Garth Crooks' team of the season.

[Esky]

Four City players. We're moving up in the world.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_prem/9493561.stm

[Slim]

Zabs was a surprise, I think de Jong can feel a little hard done by there though.

[aaron bond]

Great to see 4 City players there, although surprised at Yaya's inclusion as he's still too hit and miss for me. Nice to see Zab's contributions recognised.

As for the other clubs' players - the Bale love-in continues, and still astounds me! N'zogbia has been excellent and I still think he'd be a useful addition to our squad.

AND WHY THE HELL IS VAN DER SAR AHEAD OF HART!?!?!

[kinkylola]

as aaron mentioned, should include Hart instead of VDS ... but realistically the rag loving media would never choose anyone but him, given it's his last season and utd won the league. De Jong will never be selected in the team of the season because it is too easy for them to revile him and cast him as just some thug. Plus, the scott parker love in was nearly as bad as the bale love in.

Looking that team sheet over once again, it's half reactionary to recent form and half media bullshit love in ... n'zogbia definitely caught some eyes towards the end of the season ... but how could he or bale be in ahead of Nani, if we're looking at it objectively? Bale's really good performances all came in the champs league, how can that be reckoned in to the prem league team of the year? I don't know.

Leighton Baines at LB? I guess he has chipped in with some vital goals, but is he left back of the season? If so I'd say that LB has been a particularly weak position this year.

[Niall Quinns Discopants]

as aaron mentioned, should include Hart instead of VDS ... but realistically the rag loving media would never choose anyone but him, given it's his last season and utd won the league. De Jong will never be selected in the team of the season because it is too easy for them to revile him and cast him as just some thug. Plus, the scott parker love in was nearly as bad as the bale love in.

Looking that team sheet over once again, it's half reactionary to recent form and half media bullshit love in ... n'zogbia definitely caught some eyes towards the end of the season ... but how could he or bale be in ahead of Nani, if we're looking at it objectively? Bale's really good performances all came in the champs league, how can that be reckoned in to the prem league team of the year? I don't know.

Leighton Baines at LB? I guess he has chipped in with some vital goals, but is he left back of the season? If so I'd say that LB has been a particularly weak position this year.

It's hard to call him "rag lover" when he has four from City and three from united there.

Scott Parker licking is fucking awfull phenomena. De Jong has been trillion times better and he hasn't been best holding midfielder in league (in top 5 though). I saw West Ham maybe 12 to 15 times this season and Parker was actually worse than he was in his prime for Charlton. He works hard yes and puts himself about but absolutely nothing exceptional. Problem with holding midfielders is that not many people really understand what they are expected to do and therefore they just wank over some player pundits hype. One of Parker's main duties is to keep West Ham's formationj together and they were all over the fucking place all season. Parker getting POY was nothing short of bizarre. And don't get me wrong, I don't hate Parker, I think he is alright player. Solid and even occasionally pretty good Premier League performer. But best in the league? You have got to be having a laugh.

[Sister of fu]

as aaron mentioned, should include Hart instead of VDS ... but realistically the rag loving media would never choose anyone but him, given it's his last season and utd won the league. De Jong will never be selected in the team of the season because it is too easy for them to revile him and cast him as just some thug. Plus, the scott parker love in was nearly as bad as the bale love in.

Looking that team sheet over once again, it's half reactionary to recent form and half media bullshit love in ... n'zogbia definitely caught some eyes towards the end of the season ... but how could he or bale be in ahead of Nani, if we're looking at it objectively? Bale's really good performances all came in the champs league, how can that be reckoned in to the prem league team of the year? I don't know.

Leighton Baines at LB? I guess he has chipped in with some vital goals, but is he left back of the season? If so I'd say that LB has been a particularly weak position this year.

I don't agree with Hart over VDS. Joe has been excellent but had made several errors, VDS has dropped the one clanger of note and has been far more consistent all season long. Joe as we know as had blips along the way and needs to work on certain areas of his game such as distribution. VDS will be huge loss for them next season on par with PS I reckon. As for us we have Joe baring injury and loss of form for the next 15 years. Happy days.

[avoidconfusion]

Why does he pick Edwin van der Sar when Joe Hart has obviously been better?

[Dameerto]

I don't agree with Hart over VDS. Joe has been excellent but had made several errors, VDS has dropped the one clanger of note and has been far more consistent all season long. Joe as we know as had blips along the way and needs to work on certain areas of his game such as distribution. VDS will be huge loss for them next season on par with PS I reckon. As for us we have Joe baring injury and loss of form for the next 15 years. Happy days.

I have to reluctantly agree based on the games I've seen for the RAGs - he doesn't make as many mistakes as Joe, though Joe is tending to make less mistakes as the seasons go by.

[Ted Hughes]

Garth Crooks?


Next...

[Avalon]

VDS definitely. He's down as one of the best goalkeepers in history and deservedly so. Even Schmeichel admitted, on Soccer AM, that he thinks VDS is the best goalkeeper. Big words from a man considered the best goalkeeper by many.

[Sister of fu]

I don't agree with Hart over VDS. Joe has been excellent but had made several errors, VDS has dropped the one clanger of note and has been far more consistent all season long. Joe as we know as had blips along the way and needs to work on certain areas of his game such as distribution. VDS will be huge loss for them next season on par with PS I reckon. As for us we have Joe baring injury and loss of form for the next 15 years. Happy days.

I have to reluctantly agree based on the games I've seen for the RAGs - he doesn't make as many mistakes as Joe, though Joe is tending to make less mistakes as the seasons go by.

Over time Joe will cut out the errors which if we are all honest he has made a few. For people to say Hart has been better than VDS this season is IMO a case of blue specs on. Not saying there is a lot between them just VDS is highly consisntant which comes with age and experience. They are gutted that he has retired as he will be very hard to replace.

[Ted Hughes]

I don't agree with Hart over VDS. Joe has been excellent but had made several errors, VDS has dropped the one clanger of note and has been far more consistent all season long. Joe as we know as had blips along the way and needs to work on certain areas of his game such as distribution. VDS will be huge loss for them next season on par with PS I reckon. As for us we have Joe baring injury and loss of form for the next 15 years. Happy days.

I have to reluctantly agree based on the games I've seen for the RAGs - he doesn't make as many mistakes as Joe, though Joe is tending to make less mistakes as the seasons go by.

Over time Joe will cut out the errors which if we are all honest he has made a few. For people to say Hart has been better than VDS this season is IMO a case of blue specs on. Not saying there is a lot between them just VDS is highly consisntant which comes with age and experience. They are gutted that he has retired as he will be very hard to replace.

I would expect VDS to save the 1st goal v Everton.

[Crossie]

Its meant to be the team of the season, not the team of reputation.

Hart simply has to be the goalie, breaking clean sheet records and leading the league in clean sheets.

Has there been a better creative midfielder than Silva? No.

Garth Crooks, fuck off, your a twat, even if you picked all 11 City players.

[Bridge'srightfoot]

ame in the champs league, how can that be reckoned in to the prem league team of the year? I don't know.

Leighton Baines at LB? I guess he has chipped in with some vital goals, but is he left back of the season? If so I'd say that LB has been a particularly weak position this year.

Well then you haven't watched him play at all. He's been brilliant, he has a peach of a left foot and a brilliant cross on him. Very good set piece taker aswell. BY far and away Everton's best player this season. Remember the peach of a goal he scored against us. Name me a better left back this season?

[Goaters 103]

Good analysis of Scott Parker by Tor Kristian Karlsen on Twitter

scott parker: main feature seems to be: pick up the ball, burst forward 20-30 meters, stop, turn 360 degees, then pass backwards

Parkers a decent player, but player of the year or in the team of the season? Do me a favour.

[Ted Hughes]

Good analysis of Scott Parker by Tor Kristian Karlsen on Twitter

scott parker: main feature seems to be: pick up the ball, burst forward 20-30 meters, stop, turn 360 degees, then pass backwards

Parkers a decent player, but player of the year or in the team of the season? Do me a favour.

Only in this country, would such a player get such accolades. When that attitude one day changes & there are enough people in the game with the ability to see further, England may have a chance in the world cup.

[Goaters 103]

Good analysis of Scott Parker by Tor Kristian Karlsen on Twitter

scott parker: main feature seems to be: pick up the ball, burst forward 20-30 meters, stop, turn 360 degees, then pass backwards

Parkers a decent player, but player of the year or in the team of the season? Do me a favour.

Only in this country, would such a player get such accolades. When that attitude one day changes & there are enough people in the game with the ability to see further, England may have a chance in the world cup.

Spot on Ted. Yes he's a hard worker, busy player and 100% committed. But Player of the Year - errr, nope. There would be at least 10 Id have ranked ahead of him in the list without hesitation. This isnt a direct criticism of Parker who is a decent player but you make a good point that its indicitive of how English players are overrated. If Parker wasnt English would there be such a fuss about him at all.

[Nigels Tackle]

Good analysis of Scott Parker by Tor Kristian Karlsen on Twitter

scott parker: main feature seems to be: pick up the ball, burst forward 20-30 meters, stop, turn 360 degees, then pass backwards

Parkers a decent player, but player of the year or in the team of the season? Do me a favour.

Only in this country, would such a player get such accolades. When that attitude one day changes & there are enough people in the game with the ability to see further, England may have a chance in the world cup.

Spot on Ted. Yes he's a hard worker, busy player and 100% committed. But Player of the Year - errr, nope. There would be at least 10 Id have ranked ahead of him in the list without hesitation. This isnt a direct criticism of Parker who is a decent player but you make a good point that its indicitive of how English players are overrated. If Parker wasnt English would there be such a fuss about him at all.

barton has been as, if not more, effective than parker this term. only reason that parker gets so much attention is because of wet spams relegation battle. if they'd been cruising in mid-table no one would have had him on their POTY shortlist.....

[Beefymcfc]

It's good to see so many having the same opinion of Parker as me, no way was he player of the season. I reckon Lescott would've been in there had he got in the squad earlier.

[Esky]

Good analysis of Scott Parker by Tor Kristian Karlsen on Twitter

scott parker: main feature seems to be: pick up the ball, burst forward 20-30 meters, stop, turn 360 degees, then pass backwards

To be fair, running for thirty meters, spinning a full circle and then hitting a backheel is a pretty impressive go-to move.