The Professional Footballers’ Association unsurprisingly named Cristiano Ronaldo as player of the year, as well as young player of the year – a category which also had Aaron Lennon among the nominees. As it was, Aaron got third, behind Arsenal’s Cesc Fabregas.
From a Spurs point of view it was surprising to not see Dimitar Berbatov among the nominees, but he did make it into the PFA Premier League Team of the Year, which looks as follows:
Edwin van der Sar, Gary Neville, Nemanja Vidic, Rio Ferdinand, Patrice Evra (all Man Utd); Ryan Giggs, Paul Scholes, Cristiano Ronaldo (all Man Utd) and Steven Gerrard (Liverpool); Didier Drogba (Chelsea) and Dimitar Berbatov (Tottenham)
Considering various rumours about Berbatov’s future, most of them involving Manchester United, this is a strangely unsettling line-up. Could it come true? Now, I have to say that I don’t quarrel with the forward partnership and can refrain from doing so when it comes to the midfield, but is Man U’s defence really so solid that we cannot think up a better one? Vidic, yes, but Ferdinand? Why not Terry or Carragher? van der Sar over Cech? And Neville and Evra? Really?
Any suggestions of a different Premiership cut and paste dream team?
1 comment:
Watching Man U these days, if Ronaldo is playing, I'm reminded of George Best. Best, for all his genius, could be an infuriating player; sometimes it seemed he would just dribble. It's fine seeing all his highlights on video, all of which are very high, but sometimes you'd just want him to pass it.
With Kaka on the same pitch I get a reminder of another side of Best. Kaka did something that Best was a master of: he made opponents look stupid. His second goal, leaving Heinze and Evra in an embarassing heap, was pure Best. His first goal was more Romario: the skill and vision to gather the ball and instantly put it into a spot where everybody wasn't and then get there before anyone else.
The problem with United's tactics, once Milan had got back into the game, was the predictability of: get the ball, find Ronaldo, who found it difficult to hurt the Milan defence. There were lots of feints but little guile.
Seedorf's interplay with Kaka was interesting and more effective than anything Ronaldo managed - although his exchange with Dida was prodictive - and that's what gave Milan the upper hand. At 1-2 down, two things turned the game around: Gattuso's substition and United's tactical change of playing the midfield 20 yards futher up. Are these two events related? I think we should be told.
Suddenly Carrick had space, and Scholes was playing dangerous stuff near the Milan penalty area. United then started varying the give-it-to-Ronaldo ploy, using Carrick to spread it to Giggs and Scholes - and not just hoofing impossible long balls. Good to see Rooney taking two goals so well.
As for the PFA team, I can't imagine how Van der Sar got in there when there's Cech. David James has been pretty good, though. If you want to add to goalscoring capability, there's always Robbo. How about an all-English Premiership team, then? No chance of an Arsenal player there either.
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