Chimbo!
Well-Known Member
- Jan 7, 2007
- 3,588
- 3,323
After reading Alan Hansen's team of the year in the Telegraph, which has been no doubt twisted by his preference for a certain red-top football club, I thought I would try and give a balanced view.
Hansen's View:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/co...-Hansens-Premier-League-team-of-the-year.html
My View:
Goalkeeper: Reina
He is the best goalkeeper in the league and has been ever consistent for a Liverpool side that has swayed from Champions League contenders to pretenders over the year. Whether it is shot-stopping or dominating the area Reina is superb. While other goalkeepers have made headlines for gaffes Reina has stayed comparatively quiet.
Right-back: Richards
He has risen from the obscure depths of City's squad to the top in the space of a year. He has power, pace, strength and above all mature positional sense going both forward and back. Only Capello can explain why he is not England's first choice right-back.
Left-back: Baines
This may be a surprising choice but his piercing free-kicks and strong positional play have helped guide Everton to mid-table mediocrity with relative comfort while injuries and departures occur all around him. He is part of a solid defence and has emerged as one of their key players in a position rarely celebrated.
Centre-back: Kompany
He has everything a defender needs from physical and technical ability to leadership. He is imperious at the back and has impressed me on many occasions. Plenty of top players have been out-foxed by City's key defender including the likes of Van Persie.
Centre-back: Vidic
He is still arguably the best defender in the league and his recent injury will be a big blow for United. He is a traditional centre-half with a no-nonsense approach and a willingness to put his body on the line for Ferguson and United. He dominates the air and commands the penalty box with the authority required to marshall the Premier League's top defence.
Right-Midfield: Silva
The superlatives have been gushing out for this playmaker. He creates chances out of nothing and is pivotal in City's approach play. When at his best he is unplayable. His performances are often match winners and City can assign partial responsibility to their position as the Premier League's top team has down to him.
Left-midfield: Bale
Despite a dip in the final months of last season Bale has risen again to become a better player than the one that tore Maicon a new hole against Inter Milan over a year ago. There is nothing the player cannot do whether it be dribble, cross, shoot, head, pass or tackle. The fact that people are discussing whether he is actually a forward suggests that he is emerging as Tottenham's top talent even with the likes of Van der Vaart, Adebayor and Modric to compete with.
Centre-midfield: Modric
The league's best central midfielder. He always has time and space. There is no player in the league better at twisting and turning out of crowded areas with the ball at his feet and space with which to exploit. There is no coincidence that the team argued to play the best football is orchestrated by the league's best midfield conductor.
Centre-midfield: Parker
You may think this is going over the top to name a third Spurs midfielder. However, it is the strongest midfield in the Premier League and has been crucial to the team's lofty position at the end of this year. He provides a perfect balance to Modric's artistry with industry. He is consistent and persistent snuffing out opposition attacks like the white blood cells in an immune system. He was the writers' player of the season in May and desveres to be in the 2011 team of the year.
Forward: Van Persie
More goals than anyone else and more contenders for goal of the year then we have time for. Arsenal can thank his performances for their Champions League push. He is a thorn in the side of any defence and we all wait for his customary injury but so far it has not come.
Forward: Demba Ba
This was a tough one because there was no obvious candidate. Tevez has gone awol since last season's exploits and City's new front line is only a few months old. Suarez has dazzled but his goals have been few and far between. Ba, however, has scored consistently over the year. His goals have contributed to Newcastle's surprisingly good season. His movmenet is excellent and composure is second to none.
What do you think? Are you surprised that there is only one United player compared to three Spurs players? Have I missed anyone obvious or been blatantly wrong with some?
I think the fact that United only have one player here indicates how good they are as a team to be 2nd in the league.
Hansen's View:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/co...-Hansens-Premier-League-team-of-the-year.html
My View:
Goalkeeper: Reina
He is the best goalkeeper in the league and has been ever consistent for a Liverpool side that has swayed from Champions League contenders to pretenders over the year. Whether it is shot-stopping or dominating the area Reina is superb. While other goalkeepers have made headlines for gaffes Reina has stayed comparatively quiet.
Right-back: Richards
He has risen from the obscure depths of City's squad to the top in the space of a year. He has power, pace, strength and above all mature positional sense going both forward and back. Only Capello can explain why he is not England's first choice right-back.
Left-back: Baines
This may be a surprising choice but his piercing free-kicks and strong positional play have helped guide Everton to mid-table mediocrity with relative comfort while injuries and departures occur all around him. He is part of a solid defence and has emerged as one of their key players in a position rarely celebrated.
Centre-back: Kompany
He has everything a defender needs from physical and technical ability to leadership. He is imperious at the back and has impressed me on many occasions. Plenty of top players have been out-foxed by City's key defender including the likes of Van Persie.
Centre-back: Vidic
He is still arguably the best defender in the league and his recent injury will be a big blow for United. He is a traditional centre-half with a no-nonsense approach and a willingness to put his body on the line for Ferguson and United. He dominates the air and commands the penalty box with the authority required to marshall the Premier League's top defence.
Right-Midfield: Silva
The superlatives have been gushing out for this playmaker. He creates chances out of nothing and is pivotal in City's approach play. When at his best he is unplayable. His performances are often match winners and City can assign partial responsibility to their position as the Premier League's top team has down to him.
Left-midfield: Bale
Despite a dip in the final months of last season Bale has risen again to become a better player than the one that tore Maicon a new hole against Inter Milan over a year ago. There is nothing the player cannot do whether it be dribble, cross, shoot, head, pass or tackle. The fact that people are discussing whether he is actually a forward suggests that he is emerging as Tottenham's top talent even with the likes of Van der Vaart, Adebayor and Modric to compete with.
Centre-midfield: Modric
The league's best central midfielder. He always has time and space. There is no player in the league better at twisting and turning out of crowded areas with the ball at his feet and space with which to exploit. There is no coincidence that the team argued to play the best football is orchestrated by the league's best midfield conductor.
Centre-midfield: Parker
You may think this is going over the top to name a third Spurs midfielder. However, it is the strongest midfield in the Premier League and has been crucial to the team's lofty position at the end of this year. He provides a perfect balance to Modric's artistry with industry. He is consistent and persistent snuffing out opposition attacks like the white blood cells in an immune system. He was the writers' player of the season in May and desveres to be in the 2011 team of the year.
Forward: Van Persie
More goals than anyone else and more contenders for goal of the year then we have time for. Arsenal can thank his performances for their Champions League push. He is a thorn in the side of any defence and we all wait for his customary injury but so far it has not come.
Forward: Demba Ba
This was a tough one because there was no obvious candidate. Tevez has gone awol since last season's exploits and City's new front line is only a few months old. Suarez has dazzled but his goals have been few and far between. Ba, however, has scored consistently over the year. His goals have contributed to Newcastle's surprisingly good season. His movmenet is excellent and composure is second to none.
What do you think? Are you surprised that there is only one United player compared to three Spurs players? Have I missed anyone obvious or been blatantly wrong with some?
I think the fact that United only have one player here indicates how good they are as a team to be 2nd in the league.
