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Independent Class of 2007: The top 20 non-premiership players
The Independent's second annual survey of the top 20 outside the Premiership
Published: 09 January 2007
1 DAVID NUGENT, Preston North End
2 GARETH BALE, Southampton
3 GARY MCSHEFFREY, Birmingham City
4 FREDDY EASTWOOD, Southend
5 CURTIS DAVIES, West Bromwich Albion
6 GILES BARNES, Derby County
7 ROBERT EARNSHAW, Norwich City
8 JASON KOUMAS, West Bromwich Albion
9 GRZEGORZ RASIAK, Southampton
10 MATTHEW UPSON, Birmingham City
11 MICHAEL CHOPRA, Cardiff City
12 MATT MURRAY, Wolverhampton
13 DAVID DUNN, Birmingham City
14 ZOLTAN GERA, West Bromwich Albion
15 GREG HALFORD, Colchester United
16 ANTHONY STOKES, Sunderland
17 TOM SOARES, Crystal Palace
18 BOAZ MYHILL, Hull City
19 LEE COOK, QPR
Age: 24. Position: Winger
Nationality: English
Value: £1.5m
Joined QPR from Watford in 2004. Beginning to overcome the inconsistency which bedevils many wide players. A tricky quick-footed player with a good cross. Spotted by Watford at Aylesbury but failed to gain a regular place. Now in fourth season at QPR.
Linked with Man City, Tottenham
20 BEN WATSON, Crystal Palace
The Best of the Rest
* LEAGUE ONE: BEST
1 Billy Sharp (Scunthorpe)
2 Lee Trundle (Swansea)
3 Matt Jarvis (Gillingham)
* LEAGUE TWO: BEST
1 Izale MacLeod (MK Dons)
2 Jermaine Easter (Wycombe)
3 Ian Roper (Walsall)
* BEST LOAN PLAYERS
1 Lee Hendrie (Aston Villa, on loan to Stoke)
2 Nicklas Bendtner (Arsenal, on loan to Birmingham)
3 Jimmy Smith (Chelsea, on loan to QPR)
* BEST VETERANS (30+)
1 Jamie Cureton (Colchester United) 31
2 Graham Alexander (Preston North End) 35
3 Maik Taylor (Birmingham City) 35
The Rules
The list was drawn up following a poll of past and present managers, players and pundits. Only players under the age of 30, who are registered with English or Welsh non-Premiership clubs were considered. Matthew Kilgallon, of Leeds, was on the list, at No 10, but moved into the Premiership with Sheffield United yesterday. Anthony Stokes qualified when he left Arsenal for Sunderland yesterday. More than 70 names were suggested, but the top three were clear winners. Independent
Independent's Class of 2006 - Top 20 Players List A Year Ago: Where are Now
1 Phil Jagielka (Sheffield United) Now Premiership. Promoted with Sheffield United.
2 Andrew Johnson (Crystal Palace) Now Premiership. Transferred to Everton during the summer.
3 Steve Sidwell (Reading) Now Premiership. Promoted with Reading.
4 Theo Walcott (Southampton) Now Premiership. Transferred to Arsenal last January.
5 Cameron Jerome (Cardiff City) Still in Championship. Transferred to Birmingham in the summer.
6 Kevin Doyle (Reading) Now Premiership. Promoted with Reading.
7 Dean Ashton (Norwich City) Now Premiership. Moved to West Ham last January.
8 Kenny Miller (Wolves) Now SPL. Transferred to Celtic during the summer.
9 Jolean Lescott (Wolves) Now Premiership. Transferred to Everton during the summer.
10 Danny Webber (Sheffield United) Now Premiership. Promoted with Sheffield Utd.
11 Lee Trundle (Swansea) Still in League One. Still with Swansea.
12 Ashley Young (Watford) Now Premiership. Promoted with Watford.
13 Bobby Convey (Reading) Now Premiership, with Reading.
14 Nigel Quashie (Southampton) Now Back in Championship. Transferred to then Premiership West Bromwich in January.
15 Mark Kennedy (Wolves) Still in Championship. Transferred to Crystal Palace.
16 Ki Hyeon Seol (Wolves) Now Premiership. Transferred to Reading during the summer.
17 Matty Fryatt (Walsall) Now Championship. Moved to Leicester last January.
18 Nicky Shorey (Reading) Now Premiership, with Reading.
19 Boaz Myhill (Hull City) Still in Championship. Still at Hull.
20 Owen Garvan (Ipswich) Still in Championship. Still at Ipswich Independent