After my last article where I attacked those players that have somewhat disappointed (the underwhelming starting eleven) resulting with half of north London demanding a certain part of my anatomy on a plate, I decided to take a glass-half-full approach.

Let’s look at those players who have left me with a warm glow inside-a cosmopolitan team. The boy-done- good players. The fading starlet who looked to be on the out. The centre half we expected to fall faster than a trader’s bonus and that new foreign import we all scoffed at the moment he put pen to paper...

Ross Turnbull, Middlesbrough
Mark Lawerson was his predictably unspectacular self when he after just two appearances in that he didn’t rate Turnbull. A couple of sterling performances later and Turnbull is starting to quieten the scavenging press. Not bad for a lad with just a few average championship clubs on his CV.

Further praise for Mr Southgate for resisting the agents offering the selection of expensive imports ready to fill their pockets at the Riverside (Sanchez anyone?).
Young, gifted and English. Three words not normally associated with goalkeepers.

Nyron Nosworthy, Sunderland
Surely this chap should be a forgotten memory by now?? Plucked free of charge from a rubbish Gillingham team, and by all accounts was rubbish for the first 16 months of his Sunderland career.

Add to that he plays for a club that changes personnel more frequently than I change pants meant that this was the season he was to be found out.

But while the Gills are now in the basement division, alas this is the moment we probably should realise- Nyron might actually be quite good.

John Pantsil, Fulham
After being bought by West Ham, Panstil went from Champions league and international player to unused squad player (doubling his wages in the process).
Panstil made just seven starts in two years. Now he is quickly becoming a fans favourite in the west side of London and proving a few doubters on the other side of town that they may have been got this one wrong.

Martin Skrtel, Liverpool
Forget the joke that Skrtel is suffering from a clear vowel deficiency, because the only one is laughing right now is him. Last year, he made a less than glowing first impression, with his own goal helping Barnsley to one of the greatest upsets in recent football.

Little over six months later and alongside Carragher he has a key part of the tightest back line in the Premier league this season. Agger who?

Michael Turner, Hull City
The walking football fairytale, Turner has played at every level of English professional league. One of the few survivors from the promotion side is proving there is still quality in the lower leagues.

Shaun Wright-Phillips, Man City
Relishing being back. Carry on like this and the big four may come sniffing, oh wait...

Steven Ireland, Man City
Imagery dead grandmothers, international retirement mixed with a club cocktail of Dubai investment and flashy Brazilian imports meant that Steven Irelands changes were probably going to be limited.

A dodgy hair cut later and he is playing like a Brazilian while looking like a Mancunian, and surely interesting a certain Italian who may well welcome back to the international stage.
Midfield- Geovanni, Hull City

There is no doubting this boy has been excellent, but make no mistake- this was a bloody gamble of nearly Fabrizio Ravanelli proportions. This is a former start demanding big wages for a man who is known for fusing his brilliant goals with his magical ability to disappear in games.

But three months in, this boy from Brazil is relishing his time in the spot light, with winning goals at Arsenal and Spurs. Can he sustain his form when it comes to the scrap? We’ll see.

Florent Malouda, Chelsea
Perhaps the fear of god was put in him when he heard of the interest from St James Park. Whatever it is; Malouda is impressing, quietly, but never the less impressing. Pace, commitment and looking sharper than last season.

Amr Zaki, Wigan
“He’s statistically the best striker in the world” Steve Bruce said. “Remember Mario Jardel” I said. He was right, I feel foolish, and yes, he is in my fantasy football team now.

Robinho, Man City
Was it just me then who thought this could be Juan Sebastian Veron mark-two?

Forget the price tag and look at the facts. Firstly, the majority of South Americans struggle to adapt to the premier league. Secondly, everyone from his former employees to the legendary Pele called the little fella mentally unstable. This was not helped by his freudian slip in his first press conference saying he has happy to sign for Chelsea. Throw into the mix that the deal was concluded in less than an hour and you have the potential panic buy the size of Marcus Stewart cubed.

But the little Brazilian is quickly justifying every dirham of that price tag and becoming the central point of the Man City revolution.