Team of the year

The PFA Premiership Team of the Year was a remarkable example of how even the professionals themselves cannot see past the top sides. That team in full:

Edwin van der Sar (Man United);

Gary Neville (Man United), Nemanja Vidic (Man United), Rio Ferdinand (Man United), Patrice Evra (Man United);

Ryan Giggs (Man United), Paul Scholes (Man United), Cristiano Ronaldo (Man United), Steven Gerrard (Liverpool);

Didier Drogba (Chelsea), Dimitar Berbatov (Tottenham)

Is it just me or have van der Sar, Ferdinand, Evra, Neville and Gerrard all had very average seasons? Manchester United were entertaining and deserved winners but their success was built on their attacking prowess – Liverpool and Chelsea both conceded less goals over all. Berbatov is a media darling, but his purple patch didn’t commence until after January and until then was fairly dispensable.

My suggestion for team of the season:

David James (Portsmouth); The fine art collector and occasional Guardian columnist knuckled down and produced the best football of his career this year. It’s hard not to think of the litany of errors he’s made down the years, but he’s clearly stayed off the Nintendo this year.

Nicky Shorey (Reading), Jamie Carragher (Liverpool), Ricardo Carvalho (Chelsea), Joleon Lescott (Everton); Shorey and Lescott have impressed everyone except for Steve McClaren, as both despite decent seasons have yet to receive international recognition. Jamie Carragher and Ricardo Carvalho were both without their usual dependable partners this season at times, but both were excellent in teams that conceded minimal goals. A mention for Jonathan Woodgate as well, who came back from Real Madrid with a lot to prove and did well. 

Cristiano Ronaldo (Manchester United), Michael Essien (Chelsea), Paul Scholes (Manchester United), Ryan Giggs (Manchester United); Enough has been said about the three Manchester United players this year but Michael Essien has shown what a good player he is by playing just as well in defence in absence of John Terry as he has in his preferred central midfield position. Having him in the team meant that Chelsea could afford to carry Lampard and Ballack at times.

Benni McCarthy (Blackburn Rovers), Didier Drogba (Chelsea) A word for McCarthy, who proved a snip at £2.5m and scored 16 Premiership goals. Almost as impressive as Drogba’s 19, and who looked like everything he touched would go in.