FAMOUS FIVES

FAMOUS FIVES

Garima Verma Lists The Top 15 In The British Charts This Season, For Manchester United, Chelsea’s Big Ones And Five Of The Rest

Manchester United

CRISTIANO RONALDO, almost on his way out of Old Trafford after the ‘winking scene’ at the World Cup, single handedly wrested winners whenever the rest of Fergie’s Red Devils had given up

Discovered by Everton in 2002, selfproclaimed Big Guy, WAYNE ROONEY was put to its best use by Alex Ferguson. See the wonder-kid lift team spirit as future captain and spearheading the red army ahead

The veteran Dutch ‘keeper EDWIN VAN DER SAR made up for a confused Rio Ferdinand and Man U’s not-so-solid defence.

GARY NEVILLE, at 5’11’’, is more towering than most and it showed. United’s full steam flagged a bit when the veteran defender was rendered unavailable for a good part

Since making his debut for the Reds last August, MICHAEL CARRICK has been a permanent fixture in Ferguson’s planning, scoring sudden goals when free from assisting the Ro-Ros

Chelsea

Whenever Blues looked they’d fade, DIDIER DROGBA was ready with a trick or two to keep his team alive

FRANK LAMPARD proved to be the epitome of Chelsea’s ironwill — turning up day in and day out

MICHAEL ESSIEN: The Ghanaian defender/right back/central back/right midfielder/central midfielder did a Terry in absence of Terry, a Ballack in absence of Ballack and even, a Drogba. Mourinho’s all-weather man

The blow to PETR CECH’S head at Reading was one of the biggest blows to Chelsea’s title chase. Though Hilario did not disappoint, the team missed 6’6’’ security blanket for a crucial two months.

After having missed the start of season due to a knee injury, Chelsea’s hero in the previous title wins, JOE COLE returned in mid-season, only to injure his foot and be out till April

Manchester United

The supremely-athletic OBEFAMI MARTINS more than made up for Michael Owen’s absence for Newcastle United in attack

Age is only a number. And, Portsmouth’s 30-year-old Nigerian striker NWANKWO KANU is a good enough example to prove that

The been-there-done-that guy — NICOLAS ANELKA — added Bolton to his CV this season, a list which includes the likes of Arsenal, Real Madrid and Liverpool. He helped in making Bolton a graveyard for EPL biggies

The Argentine duo of TEVEZ AND MASCHERANO landed controversially in West Ham. Mascherano is now with Liverpool, Tevez stuck on to help to West Ham to escape the drop

Tottenham’s Bulgarian striker DIMITAR BERBATOV is attracting attention for all the obvious reasons. The 26-year-old ex-Bayer Leverkusenian is on many managers’ wishlist for the coming season