It is a mystery at how much players are built up before they have even kicked a ball in the Premier League and here is a look at the top ten footballing mysteries that have occurred in the Premier League over the past 20 years.

Click on Mido to unveil the top 10 football mysteries

The Premier League has always been a mixed bag of players and I always welcome witnessing a mismatch on the field whether it is Ramon Vega looking to mark Dennis Bergkamp; Tony Hibbert attempting to shackle Cristiano Ronaldo, or simply Gregorsz Rasiak attempting to take on any Premier League defence; the bad will always play a major part in adding to the excitement of the league.

This current Premier League season has been no different and this is the FIRST PART in my look of  who I consider to be arguably the worst players plying their trade at present:

Click on Stefan Savic to unveil the top 10

The players now call the shots at football clubs and are controlling the contract situations, while parasite agents tout their client out from club to club in order to get a new club or bigger deal. I’m sure this wasn’t Bosman’s intention when he first set out in the courts to fight his right to freedom, but the subsequent change in EU Law has created the beast we are not witnessing now.

A staggering 109 players who were registered for Premier League football are out of contract at the end of this season resulting in many clubs looking to either move them on in the summer or risk making a loss in May. There will be plenty of chances to earn a new contract for the future Bosman players, but having now let their contracts run down to just over six months remaining, perhaps the clubs are eager to get rid of them.

The list of out-of-contract players is not just packed with squad players and bit-part first team members, but star internationals that have brought a lot to the Premier League in the past five years or so.

At the end of last season there was not a huge rush to snap up free signings from the Premier League as there was very little to choose from. Hargreaves, Ba and McFadden were about as glamorous as it got last May but this year a team could be built solely from free signings that could well finish in the top half of the league. A club could spend their whole transfer budget on wages for these players and have a better side than most in the Premier League next season.

Click on Tomas Rosicky to unveil the Bosman XI for 2012

So whether it’s team mates coming to blows, the paparazzi snapping players boozing it up or just stupid and bizarre actions, they make it onto the list. What didn’t make it was the England WAGS from the 2006 World Cup, they reportedly distracted the players during the tournament and although it wasn’t the players misbehaving themselves, they nearly made it into the top ten. Also, quite a few people recommended Cristiano Ronaldo photographed in speedo’s as a criminal activity, but again it failed to make the ten below…..

Click on Gazza below to see the Top TEN!

Compiled by Matt Freebody

But then comes that controversial, ugly side of football; like a late, late substitution by the opposition you hoped wouldn’t make an appearance, but diving is all too common and certainly takes away from the integrity of the game. In fact, the very mention of integrity in the modern game has become laughable, but that is the situation we’ve come to accept.

Far too many regular divers and conmen line-up for Premer League clubs each week. And it’s not necessarily the fact that you want to get rid of them as players, but rather highlight and eradicate the persistent diving to win one over on the other team. Common, ugly, and with no rightful place in the game.

Click on Didier Drogba to unveil the top 10

That’s the viewpoint of course, if your team is not involved, otherwise there’s no pleasure at all. Embarrassment is just one fear –the prospect of going into work the next day in the knowledge that if your side is relegated, you’ll be hearing about it for a good while yet.

Going into Sunday 24th May in 2009, Newcastle and Sunderland fans feared the worst but also hoped for the worst; for their rivals that is. Whilst the Tyne-Wear duo lost on the final day, it was Newcastle who ultimately perished along with West Bromwich Albion and another side from the North East, Middlesbrough.

Despite the Mackems glee at the demise of their neighbours, it marked a 21st Century low for football in the North East. It’s an area with some of the most passionate fans the country has to offer, many saying they deserved better in the aftermath.

That’s what they are getting nearly three years on, but it hasn’t been without trial or tribulation. Both are on their second manager since 2009’s edition of Survival Sunday but Mike Ashley and Ellis Short appear to have found ones who acquiesce with their ideas.

Chris Hughton and Steve Bruce were unfortunate to be sacked but many haven’t dwelt on this, such has been the achievements of their successors. For instance, Alan Pardew has managed to build a very strong side in the space of three transfer windows.

Talented ball players such as Yohan Cabaye have signed. Pardew hasn’t ignored his side’s defensive responsibilities either by bringing in Cheik Tiote, an excellent ball-winning midfielder and Davide Santon, a fullback who’ll grow in stature the more he plays.

Then there’s Demba Ba the most astute acquisition of them all. Two elements have been free to the Senegalese forward – his price tag and his scoring. It will be intriguing to see what further impact Papiss Demba Cissé has after such a good first impression with a fantastic strike on debut. They deservedly sit 5th in the Premier League but just three places below are Sunderland.

This was improbable before the arrival of Martin O’Neill who helped to relegate Newcastle on the final day just under three years ago. With only one transfer window under his belt, he appears happy enough with this squad for now, adding loanees Wayne Bridge and Sotirios Kyrgiakos on Transfer Deadline Day. Then again, why wouldn’t he be satisfied? Sunderland are the in-form Premier League team.

He has brought the best out of attacking midfielder Stéphane Sessegnon who has played the role of goal scorer and creator brilliantly. O’Neill also managed to unearth a gem originally bought by Steve Bruce in James McClean. Their defensive effort shouldn’t be ignored either as despite some recent injury problems, they have the division’s third best defence.

Hughton and Bruce deserve some credit for restarting the building process. The latter wasn’t short of funds at Sunderland. Consider though how wasteful with money some teams have been, such as Liverpool and he deserves praise for assembling the current squad. However, Hughton’s task of regrouping and leading Newcastle’s eventual procession back into the Premier League was arguably more impressive.

The form of the two North East rivals should help to make both sides stronger and intensify the already fierce rivalry between the clubs, if they continue to push each other as it appears currently.

To take the next step, Pardew and O’Neill must hold on to key assets in the summer. They must look to Spurs for inspiration and the way they didn’t sell Luka Modric in the summer. Granted, neither side has a player quite in the same class as the Croatian but if they sell their best players, they risk going backwards. Previously, the North London side have sold the players such as Michael Carrick and Dimitar Berbatov, weakening themselves in the process and strengthening those above them. If you want to be competing in the higher echelons of the table, then an appropriate mentality needs to be taken.

This weekend, Newcastle will have a chance to have a closer look at Tottenham at White Hart Lane while Sunderland entertain Arsenal. It’s a mark of how far the sides have come that neither team will be overwhelming underdogs in either fixture.

Neither team will be participating in Survival Sunday in 2012 as much as both sets of fans would love to revel in the other’s demise. That might come on March 4th when Sunderland visit Newcastle. As the game draws ever closer, the more exciting a spectacle it becomes. Such is the performance of both; perhaps it should be labelled Salubrious Sunday.

Who do you think will come out on top this season between Newcastle and Sunderland? Tweet me @arhindtutt or comment below…

Article originally written at Gone With The Rhind

It will nicely line their own pocket and give them another team to claim ‘they supported as a boy’ as well as giving them another set of fans that can adore them for roughly 12 months. Passed around from club to club, it is usually a striker who clubs feel will solve all of their problems based on their passed goalscoring history but they will once again start well and fade, probably claiming home sickness.

Click on Robbie Keane to unveil the top 10

Be prepared that one of these players has probably played for your club and done the same thing as they usually do but have I missed any of the top ten players that love a transfer out? Let me know on Twitter: @Brad_Pinard

Somewhere, right at this very moment, there is a Newcastle fan staring intently at the Premier League table. A broad smile sweeps across their face as they notice the Magpies nestled comfortably in fifth place, just a point behind Chelsea and nine ahead of rivals Sunderland.

Even the most optimistic member of the Toon Army couldn’t have foreseen the inspired rise up the table after last seasons mid-table finish. Their uprising was ironically set in motion by the sale of the highly popular Andy Carroll, as Alan Pardew’s retention football coupled with his shrewd signings has gradually transformed St James’ Park back into a revered fortress.

The club appears to have emerged unscathed from a difficult period in their history. Their loyal army of supporters have stood by them despite their descent into the Championship and now that certain expectations have been achieved, do they dare dream of more famous nights in Europe?

Only time will tell if Newcastle will be able to cement their place in the European qualification spots come May. What’s more intriguing however is whether they can establish themselves as one of the current crop of ‘big clubs’. Not big in terms of stature but rather their ability to consistently compete at the top of the table. Tottenham and Manchester City have burrowed their way into the coveted ‘top 4’, why can’t Newcastle do the same?

Under Pardew’s leadership Newcastle have seen their direct style of play renovated by a philosophy that focuses on patient build up and maintaining possession. At the heart of this, core midfield players such as Yohan Cabaye and Danny Guthrie have been influential in aiding this transition. The change in mentality will mean fewer goal gluts but it’s proving to stem the flow of goals conceded at the other end of the pitch. This new approach seeks to adopt the mantra of many top European sides like Valencia and AC Milan, with whom Newcastle will soon hope to emulate.

The fortunes of the football club, for this season at least, will revolve around the prolonged good form of striker Demba Ba. The ‘smiling assassin’, as he’s known on Tyneside has announced he is happy at the club despite continued reports of a move away and has spoken of his joy playing alongside Senegalese compatriot Papiss Cisse.

With the transfer window now firmly shut until the summer, the major concern regarding Ba will perhaps surround his troubled injury past. Tony Pulis notoriously cancelled Ba’s impending transfer to Stoke after describing his knee as a “ticking time bomb”. The player himself admitted, “The knee isn’t 100%,” after his transfer to West Ham but has insisted “It’s fine. I can play football; I know how to manage it.” (Guardian)

At present the fans seem content with Mike Ashley’s ruling at Newcastle. After making a number of questionable decisions throughout his reign, he should be praised for ensuring a swift return to the top flight. Ashley strikes me as an incisive businessman despite his desired portrayel as a supporter and the £35m sale of Andy Carroll has proved to be an inspired decision. In order for Newcastle to progress however, it is vital that they maintain their nucleus of new household names. The likes of Tim Krul and Cheick Tiote have attracted envious glances from rival managers and it’ll be an intriguing test of Ashley’s resolve as to whether they remain at the club beyond this season.

Aside from the inevitable flurry of incoming bids, it’s crucial that Ashley continues his investment in the rapidly evolving transfer market. It’s fair to point out that Newcastle do not currently possess a prominent ‘star’ player who is renowned on the world stage. Whilst this maybe an ingredient to their current success, with the team benefiting their much publicised team spirit, it’s important that a club like Newcastle can attract players of the highest calibre. Could Newcastle realistically attract the likes of Emmanuel Adebayor and Rafeal Van Der Vaart, as Spurs have done?

We’ve seen many surprising teams surpass expectations and clinch a European spot in recent years, but very few have been able to sustain their dominance.  Everton are a club currently wilting under a lack of investment with the club’s transfer policy resembling a top nightclub, one goes in only when another heads out.

Fulham have failed to recover from their defeat in the 2010 Europa League final and the subsequent departure of Roy Hodgson whilst Villa have also seen themselves spiral down the league after a combination of both suspended investment and the exit of a very astute manager.

The mark of a great side is their capability to replace their existing stars with a new breed of players from the academy. Unfortunately, despite Ashley’s investment at youth level, very few players look likely of making the grade. Nile Ranger heads the list of local produce but his career has become so embroiled in controversy that it looks like he’ll leave the club under a Ravel Morrison shaped cloud.

Pardew remains unfazed by speculation linking him with the vacant England job and appears entirely focused on the job in hand. Much like Arsene Wenger, he seems capable of installing an exciting style of football in amongst a relatively average squad. Whereas Arsenal fans are slowly turning on their manager, I’m sure Newcastle fans would love to emulate the uniterrupted European qualification the Gunners have enjoyed over the past decade.

Agree or disagree. Send me your verdicts on Twitter @theunusedsub

Penalty taking is considered a test of ones nerve and resolve. Like a modern day version of pistols at dawn the battle to see who crumbles first is both exhilarating and fraught with tension. Second guessing where the goalkeeper is going to dive and trying to work out from his stance where his weaker side lies. It’s a mental test of endurance like no other and if you’re lucky enough to come out smiling the feeling of success is sensational.

Right, enough of the romance before this turns into a soppy set piece love story. For every perfect dead ball there is an absolute howler of side splitting proportion. For every exquisite spot kick there is blunder that leaves you cackling and gasping for air. As wonderful as it is to witness flawless set pieces in all their glory you really can’t whack a good old fashioned mishap.

Skying a free kick out of play, tamely tapping a penalty into the welcome grasp of a goalkeeper and missing the ball completely are just some of the hilarious clangers included in this list.

So please make sure your mouth is free of any liquids and your stomach muscles are worthy of withstanding intense laughter. We aren’t prepared to foot the bill for medical costs or laptop repair. But do enjoy this hysterical compilation of some out of the ordinary set pieces from around the world.

Click on Chris Waddle to take you to Top Ten Worst Set Pieces

A lot of new grounds have bought into this idea but what if clubs could only sell the rights if the buyer reflects them.

Click on the Sports Direct Arena to see some of the best endorsement opportunities for clubs around the country.