Team and Unsung Team of the Season

By Michael Sinnerton

Team of the Season

GK - Shay Given

RB - Glen Johnson

CB - Nemanja Vidic

CB - Brede Hangeland

LB - Ashley Cole

RM - Stephen Ireland

CM - Stephen Gerrard

CM - Frank Lampard

LM - Cristiano Ronaldo

CF - Nicolas Anelka

CF - Fernando Torres

Unsung Heroes of 08/09

GK - Mark Schwarzer/Jussi Jaaskelainen

I don't really rate Schwarzer at all but his performances his season have been one of the reasons Fulham have done so well, and the failure to adequately replace him was one of the major factors in Middlesbrough's demise. Jussi just makes great saves all year long, one of the best signings ever made in the Premier League.

RB - Lucas Neill

Now calling Lucas Neill an unsung hero does seem to be pretty much the reason the word ‘oxymoron' was established. But he's actually been really good this season and, other than his own press, doesn't create much media interest. I really dislike his attitude (money-grabbing) but right back is a weak area in the English game in my opinion, a nod to Alvaro Arbeloa who has been much improved particularly going forward.

CB - Martin Laursen

Injury ruined his season which in turn ruined Villa's. Without their talismanic centre-back Villa are a considerably weaker team even with the admirable Carlos Cuellar. Laursen also chipped in with more than his fair share of goals and it was sad to see him retire through injury before the season end.

CB - Titus Bramble

Sounds ridiculous but can you actually remember him making a key error this season? Wigan's player of the year in a season when many of their players performed near their best (he may admittedly have been aided by the January departure of the excellent Wilson Palacios), Bramble has been solid all season, and let's face it he's not going to get much credit anywhere else.

LB - Herita Illunga                     

A fairly difficult decision with good seasons from Stephen Warnock and Leighton Baines but given that Hammers fans seem to have hardly noticed the departure of the steady George McCartney I'll vote for Illunga, if only so he isn't just remembered for his day of basketball at Anfield.

RM - Dirk Kuyt

Until this season almost everyone who wasn't a Liverpool fan, and some who were, cited Kuyt as a reason Liverpool wouldn't win the league. Basically, Kuyt is fairly poor technically (at least for the level he plays at) but has a ridiculous work ethic, gives his all for team every single game and chips in with important goals.

CM - Danny Murphy

An excellent performance in a hugely improved Fulham side, has led from the ‘front' as captain, a man who's career I thought was probably over has proved that he has both the ability and the adaptability to flourish in a top-half Premier League side.

CM - Geovanni

Now I know Geovanni was lavished with plaudits earlier in the year but have you heard anyone praise him in the last 6 months? This despite Hull being safe by the skin of their teeth, a skin that was earned in the first few months of the season by Geovanni. A free transfer who almost single-handedly won his team a series of games through a series of stunning strikes.

LM - Park Ji-Sung

One of the few Manchester United players generally liked by the majority of neutrals. Park has a great work-rate and keeps the ball at lot better than he has given credit for. In a team full of multi-million pound signings Park probably shouldn't get a start, the fact that he does shows how highly rated he is at Carrington (and let's face it they probably know better than you or me).

CF - Robin Van Persie

A surprise selection perhaps but Van Persie carried the club through some of its toughest months this year, winning 3 consecutive player of the month awards. Has been somewhat outshone by Arshavin since his arrival, but then who hasn't? In my opinion should be one of the first names on the team sheet.

CF - Carlton Cole

Still seems to be lacking a lot of attributes and I cringe every time I hear an England squad announced with his name in. However, he has had a fantastic season, notching a few goals including that pearler against Wigan. Like Bobby Zamora at Fulham he does a lot of the unseen hard work for West Ham and is a handful for any defence.

Who makes your teams?