Four reasons why best Premier League XI has to include Blackburn

Mon, Mar 24, 08 15:54
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They may not be everyone's choices but for this Rovers fan, Brad Friedel, Stephen Warnock, Morten Gamst Pedersen and David Bentley would grace any team in the top flight.

Ronaldo would play well alongside Gerrard, with the only question being who would take the free-kicks - they would argue all day!'

In my top Premier League team, I would have the one and only Brad Friedel in goal. The likeable yank never fails to amaze me with his talent at shot-stopping and covering his goalmouth so confidently. Although I may be a bit biased being a Blackburn Rovers supporter, I feel Friedel at the moment is the best in the Premiership and has helped Blackburn gain points against some of the league's top sides with his great hands. When he decides to retire, Blackburn had better have a quality replacement lined up.

In defence I have chosen Rio Ferdinand, John Terry and Stephen Warnock. Rio and John just have quality written all over them. They have played together for their country and have a strong presence on the pitch for Manchester United and Chelsea respectively. They can head the ball away powerfully from free-kicks and corners and are solid defenders, blocking their opponents' shots and tackling strongly with aggression. You can see by the few goals that their clubs have conceded this season as to how well they cope with life in the Premier League.

Warnock is an underestimated performer. Since signing from Liverpool, where he had limited chances, Warnock has been in great form. He likes to run upfield and can play in midfield, adding his versatility to any team. He looks to only get better as he heads into his late 20s.

The midfield of my Premiership team would be very attacking. I like attacking football and therefore I would select Cristiano Ronaldo, Morten Gamst Pedersen, David Bentley and Steven Gerrard. Ronaldo is an obvious choice, the lad is just phenomenal. His attacking nature and natural ability have led to the Portuguese star being probably THE best player in the top flight this season. He has helped Man United in the league and in Europe. He scores goals and also has the flare to set them up - he's he perfect midfielder.

Ronaldo would play well alongside Gerrard, with the only question being who would take the free-kicks - they would argue all day! Gerrard is an England international and a quality player. He impresses me nearly every time he plays and holds the Liverpool midfield together even against the toughest teams in Europe.

Again, I may be a bit biased adding a couple more Blackburn players to my all-star team but Pedersen and Bentley are a delight to watch. Pedersen's form this season has been a little lower than that of last year and he has struggled to score goals. However, the talented Norwegian is known for his fast-paced runs down the wing and crossing a number of high-quality balls to the heads and feet of his Blackburn and Norwegian team-mates. If he is on form, the guy can score goals and would be an asset to any Premier League side.

Bentley's game is still developing but he's on he verge of regular England call-ups and the youngster has made the most of his chances at Blackburn. Like all the other midfielders in my team, Bentley can produce powerful free-kicks, run down the wing and score many spectacular goals. He's a class act.

For my three strikers i can look no further than Dimitar Berbatov, Wayne Rooney and Fernando Torres. Berbatov has been a revelation at Tottenham. He has single-handedly dragged them into mid-table this season with some spectacular strikes and important goals. He fitted in straight away with the rest of his players having been signed from Bayer Leverkusen. I think he adds a spark to any team and has the talent to score goals from anywhere on the pitch. He has a natural ability that is second to none and Tottenham will be lucky to keep him during the summer.

Rooney is a huge talent and is still so young. I feel like he's a veteran but he's still in his early 20s. He has built up a good partnership with Ronaldo at Man United and is one of the most powerful strikers in the Premier League - and he is only going to develop into an even better striker in a few years' time, which is a good sign for the England squad.

Torres has set the Premiership alight in the second half of the season, scoring hat-tricks and firing on all cylinders both at home and in Europe. Like Rooney, Torres is still very young and will be key to Liverpool's chances on the Continent this season. He seems to like the big occasion and would definitely start in my line-up.

As you can see, my team is a mixture of experienced defenders and goalie with a younger midfield and attack. The team is very much based on an attacking formation as i like to see an open, flowing game with lots of goals. I am sure everyone has their own opinion of who is the best as there is simply so much choice. Which has got me thinking - wouldn't it be great to see a Premier League XI go up against a La Liga XI or a Serie A XI?

Who would get in your Premier League XI? Use the comment box below or, even better, write your own article on who'd be in your team.
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Comments
(24/03/2008 18:07)
torres is the best
(24/03/2008 19:36)
Pederson is tons better than Fabregas. Man. You are so bias its HILARIOUS!
Bom Bom (24/03/2008 19:44)
I would agree with most of your choices and being a Rovers Fan myself agree with the rovers but then I disagree with Pedersen as he is not in that upper bracket of top flight players like the winker. Stephen Warnock is the 2nd best left back in the premier league and when he is on form is maybe a match for Cashley Cole but because of the big club bias, Cole and Bridge will always come before Stevie Wee and Shorey. Hard to argue the rest really except maybe Berbatov as he has hardly been in form this season, better still maybe his strike partner, Robbie Keane or even Roque Santa Cruz on current form.
Bom Bom (24/03/2008 19:45)
I would agree with most of your choices and being a Rovers Fan myself agree with the rovers but then I disagree with Pedersen as he is not in that upper bracket of top flight players like the winker. Stephen Warnock is the 2nd best left back in the premier league and when he is on form is maybe a match for Cashley Cole but because of the big club bias, Cole and Bridge will always come before Stevie Wee and Shorey. Hard to argue the rest really except maybe Berbatov as he has hardly been in form this season, better still maybe his strike partner, Robbie Keane or even Roque Santa Cruz on current form.
mike (24/03/2008 19:53)
Pedersen is not even good enough to play in the premiership, let alone in the best 11. Im a season ticket holder at blackburn, and I hope we replace him in the summer, he is our weak link. where do u get these reporters from??? Id gladly swap pedersen with fabregas, but sadly fabregas will not come 2 us, and Wenger dose'nt buy donkey's. Expecet to see peds join a championship side in the summer. Fair comment about friedel and bentley tho.
undefined again (24/03/2008 23:12)
its difficult to comment because I don't watch rovers week in week out, however I will 100% agree with you on the bentley front. He is having the season of a life time and justifies his England place. But I must question your decision to leave fabregas out. Cesc would and should be top of peoples list when picking the best 11 players in the world!
undefined again (24/03/2008 23:12)
its difficult to comment because I don't watch rovers week in week out, however I will 100% agree with you on the bentley front. He is having the season of a life time and justifies his England place. But I must question your decision to leave fabregas out. Cesc would and should be top of peoples list when picking the best 11 players in the world!
fwij ijewifj (25/03/2008 01:52)
wtf? pedersen?
dave (25/03/2008 13:04)
As a season ticket holder I would agree with bentley and Friedel. Warnock is a decent full back, but surely Evra, Clichy, A.Cole to name 3, are all better defensivley. The inclusion that would concern me is pedersen? The guy has been awful for the last 12 months, and as mike says, he looks better suited to a lower league. I suggest sportingo.com sent this repporter to a blackburn game, before allowing him to write such drival.
Oliver (25/03/2008 14:52)
Pedersen fast paced runs? lol. he runs round like a fairy
SA_Toffee (26/03/2008 09:35)
Bentley is a great player, and Friedel has been outstanding again. Warnock has been great for the Rovers, but Pederson has been disappointing this season. Granted I am an Evertonian, but Bentley is something special
Bear Head (26/03/2008 14:56)
I read somewhere - Sell Gamst, bring back Pedersen :) I have to agree his standard has dropped and I would be happy to see him leave if we could replace him with someone half decent. Friedel is a legend, Warnock is a solid full back and Bentley is quality. Time to seperate the wheat from the chaff at Rovers bye bye Morten, Benni, Mokoena and I wish Sparky would get rid of Zurab
Goofle (27/03/2008 14:30)
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA ... HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA. Ohhh... Bentley? Warnock? Pederson? HAHAHAHAHAHAHA! Fabregas, Arteta, Lescott, Clichy, Sagna, Hleb, Van Persie, Adebayor Giggs, Anderson, Mascherano and even fucking Jenas is better than any of them! GK: James RB: Sagna CB Ferdinans CB: Vidic LB: Clichy RM: Ronaldo CM: Flamini CM: Fabregas LM: J Cole ST: Adebayor ST: Torres.
mm (21/04/2008 17:05)
James? Ha ha you,re having a laugh!!! Adebayor? Cole? Sagna? No,no,no.
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