Thoughts on the Premier League Team of the Year

Formation: 4-4-2
Goalkeeper: Pepe Reina, Liverpool- Liverpool’s disastrous year could’ve been a lot worse had Pepe Reina not been standing between the pipes for them. The Spaniard consistently made eye-popping saves, making the already apparent problems Liverpool has at the back less concerning. He finished the year tied for first with Petr Cech of Chelsea with 17 clean sheets, doing so once again with a much worse defense in front of him than Cech. Reina’s signing of a new deal gives Liverpool supporters a little bit of hope for the future, as he seems emotionally invested in the club’s future.

Right Back: Branislav Ivanovic, Chelsea- Ivanovic was the most consistent force in the back for Chelsea’s defense, which was the backbone of this team. His sturdy and quick runs down the right flank, followed by a beautiful cross were also a reliable aspect of Chelsea’s attack going forward. Also capable of playing center back, Ivanovic displayed an aspect of versatility that makes him one of the elite defenders in the world today.

Center Back 1: Thomas Vermaelen, Arsenal- Arguably the best signing of the year in the Premier League, Vermaelen provided ferocity at the back that Arsenal had been lacking for years. With not much depth behind them, Vermaelen and partner William Gallas provided Arsenal with a more than competent nucleus at the back, despite being one of the physically smaller duos in the league. He also proved to be a dangerous force in the offensive sector of the pitch, finishing with seven league goals, just behind Cesc Fabregas, Andrei Arshavin and Robin Van Persie for Arsenal. A very good year, especially for his first in the league, Vermaelen has exceeded many’s expectations for him.

Center Back 2: Roger Johnson, Birmingham City- One of the quieter seasons for those on this team, Birmingham City would not have finished in the top half of the table without Roger Johnson. His partnership with Scott Dann provided stability in the center of defense that was vital for City’s unbeaten run of 12 games that played a huge part in their overachieving season. At the back, Johnson was the leader, constantly organizing his teammates for another wave of attack from their opponents. Birmingham would not have had half the success they did without Johnson, making him the most valuable center back in the league this year to his team.

Left Back: Patrice Evra, Manchester United- This year really tested this world-class fullback’s versatility, as well as his composure. Manchester United’s backline was really injury prone this year, resulting in Evra having to play center back on a few occasions, despite being physically not nearly big enough. Despite this, he performed more than adequately. When playing at his natural position, he provided his usual wide attack for the Red Devils, along with using his lightning-quick speed to track back and defend.

Right Midfield: James Milner, Aston Villa- The Young Player Award Winner, Milner had a breakout season at Villa Park. Despite making this team as a midfielder on the right side, Milner truly excelled at the center of the park, creating Villa’s attacks and establishing a tough defensive line in the midfield. His versatility is truly impressive though, as he can also play wide on either side of the pitch, something he will probably doing in England’s starting XI in South Africa this summer. He netted a crucial seven goals for Villa, as well as twelve assists, the third most in the league.

Center Midfield: Frank Lampard,Chelsea – My Premier League Player of the Year, Lampard had one of the best seasons of his career. At the center of Chelsea’s midfield, he created much of their attack going forward and is hugely responsible for their breaking of the century goal mark in the league. He provided fourteen assists, which led the league, and twenty-two goals, fifth in the league (first among non-forward players). One could make a serious argument that without Lampard, Chelsea would not have won the league.

Center Midfield: Darren Fletcher, Manchester United- Fletcher had another underrated, absolutely fantastic year for the Red Devils. In the center of the midfield, he was asked to perform a similar role to that of Frank Lampard’s with Chelsea, organizing the attack going forward as well as providing a solid line of defense before the center backs and fullbacks. Fletcher was asked to do this with, simply put, a team around him that was more lacking in talent than ever. Despite this setback, the Scottish International did his job with great aplomb

Left Midfield: Florent Malouda, Chelsea- Malouda had a fantastic year playing wide left in the Chelsea midfield, netting twelve goals and setting up eight. He truly benefited from the arrival of Coach Carlo Ancelotti, whose diamond formation truly allowed for Malouda to roam the left side of the field. He had fantastic link up play all year with defender Ashley Cole, as well as forwards Didier Drogba and Nicholas Anelka. A true threat going forward, Malouda’s sensational play was crucial to Chelsea’s success.

Forward: Didier Drogba, Chelsea- The player with the most goals in the Premier League this season, Drogba had a sensational year for Chelsea, netting twenty-nine times. His ability to bully defenders and force mistakes made him a vital player for Chelsea even when he wasn’t scoring goals (which weren’t often). Drogba won his battle against Wayne Rooney for top goal scorer, as well as leading Chelsea over Rooney’s Manchester United for the league title. His season has proven to be one of his best, proven by being voted Chelsea Player of the Year by his teammates and others within the club, the first time he has received this title.

Forward: Wayne Rooney, Manchester United- Netting twenty-six times and winning the Premier League Player of the Year Award, Wayne Rooney had a fantastic year for the Red Devils. After losing Cristiano Ronaldo and Carlos Tevez in the transfer window, Manchester United’s attack looked bleak as they only returned Rooney and Dimitar Berbatov, along with bringing in the often injured Michael Owen. Rooney took up the challenge honorably though, taking United to second place, an overachievement one could argue. Without him in the lineup, Manchester United looked lost and confused up front and their quality of play showed it. Rooney definitely wins Most Valuable Player in that United would not have had nearly the season they did without his presence on the pitch.

Coach: Harry Redknapp, Tottenham Hotspur- Redknapp did a fantastic job navigating the Premier League season with Spurs, leading them to fourth place, guaranteeing Champions League football for the 2010/11 campaign. Coaching a team with a true English core and no true stars, Redknapp got his team to play attractive football that truly warranted a fourth place finish. A season sweep of fifth place Manchester City proved to be the key to their season, as they ended up finishing just three points ahead of them. Molding a backline around the center back pairing of Ledley King, the talented but oft-injured individual and the notorious under-achieving Michael Dawson too guts, but proved to be crucial to the team’s success. Up front, Redknapp got fantastic years from Jermain Defoe and Peter Crouch, as well as manage to work the over-emotional Russian Roman Pavlyuchenko into a consistant attacking role. Good seasons from Tom Huddlestone and Luka Modric helped as well. Looking forward, Redknapp has a tough but enjoyable task ahead of him in trying to give Spurs fans Champions League glory in their first appearance in the competition.