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Premier League Team of the Season so far…
Published by Ian John on September 28, 2009
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The season is just a couple of months old, but already there have been some notable performances from players, so who would make it into my team of the season based on what has happened up until the end of September? Read on to find out…
1. Shay Given (Manchester City) – The former Newcastle star has played a big part in Cities impressive start to the season and his singlehanded heroics at Old Trafford were the only reason City were still in the game come the final whistle. Of all cities big money buys, Given could well prove to be the shrewdest if he can steer clear of injury.
2. Glen Johnson (Liverpool) – The former Portsmouth man has settled in well at Anfield and while he has his critics defensively, there is little doubt that his marauding runs down the right, combined with his happy knack of scoring a goal or two, has been a huge improvement for Liverpool in that area. He has made an excellent start to his career at Anfield.
3. Patrice Evra (Manchester United) – The Frenchman has so much natural ability with the ball that it is easy to overlook him at times. Allied to that is fantastic pace and generally excellent final ball skills and it is easy to see why Evra has become first choice for United and for France.
4. Thomas Vermaelen (Arsenal) – The Belgian centre back was an unheralded signing from Ajax for £10m, but just a few games into the season he is quickly proving to be yet another astute signing by Arsene Wenger. Despite not being the tallest he is excellent in the air and has proven a real danger at set pieces.
5. Brede Hangeland (Fulham) : Fulham haven’t had the best start but Hangeland is a defender that just impresses me every time I see him play. Tall, strong and powerful in the air, he can also pass the ball and link in with midfield and is a real threat at set pieces. No wonder Fulham laughed when his price was quoted at £10m in the summer. He looks a far better player than even that price.
6. Mikael Essien (Chelsea) : I don’t think it is any coincidence that Chelsea struggled last season when Essien was missing from the team. His return from a lengthy spell out from injury coincided with the Dutchman Gus Hiddinck’s appointment and perhaps Essien’s contribution was overlooked for the tactical acumen of the manager. That can’t be said for this season where he has been imperious for Chelsea once again.
7. Aaron Lennon (Tottenham) : The fleet footed winger has finally begun to reproduce the form his fans have known he is capable of on a far more consistent basis. An outstanding performer for England against Croatia as well as for Tottenham during the early part of the season. The challenge for him now is to continue this form all season long, rather than just in fits and starts.
8. Craig Bellamy (Manchester City) : I’ve decided to play a 4-3-3 rather than a 4-4-2 for Bellamy alone. All the big name striker signings at City in the summer and it has been the form of the diminutive Welshman that has been the talking point of Eastlands. Hugely unlucky to finish on the losing side in the recent Manchester derby, Bellamy is in the form of his life at the moment and deserves his inclusion in the team.
9. Fernando Torres (Liverpool) : Three weeks ago, Torres wouldn’t have been in here. Since then he has been simply unstoppable. Every time he gets the ball at the moment he looks liable to score. Rafa Benitez valued him at “at least £70m” at the weekend. If he continues his recent form, then Benitez may well want to double that figure. On his day he is unstoppable.
10. Wayne Rooney (Manchester Utd) : Adebayor would have got the nod had he not felt the need to be an idiot against Arsenal but since he did, Rooney gets the second striking role for his impressive start in a new and his preferred role as central striker. Sir Alex will be pleased with what looks like a burgeoning understanding with Bulgarian striker Dimitar Berbatov.
11. Ryan Giggs (Manchester Utd) : The Welsh wonder keeps going strong and has been amongst United’s most consistent performers this season. Although his pace isn’t what it was, the trickery is still there and the football brain remains as sharp as ever. An outstanding start to the season even in a team littered with superstars.
Subs:
Pepe Reina (Liverpool) – As reliable as ever between the sticks for the reds.
Ashley Cole (Chelsea) – After a tough time, regaining his best form for club and country.
Nemanja Vidic (Man Utd) – As consistent as they come and he has had to be given Rio Ferdinand’s lack of form
Frank Lampard (Chelsea) – Unlucky to miss out on a spot in the team, only Bellamy’s incredible form keeps him on the bench.
Steven Gerrard (Liverpool) – He’s only been mildly brilliant this season.
Darren Fletcher (Man Utd) – Probably Fergie’s first choice midfielder at the moment. Arguably the most improved player in the Premier league over the past two years.
Jermaine Defoe (Tottenham) – In form and banging in the goals for fun for his club and his country at the moment.
Image Courtesy of ***Ifotbol*** at flickr.com
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6 so far
Nabyl Charania on Mon, 28th Sep 2009 12:40 pm
What about Adebayor
Torres and Robbie Keane definitely had an impact this weekend!
Naheem Charania on Tue, 29th Sep 2009 12:51 pm
Toure, Kuyt and Ab Faye would be part of my squad of the season as well. Top performers in Europe’s other leagues thus far: Villa and Pique in La Liga, Di Natale and Hamsik in Italy, Dzeko and Naldo in Germany, and Niang and Gourcuff in Ligue 1.
Al-Nashir Charania on Tue, 29th Sep 2009 3:15 pm
Even though I am a ManUtd fan, I have to give the left back position to ‘Cashley’ Cole. Just because of his 2 goals scored and 3 clean sheets (Evra has been mildly potent with 1 assist and 3 clean sheets).
I am also baffled by Hangeland’s choice over Dunne or Upson. Dunne has had 4 clean sheets in the 5 games he has played, while in the 5 games he has played, Upson has had 2 clean sheets and a goal. Hangeland on the other hand has had only 1 clean sheet (against an abysmal Portsmouth).
Essein (5.5 games: 2 clean sheets, both at Stamford Bridge) over either Fabregas (4.5 games: 3 goals and 4 assists) or Cohen (4 games: 3 goals, including 2 away goals) is another wierd one.
I would give the goalie position to Friedel (7 games: 3 clean sheets, 27 saves, 5 goals conceded) or Jensen (7 games: 2 clean sheets, but 15 goals-against Liverpool and Chelsea, with one of the worst defenses in the EPL). Given has brought stability, but his record of (7 games: 3 clean sheets, and 7 goals conceded) is impressive, but could be down to the 50mil.in new defensive cover drafted by Hughes.
Ian John on Wed, 30th Sep 2009 11:30 am
I don’t ever look at stats. I just went on how I’ve seen players performing myself over the first few weeks, I can’t argue with the stats you produce Al-Nashir, but that’s the beauty of football, opinions.
To be fair, I hadn’t even considered Cohen, it’ll be interesting to see if he can continue that form over the season.
I’m sure 10 different people would come up with 10 different teams, but I don’t base all my opinions on stats alone. Just how I see the players from how they’ve played in games. Stat’s don’t show everything, otherwise how would Giggs have got Player of the Year last season?
arsenal will beat spurs on Thu, 29th Oct 2009 3:15 pm
4-4-2 formation
- GK Shay Given
without a doubt premier leagues best goalkeeper,i rate him very highly probably mark hughes best signing
-LB Ashley Cole
should be called cashley cole wat a cunt
but my god he such a solid left back, hes been a rock for chelsea but just cant repeat his form for england, which balances it out for me lol!but back to his positives, he’s been immense and even popped up with some goals.
-RB Glen johnson
it was hard but i had to give it to him, he’s just too good going foward probably the best. it was tight but i had to give it to him.
CB- Thomas Vermaelen- probably the first name on everyone’s team sheet this season he’s been a great signing for us, he really knows how to score goals and they really have been crackers, arsenal’s centre back supreme!
CB- John Terry- Just edges out Richard dunne and Gallas who have been immense this season, with a special mention to gallas back to his best, but terry has to take it cos he’s been great the only shining light in a non-existent chelsea defence, that’s why he’s captain for both club and country. the best cb in the world with a shadow of a doubt.
CDM- Michael Essien- i feel bad leaving Song out but at the end of the day Essien is just amazing one of the best in his position and is one of the integral reasons why chelsea are top.
CM Cesc Fabregas- at first i had a few qualms over whether i would include him or not, but after thinking to myself , i realised it was because he was injured for a while, but upon his return he has put in some sparkiling displays, to point out, remember that inch perfect pass for van persie in the win over fulham, and his man of the match performance against b’burn in which he set was involved in the 5 goals he was on the field for, to mention a few.
LM Yossi Benayoun- i can now see why arsenal wanted to by a few seasons back, with gerrard injured and alonso sold, people would struggle to find the creative link in that midfield, but this season benayoun has stepped up and put in some sparkilng performances, in particular v man united and his 3 goal return v burnley. he has simply been outstanding.
RM- Aaron lennon- probably the only spurs player i’ll ever like, should be at arsenal. but this little fella ahs been great this season countless assists and a few goals. wel done lennon!
CF- Didier Drogba- without a shadow of a doubt, he is in the top 2 strikers in the league, the torres drogba will not culminate this season as they both seem unstoppable.
CF- Fernando Torres- Who else? has been the premier league’s most feared striker for a couple of years now, and he’s only 25 so he can only get better. if he stays for this season, it will be just like his first season and he will be banging in goals for fun.
other notable mentions
Friedel, schwarzer, jaaskelainen
clichy, o’shea, richards
dunne, gallas, collins,turner
song, arshavin, lampard(no goals, but still creating them, and unlike gerrard can stay fit!)
Bent agbonlahor and van persie
arsenal will beat spurs on Fri, 30th Oct 2009 4:23 am
i forgot to give special mentions to these players
at bolton
k davies, Matty taylor and a surprise star in Tamir Cohen!
at City
Gareth Barry, Craig Bellamy and kolo toure, who has made steady start to life in Manchester.