, very interested in seeing just how good he will be defending under Villas-Boas which presumably will present different challenges than the more traditional English style deeper protecting the box and in possession less ball playing way of defending under Redknapp.

Kaboul of course, remarkably, seemingly has all the tools to succeed at both. In fact this could be his time to really shine and that would mean a very good ranking of course but let's see how he actually does, with and without the ball.


 2011/2012 Mid-season:

First time on the list for Kaboul after currently enjoying his best season and overall a longer period consistently at a high level.

He definitely has the talent to climb much higher and to have been included in earlier years as well.

He seemingly has all the tools that a modern centreback could dream of.
Very strong athlete overall. Big. Good in the air. Fast. Technically sound. Just needs to keep it all together and the only way surely is up.