Mannone has made the cut! http://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2014/apr/24/louise-taylor-premier-league-team-of-season Vito Mannone (Sunderland) Arsenal's former third-choice goalkeeper signed for Sunderland as cover for Keiren Westwood but when the latter injured his shoulder he got his big chance and has made the most of it. Without Mannone and his string of vital saves, Gus Poyet's side would have been relegated a while ago. The modestly remunerated Italian could not afford to buy the Liverpool-bound keeper Simon Mignolet's old home on Wearside last summer but the fact he has won Sunderland's player of the year award while playing behind a less than stable defence confirms he is a worthy successor to the excellent Belgian. Seamus Coleman (Everton) The former Sligo Rovers right-back has blossomed under Roberto MartÃnez's management at Everton and certainly would not look out of place on the Champions League stage next season. The 25-year-old from Killybegs in County Donegal who grew up with Gaelic football his first love knows how to defend but attacks with style, skill and strength. Who can forget Coleman tricking his way past Arsenal's Santi Cazorla before juggling the ball out of defence. Spends countless hours at home analysing DVDs of Europe's best full-backs and such homework is helping make him one of them. If he played for a London club the hype machine would be in overdrive. Curtis Davies (Hull City) Davies can look deceptively ungainly but he is a very quick, powerful, tall and formidable defender. He represents a big reason why Hull City are virtually safe in the Premier League and FA Cup finalists. Vastly improved from his Aston Villa days, Davies can count himself a little unlucky he does not seem to feature in Roy Hodgson's World Cup plans for England. His style may be regarded as too "old-fashioned" by some â despite his coveted pace â but he has emerged from serious injury and stints in the Championship as a player rejuvenated. An inspired signing from Birmingham last summer on Steve Bruce's part. Gary Cahill (Chelsea) Virtually unrecognisable from the former Bolton defender whose regular losses of concentrations once imbued him with a touch of the Titus Brambles. Cahill is one of the most improved players in the Premier League over the past 18 months, and his development means John Terry is no longer quite so indispensable at Stamford Bridge. Granted, the sheer quality of the defenders around him allied to José Mourinho's cagey tactical mindset simplify his job but put Cahill in the back four at Sunderland, Cardiff or Fulham and their odds of avoiding relegation would surely be enhanced appreciably. Luke Shaw (Southampton) Yes, he has his defensive flaws but few would believe he is still only 18. The latest product of Southampton's much vaunted academy, Shaw seems set for a £30m, £100,000-a-week summer move to Manchester United but is admired by several others, his boyhood heroes Chelsea among them. Shaw is a wonderfully attacking, technically gifted left-back, his height and attendant aerial ability serving to increase his price tag. The youngster deserves further praise for shining in Mauricio Pochettino's attractive yet intensely demanding and sophisticated pressing system. Steven Gerrard (Liverpool) Zinedine Zidane says no Liverpool player deserves to win the title more than Gerrard, ranked by the French luminary with Paul Scholes as the two best English players of their generation. Reinvented as more of a deep-lying "quarter-back" by Brendan Rodgers this season, Gerrard has the nous to protect a somewhat fragile defence while the anchoring role suits his glorious passing range. Would Jordan Henderson's dramatic transformation into one of England's most in-form midfielders have happened so swiftly were he not playing alongside Gerrard? Yaya Touré (Manchester City) Twenty-two goals in 45 appearances this season speak volumes for City's midfield dynamo. A total footballer capable of operating at centre-half in an emergency, Touré simply swashbuckles his way through opposing teams. This Ivory Coast force of nature claims African players are underappreciated in Europe but no one who has played against him is likely to be guilty of doing that. Combines intense power with extreme elegance. Tellingly, City invariably look a far poorer team without him. Aaron Ramsey (Arsenal) Sixteen goals in 35 appearances for Arsenal this season explain why, with regret, Southampton's Adam Lallana has been edged out of this XI. Not to mention why Ramsey rather than Mesut Ãzil or Jack Wilshere has emerged as Arsène Wenger's main midfield man. Before this campaign merely holding down a first-team place at the Emirates promised to be an achievement in itself for the Welshman. Nowadays Ãzil looks lost without Ramsey by his side. And he is still only 23. David Silva (Manchester City) "David is the one who makes us play better. He is the one who has everything." So said Silva's City team-mate Pablo Zabaleta. Like Yaya Touré, the Gran Canaria-born creator is nigh indispensable to Manuel Pellegrini's side. A classic between-the-lines attacker, the Spain playmaker dubbed "Merlin" by Mancunian team-mates, a 28-year-old at the peak of his powers, joins the dots at the Etihad. It speaks volumes that, when Silva is absent injured, City have an unfortunate habit of dropping points. Eden Hazard (Chelsea) Seventeen goals for Chelsea this season emphasise Hazard's importance to José Mourinho's side. A fantasy player in a high quality yet sometimes boringly functional team, Belgium's talisman is probably responsible for selling a lot of season tickets â not to mention satellite television subscriptions. Not lacking confidence, he claims he can be as good as Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi in a couple of years. It should be fun watching the 23-year-old try. Luis Suárez (Liverpool) His 33 goals in 48 appearances for Liverpool this season go a long way towards explaining why Brendan Rodger's side are challenging for the title. An insidious, mobile and ultra intelligent forward, the Uruguayan is now benefiting from being played in an assortment of attacking positions at Ajax. His compatriot and close friend, Gus Poyet, may have been exaggerating when he claimed Liverpool would be mid-table without Suárez but Arsenal might have stayed to the end in the title chase had he joined Arsène Wenger after all and David Moyes may still be Manchester United manager if he had somehow managed to sign him. very strong team like, think id possibly drop Ramsey for Sturridge mind
Made the 2nd most saves all season but more crucial ones, fair play, i wouldnt put ramsey in either, too long on the physio bench for me
-----------------Marshall----------------- Coleman----Davies-----Kompany----Baines --------------Gerrard--Toure--------------- Silva--------------Suarez------------Hazard ------------------Sturridge-----------------
I think some people are guilty of exaggerating how good Sturridge is, or at least how well he's played this season. Negredo and Rooney had good starts but have faded recently. Aguero and Suarez up top would be any defender's worst nightmare! Parker I agree with Marshall and Kompany (how on earth has she overlooked him?!) but never been too convinced with Baines, although most people seem to like him.
What about Chitty Aguerro(?). Him and the dreadful individual but brilliant footballer that is Suarez. We will find out how good the Cardiff keeper is on Sunday.
I think Mannone has been your best player and certainly worth a mention but pretty much every neutral (which Taylor is not) would put Marshall in as he has been simply outstanding. Mannone probably second best this year though (Mignolet has had a decent season too). As for the Sturridge/ Aguero debate I think its very fair to say Aguero is better but this isn't about "who are the best team you can make out of all the players in the premiership" it is a team of players who have had the best season and Sturridge has done more than Aguero this season (though injury has played a part in that). I really can't look beyond Sturridge and Suarez for team of the season, individually excellent (top two scorers I think?) and as a partnership they just work. If I was to pick a player for Newcastle it would be Aguero over Sturridge though. The rest of the team is pretty uncontroversial though I would go for Baines too, if we had kept him then Cabaye may have been worth a mention but even then midfield is so packed with talent in the league I doubt I would even have him on the subs bench of a team of the season even if he were still in the league.
Sturridge wouldn't get on.the bench. Very overrated. He's done well but is not 10% of the player aguero is imo
20 goals and 7 assists in 26 PL games is pretty ****ing impressive. Aguero is a better player, but Sturridge has definitely had the better season
But England will do **** all with him up front (not that I'm actually bothered about Roy's national kiss arse team)!! Just my opinion. I do think he's overrated.having a purple season definitely but Suarez has made a massive impact on that. I watch him play and his passing is pretty **** when the easy set up is on. 7 assists have all been the simplest of passes and big slices of luck (that back heel!! Everyone pawed over "the connection" between him and Suarez, Sturridge has done the same thing 5 times since then and found defenders every time, nothing to do with understanding, just pure luck!)
