The African Exodus... Who Will Suffer?

The African Cup of Nations kicks off in a couple of weeks’ time, sparking a mass evacuation of some of England’s top Premier League talent. So which club will be worst affected by the ‘most poorly timed competition of the year’? We assess each leaving player’s value using our own 5 star rating system, and what the total effect will be on each Premier League club.

5 Star Rating:

5 stars – Vital to the team. Irreplaceable.
4 stars– First team player. Has an able deputy.
3 stars – Bench player. Usually brought on during a game.
2 stars – Bench player. Not used very often.
1 star – Not in the squad. Won’t be missed at all.

The Teams:

Arsenal

Emmanuel Eboue – 4 stars
Kolo Toure – 5 stars
Alexandre Song – 2 stars
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Total – 11 stars

Arsenal have solid back up in the form of Rosicky for Eboue, who looked off form against Burnley, however Toure will be sorely missed. Senderos is a solid back up, but does not have the same defensive qualities as the Ivorian. As a whole they should still be able to function as a free-flowing attacking machine.

Birmingham City

Richard Kingson – 2 stars
Radhi Jaidi – 3 stars
Mehdi Nafti – 4 stars
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Total – 9 stars

Birmingham will only seriously miss Nafti out their 3 Africans, having put in some good performances for City this season. However, they should have enough midfield cover to cope with his loss.

Blackburn Rovers

Aaron Mokoena – 3 stars
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Total – 3 stars

Only one gone for Blackburn, they should be able to cope fine with their current 1st team.

Bolton Wanderers

Abdoulaye Meite – 4 stars
El Hadji Diouf – 5 stars
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Total – 9 stars

Only 2 players gone for Bolton, but 2 massive players at that. Meite has been a rock in front of the back 4 for the Wanderer’s so their already fragile defence will be even more exposed. And with the absence of arguable their most creative player in Diouf, they could be in real trouble upfront as well.

Chelsea

Michael Essien – 5 stars
Didier Drogba – 5 stars
Salomon Kalou – 4 stars
Jon Obi Mikel – 4 stars
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Total – 18 stars

Chelsea could be in trouble. The best striker in the Premier league, his back up, arguably the best defensive midfielder in England and a talented young midfielder have all jetted off, leaving huge gaps of world class quality throughout the team. It appears as if the African Cup of Nations has come at just the wrong time for Chelsea’s title push.

Everton

Joseph Yobo – 4 stars
Yakubu Aiyegbeni – 5 stars
Victor Anichebe – 3 stars
Steven Pienaar – 4 stars
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Total – 16 stars

Everton will be in a similar boat to Chelsea, missing 3 1st team players, notably their best defender in Yobo, their best striker in Yakubu, and one of their more dynamic midfielders in Pienaar. Expect Everton to suffer a dip in their otherwise excellent form.

Fulham

Diomansy Kamara – 3 stars
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Total – 3 stars

Fulham should be fine with David Healy and Hammeur Bouazza up front.

Liverpool

Momo Sissoko – 2 stars
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Total – 2 stars

If anything, the Malian’s departure will allow space on the bench for someone with greater quality.

Middlesbrough

Mohamed Shawky – 1 star
Mido – 1 star
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Total – 2 stars

In Boro’s case, what ain’t used... ain’t missed.

Newcastle United

Obafemi Martins – 5 stars
Geremi – 4 stars
Habib Beye – 4 stars
Abdoulaye Faye – 2 stars
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Total – 15 stars

What Big Sam would not have wanted. His captain and top striker to be absent for 3 weeks while the club plummets down the Premier League table faster than it takes for St. James’ Park to exit. Can Owen step up to the plate in his striking partner’s absence?

Portsmouth

Sulley Muntari – 4 stars
Nwankwo Kanu – 3 stars
John Utaka – 4 stars
Papa Bouba Diop – 4 stars
Djimi Traore – 1 star
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Total – 16 stars

Take away 3 of your most powerful and forceful midfielders, and you’ll be left with not much physical element to your side. Pompey thrive on this, and so could for once get out muscled in the middle of the park, perhaps costing them control of games.

Reading

Emerse Fae – 2 stars
Andre Bikey – 2 stars
Ibrahima Sonko – 4 stars
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Total – 8 stars

In truth, the Royals will only miss Sonko, and he’ll be adequately replaced during his tenure away. Don’t expect much change at Reading.

Sunderland

Dickson Etuhu – 4 stars
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Total – 4 stars

Roy Keane could have done with the Nigerian’s solid performances in the middle for Sunderland during this crucial winter period, but with the Irishman looking to strengthen across his whole team this January, he will hope to find an ideal replacement.

Tottenham Hotspur

Didier Zokora – 3 stars
Hossam Ghaly – (-1) stars
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Total – 2 points

Zokora faded out of the picture for a few games under new boss Ramos, but was drafted in for the last 2 and performed admirably. However the marauding Tom Huddlestone should provide ample foil. As for Ghaly, he gets negative stars, as the team would probably train better anyway without his petulant attitude.

West Ham United

John Pantsil – 2 stars
Henri Camara – 2 stars
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Total – 4 stars

Neither player has made any sort of impact at Upton park this season, so don’t expect Alan ‘Curbs’ Curbishley to be seeing them off at Heathrow airport with a bunch of flowers and a ‘Come Home Soon’ card.

The End Result?

Arsenal’s slight weakness at the back could see Manchester Utd leapfrog them. Chelsea should be caught by Liverpool due to the loss of Drogba and Essien, while Everton may slip down the table with Villa and Blackburn leapfrogging them before the end of the tournament arrives.

Pompey’s lack of goals at home won’t be helped by a decimated midfield, and Bolton could sneak into the relegation zone without 2 of their key players. As for Sam Allardyce and Newcastle, expect the odds to be slashed on him being handed his P45 come February.

What do you think will happen to the teams suffering from their African-born players? Will they drop or stand firm? And do you agree or disagree with the ratings given above? Feel free to leave your comments below.

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