Opta Team of the Season
Opta have announced their Premiership Team of the Season for 2004/2005.
Chelsea, Arsenal and Manchester United finished the 2004-05 season as the leading clubs in the Premiership and the three sides have five, four and two players in the Opta Team of the Season respectively.
Champions Chelsea based their title challenge on a brutally secure defence, with goalkeeper Petr Cech enjoying a wonderful first season in England. Cech kept a Premiership record 24 clean sheets and repelled 82% of the shots the opposition fired at him, the best record in the division.
Blues pair John Terry and Ricardo Carvalho were the best two central defenders in the league, part of a defence that leaked just 15 goals all season and kept 25 clean sheets in total. No side in English football's top tier has ever been so mean. The full-back positions are filled by Arsenal's Lauren and Manchester United's Gabriel Heinze. The former ended the season with an impressive total of four goal assists, while the latter became a firm favourite in his first season at Old Trafford and powered into 113 tackles.
Opta Player of the Season Frank Lampard is the key man in midfield. The England international slotted home 13 goals and created 18 more for his team-mates - more than any other player in the top flight. Patrick Vieira got stronger as the season went on and ended the campaign with a flourish. When fit, Arjen Robben was a success at Chelsea, and his spell of seven goals in 14 games during the winter was invaluable.
Robert Pires was exceptional for Arsenal in 2004-05, and his total of 14 goals was the third-highest in the division, and the best of any midfielder.
The best strikers this term are Thierry Henry and Wayne Rooney. The Arsenal hitman continued where he left off in 2003-04 and scored or created 39 of the Gunners' goals this season, an exceptional return. Rooney seemed unperturbed by the huge price tag on his shoulders and he was the only Manchester United player to reach double figures for goals. In addition, his strike in the home game against Newcastle was widely acclaimed as the goal of the season.
| | Petr Cech | | |
| | Chelsea | | |
| | 24 clean sheets, 82% save % - best in league | | |
| | | | |
| Lauren | Ricardo Carvalho | John Terry | Gabriel Heinze |
| Arsenal | Chelsea | Chelsea | Man United |
| 4 assists, 87% pass% | Best-ever Prem defence - 15 goals | 3 goals, 54 blocks (3rd in Prem) | 113 tackles (2nd at United) |
| | | | |
| Robert Pires | Frank Lampard | Patrick Vieira | Arjen Robben |
| Arsenal | Chelsea | Arsenal | Chelsea |
| 14 goals (3rd in Prem) | 18 assists (1st in Prem), 13 goals | 6 goals, 6 assists | 7 goals 9 assists |
| | | | |
| | Thierry Henry | Wayne Rooney | |
| | Arsenal | Man United | |
| | 25 goals (1st in Prem) 14 Assists | 11 goals 3 assists | |
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