When I was little, being voted into the PFA Team of the Year had a little more to do with “merit” and a little less to do with “playing for Man U”. Surely an oustanding performer keeping his team in the Premiership is to be praised as much as a player having an average season in a team storming to the title thanks to the brilliance of Ronaldo and Rooney? And surely anyone ought to be praised ahead of Gary Neville?
Here’s the PFA version, and here comes my revised version. If you don’t like it, post your own.
Goalkeeper: David James.
In an astonishing season for Portsmouth, James has arguably been their best player. He also just pips Abel Xavier to the Beard of the Year award.
Right-back: Steve Finnan
This is traditionally the hardest position to fill in the Team of the Year. This is for two reasons: a) there aren’t many high profile right-backs, and b) everyone hates Gary Neville. However, Steve Finnan has emerged from a few fairly average seasons to fend off the challenge of Arbeloa and shine.
Left-back: Nicky Shorey
Considering their achievements this year, it’d be madness not to pick a Reading player, and Shorey has arugably been their best. Some question why Gareth Barry hasn’t had more chances with England, but the only thing he seems to have over Shorey is a fine penalty-kick technique.
Centre-back: Nemanja Vidic
No complaints from me with the PFAs first choice here.
Centre-back: Ricardo Carvalho
Lord Percy is playing in the meanest defence in the league, and has had to manage without sidekick John Terry for considerable spells this season. As last night’s game against Liverpool showed, he’s not bad bringing the ball into midfield either.
Right-midfield: Cristiano Ronaldo
No qualms.
Left-midfield: Ryan Giggs
Again, deserving of his place. It’s not been a good year for wingers though. I blame Jose Mourinho for designing a formation narrower than Posh Spice’s waist.
Centre-midfield: Paul Scholes
Hm. Three in a row that are the straight out of the PFA team. Whatever happened to originality?
Centre-midfield: Michael Essien
Even this isn’t particularly original, as it strikes me as such a blindingly obvious choice. Essien has been unbelievable for Chelsea, and could probably have ousted Steve Finnan in the right-back slot, such has been his amazing versatility. Essien is much more than that though, and a key reason that Chelsea are still fighting on four fronts.
Striker: Didier Drogba
The PFA got it right to put him in the Team of the Year, but I might’ve gone a step further. For me, he’s the Player of the Year. Why? Because quite simply, he’s done it in the games that matters. How many outstanding performances has Ronaldo put in against the Chelseas, the Liverpools, and Arsenals?
Striker: Benni McCarthy
If it hadn’t been for an untimely injury, Robin van Persie would’ve had this in the bag. For me, he/Ronaldo/Drogba were easily the stars of the first-half of the season. As it is, I’ve gone for a player who already has 21 goals this season, 15 in the Premiership, and was signed for just £2.5m. The most impressive thing about McCarthy’s goals is that they’ve tended to come in ones - he hasn’t bagged hatricks against the lower teams, but has scored consistently against anyone and everyone, despite only playing in a mid-table side. A true bargain.
So what do you reckon?