Top 10 Debuts in the History of the Premiere League

By MIKE ANSTEAD, at "The Sun"

Published: 11 Aug 2008

original url: http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/sport/top10s/article1522697.ece

THE Premier League season kicks off on Saturday and new heroes are almost certain to emerge.

Major summer signings will be desperate to pay off a chunk of their transfer fee by grabbing the headlines on their debut.

Who will it be this year? Deco? Johan Elmander? Peter Halmosi? We will soon find out.

There have certainly been many debuts to remember in the top-flight since 1992 — but a number of them also offer sharp reminders that early form can be deceiving.

We have pulled together our pick of the players who have hit the heights on their Premier League bow.

No10: Alen Boksic (2000)

The moody Croatian started his Middlesbrough career with a neat double in the 3-1 win at Coventry. The classy forward had probably never heard of Highfield Road after his stints with Italian giants Juventus and Lazio but Boro fans left the ground buzzing. Unfortunately, injuries overshadowed his three-year spell.

No9: Milan Baros (2002)

Liverpool dropped Michael Owen for the visit to Bolton but new boy Baros ensured the gamble paid off. The Czech hitman grabbed a brace in the 3-2 victory with two decisive finishes, although he never lived up to the initial hype at Anfield. Failed spells at Aston Villa and Portsmouth followed.

No8: Michael Owen (1997)

With an incredible record at youth level, Owen stormed into Liverpool's team with a neat finish 17 minutes after coming on in the 2-1 defeat to Wimbledon. The striker became a Kop legend thanks to his scoring exploits, although he has struggled on his return to England with Newcastle.

No7: Robbie Keane (1999)

Eyebrows were raised when Coventry paid a whopping �6m for the teenage striker. But Keane blew away the Sky Blues fans’ fears with an impressive double to wrap up a 2-0 win over Derby at Highfield Road. The Irishman was sold just one year later to Inter Milan for an incredible �7m profit.

No6: Mario Stanic (2000)

The Croatia star left the Stamford Bridge crowd purring after a sensational debut in the 4-2 triumph over West Ham. He struck a delightful goal – controlling and juggling the ball before lashing home a volley from 35 yards – as well as adding a second. But the midfielder failed to maintain that form.

No5: Ruud van Nistelrooy (2001)

Van Nistelrooy and Juan Veron both made their debuts against Fulham but it was the Dutchman who stole the limelight. United twice went behind before the deadly hitman grabbed two goals in four minutes to secure a 3-2 win. And while Veron was a huge flop, Van Nistelrooy went on to become a hero.

No4: Alan Smith (1998)

Like Owen, Smith promised so much as a teenager. The Leeds striker also delivered on his debut, although his goal came from his first touch at Liverpool as he inspired the comeback for a 3-1 win. Smith went on to become an Elland Road favourite but his career is now faltering.

No3: James Vaughan (2005)

Everton’s 4-0 win over Crystal Palace is remembered for the emergence of Vaughan. The Toffees ace grabbed the final goal to become the Premier League’s youngest ever scorer at 16 years and 271 days. Injuries have hampered his progress but there are big hopes again this season.

No2: Brian Deane (1992)

Man Utd were crowned champions but they initially became unstuck against the Premier League’s opening hero. Sheffield United's Deane scored the first ever goal in the newly-formed division and added the second in a shock 2-1 win. Several players grabbed braces that day but Deane's stood out.

No1: Fabrizio Ravanelli (1996)

Premier League debuts do not come better than this. Ravanelli left Juventus for Middlesbrough in the prime of his career in a �7m switch. And the Italian immediately set about proving his worth by grabbing a hat-trick against Liverpool in an epic 3-3 draw at the Riverside. A legend on Teesside.

The Earth is Not a Cold Dead Place

I have been looking for this CD for so long, blaming myself for losing it in some corner of the room. So many times I wanted to listen to it, looked around and around but just couldn't find it. The one album that was missing from my explosion in the sky collection.

And tonight, in a box I sealed up long time ago, there it was. Laid with other CDs I've lost track of for quite a while. And what a delight to play it again, against the quiet night. What a nostalgia.

Face Fear

I am getting used to the fact that I am suffering from depression. And I look out to my own bit changes in daily life.

Still I fear a lot of things.

I fear I might be fading inwards. I feel so lonely, so alone, and so singular. I have lost the ability to associate myself with others, and I have had my social life destroyed. I literally have no social life at all. For the past two months, I have had only two dates with people other than either my boyfriend or my tutor students. I had dinner once with Alan, and Kiya came to visit me at my dorm one time. That sums up to two. That's all the social events I have had for two entire months, and probably longer if I think through it.

It is often said that depressed people need friends. But where do friends come from? First of all, one has to make friends to have friends. Then, one must keep up with the friendship to preserve it. Then, depending on each situation, this friendship deepens or simply remains. I wonder where I lost it, but anyhow I just did.

So one day when inwards I'd like to cry for help and care, I have no one to turn to. Plus, I lose the interest in any contact with the outside world, so as days go by, I barely go anywhere and barely speak to anyone, therefore it is more than natural for nobody to speak to me ever since.

There are times when I wonder whether I am allowed a chance to make up for anything, and redeem any love, concern, or affection I have once had in my life. It feels so good to be loved and cared. Even if it's only a "hi" or "what's up" could be burningly warm. There are times when I wonder if I should ever be forgiven by the whole world.

There are also times when I run into friends or schoolmates I haven't met for quite some while, and they say hi. They ask me, out of courtesy or sincerity, what's been up. And I wish I could tell them all. Usually, we're standing in the middle of a hallway, both rushing to some class; or, we could be at the dorm gate, one leaving and one returning. So, these occasions, they're usually a squeezed rush of time, no more than minutes. The minutes are only enough to trade for courtesy talk, and the conversation never gets deeper. It is never a good time -- in a manner of time or manner of occasion -- to reveal my true thoughts or emotions.

But still, when anybody, running into me, says anything such as "I love your hair today" or "are you still doing that course?" I feel more comfortable than ever. Surely it would be seriously awkward to comment to that person -- close to me or not so -- that "you have lighted my day by just speaking to me." And when coming to think of it, nobody seems ever close enough to me for me to spit out anything really sensitive or fundamental. To most people, I am just an average friend. If I had expressed how I loved them, they would definitely freak out and step back.

It's summer. Days are different (I wish.) I really feel dreadful. But meanwhile, I hope I get better, not knowing how -- yet.