Every team has their superstars.
The sort of players that can be match-winners in a second, be it, a breathtaking piece of skill, a wonderful finish in-front of goal or a decisive save.
But no side would be anything without the more underrated individuals that keep a team ticking.
The unsung heroes.
As this weekend’s extremely Super Sunday drew to a close, there had been plenty of big names on display. For starters, players such as Luis Suarez, Steven Gerrard and Robin van Persie took to the stage in the curtain raising clash at Old Trafford between Manchester United and Liverpool. Then, Manchester City’s star studded line-up, including Carlos Tevez, David Silva and Vincent Kompany travelled to the Emirates to take on Arsenal, who could boast Santi Cazorla, Jack Wilshere, Lukas Podolski and Theo Walcott, amongst others, in their XI.
There was plenty of quality to enjoy, United’s move that resulted in van Persie’s opening strike in the 2-1 win over their Merseyside opponents oozed class. But as the day wore on, and the second match in North London reached it’s end, it was the work rate and drive of two young Englishmen that really stole the show.
Danny Welbeck was outstanding for the Red Devils as they momentarily moved ten points clear of their ‘noisy neighbours.’ He didn’t score, nor did he regularly threat in-front of goal. Instead, the striker was full of running, his energy causing all kinds of problems for the Liverpool defence. In doing the hard work, it allowed the entertainers such as van Persie, to punish Brendan Rodgers’ visitors.
Then, with the pressure on City to close the gap on their title rivals, it wasn’t Tevez, Silva or any of the more ‘sexy’ footballers that inspired Roberto Mancini’s men to their 2-0 victory over the Gunners, but James Milner.
The midfielder was superb, his work-rate and attitude matched by his ability on the ball, a stunning first-half finish sending the Blues on their way to a comfortable success.
When you have a player like Milner in your side, the constant movement and pressure he gives only helps force mistakes from the opposition, opens space for his team-mates and, like Welbeck, by getting his hands dirty he enables people like Silva to add the gloss.
The former Leeds man wasn’t given the man of the match award upon the final whistle, unlike Welbeck just hours earlier, but many will argue he deserved it.
And although referee Mike Dean will take the majority of the headlines for his decisions to send off Laurent Koscielny and Kompany in the latter encounter, it’s those two who should be given more attention.
Given that neither player is a regular starter, they’ll remain relatively unsung. But if they’re underrated at the moment, performances like that will ensure it won’t be long before both are getting the recognition their efforts deserve.
By James Shipp
Twitter: @ShippSport
