The People’s Hall of Fame

With the recent launch of the official Premier League Hall of Fame and the subsequent shortlist for the next inductees released, the debate of who might have been missed off the list is a hot topic with many football fans. It is hard to argue with most of the players on the list, as they are all legends in their own right and deserve recognition for their achievements. However, there are plenty of players who many fans will feel have a credible argument to be included on the shortlist. To help the debate and perhaps spark a little controversy, a list of some alternative nominations for the shortlist has been created and their claim for Hall of Fame status argued. The criteria for being on this shortlist are similar to that of the official one, all players must be retired for over a year and they will only be judged on their time in the Premier League. Some of the players on this list are here for more than just their abilities, some for their longevity, some for their impact on the league and some for their status within their own clubs.

First up, Gareth Barry:

When making a list of the overlooked Premier League legends, who arguably has a stronger case to be on the new hall of fame shortlist, than Gareth Barry. He is the Premier Leagues all time appearance maker, which should almost be enough to earn him a place on the shortlist. Barry has 653 Premiership appearances, for four different clubs, scoring 53 goals and contributing 64 assists. Barry was also part of the legendry league winning 2011-12 Manchester City team, making 34 appearances that season. Barry spent his entire career in the top flight, and for almost all of it, was playing for a top half team. Barry was one of those rare players who, although perhaps not a superstar, very seldom had a bad game – Mr Consistent. Surely all of this should be enough to earn him a place on any shortlist.

Ruud Van Nistelrooy:

How this man did not make the official shortlist is a total mystery to anyone who follows football. Ruud has a Premier League winners medal, the golden boot and player of the season award from the same season. But he was no one season wonder, Ruud scored 95 goals with 14 assists in only 150 appearances!! This gives Ruud a average of 0.63 goals per game, which in the Premiership is an unbelievable achievement, and makes him one of the most prolific strikers of the Premier League era. Had Van Nistelrooy pushed onto to get a 100 plus league goals and not jetted off to Madrid so early, he would no doubt have been an easy shoe in for the official shortlist.

Gianfranco Zola:

If the phrase ‘he passes the eye test’ applies to any Premiership player it must be Gianfranco Zola. Just watching the Italian wizard play was an absolute privilege and an amazing experience. Unlike many of the so-called Premier League greats his CV is not littered with titles, however, Zola was a player of integrity and loyalty who prioritised these things above trophies and medals. This is proved by his decision to turn down Roman Abramovich’s generous offers to stay at Chelsea because he had just agreed to join his hometown team of Cagliari in Serie B. Zola managed a very respectful 229 appearances, accompanied by 59 goals and 42 assists in the Premier League. But for Zola the stats are not important, his legendary status at Chelsea speaks volumes, where even to this day his shirt number 25 is unofficially retired and has not been worn since his departure. Ask any Chelsea fan to name a club legend and chances are they name Zola – which says all there is to be said for his Hall of Fame status.

Gary Neville:

Now, another player who will no doubt, feel hard done by to not be included on the official Hall of Fame shortlist, as will most Man United fans. This is of course the people’s hero Gary Neville. Gary has 400 league appearances, mostly at right back, where he has kept 148 clean sheets and contributed 5 goals and 35 assists. Most impressively though are his 8 league titles accumulated over his 19 seasons, as a Premier League player. Neville was a key part of the most successful team in Premiership history, he was the first choice right back in the defensively solid Manchester United team, for the majority of his career, a team where players had to earn their shirt week in and week out. Neville’s career was distinguished by his phenomenal work rate, leadership and all-round dedication to the cause.

Yaya Touré:

A man whose name makes up half of one of the more popular football chants of all time, proving his popularity among fans, Yaya Touré. Touré joined the Premier League in 2010 and quickly established himself as part of, not only Manchester City, but Premier League folk law. He made 230 appearances and racked up an impressive 62 goals and 32 assists from central midfield. Touré also picked 3 league titles in his time and had arguably one of the greatest individual seasons in Premiership history in 2013/14, when he scored 20 goals in 35 appearances to spearhead City’s league winning season.

David Seaman:

Very few successful teams do not have an outstanding goalkeeper, and this man is certainly one the best, once described by Alan Shearer as the ‘greatest’ a very high compliment indeed, from the highest goal scorer in Premier League history. Seaman kept an impressive 141 clean sheets in 344 appearances and even picked up 4 assists. He has two Premiership titles and was a feared keeper for many years in the league. It is easy to overlook the contribution made by keepers such as Seaman however his presence transmitted calm and reassurance to Arsenal’s legendary defensive unit.

Peter Crouch:

Now time for a real fans favourite, a man who played for more clubs than most, of course the robot dancing Peter Crouch. Crouch is almost as famous for who he is as a person, than he is for his football. He has a larger-than-life persona and physique, along with possibly the greatest celebration of all time, the robot. However, Crouch makes this list for many reasons, which made him a so popular with fans up and down the country alongside his exploits on the pitch. Crouches Premiership career spanned nearly 20 years, making 468 appearances for 7 different teams, scoring 108 goals and chipping in 58 assists. To add to his achievement, he also collected the accolade for the most headed goals in Premiership history, unsurprisingly for 6ft 7 striker. Every sport needs personalities and Crouch is certainly one of the Premiership’s.

Nicolas Anelka:

A striker who has played for 6 different premiership clubs, racking up 364 appearances, scoring 125 goals and getting 48 assists, Nicolas Anelka. Anelka has two premiership titles, one for Arsenal in 1998 and another over 10 years later with Chelsea in 2010, demonstrating the great durability of Nicolas. Anelka, also picked up a golden boot in the 2008/09 season, scoring 19 goals. Anelka goes down in history as a mercenary striker who was popular with fans wherever he played, but was not without his controversial moments, but that doesn’t tarnish his reputation as one of the classier strikers to stride the Premier League stage. Anelka always played with grace, flare and style often scoring goals of absolute brilliance.

Michael Carrick:

A midfielder who just like Garth Barry spent his whole career in the Premier League and perhaps whilst his stats don’t grab the headlines, Carrick made 481 appearances, scoring 24 goals with 40 assists. He began his career at West Ham before progressing to a strong Tottenham team, where after two great seasons he earned a move to Manchester United, where he became an integral part of 5 title winning teams and one of Ferguson’s regular starters. Carrick is a footballer who like Paul Scholes has always received more plaudits from fellow pros than he has from journalists and fans, this is because much of the great work he did often went unnoticed, he did the ‘lifting and shifting’ in midfield allowing others the freedom to shine.

Robbie Keane:

The Premier League has had many great strikers, but how can Robbie Keane not make the Hall of Fame shortlist? Keane was the fan’s favourite at Spurs for many years, playing the majority of career there with the remainder of his time spent in other Premiership teams. Keane bagged 126 goals and 37 assists in 349 appearance, for six different clubs, which ranks him as the 15th -most successful goal scorer in the history of the Premier League. Keane had the special ability to score a goal when his team badly needed one, doing this for Spurs on many occasions. Keane was also a scorer of great goals, bending them into the corner from any angle he fancied and his iconic cartwheel celebration will live long in the Spurs fan’s memory. Unassuming hero is an overused phase in football however, Robbie Kean has always epitomised it. He kept his boyish passion for football, delighted with his 126th Premiership goals as his first. Keane is the cousin of the Smith’s singer, Morrissey, who once said: “To watch him on the pitch—pacing like a lion, as weightless as an astronaut, is pure therapy.” It is for these reasons that Robbie Kean surely has to be considered for the Premier League Hall of Fame shortlist.

Photo credits in order:

The Mirror

The Metro

The Daily Express

The Daily Express

SportsSkeeda

OneFootball

The 18

Transfer Market

Bleacher Report

HITC