Copying my friend James’ Team of the Year idea, which he nicked from Gabriele Marcotti, by splitting the Premiership into four catergories, and working each groups best eleven, pretty interesting. I’ll do 4-4-2 for all, screw modern formations.
The Best + Man Utd and Arsenal (Chelsea/Man Utd/Arsenal)
Manager – Carlo Ancelloti
Cech
Ivanovic Terry Vermaelen Cole
Valencia Lampard Fabregas Malouda
Drogba Rooney
No real thought needed for this one, I’m not hugely keen on Vermaelen, if he hadn’t scored a few, I don’t think he’d be so highly rated, but he’s been one of the best two from the top three, Terry’s not been as good as usual but still a step up above the majority. Ashley Cole is probably the best left back in the world nowadays and Ivanovic looks really solid.
I was really impressed with both Valencia and Malouda this year, I didn’t anticipate either stepping up really, but I love watching Valencia, he’s a throwback to wingers from the earlier Premiership years, like Ripley/Kanchelskis. Malouda has finally started performing, fair play to him. Cesc and Lamps have probably both had their best seasons yet, no brainers.
Rooney and Droggy pick themselves, incredible seasons for the pair.
Not Two Good (Spurs/Man City/Villa/Liverpool/Everton)
Manager – ‘Arry Redknapp
Gomes
Corluka Dawson King Baines
Milner Cahill Modric Bale
Torres Tevez
This was tougher. Gomes is possibly the most improved goalie in the Premiership, Reina’s still good, but I think Gomes was just a bit better.
Right back was a tough pick, I can’t think of anyone from these teams that has excelled, Johnson looked like he’d be good at the start of the season, but then realised he couldn’t defend and went back to being Glen Johnson. Corluka has been solid, not great going forward, but fine enough to back up play.
Dawson and King were easy enough picks, King didn’t play that much, but excelled when he did, and no-one else was incredible enough for me to re-consider. Dunne seems an obvious choice, but I don’t think he was that good, Villa have a solid base but nothing outstanding. Baines at left back was another easy one, he’s a crucial part of Everton’s team nowadays, going forward and defending.
Milner obviously hasn’t played on the right all season, but he’s still the best option there I did have De Jong in the middle, but opted for Cahill and Modric instead, I think they’d complement each other well, and De Jong was just solid, rarely anything more. Bale on the left was great for Spurs this year, especially against Arsenal/Chelsea when it got to squeaky bum time, he seems much more comfortable there than at left back. Really really good year for him.
Tevez and Torres again pick themselves, great years when they were playing for both. Defoe scored a fair few, but pretty much all were against rubbish sides. Saha done better than expected, but was nowhere near T&T.
I’ve Third Worse (Birmingham City, Stoke City, Fulham, Blackburn Rovers, Sunderland)
Manager – Alex McLeish
Hart
Carr Johnson Samba Givet
Bowyer Dunn N’Zonzi Etherington
Bent Jerome
Hart had a really solid year, probably the most consistent goalie in the Premiership, Gordon seems to have improved a lot this year too, but just wasn’t quite as good.
I genuinely can’t believe I’m having Steven Carr in a team of the year, but he’s been solid, reasonably intelligent and a leader for them, Roger Johnson has put in a great effort too, a great step up from Wycombe just a few years ago. Samba and Givet are probably in through a little bias from me, but I can’t think of anyone better at another position. I don’t think Shawcross is as good as when he first came in with Stoke, and I can’t think of a left back who has been as solid as Givet, at left back and centre half. Not a bad looking bloke either.
I was torn between Cana and N’Zonzi, they both had good first years, I guess Cana showed his importance when he wasn’t there, but I’ll stick with big Steve, an awful lot of potential. It was great to see Bowyer and Dunny getting back towards their bests again, I really hoped there might be an England call up for either on the back of it, if Huddlestone can get one, these two should be able to. Etherington was probably Stoke’s best player this season, another classic type of winger, get it on his left and deliver, over and over. A real pleasure to watch.
Benty was an absolute definite up front, what a season. Unfortunately for him it looks like he’ll miss out on the World Cup again though, you’ve got to wonder what he’s got to do.. Jerome seemed the best second striker, Zamora/Fuller/Kalinic were my other thoughts, but Jerome’s impressed me a lot, with his attitude/teamwork, plus, he’s actually scored goals, which I didn’t think he’d do at this level.
May The Fourth Be With Them (Bolton, Wolves, Wigan, West Ham, Burnley, Hull City, Portsmouth)
Manager – Mick McCarthy
Jaaskelainen
Melchiot Craddock Cahill Figueroa
Lee O’Hara Parker N’Zogbia
Doyle Fletcher
Picking a right back for this team was probably the most difficult pick, Melchiot was reasonably solid, and I like him, so I went with him, no-one shone that I can think of. Craddock was ridiculous, it’s Jody Craddock, he should be rubbish, but he marshalled his troops well, massive surprise from him. Cahill had another good year, nearly pushing for England honours until he had to miss games through injury. Figueroa was decent and scored from his own half, fair play.
A genuinely decent midfield, Lee was a real surprise for Bolton, not just a lightweight. Parker and O’Hara instilled real balls into their teams, when few others were, adding quality to the mix too. N’Zogbia had a great year, playing both sides and being effective linking with the forwards, probably earning a move to a bigger club. I wanted to include Wilshere too, but these four were good all year, Wilshere was only there a little while.
Doyle and Fletcher obviously didn’t trouble the top scorer charts, but I loved their all round game for both clubs, working tirelessly up front and being genuinely clever with it. I can’t see either player being at clubs at the bottom next season (well, obviously Fletcher went down, but I can see him at a higher placed club). Doyle has been linked with Arsenal, which seems too much, but Villa/Everton would be a good step up for either.
LINKS
Any big agreements/disagreements? Quite interested to see who other people would pick..
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