Many have chosen their personal team of year and fans and viewers were in much anticipation for the PFA team of the year released on Sunday. The team came with few arguments and people had other ideas of who should and should not be included in the team.
This made me think of who I have been impressed with this season and I decided to write my own team of the season. I will be using a 4-4-2 formation, quite similar to the one being used by Liverpool.
Goalkeeper – Julian Speroni
It was tussle between Speroni and David Marshall for this position. But if a team should thank a player for saving their season then it should be Crystal Palace. Speroni has saved Palace a couple of times especially during Tony Pulis’ reign, most noticeably against Chelsea and Aston Villa.
Right back- Seamus Coleman
He has become an almost perfect full back. This largely due to Martinez putting his full trust in his abilities. As well netting six goals, his defensive abilities have been ignored because of his tremendous ability to go forward.
The truth is that he hardly gets beaten.
Left back – Leighton Baines
While many might argue that Luke Shaw has had a productive season, I believe Baines edges him into my team because of his overall contribution, with five goals and two assists. His overlapping runs on the left wing and his free kick ability are a priceless ability to Everton.
Centre back – Gary Cahill
Gary Cahill is one half of the Chelsea defence’s back bone. He has been consistent this season and formed a resolute partnership with fellow centre back John Terry. Rarely makes a mistake and is quite dependable.
Centre back – John Terry
The other half of the Chelsea defence makes my team. The partnership is working as they complement each other. At 33 he is proving critics wrong. He has performed so well that there have been a few shouts for the England manager to recall him from retirement into the England squad for the World Cup.
Defensive Midfielder – Steven Gerrard
Gerrard has honed his skills and become a deep-lying playmaker for Liverpool; dictating play from the back. From this deep-lying position, he has scored 13 goals and made 10 assists. His set pieces have been crucial in the team’s success.
But ultimately his vision and leadership are invaluable, and may give him the final prize that has eluded him.
Right Midfielder – Eden Hazard
Having grown into a more mature player, and with Mourinho saying he could be as good as Messi and Ronaldo, Hazard has improved his game. He has filled in for Chelsea when their strikers have been absent and this is proven with his 14 goals which I believe can be a lot better if he’s played in the number 10 role.
Left Midfielder – Adam Lallana
Having played in every league game for Southampton is a testament to his importance to the club. One of the many home-grown players from their academy, he has flourished and shot to the limelight with his displays helping him to his debut for the England national team. He is almost certain a place in the England world cup squad.
Attacking Midfielder – Yaya Toure
This has been his most productive season in a Man City shirt, scoring a very impressive 19 goals. The powerful Toure has been solid throughout this campaign, ever dependable and always missed when absent. He has been the ‘complete’ attacking midfielder; improving on his free kicks this season and assists while sometimes playing as a box to box midfielder.
Forward – Daniel Sturridge
In his first full season with Liverpool, he has proven critics wrong with his goal-scoring abilities. It was thought this was his last shot at the big time after former careers with Man City and Chelsea. But playing in his preferred central position was a match made in heaven for him.
Netting 20 goals he has formed a formidable and most times ruthless partnership with Suarez, which was a stroke of genius on Rodgers part. The highest scoring English striker in the league suggests his form will also be crucial for the world cup which he is already certain to be a part of.
Forward – Luis Suarez
The beginning of the season was filled with speculations of him anting to club and this coupled with him missing the first six games of the season due to the suspension received for biting Ivanovic, made this a very fascinating one.
He has put that behind him and is showing signs of why many have suggested he is in the top players in the world at the moment (I agree!) He has broken several records this season for Liverpool and topping the goals and assists charts with 30goals and 12 assists, furthermore proves why he is a joy to watch even for his critics.
Honourable Mentions include David Marshall, Curtis Davies, Pablo Zabaleta, Luke Shaw, David Silva, Aaron Ramsey, Raheem Sterling and Sergio Aguero.
bill boomer
Guest
What no Jedinak
Ben of Phnom Penh
Roar Guru
Perhaps he prefers an attacking midfielder over a defensive midfielder or a striker?
Ben of Phnom Penh
Roar Guru
Even though he only turned up in February, I'd have to say Scott Dunn was one of the most effective CB's I watched.
Steve
Guest
Pep thought the same (in fact he played D in a CL final for Barca!) but Toure is more creative than most mids and performs better when relieved of defensive duties. No surprise the season City won the title, they made up that 8 pt deficit on the back of Toure moving further up field.
nickoldschool
Roar Guru
Same here AZ. Imo he is a DM who does create/score, a bit like Cabaye. But he isn't an attacking midfielder in my mind.
AZ_RBB
Guest
I've always seen Toure as more of a DM than an AM......
Myles Stedman
Roar Guru
Why? His end-of-year heroics nowhere near match the importance of Sturridge and Gerrard all season long.
Brian
Guest
I'dd have sterling before sturidge or gerrard.
Steve
Guest
For all the talk of Ozil at the start of the year, you'd be hard pressed to find many people including him in their team of the year. He didn't have a bad year per se, but the talk of him dominating looks a bit silly now. Maybe with a decent striker next year and a fit Ramsey for the whole season, Oazil may shine.
Steve
Guest
Great players - think they'd get overrun in midfield pretty easily with Gerrard as the lone player midfielder protecting the back four (Toure doesn't really track back, nor does Hazard)? And Hazard on the right is a strange choice? My team De Gea (GK) Azpi (LB) Kompany (CB) Cahill (CB) Zabaleta (RB) Gerrard (DM) Ramsey (CM) Toure (AM) Hazard (LW) Silva (RW) Suarez (F) Zabaleta-Silva and Azpi-Hazard combos important. Ramsey adds some solidity to midfield (and when he wasn't injured he was best player in the league!). I could also easily have put Aguero in for Suarez, but succumbed to pressure.
Adam
Guest
That would be a great team to watch going forward! Azpilicueta has had a tremendous season for Chelsea in at left back out of position and a regular in the leagues best defense. With such attacking fullbacks I would maybe go without Sturridge up front, and have Ramsay in as a midfielder who can sit or make advancing runs from deep