The annual EPL team of the year

 

No arguments from me. 

GK: Joe Hart (Birmingham)

One of five players chosen by all 10 of our selectors, albeit two opting for him as their substitute, Hart began the season surplus to requirements (for now) at Manchester City and will end it as plenty of people's pick as England's No 1 for the World Cup. Just weeks past his 23rd birthday, the Shrewsbury-born custodian is well short of his goalkeeping prime but has really impressed during his loan spell at St Andrews, helping the Blues concede just 13 goals at home - more than only Manchester United and Tottenham - and exceed pre-season expectations by comfortably avoiding relegation. Shay Given makes the bench of our team after another excellent season, but Hart would be forgiven for a wry smile at having bettered the man whose arrival at Eastlands saw him opt to make a loan move in pursuit of regular first-team football.

RB: Branislav Ivanovic (Chelsea)

Ivanovic started the season as the second-choice right-back at Chelsea behind Jose Bosingwa but the Portuguese's injury presented him with a chance he took with both hands. The right-back in the PFA's Team of the Season, he was given the nod to start in five of our writers' teams (and a sixth selection as a substitute) in an open race in which Vedran Corluka, Bacary Sagna, Glen Johnson and Stephen Carr also featured. Tall for a full-back, Ivanovic is defensively strong - as befits a man who can also play centrally - but has also caught the eye this season with his efforts going forward. Indeed so impressive has he been the likes of Real Madrid and AC Milan are reported to be monitoring his contract situation at Stamford Bridge.

CB: Thomas Vermaelen (Arsenal)

Central defence was the most open field in the team, with Vermaelen included by virtue of being named in six starting line-ups. The big Belgian moved to the Emirates last summer for the not insignificant sum of �10million but that has proved money well spent by the notoriously frugal Arsene Wenger. Little was known of the 24-year-old when he moved to these shores 12 months ago but five goals by the first weekend of October - including a double against Wigan - proved he was a genuine goalscoring threat. And more importantly his defending is none to shabby either, with Vermaelen a powerful man but also a good reader of the game. Indeed but for Cesc Fabregas he could easily have been Arsenal's Player of the Year. Wenger says: "This guy has been exceptional this year and he has played so many games, sometimes with big pain. That's why I believe he will be a very important player in the future for us."

CB: Michael Dawson (Tottenham)

Aston Villa's Richard Dunne may have got the nod to partner Vermaelen in the PFA Team of the Year, but Dawson's form meant our selectors could only find a place for the Irishman on the bench. The Spurs stopper has yet to earn a senior cap for England but has been heavily touted for a World Cup call-up this summer after helping Harry Redknapp's men fight all the way for a Champions League spot. Manchester City striker Carlos Tevez is certainly in no doubt as to Dawson's quality, recently saying: "He is the best English defender I've played against. Very strong." With nine selections (six starts), Dawson makes up a north London double act in central defence.

LB: Patrice Evra (Manchester United)

Evra is - perhaps more than any other player - proof that as influential as Wayne Rooney is, Manchester United are not a one-man team. Like Dawson, Evra featured in nine of our selectors' squads with six starts, and saw off the threat of Chelsea's Ashley Cole, just as he did to make our XI last year. United's 'Mr Consistency', the Frenchman has played in all 37 of United's Premier League games and has been generally rock-solid at the back despite changes aplenty around him due to injuries to the likes of Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic. And he's lost none of his effectiveness going forward, his seven assists over the season the second-highest by a defender behind only Leighton Baines. United boss Sir Alex Ferguson described Evra's form as "sensational" and we're inclined to agree.

RM: James Milner (Aston Villa)

Formerly the youngest player ever to score in the Premier League, it's hard to believe Milner is still only 24 as he has been around for so long. With well over 200 first-team appearances to his name, this has certainly been his most productive season, with 12 goals for Villa and a countless number of assists. So it comes as no surprise that he was mentioned by all 10 of our writers, with eight opting to include him in their starting line-up. Many of his goals have been crucial ones too, with four of them coming in Villa's run to the Carling Cup final. He has even been deployed at right-back and in the centre of midfield by Villa boss Martin O'Neill and his versatility should be a deciding factor when Fabio Capello names his World Cup squad. Ashley Young took this spot last season, but although Aaron Lennon was his closest rival this time, there was never any doubt that Milner would be included this time.

CM: Frank Lampard (Chelsea)

Is there another midfielder in world football that finds the net on as regular a basis? His 29 goals in all competitions have helped the Blues on their way to what looks like a third Premier League title in six years. Once again, Lampard has shown incredible consistency, upping his game and producing the goods when it mattered most, hitting 10 goals in his last eight games. He also struck four times for England and Fabio Capello will be hoping he can continue that sort of form in South Africa. Although he has 156 goals in all competitions for Chelsea, this is the first season Lampard has hit 20 in the Premier League and that's why eight of our team had him as a starter.

CM: Cesc Fabregas (Arsenal)

That Fabregas were on the shortlist for the PFA Player of the Year award underlines how impressive he has been this season. Behind only Lampard in terms of goalscoring midfielders in the Premier League this season, he has scored 15 times in the top flight this season - and added the same amout of assists for good measure. It's frightening to think he is still just 23 given he has made over 200 appearances for Arsenal. PFA chief executive Gordon Taylor spoke for the seven of our writers who handed him the Spaniard a starting role when he said: "When you watch him play, you sit back and marvel at the skills of the perfect engine-room player. A magnificent player who has brought so much to Arsenal, and the Premier League as a whole."

LM: Florent Malouda (Chelsea)

Just a few months ago, the notion that Malouda would even be in contention for a place in the best Premier League XI of the season would have seemed ridiculous. He had a disagreement with new coach Carlo Ancelotti and was left out for big games against Manchester United and Arsenal in November. But since then, the Frenchman has established himself as one of the Blues' key players, scoring 15 goals and setting up almost as many. He has also played more Premier League games than any of his team-mates except Lampard and John Terry. The 30-year-old won seven nominations from our staff.

CF: Wayne Rooney (Manchester United)

When Cristiano Ronaldo left Old Trafford last summer, many questioned if Rooney - as good as he undoubtedly was - was ready to accept the mantle of United's talisman. With the benefit of hindsight, no-one need have worried. A haul of 26 goals in the Premier League and five in the Champions League may not be enough to win the Red Devils either of their top two priorities, but it was enough for him to be crowned both the PFA and Football Writers' Player of the Year. And in a World Cup year, much of England's expectation will rest on the Scouser's broad shoulders. A run of five consecutive headed goals - something Rooney had not previously been known for - helped United win in the San Siro and taste Carling Cup glory in February and showed he is still improving facets of his game at the grand old age of 24. In our team last year having scored 'just' the 12 goals in the top flight, he was a shoo-in this time around and all 10 of our selectors had him in their chosen starting line-up.

CF: Didier Drogba (Chelsea)

With the Premier League trophy seemingly destined for Stamford Bridge and an FA Cup final appearance to follow, all that remains for Drogba is for him to pip Rooney to the Golden Boot. The duo will go into the final day of the season with 26 goals apiece, and on that tally alone it's impossible to ignore Drogba's claims for a place in this team. When you factor in crucial goals against title foes Manchester United and Arsenal, the Ivorian's claims simply cannot be ignored. While Fernando Torres pipped him last year, the Spaniard's injury problems deny him even a place on the bench this time around and it's Drogba who has pressed his claims most impressively. He was named in all 10 of our writers' squads, with eight giving him starts.

Substitutes: Shay Given (Manchester City); Richard Dunne (Aston Villa); Ashley Cole (Chelsea); Scott Parker (West Ham); Aaron Lennon (Tottenham); Carlos Tevez (Manchester City); Darren Bent (Sunderland).

Others nominated (in order of votes received)

Goalkeepers: Heurelho Gomes; Pepe Reina; Brad Friedel; Mark Schwarzer.

Defenders: Roger Johnson; Gareth Bale; Brede Hangeland; Vedran Corluka; Bacary Sagna; William Gallas; Glen Johnson; Stephen Carr; Ryan Shawcross; Gary Cahill; Leighton Baines; John Terry; Robert Huth; Scott Dann; Aaron Hughes; Carlos Cuellar.

Midfielders: Steven Pienaar; Antonio Valencia; Luka Modric; Darren Fletcher; Tim Cahill; Steven Gerrard; Andriy Arshavin; Alex Song; Niko Kranjcar; Samir Nasri; Abou Diaby; Wilson Palacios; Javier Mascherano; Matthew Etherington.

Attackers: Bobby Zamora; Jermain Defoe; Craig Bellamy; Fernando Torres; Gabriel Agbonlahor.

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Hart says no.

 

Also, as far as the "others nominated" category goes, I'd like to nominate Steven Warnock at Villa and Hugo Rodellega at Wigan. Whilst the latter has scored bundles of goals, his workrate and assists tally has been impressive for a struggling side.

 

Seeeee. Why all the hating on Reina? Pepe has far and away been the best keeper in the League. And yeah, okay, Hart, whatever. But he's been better than those two. Reina has been incredible this season. His distribution is a thousand times better than almost any other keeper, his attitude is top notch, he's one of, if not the, most consistant keepers in the League. He's pulled off wonder saves, but has also been solid. Can barely think of a mistake he has made. And don't give me the "He's got a good defence in front of him" because this season, our defence has been as bad as our attack.

 

Honestly, just can't believe he doesn't get more credit. My favourite player behind Torres. He's f**king boss.

 

But I'm biased. Nothing to see here.

 

Any gooners surprised by abou diaby's name appearing in that nominated list? He gets a lot of flack but he's good. Watch him, he'll improve and improve

 

He used to make 100% the right decisions every single time. When he came for it, he got it, when he didnt come for it he'd save it no matter what. I thought he was unstoppable.

 

Diaby is pants.

 

counting central midfielders on the winning side and nominated list, diaby comes in 11th by my reckoning. This is voted by the players isnt it? I kinda trust their word since they have to play against these freaks, so if he improves his form for currently 11th he'll be doing really well...... there's a spot for him every week in the arse midfield if he stays injury-free too, it's all there for him, next season might be his big one...