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In football it is very hard for a team to have its fortunes turned around by one player alone, but it does happen and it requires a superhuman effort to be able to do it and do it consistently. Football has had its fair share of one man's teams but a few of them were really spectacular in the amount of influence a single player exerted over the club and how it changed the course of their performances.Here are a few one man teams that have left a mark in football's psyche for the long term.
#5 Yohan Cabaye
Yohan Cabaye is a brilliant player, but people often left it at that. His true capabilities were only brought to the fore last season when he left Newcastle for PSG. It was not his form at PSG that showed his effect on his team's form, but his departure from Tyneside.
Newcastle, a comfortablemid-table team, won an incredible 47% of their matches with Cabaye in the side compared to just 19% without him. Just last season, Newcastle oversaw a terrible run of games after his departure, a run which continues to this day. Last season, after his move to PSG, Newcastle played 15 games of which they only managed to win 4, losing the rest of the games to finish a mediocre 10th despite a strong start to the season.
Alan Pardew earned much acclaim for his earlier exploits with Newcastle, but his exploits now look the work of an exceptional player on whose shoulders was borne the weight of the team.
#4 Zlatan Ibrahimovic
Despite PSG's riches their first league title in the modern era came after the acquisition of Zlatan Ibrahimovic. It is confounding that one of the most richest teams assembled is so dependent on one player. It is very rare to hear of Ibrahimovic not being involved in a PSG win, such is their dependence on him.
In PSG, talents such as: Cavani, Lavezzi and Veratti operate in the shadows of Ibrahimovic. Not that he doesn't deserve it, but it is unnatural for a club of its stature to limit itself in this way. Ibrahimovic was involved in an astounding 44% of PSG's goals in the league last season. This despite the vast swathes of world class attacking talent at their disposal.
This one man show hasn't been without its benefits. PSG have now won two titles on the trot and look favorites to win it for a third time.
#3 Carlos Tevez
Looking at Tevez now it is hard to believe that he once played for a relegation threatened team like West Ham, but he did. He had one season with the Hammers and though it wasn't a fun season for them, he'll always be remembered for his last ten games which led to 'the Great Escape'.
West Ham were en route to relegation before Tevez decided that he was havingnone of it. An incredible return of 7 goals in his last 10 starts for West Ham, including one against future club Manchester United ensured that West Ham stayed in the Premier League for another season. In the grand scale of things, escaping relegation might not amount to much, but for lesser teams it is as glorious as winning a cup and it was a phenomenal achievement by the player who led them to safety.
#2 Gareth Bale
Tottenham Hotspurhave had plenty of near misses in their pursuit of Champions League football, but 4th place eluding them - yet again, in 2012-2013 must hurt the most. Gareth Bale announced himself to the world as one of the better athletes in the world. Emancipated from responsibilities of lesser players, Bale - under Villas Boas - set fire to the league, winning both the PFA and Football Writer's player of the year awards.
Hardly a game went Tottenham's way without any sort of contribution from Bale. His occasional absences from the team, due to injuries or fatigue, weremost notable, in that Tottenham failed to impress, often being prevented from scoring.
Bale ended the season with 21 goals and 4 assists, without which, Tottenham would have failed to even compete for a European spot.
#1 Robin van Persie
Premature obits of Arsenal's season were already doing the rounds in 2011-2012. Arsenal had scraped their way to the Champions league the season before , but had to see Cesc Fabregas and Samir Nasri leave the club. The club was short of inspiration and a talismanic figure to lead them out of the gloom. And then something fantastic happened. Robin van Persie buoyed by his new found responsibilities as captain began fulfilling the potential that was so highly spoken of.
There was always a fear that he would get injured again, as he had been prone to in the past seasons but nothing of the sort happened. He scored audacious chips, volleys and last minute winners to keep Arsenal competitive and he did it with panache.
Arsenal qualified for yet another season of Champions League, but it would have been improbable if not for the heroics of their captain. He ended the season as PFA Player of the year, Football Writer's player of the year and Golden boot winner for his 30 goals in 38 appearances.
