Thursday 6 August 2015 18:17, UK
The wait is almost over! Martin Tyler’s stats column is gearing up for another Premier League season and we need you to get involved more than ever before.
Tyler’s stats and facts would not be what it is today without the curious questions and contributions of you, the fans.
On the eve of the new season, here's a taste of what’s to come - as well as a timely reminder of how to get your questions to the man himself.
Tyler's Teaser
Every week, Martin will set you a question of his own to get your grey matter working - so be sure to brush up on your footballing knowledge before the season gets under way!
Send your questions to Martin
1. Use the feedback form at the bottom of this page.
3. Tweet @SkyFootball using the hashtag #TylersTeasers
To whet your appetite and help get the juices flowing, here's a selection of questions ahead of Saturday's kick-off...
One hit wonders
Hi Martin, can’t wait for your column to get up and running in the new season. Filipe Luis joined Chelsea last summer, won the Premier League title and returned to Atletico Madrid after just one season. Have any other players done something similar? (Taylor, Nottingham)
MARTIN SAYS: You’re right Taylor, Filipe Luis did win the title last season with Chelsea, making 15 league appearances - making him eligible for a winner's medal - before he was sold back to Atletico Madrid during this summer's transfer window.
Thanks to our friends at Opta, I can tell you Luis joins a select group of 11 players to have won the title in their first season in the Premier League before going on to leave their respective clubs without featuring in a top-flight game again.
It would seem Chelsea are no strangers to offloading players they deem to be surplus to requirements, regardless of their exploits in the previous season, with the Blues accounting for half of the 12 players who feature on the list.
Tiago Mendes, Mateja Kezman, Alexei Smertin and Jiri Jarosik all left Stamford Bridge in one form or another following Chelsea’s maiden Premier League triumph in the 2004/05 season, while Spaniard Asier del Horno spent just one season in West London during the 2005/06, during which he won the title, before being shipped out to Valencia.
Robbie Slater and Tony Gale enjoyed the same fate at Blackburn Rovers during their title-winning campaign in 1994/95, as did goalkeepers Mark Bosnich and Richard Wright for Manchester United (1999/00) and Arsenal (2001/02) respectively.
Manchester City are not exempt from the list either, meaning every side to have won the Premier League has got rid of at least one player in the following season. Roberto Mancini and Manuel Pellegrini have one apiece, with Stefan Savic (2011/12) and Alvaro Negredo (2014/15) unable to secure their place at the Etihad having won the title the season beforehand.
One season Premier League winners
1994/95 – Blackburn Rovers – Robbie Slater – 18 apps
1994/95 – Blackburn Rovers – Tony Gale – 15 apps
1999/00 – Manchester United – Mark Bosnich – 23 apps
2001/02 – Arsenal – Richard Wright – 12 apps
2004/05 – Chelsea – Tiago Mendes – 34 apps
2004/05 – Chelsea – Mateja Kezman – 25 apps
2004/05 – Chelsea – Alexei Smertin – 16 apps
2004/05 – Chelsea – Jiri Jarosik – 14 apps
2005/06 – Chelsea – Asier Del Horno – 25 apps
2011/12 – Manchester City – Stefan Savic – 11 apps
2013/14 – Manchester City – Alvaro Negredo – 32 apps
2014/15 – Chelsea – Filipe Luis – 15 apps
As covered in a Tyler's Teaser last season, some of these players won the Premier League in their ONLY Premier League season. Those players are:
Tiago (04/05)
Mateja Kezman (04/05)
Asier del Horno (05/06)
Henrik Larsson (06/07)
Stefan Savic (11/12)
Alvaro Negredo (13/14)
Filipe Luis can now be added to that list!
Sinking feeling
Hi Martin. Leroy Fer has been relegated with Norwich and QPR in successive seasons. I hear he has been linked with a move to Sunderland and was wondering if any player had been relegated three times in a row? (Paul, Sunderland fan)
MARTIN SAYS: A staggering 53 players have been relegated in TWO consecutive seasons with different clubs during the Premier League era, with Leroy Fer unfortunate enough to have joined the group following Rangers’ drop into the Championship last season.
Remarkably, only two players have managed to get themselves relegated on THREE consecutive occasions. Benito Carbone was the first to achieve the feat and the first to do so with three different clubs when Sheffield Wednesday (1999/00), Bradford City (2000/01) and Derby County (2001/02) all slipped out of the top flight.
The second player to have been relegated three seasons on the spin is Adel Taarabt, although he split the drops between West London rivals Queens Park Rangers and Fulham. The winger, who now plies his trade in Portugal with Benfica, went down with Rangers in 2012/13 and 2014/15 either side of his relegation while on loan at Felix Magath’s Fulham in 2013/14.
Should Fer move to the Stadium of Light this summer and the Black Cats were relegated, the Dutchman would become only the third player to have relegated three times in a row, and the second to have done so with three individuals clubs. Make of that what you wish….
Consecutive relegations
Benito Carbone - Sheffield Wednesday 99/00, Bradford City 00/01, Derby 01/02.
Adel Taarabt - QPR 12/13, Fulham 13/14, QPR 14/15
