Premier League team 07/08

PFA's line-up packs a potent goal threat

By Chris Harvey   Last updated: 27th April 2008

It is fair to say the Premier League team of the season chosen by the PFA is packed with goals.

The front six have managed 96 and counting in the league so far this term and in Cristiano Ronaldo (28), Fernando Torres (22) and Emmanuel Adebayor (21) we have the three most potent finishers in the English game.

PFA player of the season Ronaldo has been nothing short of a phenomenon throughout. His goals have come in all shapes and sizes - shots, headers, flicks, penalties plus the free-kicks which have bamboozled goalkeepers and pundits alike with their unique technique.

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Premier League team 07/08

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Bearing in mind he is not an out-an-out striker, defences would be quaking in their boots knowing they would have to mark the Portuguese plus keep a close eye on Torres and Adebayor.

Liverpool's big summer signing from Atletico Madrid can lay claim to the best debut season by a Premier League newcomer. There were doubters when Rafa Benitez opted to spend more than £20million on a striker with a modest goals-per-game ratio. However, Torres has answered his critics with goals in abundance although he'll need to find his scoring boots more regularly away from Anfield next term; he has netted just twice on the Reds' Premier League travels.

Adebayor has filled the gaping hole left by Thierry Henry's exit from Arsenal with aplomb. Not only that, he has managed to weigh in with his share of spectacular efforts, his strike at Spurs back in September springing to mind.

Pulling the strings behind Adebayor all season has been Young Player of the Year Cesc Fabregas. The Spaniard has been in sensational form throughout and is unfortunate his endeavours have not brought a trophy to Emirates Stadium.

He already boasts 16 assists this term - a figure that more than demonstrates his ability to orchestrate attacks like a quarterback.

His midfield partner, Gerrard, has also formed a potent pairing with Torres at Anfield where he has spent much of the season pushed forward in support of the Spaniard. He has weighed in with 11 Premier League goals during a season where Liverpool once again failed to find the levels of consistency required to sustain a title challenge.

Wide on the left, Ashley Young has begun to pay back the £10million Martin O'Neill paid for him with some terrific performances at Aston Villa. He will be looking to lay claim to an England starting place once the World Cup 2010 qualifiers get underway in the autumn.

The defence is based around Manchester United's rock-solid centre backs Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic.

Ferdinand has looked every inch the world's most expensive defender. England's failure to qualify for the finals of Euro 2008 could be put down in some quarters to his suspension from the key game with Croatia at Wembley. His partnership with giant Serb Vidic has seen the champions concede just 19 goals so far this season.

The two full-backs are both from Arsenal with Gael Clichy combining solid defence with raids down the Gunners' left flank while Bacary Sagna has proved another astute purchase by Arsene Wenger on the right of the Arsenal back four.

The line-up is completed by the not inconsiderable frame of David James who has enjoyed a renaissance this season and has deservedly reclaimed the England No 1 jersey after some outstanding performances in the Pompey goal.

Comments (32)

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Tony Ralph(utd fan) (Manchester United fan) says...

A pretty good selection but although David James has done well this season I feel that Edwin van der Sar should have been put ahead of him. The remainder speak for themselves with the exception of Clichy.The Utd duo of Ferdinand and Vidic have been fantastic but Evra should have been included. Ronaldo has been phenomenal and Torres has really answered his critics. Adebayor has filled the space left by Henry and Fabregas has been outstanding for Arsenal. Gerrard has once again shown us what a great player he is.

Posted 20:54 30th April 2008

Liam Duncan (Liverpool fan) says...

Torres, Gerrard and Ronaldo are right, but where are Evra, Carragher, Skrtel, Anderson and Nani. They should all be there and so should Joe and Ashley Cole

Posted 16:45 30th April 2008

Wayne Claassen (Chelsea fan) says...

Maybe I shouldn't stress the obvious too much, but Chelsea for the 3rd season looks like the favourites to win the league and possibly the Champions League. This tells you how quality their is in the team. So please relook at team season and ask yourself why is Chelsea players not included. To name a few, Essien, Carvahlio, etc.

Posted 07:32 30th April 2008

Mark Taylor (Manchester United fan) says...

I totaly agree with a lot of the comments but how can David James be picked in front of Edwin Van Der Sar or Petr Cech when he has let in 37 goals this season both Chec and Van Der Sar have only let in a total of 46 between them and Steven Gerrard is the because he is Steven Gerrard, Patrice Evra should be in front of Clichy on current form this season, Adebayor is questionable too there are better forwards out there this season and surely Mathieu Flamini deserves to be there as well.

Posted 03:49 30th April 2008

Brian Grogan (Liverpool fan) says...

Evra ahead of Clichy without a doubt and I don't rate Sagna, certainly not enough to be in the team of the season. Ferdinand lives off of Vidic's brilliance and id say someone like Dunne has been far better this season. And there is certainly no-one with the exception of Cesc in midfield who should even have their names spoken in the same breath as Steven Gerrard.

Posted 22:11 29th April 2008

Joel Mcnamara (Arsenal fan) says...

Evra may have had a great season but Clichy has had an even better one. His work rate is unmatched in the Premiership and it's no wonder that every time one of the big four have played against Arsenal they have had to shift their attack away from his side. Essein is a notable absence, should definitely have been named ahead of Gerrard. Adebayor's place is justified not just by his poacher's instinct and sheer amount of goals but by the moments of brilliance he has shown this season. For all those slagging him off, there's a reason he's up there in the goal tallies with Ronaldo and Torres, because he is an incredible striker, not to mention he has an exceptional work rate.

Posted 17:45 29th April 2008

Scott Williams (Cardiff City fan) says...

While everyone debates the best Premier League team of the season, i just thought it might be interesting to see what the worst might look like! Here is what i came up with. Anyone agree or disagree? Robinson, McShane, Kaboul, Bramble, Riise, Eboue, Savage, Alan Smith, Malouda Nugent, Voronin.

Posted 17:42 29th April 2008

Justin Greenaway (Liverpool fan) says...

I think the team is fair. Clearly though there is some bias comments here that would never hold water. Evra? Good but no more deserving than Glichy. And Anderson? Who on earth can possibly think he deserves to be in team of the year. I think that players like Santa Cruz and Gareth Barry have a fair shout and would of been close to making the team although they were just pipped at the post by equally deserving players

Posted 14:59 29th April 2008

Paul Phillips (Fulham fan) says...

Adebayor living off other players???? Have you seen him this year? Some of the goals he has scored have been class. I have no prolems with the team. Although there have been many other fine performers who deserve praise includy Barry, Evra and Snta Cruz

Posted 10:59 29th April 2008

Max Cooper (Arsenal fan) says...

To be honest, i predicted 10 out of the 11 players picked, although Ashley Young has been outstanding this season, i thought Hleb would of claimed the position of left winger, but with his favourite position being the right and Ronaldo seems to have secured that position i think it is 100% right for Ashley Young to be in the 11, he has played amazing this season with some incredible runs and some outstanding passes, hopefully one day we will see him in an Arsenal Kit.

Posted 08:41 29th April 2008

Oddvar Oddvarsen (Accrington Stanley fan) says...

Typical of Man Utd fans to not admit that Clichy is twice the player compared to Evra. I do however think that Rooney should replace the Togo striker, who missed in ALL the important matches (Milan, Manchester, Chelsea, Liverpool...)

Posted 23:05 28th April 2008

Ramon Isaac (Chelsea fan) says...

I think it's extremely harsh that not a single chelsea player has been selected when we have had players like Carvalho, who even though with Terry and Cech injured for long periods managed to hold the defence together. Also more surprisingly i think Michael Essien more than deserves to be there... Chelsea's best player for the past 2 years and one of the best central midfielders in the world if not the best. The FA and SKY commentators always seem to fail to recognise his importance and contribution to games from what i've seen.

Posted 21:55 28th April 2008

George Grech (Manchester United fan) says...

I cannot see how and why Clichy was chosen ahead of Patrice Evra. Every honest Premier League fan would surely agree that Evra was instrumental in Man Utd this season. In a way, with respect to Ronaldo, one could say the Evra was United's player of the season. Prior to the start of the season, everyone was expecting a great season by Ronaldo, but Evra was really the surprise package as he he had a season that no one would have predicted the great season that Evra has had.

Posted 21:17 28th April 2008

Luke Tucker (Portsmouth fan) says...

Im so glad David James made the team he has done superb since he has came to Pompey. Well done Jamo

Posted 20:40 28th April 2008

Michael Nelson (Yeovil Town fan) says...

I have to say i am shocked that Patrice Evra who is arguably the best left back in hte world has been overlooked, especially when you consider the amount of defensive work he has to do when abandoned by Ronaldo. Secondly once again Steven Gerrard has been picked in the team because... he is Steven Gerrard. He has had a very poor season and his place in the team should surely have gone to the superb Gareth Barry who has been working wonders at over achieving Aston Villa.

Posted 20:36 28th April 2008

Jack Shewdson (Arsenal fan) says...

Of course Clichy is better than Evra. He is faster, his tackling is better, his general defensive attributes are better, he has a higher work rate. Clichy outscored Evra comprehensively. Because Erva is in front of Clichy in France does not mean he is better. Only because Domenech hates Wenger. Hence. BTW, what is Gerrard doing in there? Surely Essien or Mascherano is better than Gerrard. Gerrard is still living of his reputation.

Posted 19:45 28th April 2008

Kelvin Browne (Arsenal fan) says...

I think the team is a fair shout. The fact that it does not contain a Chelsea players higlights the fact that no one in the Chelsea team has really stood out for them. Fabregas, Gerrard, James have all been instrumental to their clubs. Bring on next season

Posted 19:28 28th April 2008

Pádraig Greenwood (Manchester United fan) says...

I think Roque Santa Cruz should be in ahead of Adebayor, who I believe lives off superior players such as Fabregas and Aliksandr Hleb. I'm also surprised Clichy gets in ahead of Evra and Young ahead of Hleb.

Posted 19:11 28th April 2008

Ian Murphy (Aberdeen fan) says...

Scott Williams was almost spot on, I would say Flamini is second only to Ronaldo this season. Torres though a quality player has been in and out of the team and has scored almost all of his goals at anfield! Destructive players like Flamini never get the credit they deserve....

Posted 18:34 28th April 2008

Shuaib Chowdhary (Arsenal fan) says...

Great to see FOUR Arsenal players up there, shows what a remarkable season we've had as in terms of football, not medals. Clichy for Evra is a very good choice. Fabregas is class, as is adebayour, and sagna. Come on You gunners!!

Posted 16:45 28th April 2008
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