PFA Team of the Year: Gianfranco Zola, Xabi Alonso and the best Premier League players to never feature in XI

PFA Team of the Year: Gianfranco Zola, Xabi Alonso and the best Premier League players to never feature in XI
The Professional Footballers Associations Team of the Year was announced on Thursday and, as expected, was dominated by both Manchester City and Liverpool players, while the selection of others left fans scratching their head.An annual season award since 1974, the selection is voted for by professional footballers and while there are the expected inclusions and shock ones, too, there are also a number of surprise omissions.Virgil van Dijk was named in the PFA Team of the Year13
Virgil van Dijk was named in the PFA Team of the Year
Roy Keane, Patrick Vieira, Cristiano Ronaldo and Steven Gerrard are among the notable big name inclusions, yet stars such as Gianfranco Zola and Freddie Ljungberg have failed to appear.Here, talkSPORT looks at a select bunch of players who have been ignored.

Pepe Reina (Liverpool)

The Spaniard left Anfield in 2014 and it is only this season they have finally found a worthy replacement in Alisson Becker.A brilliant goalkeeper who was comfortable on the ball, something deemed essential in the modern game, Reina made 285 Premier League appearances for the club and was a three-time Golden Glove winner.Only Petr Cech, Joe Hart and Tim Howard have kept more Premier League clean sheets.Reina spent eight seasons with Liverpool13
Reina spent eight seasons with Liverpool

Ricardo Carvalho (Chelsea)

Despite being part of three Premier League title-winning sides with Chelsea, the Portuguese centre-back somehow failed to make the PFA team selection.Was the perfect foil for John Terry and the pair were formidable, especially during the 2004/05 season when they only conceded 15 goals.Carvalho formed a great partnership with John Terry13
Carvalho formed a great partnership with John Terry

Martin Keown (Arsenal)

Was part of one of the best defences in the 90’s alongside Tony Adams, Steve Bould Nigel Winterburn and Lee Dixon. The no-nonsense centre-back was integral to Arsenal’s double winning teams in 1998 and 2002 and remained with the club until 2004.Keown was a solid defender in his prime13
Keown was a solid defender in his prime

Marcel Desailly (Chelsea)

While Carvalho was Terry’s defensive sidekick, Desailly played a crucial role in helping to teach the latter the art of playing at the back and what it means to be at Chelsea, a man the former England captain described as his ‘mentor.’Known as ‘The Rock’ Desailly was a two-time Champions League winner and World Cup champion when he moved to West London in 1998 and was equally comfortable as a defender or playing in midfield.Desailly in action for Chelsea in 200313
Desailly in action for Chelsea in 2003

Xabi Alonso (Liverpool)

Arriving with manager Rafa Benitez and Luis Garcia in 2004, the midfielder added class and guile to the Reds midfield, operating as a deep-lying play-maker able to pass any distance across the pitch and was excellent alongside Gerrard as Liverpool captured the Champions League that same season.Was key in their title charge of 2008/09, but reluctantly left the club at the end of that campaign for Real Madrid.Alonso was pure class at Liverpool13
Alonso was pure class at Liverpool

Gareth Barry (Manchester City)

Barry has made a record 653 appearances in the Premier League, for Aston Villa, Man City, Everton and West Brom.Mr consistency for over a decade with Villa, he got a move to the Etihad and won the Premier League in 2011/12 and was Everton’s Player of the Season in 2015/16, but remained over looked for PFA acknowledgement.Barry won the league with Man City in 201213
Barry won the league with Man City in 2012

Gianfranco Zola (Chelsea)

Signed by Ruud Gullit in 1996, the Italian already had a lengthy career, notably in Serie A, but despite being 30 at the time of coming to Stamford Bridge, would go on to enjoy several rewarding seasons and become a club legend.Only 5ft 6, Zola refused to be intimidated in the physically demanding Premier League, skilfully navigating his way past defenders with ease and was key in the club’s resurgence to challenge and win trophies in the late 90’s.Zola was a Premier League and Chelsea legend13
Zola was a Premier League and Chelsea legend

Freddie Ljungberg (Arsenal)

Instantly recognisable with his red mohican and underwear modelling, the flamboyant Swede was a trailblazer not just for his fashion, but his ability to score from midfield and turn up in the big games.His best season was arguably the 2001/02 campaign in which he won his first Premier League with Arsenal, netting against the likes of Man United and Liverpool.As a result, he was named Premier League Player of the Season, but failed to make the PFA Team of the Year.Ljungberg was at his peak in 2001/0213
Ljungberg was at his peak in 2001/02

Claude Makelele (Chelsea)

The Frenchman was unheralded at Real Madrid, but loved by Chelsea. Makelele was the pivot-point under Jose Mourinho for which the midfield was built upon allowing Frank Lampard and Michael Essien to flourish.His ability to read the game, tackle and pass quickly and accurately was vital, as he captured two league titles with the club.Such was his greatness, the defensive midfield role has been named after him.Makelele was vital to Chelsea’s success13
Makelele was vital to Chelsea’s success

Robbie Fowler (Liverpool)

He may now be the manager of Australian side Birsbane Roar, but Fowler was once the ultimate striker, renowned for his instinctive ability to finish and score all types of goals. That ruthlessness earned him the nickname ‘God’ from Liverpool fans.Voted PFA Young Player of the Year in 1995 and 1996, Fowler was unable to ever make the team as voted for by his fellow players.Fowler was the ultimate finisher13
Fowler was the ultimate finisher

Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink (Chelsea)

Chelsea have had a mixed bag when it comes to strikers over the years, but they got it right with Hasselbaink. There was nothing fancy about the Dutchman, who possessed a lethal shot and knew exactly where the net was.Scored 23 times in 2000/01 to finish as the league’s top scorer, but somehow missed out on selection to Teddy Sheringham.Hasselbaink was a great scorer for Chelsea13
Hasselbaink was a great scorer for Chelsea
Non-selected PFA XI13
Non-selected PFA XI


Sane is your man for City’s double gameweek. He’s become fairly immune to Pep Guardiola’s rotation policy and recently overtook Raheem Sterling as City’s leading points scorer from midfield.

Declan Rice's rise from Chelsea reject to England international at West Ham Watch Chelsea vs West Ham on Monday Night Football on Sky Sports Premier League from 7pm; kick-off is 8pm
Former Player Blog - Tony Cottee | West Ham United

Pedro celebrates his goal with Eden Hazard, who scored two goals on the night

Swansea winger Daniel James has agreed personal terms with Manchester United, Sky Sports News understands. The two clubs are yet to agree a deal, contrary to reports, but talks are continuing and
Manchester United agree Daniel James deal with Swansea

8. Arsenal

Potiorek initially thought she had fainted with shock. Only when he saw blood issuing from the Archduke's mouth did he realise something more serious was afoot. Franz Ferdinand's bodyguard, Count von Harrach, heard the premier speaking, in a soft voice, words that would become famous throughout the world: "Sophie, Sophie, don't die.

Maurizio Sarri expects the winger to feature more in the coming weeks
'I hope Nacho Monreal washed his hands' - Arsenal fans

Steve Bruce is set to take charge of Wednesday and has been backed to guide them up the table

Manchester United has been described as a global brand; a 2011 report by Brand Finance, valued the club's trademarks and associated intellectual property at £412 million - an increase of £39 million on the previous year, valuing it at £11 million more than the second best brand, Real Madrid - and gave the brand a strength rating of AAA
FullTimeDEVILS - YouTube

The man got onto the pitch after Reid’s winning goal

Pep Guardiola refused to dismiss the Community Shield But Guardiola cannot understand why the Community Shield, which City won with a 2-0 win over Chelsea in August, is not counted by some as a trophy. He said: "The Community Shield? Nobody counts it, that's the question, I would like an answer.
Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola joins backing singers on

Manchester United stars Paul Pogba and Marcus Rashford will be in action against Everton

Lucas Torreira's father has described his son's impending move to Arsenal as 'scary' but insists the midfielder has a good support system in place. Torreira is set to complete a £25million move
Arsenal - Top News Sources - 11 December 2018
atomicsoda.com/arsenal/news/top-sources/11-dec-2018/arsenal-v-ac-milan
Arsenal 1-0 Huddersfield: Late Lucas Torreira overhead kick gives Gunners all three points Daily Mail - Sat Dec 8 4:57 PM Arsenal player ratings from Huddersfield victory as Lucas Torreira shines

Drogba says farewell to Chelsea fans back in 2015

Daily Star 16 July 2017 код для вставки )

Rodgers has made history as Celtic manager

NOT COMING The Gunners travel to Belarus to play BATE Borisov on Thursday night but will not have the German or the Welshman to call upon Arsenal duo Mesut Ozil and Aaron Ramsey have not travelled to Belarus with the Gunners squad for their Europa League last-32 game against BATE Borisov.
Ozil and Ramsey left out of Arsenal squad for Europa League

Could Callum Hudson Odoi quit Chelsea to join Premier League rivals Liverpool?

Transfer News LIVE: Alexis Sanchez to Man Utd latest, Arsenal, Liverpool, Chelsea gossip STARSPORT brings you all the latest transfer news and gossip from Manchester United, Liverpool, Chelsea, Arsenal, Real Madrid, Barcelona and more.

Huddersfield  Tommy Smith is one booking away from a suspension

Pretty sure some fans don't realize how small a club Brentford are and the budget Smith as worked under - style of football aside i really couldn't see anyone else capable of working in austerity times if ffp takes hold without our football suffering for it. that's all he's done throughout his career.
gop administation - UK Election - ge.blognook.com

Neymar left the pitch in tears after picking up another ankle injury

Will Harry Kane face Ajax tonight? Tottenham boss Mauricio Pochettino on Champions League semi-final team news The England striker could be fit for Spurs if they reach the Champions League final
Ajax Drop Major Hint Harry Kane Will Play For Tottenham In

No comments:

Post a Comment