Jamie Redknapp's week watch: Richard Dunne and Nico Kranjcar are best buys

18 December 2009 03:04
SEASON'S BEST?Has there been a better signing this season than Richard Dunne? Martin O'Neill has made a number of important buys, including James Milner, but none have made a bigger impact than Irish powerhouse Dunne. He is one of those warrior defenders who everybody wants in their dressing room. He gets his head in where it hurts.[LNB]...OR SEASON'S BEST?One player who might rival Dunne, because he only cost £2million, is Spurs midfielder Niko Kranjcar. He's such a clever, understated player. Now that he is really fit and rising to the challenge of playing with better players, you can see how good he is. He scores goals, rarely wastes a pass and drifts in from his base on the left.[LNB]SORRY TO HEAR, JOI worry about Manchester City's Joleon Lescott, who is out until the New Year with a knee injury. I had a similar problem and know what it takes out of you as a player. With fellow centre back Kolo Toure soon off to the Africa Cup of Nations, as well as struggling for form, it's easy to see where City will buy when the transfer window opens next month.[LNB]GET OFF MICK'S BACKI can't join the chorus of criticism for Wolves manager Mick McCarthy. If his team go on to beat Burnley on Sunday, it will have been a brilliant decision to play his reserves at Manchester United, where they were never going to win even with their best team. McCarthy is not the first manager to pick a weakened side. Give the guy a break.[LNB]SUPER BURNLEYOwen Coyle's Burnley have lost only three games in the whole of 2009 at their Turf Moor ground. Out of their 22 home games in all competitions this year, 10 have been against Premier League opposition. Burnley have beaten Manchester United and Tottenham, and drawn with Arsenal and Aston Villa. They have been terrific.[LNB]DRAB WITHOUT FABArsenal are running out of players. Cesc Fabregas is now absent with a hamstring injury and they are having to play midfielder Andrey Arshavin in attack. How long can Arsene Wenger keep up the pursuit of Chelsea with so many injury problems? Arsenal certainly need more firepower at the end of their pretty football.[LNB]ALL AGOG OVER NGOGMuch has been made of Liverpool's failings this season,but it's time we recognised that striker David Ngog is making progress and looks as if he might emerge as an exciting talent. He has been overpromoted at times this season Liverpool should have signed a player to supplement Fernando Torres but, with the pressure mounting, Ngog has played well and really looked the part in the 2-1 win over Wigan.[LNB] Spurs, Aston Villa or Manchester City - which team can gatecrash the top four this season?Chelsea striker Didier Drogba has edge over Real Madrid's Ronaldo in race to deliver the perfect free kickWenger's talent factory: Five of the best from Arsenal's academy[LNB][LNB][LNB] [LNB]  

Source: Daily_Mail