Ferdinand's defensive partner Nemanja Vidic (Manchester United) has been every bit as consistent with his towering presence. Known for his ability to win nearly every ball in the air, he poses as a serious threat to opposition, both from a defensive and offensive standpoint.
Martin Laursen's (Aston Villa) play at the back and in attack has led Aston Villa to an impressive 6th place showing in the Premier League with 6 goals to his name.
Christopher Samba (Blackburn) continues to go unnoticed by the general public despite displaying consistent showings while closing down on opposing strikers at Ewood Park.
January signing Jonathan Woodgate (Tottenham) appears to be a centerpiece in Juande Ramos' plans as his presence at the back led Tottenham to their Carling Cup victory over Chelsea.
Richard Dunne (Manchester City) has proven his quality, yet again, this time under new manager Sven Goran-Eriksson. The partnership of Micah Richards and Dunne will almost certainly be counted on if City are to succeed in fulfilling their domestic and European ambitions next season.
Joseph Yobo (Everton) has put in another good season under David Moyes and appears to be calmer with the ball in his feet -- something that wasn't the case when he initially joined Everton as Moyes' first signing.
His teammate Phil Jagielka (Everton) also deserves praise for his seemless transition to the Premier League, after leaving Championship outfit Sheffield United for £4 million, to play a pivotal role in Everton's fantastic 5th place showing.
Left Back: Patrice Evra (Manchester United)
As Patrice Evra prepares himself for the upcoming Champions League final in Moscow and 2008 European Championships, there's not a whole lot to complain about when taking a look at the Manchester United left-back. He's as quick as they come in a league that demands pace, while still managing to track back and close down on the opposition.
Almost rarely will one witness Evra putting in a wrong foot, and with his attacking abilities, it's no wonder why Manchester United are playing the type of attractive football that they were playing this season. Pace, short passing ability, crossing ability, vision to move forward: it's impossible to ignore Evra's efforts -- despite career year's being produced by Joleon Lescott (Everton) and Gael Clichy (Arsenal).
Honorable Mentions:
There's no questioning the role that Joleon Lescott had as one of Everton's leading scorers, with ten goals on the season while playing at left-back. Normally considered to be a central defender, Lescott was pushed out to the left in order to utilize his bruising strength and crossing ability. His predatory instincts to close in on emerging corner and free kicks add to the potential dangers that opposing Premier League defenses face when taking on the bulky defender.
Like his teammate and fellow fullback Bacary Sagna, Gael Clichy also has the ability to get forward while managing to track back in time to defend against pacey attackers. His pure speed, pace, and crossing abilities add to an already potent Arsenal attack that prides themselves in playing attractive football. His recovery ability is also another quality that led him to be selected in the PFA Team of the Year for 2007/2008.
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