Source: Daily_Mail
THE LIST: Top 50 players of the decade in the Premier League - Nos 40-31
HAVE YOUR SAY... Who is the best Premier League player of the decade? As we leave another decade behind, it seems only right that we remember some of the great players that have brightened our footballing lives in the ten years past. Who has been your favourite - and have we missed anyone out? TELL US WHAT YOU THINK As we leave another decade behind, it seems only right that we remembersome of the great players that have brightened our footballing lives inthe 10 years past. [LNB]We know better than anyone here at Sportsmailthat you simply can't please everyone with lists of this nature, andcompiling a countdown of the top players from the top flight was thetoughest of tasks indeed.[LNB]But we certainly welcome your views as you share this week's countdown with us, all the way through to our top ten on Friday.[LNB]And remember, we are talking about players that made the most contribution and had the most impact in the years 2000-2009.[LNB]So sit back, take a break and enjoy ....[LNB]Read Nos 50-4140 Michael Carrick (West Ham 1998-04, Tottenham 2004-06, Manchester United 2006-present)Another gifted footballer to come through West Ham's academy, Carrick was propelled into first-team action after developing a reputation as a fine passer and crosser of the ball. [LNB]His performances led to a nomination for the PFA Young Player of the Year award in 2001, where he narrowly missed out to Steven Gerrard.[LNB]The Geordie boy left Upton Park a year after the Hammers were relegated to find Premier League football again, which he did with Tottenham who had become a force again under Martin Jol. [LNB]Two years later Carrick made his move to the top of the game with an £18.6m move Manchester United where he has won three domestic and one European title.[LNB] Pass master: Carrick[LNB]Engine: Tevez[LNB] 39 Carlos Tevez (West Ham 2006-07, Manchester United 2007-09, Manchester City 2009-present)The diminutive Argentine has made a real impact wherever he has played in the Premier League - from the goals that kept West Ham afloat in 2007 to becoming a terrace hero at Old Trafford ... for a while, at least. [LNB]His busy, never-say-die attitude and five goals during Manchester United's successful 2007-08 Champions League campaign - plus the first penalty in the shootout against Chelsea in the final - led to the United fans to chant 'Fergie, sign him up.'[LNB]Sir Alex declined and so Tevez moved across the city to Eastlands and has continued his good form with crucial goals for Mark Hughes' side - just don't mention that billboard poster. [LNB][LNB]38 Olof Mellberg (Aston Villa 2001-08)David O'Leary made defender Mellberg captain in his first season at Villa Park, a year which saw the club finish sixth in the Premier League and make it to the semi-finals of the League Cup.[LNB]When Melleberg's departure was announced, his final game of the season was designated as 'Olof Mellberg' day in appreciation of his service to the club and on his final game for Aston Villa, away at West Ham, he gave every single Villa fan at Upton Park either a home or an away shirt with his name and number on the back and the message Thanks 4 Your Support. [LNB] Solid Swede: Mellberg[LNB]Something special: Okocha[LNB] 37 JayJay Okocha (Bolton 2002-06)Sam Allardyce has the ability of taking great players at the end of their careers and eeking out another couple of seasons and no one better exemplifies this than the Nigerian forward Okocha.[LNB]As Allardyce famously pointed out: 'He's so good they named him twice.' [LNB]Okocha never did the easy thing and was one of the great entertainers during his time in the Premier League with Wanderers[LNB]He scored their goal of the season against West Ham in 2003 and captained the side to their first final in nine years - the League Cup of 2004. [LNB]36 Robbie Keane (Coventry 1999-00, Leeds 2001-02, Tottenham 2002-08, Liverpool 2008-09, Tottenham 2009-present)The Ireland striker has lit up the Premier League for 10 years with tenacious forward play and his penchant for breathtaking finishes.[LNB]He scored 12 goals in 34 League games for Coventry and, after an unsuccessful spell in Italy, bagged nine in his opening 14 games for Leeds.[LNB]Keane then moved to Tottenham for £7m in 2002 and has gone on to become a White Hart Lane legend, scoring over 100 goals for the club and helping them to League Cup success in 2008. [LNB] Deadly: Keane[LNB]Hot shot: Solskjaer[LNB] 35 Ole Gunnar Solskjaer (Manchester United 1996-07)Don't call him a supersub! OK, actually you can because Solskjaer loved to come off the bench and change a game. [LNB]He joined the ranks at Old Trafford in July 1996 and earned the moniker 'the baby-faced assassin' with 126 goals in 366 games for the Reds. [LNB]His most famous moment may have come in that Champions League final in Barcelona but he had plenty of great memories in domestic competition too, winning six League titles and two FA Cups in his time under Sir Alex Ferguson.[LNB]34 Jermain Defoe (West Ham 1999-04, Tottenham 2004-08, Portsmouth 2008-09, Tottenham 2009-present)The plaudits that rain down on Jermain Defoe often come with a clause yes, he can score goals but he's not the most technically gifted or he knows where the goal is but his temperament is an issue.[LNB]Who cares? Defoe has scored goals everywhere he has played and continues to do so now that he is back with Spurs - just take his five against Wigan this season.[LNB]The diminutive striker's League form has been mirrored on international duty - a brace against Holland in a friendly has taken his total to 11 in 38 games in an England shirt.[LNB] On form: Defoe[LNB]Flying Dutchman: Van der Sar[LNB] 33 Edwin van der Sar (Fulham 2001-05, Manchester United 2005-present)Sir Alex Ferguson summed it up when he said he should have bought the big Dutchman 10 years ago, rating him as the best in the English top flight. [LNB]He was never guaranteed the highest of profiles while playing for Fulham but Van der Sar's consistency made Fergie sit up and take notice.[LNB]He moved to Old Trafford in June 2005 and immediately started winning accolades - named in the PFA Team of the Year in 2007, and his clean sheet in United's 5-0 win over West Bromwich Albion took him to a record 11 games (1,032 minutes) without conceding a goal.[LNB][LNB]32 Tim Cahill (Everton 2004-present)Cahill began his career in England at Millwall and it was the club's fantastic FA Cup run in 2004 that really brought him to the attention of big guns.[LNB]The Australian's impact after his move to Goodison Park was instant - he finished the year as Everton's top scorer and was voted as fans' player of the season as the Toffees finished fourth in the League and in the Champions League places ahead of Liverpool.[LNB]He even managed a nomination for the Ballon D'Or in 2006 and is Everton's captain in place of the injured Phil Neville - his boxing round the corner flag celebration is a bit special, too.[LNB][LNB] Awesome Aussie: Cahill[LNB]Still got it: Campbell[LNB] 31 Sol Campbell (Tottenham 1992-01, Arsenal 2001-06, Portsmouth 2006-09) Here's a player that will divide opinion - was he a powerful, international quality defender or a vilified figure for committing the cardinal sin of swapping between north London rivals Tottenham and Arsenal?[LNB]Campbell spent nine years at Spurs, scoring 10 goals in 255 appearances, and captaining the team to victory in the 1999 League Cup but his real achievement came four miles up the road with Arsene Wenger's Gunners. [LNB]He won two League titles and three FA Cups and established himself as one of the finest centre-backs this country has ever produced. [LNB]And despite the debacle that was his spell at Notts County, Campbell remains a player very much in demand, even at 35 years old.[LNB][LNB]The best of the rest of The ListSportsmail's top 50 last-gasp goals in British footballSportsmail's top 50 footballers never to play at the World CupSportsmail's top 50 Merseyside derby heroesSportsmail's top 50 players from Tottenham or ArsenalSportsmail's top 50 football kits of all time Sportsmail's top 50 sporting feuds of all timeSportsmail's 50 great sports photographsSportsmail's worst 50 strikers in the Premier LeagueSportsmail's top 50 stars who failed to play fairSportsmail's top 50 midfield maestrosSportsmail's top 50 commentators of all timeSportsmail's top 50 sporting venuesSportsmail's top 50 free-kick kingsSportsmail's top 50 England heroesSportsmail's top 50 performers of the season so farSportsmail's top 50 all-time managers in BritainSportsmail's top 50 goal poachersSportsmail's top 50 footballing traitorsSportsmail's top 50 FA Cup heroesSportsmail's top 50 signings of the season Sportsmail's greatest Wembley finals in historySportsmail's top 50 biggest hitters in cricketSportsmail's top 50 British & Irish LionsSportsmail's top 50 Ashes heroesSportsmail's top 50 partnerships
