Home > Football > The Premier League's best XI: It's Manchester United, Arsenal, Liverpool, Chelsea and Berbatov!
The Premier League's best XI: It's Manchester United, Arsenal, Liverpool, Chelsea and Berbatov!
The Big Four provide ten of the 11 players in this Sportingo author's all-star team of the season. Is anyone surprised?
by gerald mclaughlin on 22 April 2008
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The standard of football in the Premier Leegue these days is quite simply stunning. I heard that Alex McLeish said the Scottish League wasn't far behind in terms of class; well, if he is building his current Birmingham side on the level of the best Scottish team, then it doesn't look to good.
All of that nonsense behind, this is the team I would choose as the all-stars of the Premier League this season:
Petr Cech (Chelsea); Jamie Carragher (Liverpool), John Terry (Chelsea), Rio Ferdinand (Man United), Patrice Evra (Man United); Cesc Fabregas (Arsenal), Steven Gerrard (Liverpool), Alex Hleb (Arsenal);Cristiano Ronaldo (Man United), Fernando Torres (Liverpool), Dimitar Berbatov (Tottenham).
Pretty unstoppable in my humble opinion. Goals, creativity, power, pace, industry - and a bit of magic, too. No Wayne Rooney? He is developing into another type of player this season. It's good for Manchester United as a team but Rooney has lost his individual and raw, edgy side. Once he combines the two aspects again, he will become almost unplayable.
Berbatov is an outstandingly intelligent player who seems to have combined the skills of Hristo Stoichkov and Matt Le Tissier. It's strange. I'm afraid that if he wants to win big meaningful medals, he will have to move. He deserves the Champions League as a platform.
Ronaldo and Torres speak for themselves, while I find Hleb a wonderful talent in the midfield. He is strong, skilful and extremely difficult to get off the ball.
Gerrard deserves better than what he has around him at Liverpool...fantastic player. As for Fabregas, I thought he didn't have the balls for this season but he has proved me wrong.
I think the defence needs no explanation. The five at the back are the best and most consistent defenders in Britain, if not Europe. I include Cech in that.
Comments (50)
by Nick on April 22, 2008
Does not make sense without any defensive midfield. Flamini/Mascerano should be there. At right back Bacary Sagna is better than Jamie Caragher and Vidic is better than Ferdinand. Terry is just a name without a game.
by Alan Breen on April 22, 2008
My team is James, Sagna, Vidic, Laursen, Lescott, Fabregas, Mascherano, Bentley, Ronaldo, Gerrard, Torres Subs: Friedel, Carvalho, Hleb, Flamini, Keane.
by never gonna give you up on April 22, 2008
Cech Bac Sagna Ferdinand Vidic Clichy ronaldo fabregas mascherano hleb adebayor torres Yes - no gerrard. relax.
by jay on April 22, 2008
Sagna , Ferdinand , Vidic , Evra, Fabregas , Gerrard, Ronaldo, Rooney, Torres Adebayor Subs Berbatov, Terry, Hleb, Reina . Team of the season How does Jamie C get into ur team! Come on the scousers lets see el nino hat trick do the Chavski!
CECH
by John on April 22, 2008
Ridiculous artice and what a ridiculous team. On form this season alone you can not pick Terry, Carragher or Cech. Berbatov was criticised for laziness and poor form and has scored lots against very poor sides. Best XI is James, Sagna, Fedinand, Vidic, Evra, Gerrard, Fabregas, Flamini, Ronaldo, Torres, Adebayor
on April 22, 2008 on April 22, 2008
i wud say clichy at least deserves a place in the 16
by Soggy Biscuit on April 22, 2008
How the hell is Cech in the side? Since his bump on the head hes looked dodgy and is certainly behind James, Friedel as this seasons top keeper. Agree with the defence, the person who said Vidic should be in is clearly a nob, Carvalho for me is the best centre back in the league but has missed too many games to be considered this season. The midfield is spot on, would love to see Gerrard and Fabregas in the same side, nice to see the "Lampard is the best centre midfieder" bollocks has finally ended. Torres without doubt has to be in, Adebayor must be close although Berbatov is undoubtably a far classier player.. As for Rooney, another season of underperformin yet simply because hes English the press will still build him up as some World class talent, he clearly isn't.
by Rich on April 22, 2008
A few odd choice in there to say the least. Terry is a shadow of the defender he was last season, Ferdinand not as good as Vidic, Cech is not in the same league as James, Friedel and Reina and Adebayor is a better striker than Berbatov.<p> James, Cliche, Carragher, Vidic, Sagna, Gerrard, Anderson, Mascherano, Ronaldo, Torres, Adebayor
by Kevin Belau on April 22, 2008
James(best keeper in da league this term even tho he makes mistakes but so does cech look at da mistake against aresnal for da gallas goal which lost dem the match) Sagna(carragher at right-back ur not serious)Rio n Vidic(only conceded 19goals this term)Evra Ronaldo,Cesc,Gerrard,Ashley Young(got 16 assist so far this season only cesc has more) Torres n Adeboyhor....berbtov wouldn't gettin into this team if i had 2 replace a striker i would put tevez look how many important goals he has scored 4 united this season
by Gooner4life on April 22, 2008
Hey are you a spurs fan because i dunno how berbatov got in ur side above Adebayor and roque santa cruz who have scored more goals then him Shocking!!!
by alexander kakraba on April 22, 2008
The midfield is not complete without the midfield dynamo Michael Essien, The Train. Come on, review your team of the year.
by Ole Gunner on April 22, 2008
Terry in the team of the season? LMAO! Funny thing about the people who ridicule Arsenal is that you can't have a credible team of the season without 4 Arsenal players: Sagna, Clichy, Fabregas and Adebayor. They've been as good as any player in the league in their respective positions.
by LondonGooner on April 22, 2008
But it is about personal opinion. Stats don't show everything ie Almunia has been one of the best in the league but as an Arsneal fan he has been adequete all season, not bad, not great. But players like Evra, Vidic and Sagna are certs to get into anyone's defence/team as they are clearly the best around. Berbatov has been shocking in half his games a nd good in the others, Torres, Ronaldo, Ade have all had far superior seasons and thats the truth!
James, Sagna, Vidic, Ferdinand, Clichy, Young, Fabregas, Gerrard, Ronaldo, Torres, Adebayor
by Murdoch on April 22, 2008
How is Jamie Carragher in your team at right back? He would get crucified, you've obviously haven't seen him play in the last few years. It pains me to say it, but Sagna is much better. And John Terry must have had the worst season of his career- the man's a mess. No way he should be in ahead of vidic, who has all his grit and determination but more pace and a better touch. Maybe it's a slip of a semi colon, but it looks like you've gone 4-3-3 with Torres, Berba and Ronaldo up front- so who out of Torres and Berba is going to play wide? Both would be wasted out there. 4-4-2 with Berba and Torres up front would be good- but i'm not sure Fabregas and Gerrard would work- who's going to hold? Mascherano is an awesome destroyer, flamini has great pace and industry, and carrick must be the best passing holding player in the league.
by david ratcliffe on April 22, 2008
how is rooney not in that team? And Torres and Berbatov are there! how rediculous, I'm the first to say Rooney needs to improve his goal scoring but his whole performance and work rate is phenominal!!
by paul walsh on April 22, 2008
James Clichy Ferdinand Vidic sagna Mascherano Fabregas Ronaldo Hleb Torres Adebeyour The top players all season it was a tough one in lb with evra and in midfield with flamini carrick gerrard,barry and upfront rooney tevez but as a consistant season this would be my selection James the top keeper this year ferdinand and vidic the best cb paring ever in the premiership ronaldo well need i say more Hleb been aweson dribles sets up and scores a few Cesc mr arsenal any time he played well arsenal played well Mascherano top holding mid fielder in the world Torres the best finisher in the premiership skill power pace Adebeyour top striker for 3/4 of the season still scoring trys from 1st to 90 minute
by king ledley on April 22, 2008
just here to state my hate for you again
by THE GREATEST on April 22, 2008
GK Cech (still the best keeper in the world, as painful as it is to say) RB Sagna (only because Neville hasn't been fit) LB Evra CB Vidic CB Vidic RW Ronaldo LW Hleb CM Scholes CM Gerrard FW Rooney ST Torres. To all you people naming the arsenal defence wise up. Uniteds defence is statistically the best in europe so obviously there needs to be a strong united contingent. Vidic is the best centre back in the league, maybe the world, so why is no-one naming him lol
Take one of the Vidic's out and replace it with Ferdinand lmao
by Arne Hansson on April 22, 2008
Where is Sagna? One of the best rightback in the world
by Paul N on April 22, 2008
The greatest,Scoles and Gerrard above Flam and Fab? and Sagna because Neville is injured? Come on dude - u dont even have to put Arsenal players in the team as far as i am comcerned but surely these have not performed better this season. An old Gary Neville above a young, agile, quick, fast and smart Sagna - HELL NO!!!
by Dan P on April 22, 2008
I am a ManUtd fan but THE GREATEST how can you put Scholes in your team of the season? For starters he hasnt been fit for most of the season and Anderson has been much better than Scholes
by king ledley on April 23, 2008
how can you put cech in your team when he is constantly injured and terry has been woeful at best try james and woodgate ??
by Insane Gooner on April 23, 2008
almunia;clichy;sagna;senderous(haha only joking); ferdinand; vidic; fabregas; hleb; flamini; gerrard (no ronaldo cause hes g4y); adebayor; torres subs:walcott, essien; cech; drogba; anelka
by insane gooner on April 23, 2008
most of youll prob choose ronaldo but i still think that hes had one lucky season. never again-just look at the goals hes scored:- ronaldo van nistleroy!
most of yoyull prob think why ronaldo not there but honestly he aint that great-just look at the goals hes scored, even rooney could score (some of) them- ronaldo van nistleroy!
by Jack Jones on April 23, 2008
Gota Be....GK James,LB Clichy,RB Sagna, CB's Lescott, Ferdinand,LM Ronaldo,RM Arteta, CM's Gerrard, Fabregas,S's Van Persie, Rooney.......Ze Best of Ze Best!!!
by srizzel solskjaer on April 23, 2008
on April 23, 2008 on April 23, 2008
And you are in debt up to your eyeballs!
by TheInvincibles Arsenal on April 23, 2008
Foster, Sagna, Lescott, Vidic, Clichy, Hleb, Fabregas, Flamini, Ronaldo, Torres, Rooney PS. All top 4 keepers are not good enough
by ian on April 23, 2008
Some of these teams are the most biased, narrow minded and idiotic statements i have ever seen. Although I have had a good laugh reading through some of yours, so heres mine for you to chuckle at...... James, Sagna, Evra, Vidic, Ferdinand, Ronaldo, Hleb, Mascherano, Gerrard, Rooney, Torres. No Adebayor thankyou very much, yes he's scored a few goals this season but he should have had 40+, he is a donkey. No Fabregas, great start to the season, but no thanks, maybe next year. Mascherano over Flamini, not much between the two for me so i'll stick with the monster. Evra over Clichy, just. Oh how painful to put 5 man utd scum in that line-up and only two from the mighty reds. Lets hope this time next year we can talk about putting Babel and Skrtel in the team of the year, can't really see anyone else from Liverpool getting close.
pardon me... 3 from the reds
Sagna is crap and looks like the penguin out of surfs up!
by Jumbo on April 23, 2008
Clichy over Evra any day. And how the f**k can you say Sagna is crap? You obviously don't even watch football!
Who puts evra over clichy and carrager over sagna.
by Tony on April 24, 2008
Van Der Sar - Sagna, Ferdinand, Vidic, Evra - Ronaldo, Essien, Fabregas, Young - Torres, Rooney
by RedDevil on April 24, 2008
Van Der Sar, Brown, Ferdinand, Vidic, Evra, Ronaldo, Anderson, Carrick, Giggs, Rooney, Tevez
on April 24, 2008 on April 24, 2008
arsenal fan
by ryan calder on April 24, 2008
van der sar, sagna,vidic,ferdinand,evra(or cliche very close) ronaldo,fabregas,gerrard,hleb(or young),torres ,santa cruse(for me the best striker in the premeir league give him half a chance and he will score)
by gerald mclaughlin on April 24, 2008
evra over clichy and carragher over sagna??? are you a gooner?
by THE GREATEST on April 24, 2008
Evras far superior to Clichy, anyone who knows football would know that. To answer earlier criticisms about my choice; Scholes is superior to Fabregas. Fabregas has done nothing in the last 20 games bar Milan- he always lets Arsenal down when they're struggling. Scholes never wastes the ball. Gerrard is miles ahead of Flamini (the french Park ji Sung- can run all day but very little technical skill)
by lestat legolas on April 25, 2008
i think cech is there coz of the saves he has made... WHICH WERE AMAZIN... and as for terry he just didnt have tht good a season poor thing kept gettin injured!
by larss on May 03, 2008
clichy better than evra.look at the ball control n dribbling..evra?he just can do the overlapp and low cross at the end of the pitch..dont u ever see clichy playing? ''fabregas do nothing in last 20 games''?come onn.. he's the heart beat of gunners..u rather lose scholes for MU but not fabregas for arsenall..
by Rass Henry on May 05, 2008
David James, Bacary Sagna, Kalou Toure, Nemandja Vidic, Gael Clichy, Cristiano Ronaldo, Micheal Esssien, Francesc Febregas, Alexandre Hleb, Fernando Torres, Didier Drogba. Cheers :)
by james derbyshire on June 06, 2008
James( cech is a better keeper by far, not this season) Notable mentions to Al Habsi and Brad Friedal. Sagna Ferdinand Vidic Evra You ng(cant believe he has been mentioned more) Essien Fabregas Ronaldo(pips david bentley) Rooney Torres Being a bolton fan it hurts to put so many man utd players in but hey there you go :(
by me on May 25, 2009
I haven't seen Jagielka mentioned once, albeit I wasn't reading every comment but still. He has been really solid as a defender and since he used to be a midfielder I think he definitely deserves a place. Friedel should be in goal, Calamity James makes far too many mistakes and I'm completely ignoring Cech. Also I'd like to throw Glen Johnson into the mix, not saying he has to be in a starting line up, but atleast a sub
by still me on May 25, 2009
Oh yeah, and Clichy is far better than Evra
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