Season's selections

Skysports.com pick top players and highlights from the campaign

By James Dall   Last updated: 1st May 2008

The 2007-08 season is drawing to a close 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 as well as selecting your own Premier League XI.

To choose your own Team of the Season, click here

Your choices will be revealed as part of a special Sky Sports end-of-season review entitled Premier League - Team of the Season to be broadcast at 6pm on 14th May on Sky Sports 1.

The skysports.com series continues with the selections of reporter James Dall.

Team of the Season

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blackburn roque santa cruz man utd

Santa Cruz: A shrewd piece of business by Mark Hughes

TEAM OF THE SEASON
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In goal, I have plumped for David James following his impeccable consistency this campaign. He more than deserved to reclaim the England No.1 jersey and thoroughly merits his nomination for the PFA Player of Year.

Bacary Sagna - a classic unheard-of purchase by Monsieur Wenger - has been a pillar of consistency, while 22-year-old Gael Clichy has ensured Ashley Cole's tenure at Arsenal is all-but forgotten.

Rio Ferdinand, meanwhile, has been an absolute rock in the heart of Manchester United's defence, while Everton's Joleon Lescott adds quality, composure and a goal-threat from set-pieces.

In midfield, Cristiano Ronaldo's involvement goes without saying after a quite breathtaking 2007/08. Cesc Fabregas has continued to boss midfields with remarkable assurance, while adding goals to his game. Steven Gerrard provides a driving force that can win matches, while Ashley Young has really impressed me with his ability to beat players and then deliver the killer ball - usually via a whipped cross.

Fernando Torres has been a revelation on Merseyside, and his unwavering composure in front of goal astounds me. He can only go from strength-to-strength. Emmanuel Adebayor has done well to shrug off his doubters, leading The Gunners' attack this term with power and pace.

Player - Cristiano Ronaldo

Sir Alex Ferguson spent around £12.2million on the Portuguese star in 2003, and in today's market that can be considered pretty shrewd business. This campaign he has been unstoppable, with almost every laudation already used by the press when describing his heroics. Therefore, I shall keep this brief. He has, easily, been the season's best player.

Manager - Harry Redknapp

Redknapp has enjoyed a cracking season in charge of the Fratton Park club, leading them to their first FA Cup final since 1939. Pompey have also demonstrated excellent consistency in the league and are well placed to claim a top-seven finish. It has been a marvellous transformation by Redknapp, who took over in 2005 when Premier League relegation was staring them in the face.

Rising star - Michael Johnson

The gutsy midfielder started the season with a bang, drawing the headlines after some top-notch performances and grabbing key goals. However, the 20-year-old endured injury agony during the mid-stage of the campaign, severely disrupting his playing time. But Johnson is fit once more, and I strongly tip him to shine next term, with the Eastlands club set to fend off reported interest from Liverpool this summer.

Best buy - Roque Santa Cruz

After much deliberation, I have opted to choose Santa Cruz as my 'best buy'. He pipped a favourite of mine - Sunderland's Kenwyne Jones - due to an excellent piece of business by Blackburn Rovers manager Mark Hughes, who landed the Paraguay international for a bargain fee of £3.8million from Bayern Munich. Terrific stuff from the Welshman, who has seen Santa Cruz hit the 20-goal mark in his debut season. A feat that is certainly not to be sniffed at.

Biggest flop - Younes Kaboul

Once again, there were plenty of names floating around my head, but then suddenly Kaboul sprang to mind. He cost Spurs a whopping (in the region of) £8million from Auxerre. Outrageous money really. The Frenchman has looked anything-but assured, and must step up his game if he is to avoid Juande Ramos' expected summer cull.

Best match - Liverpool 4 Arsenal 2

As much as it pains me to admit it - as a Gunner - this UEFA Champions League encounter stood out as an enthralling high-point of the season. The fixture had so much drama and was a brilliant advert for the sheer, heart-pounding beauty of football. Arsenal began the game at a frightening pace before breaking the deadlock through Abou Diaby. The encounter then swung in Liverpool's favour following goals from Sami Hyypia and Fernando Torres. However, with six minute remaining Theo Walcott embarked on a scintillating run to assist Adebayor. The Gunners were heading for the last four only for The Reds to be awarded a controversial penalty, which Gerrard coolly dispatched, before Ryan Babel sealed the success - awesome stuff.

Personal highlight - The season in its entirety

As mentioned above, I am a Gunner. Therefore, it would be mighty easy for me to single out that memorable night in Milan when Arsenal put in one hell of a display. But I am to buck the trend, with my personal highlight being the season as a whole. This campaign has been my first season working as a journalist for skysports.com. My debut term has been jam-packed with incident, stunning goals and games, and battles at both the peaks and troughs of the leagues and cups - I could not really ask for more. So I doth my cap to the 2007/08 campaign - a season that has gripped me throughout.

Season low point - 39th fixture

England's dire campaign deserves a mention, but, if I am honest, I believe the Euro 2008 qualifying exit was a blessing in disguise - a wake up call of the dire straits that the English game finds itself in. Anyway, my low point centralises around the Premier League's proposal for an 'international round' of fixtures. The idea needs thoroughly thinking through as there is a real danger genuine football fans will be the ones to suffer in the race to commercialise the game at every opportunity. Rant over.

Best goal - Peter Whittingham v Middlesbrough

Cardiff City's Whittingham hit an absolute pearler against Middlesbrough in the quarter-finals of the FA Cup. The former Aston Villa man demonstrated glorious, cheeky feet when he teased the Boro defence, manipulating the ball with sheer quality. Whittingham's footwork created an opening as his opposition looked on in bewilderment, before he unleashed a wicked curler into the top corner.

To comment on James' choices, use the form below.

Comments

Neil Jones (Reading fan) says...

I disagree with some of your picks. Although I might be a little biased toweards my selection, I say that Patrice Evra and Nemanja Vidic are worth a mentioning. They both played quality football for Manchester United's defense. Clichy was just dissapointing this season, and there's no way he should be picked over Evra. I also believe that Roque Santa Cruz has played a better season then Abedayor, but I cannot deny Emanuel's outstanding season. Friedel should have been the goalkeeper on this list. As for the rising start, Luis Nani, David Wheater or Franck Sinclair would be the candidates. They all played an amazing season and they are worth a mention. The flop of the season is Jens Lehmann, who lost his place to a less experience Manuel Almunia. Redknapp was a good manager this year, but Mark Hughes and Avram Grant have changed Blackburn and Chelsea.

Posted 03:05 7th June 2008

Daniel Reed (Sunderland fan) says...

I am a sunderland fan but I have got to say that Newcastle Habib Beye should be in the team of the season. That mans quality.

Posted 22:11 6th June 2008

Nav Thandi (Manchester United fan) says...

"Great selection but flamini for gerrard seems to be the consensus he was just better in the league, hence arsenal's higher league position." another stupid observastion. if we are going by that statment then the team should be all man utd. and if anyone is to be left out of the team it is fabregas, he went abit quite for the last 30 games of the premier league season

Posted 15:46 14th May 2008

Nav Thandi (Manchester United fan) says...

clichy better than evra - are you stupid

Posted 15:41 14th May 2008

Oliver Carvill (Leicester City fan) says...

i dont understand how gael clichy can be put in the team, his mistake at birmingham basically cost them the title!! i no its only 1 mistake but it cost arsenal all there hard work. i think paul jewel and billy davies should have been joint magaers off the season, to get to 11 points with the squad theyve had is a fanstastic acheiment.

Posted 19:51 13th May 2008

Ken Lian (Liverpool fan) says...

Agreed with most of them. As Sagna played well but too little for the season, i reckon putting Michael Essien at RB would be a good candidate. Might put Petrov instead of Young as well.

Posted 19:09 13th May 2008

Kyle Mcroberts (Liverpool fan) says...

People who question Steven Gerrards season and claim it hasnt been up to expectations are quite laughable really. Once again he has scored over 20 goals in a season from midfield, numerous assists and has formed a lethal partnership with Fernando Torres. Simply because he has been consistently good again people question whether he should be in the side... absolute joke. One of the best midfielders in the world and fully deserved of his place in the team of the season.

Posted 18:12 13th May 2008

Alan Roper (Middlesbrough fan) says...

Surely Whittingham's goal can't be the best of the season for the obvious reason that it was one of the most blatant hand-balls ever

Posted 21:30 12th May 2008

Adam Whyte (Arsenal fan) says...

Diarra can't go in centre of midfield when he couldn't replace flamini at arsenal and only played half the season. Joe Hart, Elano and Petrov all didn't play a full season because of Kasper, Injuries, and going cold respectively. Sagna and Clichy are better than Johnson and Evra fact. Arsenal centre backs get asked to defend so high up the pitch and have so much of the ball at their feet. We also have no true wingers for width so they have to overlap all game. Great selection but flamini for gerrard seems to be the consensus he was just better in the league, hence arsenal's higher league position. Roque is a good signing but if you are the only goal trheat in a decent squad you are gonna get 15-20 look at Anelka for bolton, but since he's joined chelsea he's done nothing.

Posted 02:14 7th May 2008

Mbekezeli Moyo (Manchester United fan) says...

Adebayor has done well but, I would put Roque Santa Cruz before Adebayor in team of the year. With the team that Arsenal has, Adebayor basically had to perform because the players around him where always going supply him with the balls that he diidn't have to do much but applying the finishing touch. Aperfect example being his goals in the games against Milan and Liverpool in the Champions League. As for Santa Cruz, he has played for an average English team but scored more goals than Didier Drogba, Wayne Rooney just to mention a few high class established Premiership strikers. He doesn't have the luxury of a Steven Gerrard or Fabregas to suuply him with the balls but he has made things happen with the little that he has at Blacburn. For this, I believe that he should partner Torres ahead of Adebayor. As Santa Crus being the best buy, I dont dispute that.

Posted 18:12 6th May 2008

Efe Oniovosa (Chelsea fan) says...

A team of the year without Carvahlo, sorry, is not a team of the year. as many people above said, the 4-4 games were absolutely brilliant. And among the 4-4s, no one is noting Chelsea's game vs tottenham!

Posted 23:05 4th May 2008

George Crozier (Portsmouth fan) says...

Hi...I totally agree with except in 3 places (bearing in mind I am a Pompey fan who may come across a bit biased) 1. I believe that Glen Johnson should have been put in at right back... He has had a terrific season and has really showed what he can do... 2. I don't think Adeboyor (Excuse my spelling) should have been placed up front...There hasn't really been a striker that has particually shon this season but based on his performance n the 2nd half of the season...Santa Cruz 3. Pompey 7:4 Reading was an amazing game (if only for the comedy) I think you haver done well in giving Harry Redknapp his deserved manager of the season and who was that said Friedal should have been placed in goal instead of James...he needs his head checking

Posted 20:04 3rd May 2008

Niall Smith (Arsenal fan) says...

Definitely should be Flamini in midfield alongside Fabregas, Fabregas wouldnt be in your selection if it wasn't for Flamini. I agree with Clichy at left back, he is the best left back in the premier league as far as im concerned.

Posted 17:25 3rd May 2008

Andy Howard (Manchester United fan) says...

Surely Tottenham 6-4 victory over Reading has to be up there for game of the season??? Fair enough it didnt involve any of the big guns, nor was it televised but the second half was pure madness!!! And although Clichy has grabbed my attention this season, especially with his performance against us, i cant believe anyone can even consider not picking Evra in the team of the season, as an unbiased Utd fan he has played well almost every game and continues to improve, if it wasnt for Ronny and Rio he would be our player of the season!!!

Posted 21:37 2nd May 2008

Lee Tabbz (Aston Villa fan) says...

Completely agree with your team tbf...would say (as a Villa fan) Martin Laursen and Gareth Barry are worth a mention, as they, along with Young, have played a huge part in the success of Villa this season, however I do not believe they could dislodge Gerrard, Fabregas Ferdinand or Lescott from their positions. Games of the season must include Villa 4 - Chelsea 4 and Tottenham 4 - Villa 4, and surely Stan Petrov's audacious half-way line half-volley against Derby could come close to goal of the season (as you can tell, no bias towards Villa whatsoever). Performance of the season, which seems to have now been completely forgotten, could be Villa's 2-0 win over Chelsea at Villa park, which was one of the final nails in the Special One's coffin. Do completely agree about the season being the highlight though...it has definately been one of the most gripping seasons we have had in a while, although admittadly some of the football by the bottom few clubs has been fairly poor (our close neighbours included).

Posted 13:06 2nd May 2008

Tunde Oyewole (Arsenal fan) says...

Hi James, Your team of the season matches mine except for James in goal.I put Friedel because of his ability to stop shots. Anyway,I feel James has a better chance,cleansheetwise. I was wondering whether Gerrard made the team because he is English,because even though he heas produced match-winning performances,the team of the season would not be complete without the partnership of Flamini with Fabregas,which I find more overwhelming than that of Gerrard with Torres. Adebayor definitely had to make the team,because even though I feel (as an Arsenl fan) that he misses too many chances,there is no doubt that he is always a worry for the defenders and has a number of beautiful goals under his belt,nobody would bat an eye if Rooney had so much goals this season and missed thrice as much! Clichy definitely beat Evra this season,if Evra boasts of running up front,Clichy has almost as many accurate passes as Fabregas himself this season. Barry can come close,but can't replace neither Gerrard nor Fabregas. Cristiano Ronaldo is still on fire,I hope he can improve well enough to silence his critics that he can perform on the big stage i.e. Uefa Champions league final against Chelsea...Leo Messi outplayed C.Ronaldo on both legs Man.Utd vs Barcelona and I wasnt in the least surprised nor dissappionted!

Posted 08:02 2nd May 2008

Adam Altmann (Blackburn Rovers fan) says...

The best games were Aston Vila-Chelsea 4:4 and Tottenham-Chelsea 4:4

Posted 12:54 1st May 2008

Stewart Watson (Newcastle United fan) says...

Brilliant choices, the only two I disagree with is gerrard in the middle and adebayor up front. Reasoning...... Gerrard hasn't lived up to his expectations this year, even though in the second half of the season he did form a deadly partnership with torres, it is a team of the season. Gareth Barry all season has been fantastic, including his form for england, where he disposed of frank lampard. Adebayor may have scored a lot of goals this season, however it would take him 3-4 chances to score the goal. Up front I would of rather had either Santa Cruz or Robbie Keane. Imagine either of them in a top four team, they would be scoring goals for fun so it is a real achievement for players such as themselves to score 20 or more goals. People may argue with Clichy being left back, but anyone who saw his performance against United at Old Trafford should notice his man of the match performance and he was the only real 'man' of the arsenal squad that day. Another choice of mine would be Hleb, I think he is the most underrated arsenal player. But to remove Ashley Young is a great ask. He has had a splendid season and I thought he should of won young player of the year. Martin O'Neill is unearthing a few gems, and with Ashley Young in the free role, with gabby. barry, reo-coker, curtis davies, carson and other youngsters like gardner and osbourne, the future looks good for england. Personally I thought O'Niell or Moyes should of had manager of the year, but I do agree with most of your choices. Well done James.

Posted 11:48 1st May 2008

David Montoya (Arsenal fan) says...

I would say that Joe Hart should be in goal that kid has been amazing this season! Also, Flamini for Gerrard, because if you were to actually put this team out against a top team from another league, you would need Flamini to be the perfect partnership for Fabregas, just like he has been all season!

Posted 10:12 1st May 2008

Ryan Gatley (Blackburn Rovers fan) says...

No surprise that Blackburn, and more importantly Mark Hughes gets no acknowledgement for the great job he has done at rovers. Fair play to Harry Redknapp, but he has spent an awful lot of cash, and the wage bill at Fratton Park must be up there with the top 4. Hughes has made fantastic bargain buys like Santa Cruz, Bentley, Nelsen and Warnock and we're only a couple of points away from European football. Another consistent and good season on such a tight budget....

Posted 06:11 1st May 2008

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