Vardy is the first player in Premier League history to score against Man City, Man United, Chelsea, Liverpool, Arsenal and Spurs in a single season ... THIS season ... so he deserves a shout out, irrespective
Otamendi? There surely has to be a better right back than Kyle Walker too. Valencia for a start, although I accept this team must be eradicated of any United players whatsoever so it can't be him. Someone though.
otamendi has been outstanding this season for City. Kyle Walker has been a force going forward and backwards than valencia hasn't been (blame mourinho).
On point one I disagree but that can slide, it's fairly obvious that this team has to be picked from the top six teams and those in the lower positions who have superior centre halves to Otamendi won't get a look in. As for point two, Valencia is a better right back and defender than Kyle Walker is and has probably been consistently better as well. I prefer my fullbacks to be defenders first, attackers second, but maybe that's my personal taste.
They have the best defensive record in the league and Otamendis a big part of that and is one of the main stays with walker. As for Walker vs Valencia, Valencia probably is the better 1 on 1 defender, but this season walker has been better. Obviously team tactics comes into it (maybe the opposition doesnt attack enough but whatever is happening, otamendi and walker are mopping up and winning everything lobbed to them). Theres not been many mistakes if any from either and they have a massive pitch to defend (probably helps walker as he has the recovery pace). Who are the superior centre halves in the lower teams?
I'd have put Tarkowski in instead of Otamendi, but the stats do suggest that City miss him badly when he's out. 84% win rate when he plays and it drops to 44% when he doesn't. That's a big, big difference. Burnley never win without Tarkowski, though. Missed eight games and they drew five and lost three.
Pretty much agree with the selection apart from Aguero, I'd have Firminho in it instead. He's still doing it for Pool, Sane has gone off the boil immensely
Yes... can still be a bit rash / naive at times but he's going to be some player ... he must have hit the bar about 10 times with headers (allowing some poetic licence) ... seriously uncanny
Dembele over Eriksen for me. Can't argue with the rest. Maybe a Burnley defender over Otamendi or Vertonghen.
Hard to argue really but I'd probably make one or two amendments to improve it: Think De Gea has started to come good again but had some off days so put a more consistent keeper like, erm, Dubravka in. In defence I'd switch Walker for someone with a tad more pace, perhaps Yedlin? Also I'd want two defenders from the same team who are clicking well this season, someone like Mee-Tarkowski or, actually now I think about it Lascelles-Lejeune. Finally at left back I'd go a touch more defensive, a gritty Dummett. Midfield I like a pairing of a classy playmaker like Shelvey and a marauding box-to-box talent like Diame, flanked by a couple of pacy wingers like, for instance Kenedy and Ritchie. Up front Salah and Kane haven't been enough of a goal threat for me so I'd prefer Perez and Joselu. The latter in particular has been a revelation this season and deserves to be slotted in this line-up somewhere.
