Name your team of the year
10:43am Monday 7th April 2008
EVERYONE is rightly labelling Cristiano Ronaldo as the player of the year, but who is deserving of a place in the Premier League's Team of the Year?
I think 11 players stand out above all others this season.
The best goalkeeper has got to be David James. The former Liverpool man has re-established himself as the best English keeper around, and has played a huge part in getting Portsmouth into the FA Cup Final.
At right-back, I can't see past Manchester City's Vedran Corluka. Although a bit disappointing of late, Corluka has proved to be Sven Goran Eriksson's best signing.
Opta Stats show Gael Clichy to be the best performing left-back, with the Frenchman winning 80 per cent of his tackles.
In the centre of defence, Rio Ferdinand is one of the main reasons why Manchester United have conceded just 17 goals and his form has done enough to persuade England manager Fabio Capello to try him out as the national skipper.
Alongside him has to be another England centre-half. Joleon Lescott has reaffirmed his growing reputation with some towering performances.
Cristiano Ronaldo gets his place on the left of midfield through sheer brilliance.
Ronaldo is on the left to make room for David Bentley on the right. Bentley has put in more crosses than any other player in the Premier League this season, and he is truly outstanding every week.
The central midfielders pick themselves too.
Steven Gerrard is peerless as the most complete box-to-box midfielder in the Premier League.
Alongside him is an equally complete player - Cesc Fabregas.
Fernando Torres deserves his place in the forward line after scoring 21 goals in just 29 games during his debut season.
Completing the line-up is Wayne Rooney. Ronaldo might be the reason United tick, but Rooney is the man who makes Ronaldo tick.
The partnership these two players has struck up is simply awesome.