2007/2008 Premier League Team Of The Year: The Midfield

Tim Yu by Columnist Written on May 17, 2008
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Right Midfielder: Cristiano Ronaldo (Manchester United)

In what could possibly go down as the only 'undisputed' pick for the Team of the Season, Cristiano Ronaldo's goal-crazy season has generated all sorts of media attention, as journalists are dubbing him as the best player in the world.

With 41 goals (and counting) to his name, there's no denying that Ronaldo's season puts him up there with the likes of Manchester United legend George Best.

Simply put, the stats speak for themselves.

Forty-one goals is already an astounding achievement for any striker to be putting in the back of the next, but for a winger? That's almost unheard of these days. For a player of Ronaldo's caliber, there really is no limit as to whether he has even reached his full potential.

Perhaps, Ronaldo can be a little selfish when closing in on goal, but it takes a player that knows how to finish in order to put the ball in the back of the net. A master from any dead-ball situation, whether it be from the spot or beyond, Ronaldo has defied all logic on his way to claiming the PFA Player of the Year and Golden Boot awards.

Unrivaled free-kick ability, pace, heading ability, stamina, vision, pure skill, trickery with moves, and almost a cocky demeanor are part of the aura that is Cristiano Ronaldo.

He's certainly proven the doubters wrong; particularly, the ones that criticized him for overdoing his overzealous step-overs and teasing runs all over the pitch, and those who claimed Ronaldo wasn't delivering enough when it mattered most.

There are still claims that Ronaldo may still go down too easily, but Manchester United supporters will be quick to remind skeptics that opponents, on a weekly basis, almost always target CR7 heavily through rough challenges.

 

Honorable Mentions:

Thanks to a season for the ages delivered by Cristiano Ronaldo, Alexander Hleb (Arsenal), David Bentley (Blackburn) and Mikel Arteta (Everton) most likely found their names omitted from any consideration when football fans were compiling their squad for the Team of the Season.

With rumors of Hleb leaving for Inter Milan, Arsene Wenger could ill-afford to lose another talented youngster to the Italian clubs, with Mathieu Flamini already leaving for AC Milan. Often described as one of the most skillful player in the Premier League, Hleb's play down the right and left flanks was a big reason why Arsenal was capable of playing such captivating football—despite the long-term injury suffered by Tomas Rosicky.

Blackburn's David Bentley has had countless comparisons of himself with David Beckham as he looks to set his sights in unseating the LA Galaxy midfielder as England's starting right midfielder.

After he openly admitted that he was tired of wallowing away on the sidelines at Arsenal, Bentley switched over to Blackburn where he has shone as Mark Hughes' star man down the right. A big money move could be imminent, considering the interest being shown by Liverpool and Spurs.

Mikel Arteta from Everton also garners praise for his efforts as the Toffees' maestro and playmaker. Although fighting stomach pains since December, Arteta has put in another consistent season where he's proven to be the focal point of Everton's midfield along with Tim Cahill

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written on May 17, 2008 Opinion

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