Season's selections

Skysports.com pick top players and highlights from the campaign

By Lewis Rutledge   Last updated: 13th May 2008

The 2007-08 season is almost over and the skysports.com team have been making their selections from another thrilling campaign.

Over the coming days, our journalists will be picking from a range of categories. We are also giving you the chance to comment on our choices.

Reporter Lewis Rutledge makes his selections, and also looks at his pre-season predictions.

Team of the Season

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Johnson Michael

Johnson: Rising star

Pre-season predictions
Title winner: Man Utd
Relegated: Sunderland, Wigan, Derby
Best buy: Florent Malouda
Biggest flop: Tuncay
Player of the Year: Cristiano Ronaldo
Goalscorer: Robin van Persie
Dark horse: Manchester City


Also see

James has been the outstanding goalkeeper of the season. The evergreen shot-stopper has played a huge part in Portsmouth's success and rightfully reclaimed his place between the posts for England.

Manchester United have barely put a foot wrong in defence all season and three of their back four demand inclusion. The likes of Jamie Carragher and Ricardo Carvalho have been considered but Ferdinand and Vidic take the centre-back spots, while Patrice Evra has been the most complete left-back. Sagna lines up on the opposite flank after an impressive first campaign at Emirates Stadium.

Ronaldo is a shoo-in for the right of midfield and it is also impossible to leave out Gerrard and Fabregas, who have both enjoyed fantastic seasons in the centre. Joe Cole edges out Ashley Young to make it into the side on the left wing. He has been Chelsea's creative spark this term and is the only Blues player to feature in the line-up.

Torres has made a stunning impact at Anfield and is paired up front with Adebayor, who has also found the target with regularity. Their partnership combines skill, speed, power, aerial ability and deadly finishing.

Player - Cristiano Ronaldo

Ronaldo has built on his achievements from last year and is now in a class of his own as the Premier League's top player. He has scored more than 40 goals from midfield, chipped in with countless other assists and managed to do it all in a style that certain other 'world-class' players could only dream about.

Manager - Steve Bruce

Not an obvious choice but Bruce deserves great credit for steering Wigan to Premier League safety. When he took charge in November The Latics were firmly entrenched in the relegation zone and desperately out of form, no surprise perhaps given that they had been written off before the start of the season. It took time for Bruce to work his magic but Wigan have become a far more resilient team and should improve further next term.

Rising star - Michael Johnson

The 20-year-old has had a splendid season and was instrumental in Manchester City's excellent start to the campaign. He is a complete midfielder who will go from strength to strength over the coming years and who has already been linked with Liverpool. An injury at the turn of the year coincided with City running out of steam.

Best buy - Jonathan Woodgate

Tottenham have been entertaining to watch all season but their defence was in desperate need of reinforcements in the January transfer window. Juande Ramos moved for Woodgate and the centre-back helped propel Spurs to Carling Cup glory. He scored in the final as he produced a man-of-the-match performance, and if he can stay fit next term Tottenham should once again be challenging for the top five.

Biggest flop - Elano

Elano looked like he would be a contender for 'buy of the season' after an exciting first few games, with Sven Goran Eriksson insisting there was still more to come from the Brazilian. However it has all gone badly wrong for Elano and his lifeless displays have set the tone for a miserable second half of the season for City. No pace, no stamina and unable to defend, it is a wonder that he manages to keep his place in the side.

Best match - Liverpool 4 Arsenal 2

Liverpool and Arsenal played out a thrilling UEFA Champions League quarter-final second leg before Rafa Benitez's side ultimately progressed 5-3 on aggregate. Arsenal started brilliantly and later provided the highlight of the night when Walcott accelerated past four Reds defenders to set up Adebayor, but Liverpool were typically ruthless in Europe and snatched victory with late goals from Gerrard and Babel.

Personal highlight - Barnsley shocking Liverpool

An extraordinary year in the FA Cup was summed up by Barnsley's win at Anfield in the last 16. The team from the Championship produced a heroic performance and goalkeeper Luke Steele was superb, before Brian Howard struck with a stunning last-gasp goal.

Season lowpoint - Eduardo injury

The worst thing about this season has been the ever-increasing amount of bad tackles and it was only a matter of time before a player picked up a sickening injury such as this. Martin Taylor's challenge may not have been intentional but it was mistimed and high, and left Eduardo with a broken leg that will keep him sidelined well into next term.

Best goal - Torres v Newcastle

Free-kicks and powerful long shots into the top corner crop up on a weekly basis and it is time to recognise a different type of goal. Torres was in the middle of a purple patch when he came up against Newcastle in March and the Spaniard added to his tally with a sublime effort. Latching onto a precise through ball from Steven Gerrard, Torres rounded goalkeeper Steve Harper with nothing more than a drop of the shoulder and slotted the ball into an empty net.

Have your say on Lewis' selections using the form below.

Comments

Matty Kinfe (Arsenal fan) says...

I don't mean to belittle woodgate but i don't think there's a better buy than the super striker fernando torres who spent his first season in england like he has been playing there for years.

Posted 09:32 14th May 2008

Patches O'callahan (West Ham United fan) says...

Michael Johnson as rising star is a very good pick. but what about Babel? I thought he's done quite well for himself despite his tender age. don't agree with elano as biggest flop. D.Bent, big time. should've gone to west ham last summer when curbs wanted him. best buy i'd say santa cruz. bargain for 15 league goals. and i agree with most people here, barry in front of gerrard, and a.young in front of j.cole. avram for manager of the year? you're having a laugh! he looks like a dead fish! i would say David Moyes or Sir Alex.

Posted 05:55 14th May 2008

Joe Gorham (Leicester City fan) says...

The biggest flop of the year is Ian Holloway taking Leicester down to the 3rd tier for the first time in 124 years and he still keeps his job amazing!!!

Posted 01:04 14th May 2008

Mark Jaggs (Liverpool fan) says...

Team is mixed with some selections that make sense others are a little strange. Pepe Reina won the golden gloves award again and is still ignored regarding team of the season. Ronaldo has not played right midfield, pretty sure you would have to put him down as a striker to put him in the team so adebayor would be out which would be sad as he has had a good season. absence of Barry is strange but i can understand it. Fabregas was very good at the start of the season but tailed off towards the end. therefore i would go for barry over him or even Mascherano who has been awesome but obviously he would not be included becasue he became a hate figure after a referee made a bad decision. Lescott awesome also needs to be in the team. its more difficult for teams further down the league to get players in but he especially needs to be in the team. goals and overall defencive ability has been great. buy of the season is silly and needs to be re-evaluated. someone calling voronin flop of the season is silly. pretty sure he was injured for lots of the season and was bought on a free.

Posted 00:18 14th May 2008

Matty Davison (Newcastle United fan) says...

team of the season (without big 4!!) (gk) James (def) Johnson, Laursen, Campbell, Lescott, (mid) Bentley, Barry, Arteta, Young (fwd) Santa Cruz, Berbatov Any More ideas????

Posted 23:11 13th May 2008

Tom Regan (Manchester City fan) says...

Elano as biggest flop? That's er.... interesting! As many people have commented, what about the likes of Darren Bent? He hasn't been able to kick a ball in a straight line all season! (Well his surname is Bent I suppose!!!) Micah Richards & Richard Dunne should at least be mentioned, look what happened when none of them were playing past 15 mins in City's last game of the season! The team is just players from all the BIG teams. What about Barry? What about Petrov? What about Lescott? What about Laursen? & the list is endless!! I'd also think about possibly questionning why Santa Cruz and Benni McCarthy aren't mentioned as well.

Posted 22:57 13th May 2008

Mr Smith (Liverpool fan) says...

Bit rich of a Chelsea fan to call Voronin a flop considering he was a free and has scored more than the £18 million Malouda. Bent deserves a shout down purely to his price tag, but I guess he hasn't been given much of a chance. Steve Bruce did well, think David Moyes is worth a shout as well. Agree with most of the team, Gerrard deserves his inclusion despite what people say - 21 goals and 23 assists?

Posted 22:50 13th May 2008

Sean Mcallister (Middlesbrough fan) says...

I don't buy some of this nonsense, as for team of the year, i agree mainly, apart from Joe Cole. He has had an average season, 3 names for you, Martin Petrov, Ashley Young or Stewy Downing? As for Michael Johnson as rising star, i think David Wheater deserves a mention. Best buy has to be Santa Cruz or Lescott. As for the flopper, has to be Darren Bent.

Posted 15:12 13th May 2008

Peter Sobs (Liverpool fan) says...

Woodgate best buy? You are having a laugh. Have Tottenham even improved defensively? He had a good game in the Carling Cup final but that isnt the barometer for the season.Torres was the best buy comfortably. For people to say Gerrard had a poor season is inconcievable. He seems to be the victim of his own talent here with people expecting Roy of the Rovers stuff from him every game. He was solid if unspectacular and in the big games didnt really perform, but look at his stats. Other so-called world class players would have loved to have such an 'average' season. Joe Cole was average this year and Ashley Young deserves his place there. That indeed would match the PFA chosen 11 for their team of the year. Santa Cruz, Barry, Lescott and Essien all deserve a mention for impressive seasons too but wouldn't get in the team in their favoured positions here.......although if Essien was to play right back, have Lescott at left back and Barry left mid..........its all opinions isnt it?

Posted 15:07 13th May 2008

Stephen Sidlo (Manchester City fan) says...

Johnson is in my mind a rising star, I think it takes two seasons to truly build on a good one he has done for us. Elano as biggest flop? Well no-one has mentioned that he did get injured around Christmas time and had to bounce back, when has a player injured around then really come back top form. The amount of top star players over the years injured mid way through bounce back the season after but rarely get called flops. Elano had a superb start and was one of the best buys in August for the Premiership.

Posted 14:54 13th May 2008

Mark Ford (Chelsea fan) says...

I agree with most of the team. But Lescott instead of Evra......... for a start. Lescott has been everton's best player this season scoring goals and keeping them out......... I'd say Evra has just been a part of the best defence in the premiership, so on that basis i'm going with Lescott. How can people say Gerrard does not deserve to be in the team is unbelievable...... Also how you have put Fabregas ahead of Barry is amazing.... Apart from Gerrard Barry has been the biggest creator of goals from a midfield position this season...... And Joe Cole???? that mistifies me....... he's been average this season...... on form this season i would much prefer Ashley Young in my team.......... I agree with whoever said it..... couple of years time Joe Hart will be one of the best keepers in the premiership

Posted 14:34 13th May 2008

Kanesh Dattani (Arsenal fan) says...

The Team of the year is mostly right. But I do not see why Joe Cole is in it. He has been largely unnoticed to many football fans this season and hasn't done anything to spectacular. I think in his place should be Ashley Young. The biggest flop is not Elano. Elano is a good player but it is his first season in English football he started of well but hasn't learnt to keep up with the game. The biggest flop has to be Sidwell for Chelsea. Star of last season for Reading turns out to be a nobody for Chelsea. I fear they have ruined a promising footballer. Goal of the season for me is Adebayor's second against Tottenham at White Hart Lane, this might be biased as I am an Arsenal fan but it deserves a good shout.

Posted 14:19 13th May 2008

Ian Wells (Arsenal fan) says...

I must agree with everyone else. Elano may have suffered a dip in form, but to call him a bigger Flop than Darren Bent is a bit of a Joke. And i would definitly say Barry had a superior season to Gerrard. Lescott, Barry & Young deserve a mention. Best buy should be Torres although Santa Cruz is also proving his worth. Clichy had a v. good season for us and as did Sagna & Adeybayor. Hopefully next year will be even more open with the likes of Villa & Everton challenging as well.

Posted 12:54 13th May 2008

Tony Brown (Liverpool fan) says...

To anybody questioning Gerrard, fair enough based on performances alone he hasnt been upto his high standards that he sets himself, I would even put Mascherano ahead of him based on performances but to call him overrated is ludicrous, 21 goals and 23 assists this season and apparently its been a bad one? crazy! As for elano being the biggest flop, what a joke, the first half of the season he was instrumental in Man City playing so well.. funny how Man Citys form coincided with his! Buy of the season also.. has to go to either Santa Cruz or Torres!

Posted 12:51 13th May 2008

Joe Varney (Watford fan) says...

I dont know how Joe Cole has got himself into that team? In my opinion the left midfield slot would belong to someone who could also be called the "Rising Star" Ashley Young. When he left watford for villa i thought £10m was a bit much however Martin O'Neil (could also be a main contender for Manger) has worked his magic on him and some more risers such as Agbonlahor and now £10m seem quite cheap. I say get Joe Cole off the teamsheet and place Ashley where he belongs.

Posted 12:45 13th May 2008

Sanmay Bhaumik (Chelsea fan) says...

I'd say Voronin would be flop of the season , not Elano . Also Essien should be in the centre of midfield instead of Steven Gerrard .

Posted 12:34 13th May 2008

James Baguley (Manchester City fan) says...

Elano flop of the season! 8 goals and numerous assists! What about £15 million for Darren Bent? or Alan Smith what have they contributed more than Elano this season? How about Joey Barton, he's only played half a season for Newcastle and cost nearly as much and could go to prison! Maybe you guys need to re-evaluate and actually watch these players a little bit more closely

Posted 12:33 13th May 2008

Alan Daniels (Chelsea fan) says...

Very harsh judgement on Elano as biggest flop, he looked very creative at the beginning and has only had a few poor games. I think that Malouda has been the biggest flop along with Pizzaro and Robert Earnshaw, both terrible records in front of goal and came with good reputations from previous clubs, as did malouda. I think Gerrard has had a ddreadfull season and as usual the media does not vote honestly, Essien was fantastic all season as was Barry for Aston Villa. I agree with the rest of the team apart from Ferdinand who I believe is carried by Vidic who has impressed me alot. I think Laursen from aston Villa or Yobo from Everton should have his place. Also best buy must be Santa Cruz or Torres who have scored a hat full of goals, but rising star could also be Kenwyne Jones of sunderland who looks like he is destined for a top eauorpean team in the next few years, however johnson is a fantastic midfielder.

Posted 12:29 13th May 2008

Si Harwood (Everton fan) says...

WHERE IS LESCOTT?!!? Why oh why can Woodgate be a better buy than Lescott? Has he scored 10 goals this season, has he been a defensive rock and an attacking threat? James has done Well but for me Young Joe Hart should get the plaudits - as for Gerrard, me mum has had more impact this season than he has!

Posted 12:22 13th May 2008

Mark Parker (Arsenal fan) says...

Best Manager Steve Bruce? I hate Chelsea but credit has to go to Avram for managing a player lead team & the media who are relentless in their mission to put him down. Great to see two gooners in the team though, next year, next year¿¿. Mark Parker

Posted 12:21 13th May 2008

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