The pfa premiership team of the year

[parklane yiddo]

Edwin Van Der Sar – Manchester United
Having broken the English clean sheet record in January, Edwin went on to claim the European record for the most number of minutes without conceding a goal, and he has without doubt been the Premier League’s most consistent keeper this season.

Glen Johnson – Portsmouth
The Pompey right back has had an outstanding season in a team that has been struggling to keep their heads above water and his form led to him being recalled to the England squad by Fabio Capello. His stunning strike against Hull in November is a contender for Goal of the Season.

Patrice Evra – Manchester United
The French international has been a major player for United this season, not just for his impressive defending, but for his raiding runs down the left flank. Had a tough start to his United career but has seen off the likes of Gabriel Heinze and Mikael Silvestre to become first choice left back.

Rio Ferdinand – Manchester United
Rio’s partnership with Nemanja Vidic at the heart of United’s defence held the key to the club’s long run without conceding a goal, and the champions certainly missed his calm assuredness when his impeccable season was interrupted by injury recently. Grows in stature with every year.

Nemanja Vidic – Manchester United
The Serbian international looked a bit raw when he first stepped into the United side but, in the words of PFA Chief Executive Gordon Taylor, he is now a ‘polished diamond’. An uncompromising centre back, he has added class to his make-up and looks the real deal alongside Rio.

Ashley Young – Aston Villa
Martin O’Neill will be delighted that one of the ‘jewels in the Villa’ crown has made the Premier League Team of the Year – and there might have been more. Ashley has had another terrific season and continues to develop. When he’s at full tilt, he’s virtually unplayable.

Steven Gerrard – Liverpool
A Players’ Player of the Year nominee, the talismanic skipper’s return to his pristine best after injury setbacks proved to be the catalyst for Liverpool’s surge towards titles at home and abroad in the last third of the season. ‘Best in the world’, says Zidane – who would argue with that?

Ryan Giggs – Manchester United
Still flying up and down the wing with the enthusiasm, fitness and desire of a teenager and loving every minute of his twilight years. Such has been his importance to United this year he has been rewarded with a new contract – and a more than justified nomination for this award. Not before time.

Cristiano Ronaldo – Manchester United
After last season’s amazing 40-odd goal campaign, topping that this time around was always going to be difficult, nigh on impossible. But after an injury-hampered start to the season he re-discovered his finest form and, despite missing games, still has more than 20 goals to his credit.

Nicolas Anelka – Chelsea
He recently said he played his ‘best football at Liverpool’ but in terms of goals and overall contribution to the team this has to go down as his best season in English football. He’s on course for a 20-goal haul, and being allowed to play more often in his favoured central position has paid dividends.

Fernando Torres – Liverpool
Injuries and a possible backlash from his exertions in Spain’s successful Euro 2008 campaign, meant we had to wait a while to see the Fernando Torres who burst onto the Premier League scene in sensational style last season. He’s back to his brilliant best and scoring stunning goals once more, like the one against Blackburn earlier this month.

[Pitseleh]

Same old, same old...

My team of the season would be:


GK: Shay Given - The best keeper in the prem this season, bar none. Actually earned newcastle more points than any outfield player this season. Brilliant, and his form since moving to city has been nothing short of outstanding. VDS might have that clean sheet record, but who recalls him having to make an abundance of top saves?

RB: Glen Johnson - It's slim pickings for the RB slot, but Bosingwa would get special mention aswell.. were it not for injury, he would be in contention. Glens had his most assured season, again, at a struggling side, and looked every bit worth his place in the England starting line up.

CB: Phil Jagielka - What a fantastic season he has had for the Toffees. Managed to keep one Fernando Torres quiet, some would say back-pocketed him infact (much more than a certain serb managed to do), and at his age, the future looks bright for Jag. IMO Englands most promising young CB. (Massive shame for him and Everton that he picked up a nasty ligament injury that means he'll miss the FA cup final. Poor guy)

CB: Rio Ferdinand - As reluctant as I am to admit it, pound for pound, hes the best defender in the league. This season he's had a few injury problems but whenever hes come back in he's looked solid as a rock for united. Honorable mentions for Woodgate, Hangelaand, Vidic and Laursen (if he didn't get that bad injury he would have pipped rio, he was a warrior for them).

LB: (reluctantly) Ashley Cole - It hasn't been Cashleys best season, but again, hes the best of a bad bunch to be honest, only evra is close.

RM: Aaron Lennon - His best season to date, he looks like the player we were all hoping he would become. Still alot of work to do, but he's been fantastic. Fingers crossed he stays, he has a bright future. (Valencia for Wigan, also worth a mention)

CM: Frank Lampard - Fattys been the mainstay for the chavs this season. Creatively hes been their catalyst for years, but this year when they've struggled, hes come up with the goods. Statistically his best season to date. Shame he cant do it in an england shirt, the scumbag. (pretty much gerrards equivilant this season, but the stats sway it in his favor)

CM: Xabi Alonso - Technically, he's second to none. To think the waiter wanted him out, and for Gareth Barry to come in and fill his boots. His best season in a Liverpool shirt, and probably their most consistent performer.. (Special mention for his CM partner Mascherano, a tireless worker)

LM: Ashley Young - This was one of the harder choices, and had Everton's Arteta stayed injury free, he would have been nailed on for this one. Young was outstanding for the first 2/3 of the season, unfortunately his form, like villas seems to have hit a downturn, but he's still a worthy addition. (Modric was considered, but he hasnt played there long enough)

ST: Wayne Rooney - It hurts to be talking about him so soon after the OT affair to be honest, but hes had his best season there.. If he can stay fit united have the league in the bag. I'm pretty sure he could play just about anywhere on a pitch and still look good. (Robinho & Anelka were both in with a shout here)

ST: Fernando Torres - Say what you will about injuries and the amount of games he's missed. He's still been miles better than anyone else. This fellas top class, and will probably be in the next 5 team of the seasons providing he stays fit. For my money, the best striker in the world.



-----------------Given----------------
Johnson--Jagielka--Ferdinand--Cole
Lennon---Lampard---Alonso---Young
-----------Rooney---Torres-----------

Bench:
Vidic
Robinho
Valencia
Mascherano
Ronaldo
Woodgate

[parklane yiddo]

Robinho good at home and poor away not consistent enough

[bazzabelfast]

arron lennon is a much better player than ashley young ??? imagine getting him in for the left wing !!!