'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Midfield: Abdoulaye Doucoure – Watford
Watford have been one of the Premier League’s surprise packages this season, as they’ve risen from being perennial strugglers to currently sit in 10th position thanks to the good work done by manager Javi Gracia. And there’s no doubt that one of his most outstanding performers this season has been French defensive midfielder Abdoulaye Doucoure.
Doucoure has once again been practically ever-present for the Hornets, appearing in 34 of their 37 league games thus far following his 37 appearances last year. And it’s been Doucoure’s partnership in the centre of Watford’s engine room alongside Etienne Capoue that has allowed their flashier players like Will Hughes and Gerard Deulofeu to thrive.
Doucoure is more than just a holding man though, as his solid return of 5 goals and 6 assists shows. The Frenchman is a complete midfielder, as capable of threading key passes – 36 of them this season – as he is of thundering in with tackles, as his total of 70 successful ones in 106 attempts shows. If Watford can hold onto Doucoure, they can definitely progress further next season.
Midfield: Joao Moutinho – Wolves
Another major Wolves signing from the summer, a lot of people figured that Joao Moutinho had probably arrived in the Premier League a little late; he turned 32 in September, has been around for years and there were some questions over how much he had left in the tank.
Well, he’s answered all of those questions in a pretty fantastic debut season in England, and has made the reported £5m fee that Wolves paid for him look like the definition of a bargain.
Pulling the strings alongside the equally impressive Ruben Neves in the centre of Wolves’ midfield, Moutinho has been a key factor in the success of Nuno Espirito Santo’s team in 2018/19, and he’s shone in particular when Wolves have faced off with the upper echelon of the division.
The West Midlands side have put together an impressive record of 4 wins, 4 draws and 3 losses against the top six, and Moutinho’s work from midfield has been a massive contribution to that.
The Portuguese international has scored just 1 goal in his 37 appearances, but he’s made 8 assists, has an impressive pass success rate (84.8%), and with a total of 84, has made more than double the key passes of his nearest rival at the club (Raul Jimenez) this season. How long he has left at the top is a question mark, but if he can keep up this form, he’ll be one of the Premier League’s outstanding performers for years to come yet.
