Home > Football > No Ronaldo, no-one from Liverpool – an alternative to that Manchester United and Arsenal-biased PFA team of the year
No Ronaldo, no-one from Liverpool – an alternative to that Manchester United and Arsenal-biased PFA team of the year
No wonder nobody from Chelsea made it when the voting kicked off in January ... but would anyone dare leave out Ballack or Essien now?
by 101greatgoals.com on 02 May 2008
Email this Article (15) Comments
Earlier this week, the Professional Footballers’ Association named their Premier League team of the year as…David James (Portsmouth), Bacary Sagna (Arsenal), Gael Clichy (Arsenal), Rio Ferdinand (Manchester United), Nemanja Vidic (Manchester United), Cesc Fabregas (Arsenal), Cristiano Ronaldo (Manchester United), Steven Gerrard (Liverpool), Fernando Torres (Liverpool), Emmanuel Adebayor (Arsenal), Ashley Young (Aston Villa).These teams always have a whiff of the very biggest clubs about them so this year it was heartening to see David James and Ashley Young selected – both have had sensational seasons. Nevertheless, the majority of the side is made up of Manchester United, Liverpool and Arsenal players, despite the fact that there have been some incredible individual performances this season from players at less high-profile clubs.Voting begins in January, which explains why Chelsea had no players in the side. And as we go into the last two weeks of the season with the title not yet decided it seems slightly premature to make a list of the best players before the silverware has been handed out.Here is an alternative list of the best players who could well give the PFA team of the year a run for their money …Petr Cech (Chelsea): Has put in a number of highly impressive displays with the Blues not looking anywhere near as secure at the back as they did under Jose Mourinho. The semi-final Champions League win over Liverpool saw the Czech goalkeeper make crucial saves in both games and only Iker Casillas and Gigi Buffon can challenge Cech for the title of best in the world.Michael Essien (Chelsea): There’s a real lack of quality right-backs, especially compared with the wealth of talent on the left. This is highlighted at Stamford Bridge where Juliano Belletti and Paulo Ferreira have failed to make the position their own. Essien has so much energy, he drifts inside and also covers the centre midfielders. If he played in this position every week the Ghanaian would be up there with Cafu.Patrice Evra (Manchester United): One of the main gripes many United fans had with the PFA team was that one of United’s best players this season was blocked by Clichy. Amazingly, both Clichy and Evra can’t even get into the French team. But, Evra is a class act, one of Ferguson’s best buys, and his displays against Lionel Messi in the Champions League semi-finals were a key to the win.Joleon Lescott (Everton): The former Wolves defender has impressed at both left-back and centre-back. He is dominant in the air in both penalty boxes and has scored 11 goals, which is incredible for a defender.Richard Dunne (Manchester City): Voted City’s player of the year for three seasons running, and it would be no surprise if he took the award this season. The big Irishman has been linked with a move to Kevin Keegan’s Newcastle – if Dunne does go, the Toon’s famously leaky defence could be a thing of the past.Mathieu Flamini (Arsenal): The PFA team featured a centre midfield of Gerrard and Fabregas, and even though they are great players neither are specialist defensive players. Flamini just edges out Javier Mascherano for this position as his energy levels are phenomenal. How much will Arsene Wenger have to pay to replace his fellow countryman who could well replace Gennaro Gattuso at AC Milan?Gareth Barry (Aston Villa): Martin O’Neill has been the making of Barry who is now one of the most dynamic midfielders in the Premier League. It is no wonder that Liverpool and Chelsea are after the England international.Martin Petrov (Manchester City): Probably the best left-winger in the league. Petrov was responsible for City’s storming start to the season and his jinking runs remain the main attacking threat in Sven’s side.Michael Ballack (Chelsea): After a poor first season, Germany’s captain has shown his class this campaign, culminating in a towering display against Manchester United last weekend. Ballack could well prove the match-winner in the final two league games and in the Champions League final.Roque Santa Cruz (Blackburn Rovers): 21 goals in a debut season in English football is phenomenal, especially in a mid-table side. The Paraguay striker has been the perfect foil for the quality crosses that have been thrown in by David Bentley. Whilst Mark Hughes insists Blackburn aren’t a “selling club”, it can’t be that long before the big boys come sniffing around.Dimitar Berbatov (Tottenham): Whilst the moody Bulgarian has not been as good as he was in his debut season, he has still lit up the Lane with a host of silky performances. He was also a crucial component in the Carling Cup win and his penalty in the final, to level the scores at 1-1, illustrated nerves of steel. Twenty-three goals is also a pretty impressive return and he is one of the few Spurs players to put some effort in after the Wembley win.
Catch up with all the latest goals on 101 Great Goals.
Comments (15)
by Timothy Johnso Johnson on May 02, 2008
C.Ronaldo would still win no matter what! Won't make any difference. LOL! Viva Ronaldo !
on May 02, 2008 on May 02, 2008
this is a worthless piece ignoring the best players. how can you even bring cech's champion's league performance in? evra's champion's league performances as well. this is the premier league team of the year. however i do you see your point and after spurs' excellent cup victory, i can't believe there is no Woodgate in your team. He was instrumental after all.
by JT JT on May 02, 2008
There was nothing wrong with the PFA team, you are obviously a disgruntled Chelsea fan. The reason there were no Chelsea players is becuase they are a boring team full of boring players who grind out results with a tight defence. Their style of play has obviously not appealed to members of the PFA. Although the voting opens in January it does not close then. Just because Chelsea have crept up the table since January they have not become an exciting team to watch. You should find some freshly painted walls to look at if you want some real excitement.
Petr Cech was at fault for Babels goal in the champions league and has been making cock ups all year, he is living on reputation this year..
by Gooner Dan on May 02, 2008
I can't believe I just wasted 25 seconds reading that. *kills self*
by Roge on May 02, 2008
i thought it was pfa team of the year, not pfa team since january. dillhole.
by Radgoon on May 02, 2008
Adebayor and Young apart - there is absolutely no questionning the PFA team. It is a very accurate depiction of the best 11 players of the last season. As for the suggestion of Woodgate, HAHAHAHA Spurs were very watertight this season you tosspot. Also, winning the Carling Cup against a bunch of reserves and a poor chelsea team does not make it a good season unless of course you are just a small club?
by trader on May 02, 2008
A truly awful article.
by Omar Bajaber on May 02, 2008
You are right, they COULD give them a run for their money. But none of those can replace those in the actual PFA team except one or two...But wanting them to make the team with only 3 games remaining is kinda ridiculous. I think an outstanding performance in 3 games is not good enough to beat that of 35 games. Unless it was a close call, like that of Evra and Clichy. But again, this would be unfair for Clichy as the inspiration is now dead for Arsenal while Evra has all to play for. And maybe Berbatov versus Adebayor...
by god on May 02, 2008
i think youll find this is called making a point. the point being somebody doesnt like ronaldo. Essien at right back....seriously...no really you cannot be serious...no your not..oh good..oh no you are! jesus ! you choose the best player in the position they actually play in...not just put someone in for the sake of. essien is a superb midfielder and has had a far better season than ballack so remove ballack put essien in midfield and put sagna at right back who is a right back and has been consistently the best right back until his injury.
by .. on May 02, 2008
Haha, you think the PFA's team is biased; look at your own! Chelsea didnt have anyone in that team because nobody was the best from Chelsea, although Im not denying that they dont perform well as a team and that its not jusy about individuals. Essien, Lescott, Evra, Dunne, Flamini, Barry, Petrov and Santa Cruz have produced fine perfomances but Petr Cech is not only the most overrated keeper in the whole world, there is no way he deserves to be there! He makes numerous costly mistakes and is too injury prone. Ballack has done well of late, but not consistently throughout the whole season- and for 30 mil, it should be none less than expected!
by paul walsh on May 02, 2008
name a gk better than james dis season posibly czech fbs clichy and sagna arguably brown and evra and thats cumin from an arsenal supporter cb s no cbs was beter than ferdinand and vidic fabregas no disputing arguably flamini and masch or essien in gerard place however steves reputation and respect and he has played well not his usual high standard ronaldo no one young hleb much better arogent bently joe cole thats 3 torres no disputing scores almost evry game adebeyour top scoring striker and great assists it the rite team
What has Bacary Sagna done that is so special, completely over rated!!!!!
Each premiership player gets a vote (you don't) they voted for Sagna (respect there opinions they play against him you again don't)
by ARIEL ARIEL CARDOSO LEAL on May 03, 2008
COSTO DEJOGUAR FUTBAL
Add your comment here
PERSONAL ABUSE WILL NOT BE TOLERATED
First Name
Display your favourite sport or football team badge with your comment.
Last Name
Sport
Email
League
Heading
Team
Comment *
Please enter the text you see in the picture into the textbox below. *
Name: This is simply to give the editors a general idea of what the article is about and will not appear on your published version.