The depressing thing about the First Division in 2001-2002 was the low quality of the teams. Only six players stood out all season. The number of players booted out of Premiership clubs in the summer of 2002 should see in increase in quality of the league this season.
These are the players who stood out as Premiership class in game against the Bantams this term.
Back when he played for QPR alongside Kevin Gallen, Trevor Sinclair and Andy Impey, Nigel Quashie was the new Paul Ince, the weight of expectation seems to have hung around the heads of all those players and dragged Quashie back for a good few years. Now the midfielder seems lighter, more agile and more ready for the game. He is not going to get the England caps that he was lined up for in his younger years but as Portsmouth go into the Premiership one can imagine Quashie staying up there longer than they do.
He made the list last year for his lively style up front and he is back this after City lost 3-0 at the City Ground with Johnson tormentor in chief. Johnson never took to the Premiership first time round with Ipswich Town but he looks ready now and will be there by the kick off of the 2003/3004 season. Not sure Forest will be there with him though.
Another from last year's list who gets on this year. Surely not long for this division as his control turn and superb finish at Valley Parade this year suggest.
It was not his four at Valley Parade that impressed, although there were some good finishes in them, but the creative flair he showed in the Selhurst Park 2-2 draw that impressed. Connelly looks good enough for the Premiership and a step above most strikers in the division.
Not so much in the attacking fest that was the five goal battering at Valley Parade but his controlled display and torpedo strike in Sheffield caught the eye. Superb midfielder who will be Premiership very soon although as a side note it's interesting to chart Brown's improvement next to the arrival of Stuart McCall.