Picking an Elite Premier League XI to Beat PFA Team of the Year
The Professional Footballers' Association (PFA) have announced their 2014/15 Team of the Year:
"Congratulations to the Barclays @PremierLeague PFA Team of the Year! #PFAawards pic.twitter.com/OL4VulUv7T
— PFA (@PFA) April 26, 2015"
With many quality footballers plying their trade in the Premier League, some high-profile, world-class names have been left on the proverbial sideline. Is it possible an amalgamation of the PFA's leftovers could defeat the weekend's honourees in a match?
The 11 footballers elected in the 2014/15 edition have been (for the most part) otherworldly this season, but this is not to suggest they are infallible.
Here we explore an XI capable of giving the PFA's team trouble, if matched against one another.
GK: Thibaut Courtois (Chelsea)
1 of 11
2014/15 EPL Stats: 29 games played, 68 saves, 11 clean sheets
The shining light of Chelsea's loan policy, Thibaut Courtois has officially taken over Petr Cech's position between Stamford Bridge's goalposts.
Cech was the goalkeeper chosen for the PFA's 2013/14 Team of the Year, so the 22-year-old taking his Chelsea place—and performing admirably—vouches for his class.
Undone this season by the heroics of Manchester United's David De Gea, Courtois is in the conversation for the best "No. 1" in England and arguably the world—it's only a matter of time before the Belgian is listed in the PFA's XI.
RB: Nathaniel Clyne (Southampton)
2 of 11
2014/15 EPL Stats: 31 games played, 107 tackles, 61 interceptions
Nathaniel Clyne played four seasons with Crystal Palace in the Championship from 2008/09 to 2011/12 before Southampton procured his signature; Saints would be lucky to keep the Englishman four seasons.
Out of contract after 2015/16 and establishing himself as a sought-after defender, Clyne has been linked with many top-tier English outfits over the past 12 months, as exemplified by The Sun (h/t the Mirror's Jack Lang).
Clubs in desperate search of an ardent, homegrown right-back should direct their efforts and cheque books to the south coast without pause.
CB: Laurent Koscielny (Arsenal)
3 of 11
2014/15 EPL Stats: 23 games played, 28 tackles, 79 interceptions
As seems the case with several Arsenal players, Laurent Koscielny's biggest enemy is his own body.
Never managing to complete a full Premier League campaign (his highest mark 33 games in 2011/12), the 29-year-old has every quality a Premier League centre-back requires—except durability.
Koscielny, due to his relative scarceness, is often the forgotten partner between himself and Per Mertesacker, but 2014/15 has been a terrific domestic campaign for the Frenchman; Arsenal hold the third-best defensive record in the English top flight.
CB: Jose Fonte (Southampton)
4 of 11
2014/15 EPL Stats: 33 games played, 70 tackles, 103 interceptions
Watching Dejan Lovren sold for £20 million last summer to Liverpool, Jose Fonte must have thought those evaluating Southampton were selling his efforts short; enter Ronald Koeman and the combination has been superb.
Boasting the league's best defensive record, and posting a club-record points total in the Premier League with four matches left, Saints' defence has been their calling card.
Lead by Fonte—whose absence for the PFA Team of the Year puzzles the mind—a team earmarked by many for relegation has surpassed every and all expectations.
LB: Cesar Azpilicueta (Chelsea)
5 of 11
2014/15 EPL Stats: 26 games played, 86 tackles, 51 interceptions
Tenacious, diligent and comfortable on the ball, Cesar Azpilicueta is arguably the best "complete" full-back in England; his omission from the PFA Team of the Year is one of the most glaring.
Possibly the chief factor in Eden Hazard's ability to torment defences is the balance Azpilicueta provides Chelsea's left flank; the Spaniard is an inseparable component of Jose Mourinho's league-leading side.
Bought for £7 million from Olympique de Marseille in 2012, the 25-year-old full-back (affectionately known at Stamford Bridge as "Dave") has the prime of his career yet to come.
CDM: Morgan Schneiderlin (Southampton)
6 of 11
2014/15 EPL Stats: 26 games played, 96 tackles, 4 goals
At Southampton since 2008, Morgan Schneiderlin has played in three tiers of English football. His past two seasons, however, have been nothing short of elite—making him a coveted commodity.
After 250 appearances for Saints, the notorious selling club could sell their prized possession before his contract runs out in 2017. The Frenchman is heavily linked with Arsenal, as noted by Adam Smith of the Daily Mail, although no deal appears imminent.
Schneiderlin, though, is in the midst of an interesting project. Last summer he may have wanted to leave St. Mary's Stadium, but after 2014/15's success, another season with Ronald Koeman would not hurt his stock.
CM: Yaya Toure (Manchester City)
7 of 11
2014/15 EPL Stats: 26 games played, 2,023 completed passes, 8 goals
Carrying Manchester City to a domestic double last season, playing in the World Cup, losing his brother to cancer during the competition, returning to England then captaining his Ivory Coast side to victory at the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations, Yaya Toure has been a busy individual.
Often cited as less than motivated, the 31-year-old is still a handful when in the mood.
The Ivorian should be mentioned as the best all-round footballer on the planet. Starting the 2009 Champions League final at centre-back for Barcelona and scoring 20 Premier League goals from advanced midfield last year, Toure's talents are immense.
RAM: Angel Di Maria (Manchester United)
8 of 11
2014/15 EPL Stats: 25 games played, 10 assists, 3 goals
Starting with three goals in his first five league appearances, Manchester United's Angel Di Maria looked to have the English game sorted in a matter of minutes, but—as is customary—the Premier League is unforgiving with its newer members.
The former Real Madrid man has been demoted to the Red Devils' bench in recent weeks, but with United losing two straight games, he may, again, find himself in Louis van Gaal's starting XI.
Di Maria has not lived up to last summer's £59.7 million price tag, but he would never in one season; double-digit assists in his inaugural season can only bode well as the Argentinian acclimates.
CAM: Cesc Fabregas (Chelsea)
9 of 11
2014/15 EPL Stats: 30 games played, 2,108 completed passes, 16 assists
Directly responsible for 35 of Barcelona's goals in 2013/14, Jose Mourinho convincing Cesc Fabregas on joining Chelsea was half genius, half audacious.
Seen as the replacement for Frank Lampard in Chelsea's future midfield, Fabregas began the 2014/15 season in fantastic form—guiding the Blues through 21 unbeaten games in all competitions.
Falling off in the season's second half, the Spanish international's place in the PFA Team of the Year was taken by Liverpool's Philippe Coutinho. Though not statistically logical, on form there is little wonder why this occurred.
This particular XI is certainly blessed to have Fabregas in its ranks.
LAM: Mesut Ozil (Arsenal)
10 of 11
2014/15 EPL Stats: 17 games played, 5 assists, 4 goals
"If you are waiting for somebody where every time he touches the ball, the ball smiles...this is [Mesut] Ozil." Words from former Real Madrid and current Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho on his playmaker from yesteryear at the Santiago Bernabeu, as noted by The Independent's Joe Krishnan.
Ozil suffered from a debilitating knee injury this season (missing 18 games in all competitions), but in Arsenal's current unbeaten run, he has become his usual, conductor-like self.
Should the German's current form and health hold into next season, subject to team success, individual honours may be in store.
ST: Sergio 'Kun' Aguero (Manchester City)
11 of 11
2014/15 EPL Stats: 29 games played, 21 goals, 6 assists
Arguably the Premier League's best striker when fit, Sergio "Kun" Aguero cannot seem to play a complete season without finding himself on the physiotherapist's table—a shame really.
The Manchester City striker (though missing five games) is the league's golden boot frontrunner, holding off Tottenham Hotspur's Harry Kane and Chelsea's Diego Costa—who are both included in the PFA Team of the Year.
When clicking, the Argentina international is lethal and a nightmare for any centre-half; the 26-year-old forward's only defender is himself.
Which team would you pick?
*Stats via WhoScored.com; transfer fees via Soccerbase.com where not noted.
.jpg?w=480 "Vikings Cowboys Football")
