Predicting 2015/16 Premier League PFA Team of the Year
The PFA Team of the Year won't be decided until next April, but we've taken a stab at predicting who is going to be in it as we build up to the new 2015-16 season.
It's a bit like picking who you think's going to have a whopper of a campaign, although some great performers usually slip through the net and find themselves left out unfairly. Questions were legitimately raised this year over the inclusions of Gary Cahill and Philippe Coutinho due to the fact that several players in their respective positions bettered them from August to May.
The formation tends to be a 4-4-2, so we've stuck with that for realism and made our best guesses. Don't agree? Submit your XI in the comments below!
GK: Petr Cech, Arsenal
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Arsenal's new and improved defence was arguably the most impressive part of their 1-0 Community Shield victory over Chelsea on Sunday. It was a continuation of the stark improvement that took place midway through last season, with the Gunners conceding just 13 goals in their final 19 games.
With Petr Cech, signed from Sunday's opponents, now between the sticks and exuding confidence, this unit looks fierce. Nacho Monreal (reserved) balances with Hector Bellerin (attacking); Laurent Koscielny (aggressor) balances with Per Mertesacker (sweeper).
This will all translate into one key ingredient: clean sheets. Despite Arsenal's defence improving dramatically even with David Ospina between the sticks, Cech will likely get a lot of credit.
RB: Branislav Ivanovic, Chelsea
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Weeding out the right-back contenders, Branislav Ivanovic comes to the fore once again, as there are a couple of key things working in his favour.
First of all, he's very good; he was a deserving winner last year. Second, Matteo Darmian may not be "flashy" enough to seize his mantle, while Nathaniel Clyne will play for a poorer defensive line than last season and Pablo Zabaleta will have another fitness hangover to start the season.
There will be beady eyes on Ivanovic waiting for him to show signs of regression, but Chelsea are the title favourites and he's their starting right-back. He should claim his spot again.
CB: Laurent Koscielny, Arsenal
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If Laurent Koscielny's performance in the Community Shield is anything to go by, he might finally be in for the season that proves the last of the doubters wrong.
He'll benefit from having a great goalkeeper behind him, therefore collecting clean sheets, but the amount of work he gets through in each game remains impressive. He's aggressive, he covers, he filters wide and he scores the odd goal.
Aside from John Terry, as it stands, there is no better centre-back in the division, and in 2016 the Frenchman will finally get his dues.
CB: John Terry, Chelsea
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John Terry will turn 35 in December, but that's no reason to shy away from predicting similar levels of success for the Englishman in 2015-16.
Consider the facts:
- He plays for Jose Mourinho in a deep defensive line that protects him
- Cesar Azpilicueta will tuck in and protect him
- He's still a superb defender: His instincts, positioning, aggression and goalscoring knack are still there.
- He's clearly some form of bionic
He's a mega-consistent central defender who anchors the finest team in the division. Expect more barking displays, more clean sheets and more trophies for the Blues, with their captain the driving force behind them.
LB: Luke Shaw, Manchester United
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"It shall be the season of Luke Shaw," Louis van Gaal boldly declared to the Independent last week. We agree, Louis.
He's looked in fine fettle this pre-season, starkly contrasted to last year when he was told to train alone and up his fitness, only to succumb to a one-month injury that forced Ashley Young to left-wing-back for the start of the campaign.
A nightmare 2014-15 is behind the Englishman; he looks confident, happy and ready to grasp the mantle. It's easy to forget, but he was a monstrous presence for Southampton aged just 18, haring down the left flank and causing defenders fits.
Given his nationality and the club he plays for, Shaw has every shot at making this team if he plays to his potential.
Wing: Alexis Sanchez, Arsenal
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Once he returns from his Copa America 2015-enforced late holiday, Alexis Sanchez is guaranteed to re-enter this Arsenal XI and start ripping teams to shreds again.
It doesn't matter how well Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain or Jack Wilshere play in his place; as soon as he's fit and ready, be it in one week or three weeks, Arsene Wenger won't be able to resist the temptation of plugging the Chilean back into the system.
The reason why is simple: He's a truly brilliant player capable of deciding any game. He top-scored in the Premier League for the Gunners last season and could well do so again.
CM: Cesc Fabregas, Chelsea
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Will this be the season Cesc Fabregas decides to perform after Christmas? If so, he's a shoe-in for this team and a candidate for Player of the Year.
We're willing to roll the dice and say he keeps his form; his drop-off last term was slightly exaggerated by the masses, and with a proper rest under his belt after a summer without tournament football, he stands a better chance of lasting.
He bagged 18 assists last campaign, per WhoScored.com, and that could easily become 25 if he gets on another roll on January.
CM: Mesut Ozil, Arsenal
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If it's a 4-4-2, we have to stick Mesut Ozil in as a flat central midfielder. That didn't stop the PFA shoving Philippe Coutinho in there in April, and it sure as hell won't stop us from doing the same with the German here.
With a pre-season in red and white finally completed, Ozil is expected to start the season in good form and continue it over the course of the eight-month campaign. In 2015 he's been absolutely stunning—it turns out a three-month injury was the key to him re-finding his feet—and he's a dangerous playmaker to be coming across now Arsenal have built a system that suits him.
If he's got pace and runners in front of him, he'll wreak havoc with his passing range. Expect a lot of assists.
Wing: Eden Hazard, Chelsea
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We're predicting a repeat of last year's XI when it comes to the wings: Alexis Sanchez will be joined by Eden Hazard as both men enjoy another ridiculously successful season.
Jose Mourinho told the Guardian in July that he believes the Belgian will improve this coming campaign—a harrowing thought for defenders everywhere. Another defining season like the 2014-15 iteration will elevate him to within touching distance of the category Neymar and Arjen Robben sit in.
Hazard netted 14 goals last season and added nine assists, per WhoScored.com. He's set himself a high bar after the showings he put in last term, but he's improved with every passing year and should continue in that trajectory.
ST: Wayne Rooney, Manchester United
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Despite calls for Louis van Gaal to bolster his striking options, the Dutchman appears to be placing his faith in Wayne Rooney for the season ahead. We think it's a good call.
Really, any decision or switch to move Rooney away from the central midfield position would have been welcome, but Manchester United fans will be delighted their talisman will start the campaign as the team's starting striker.
In both previous seasons he's played as the No. 9 he's breached the 20-goal mark, and there's plenty of faith he'll do it again in 2015-16. B/R's Karl Matchett tweeted his belief the Englishman would get 22 or more should he play the campaign out in full.
For strikers, 20-plus goals equals PFA Team of the Year.
ST: Sergio Aguero, Manchester City
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It's a modest gamble that Sergio Aguero stays fit for the campaign, but then again, he only started 30 games last season and still top-scored by a distance. His 26 strikes kept Manchester City relevant in a title race they rarely looked a part of.
He didn't make the selection for 2014-15 perhaps due to catching fire after the voting was closed (he scored or assisted in each of his last seven games, including a hat-trick against Queens Park Rangers), but perhaps that was because of the storylines he was battling: Harry Kane as the emerging Englishman and Diego Costa as the title-winning poacher.
The Argentinian is arguably the best player in the Premier League and guarantees goals, though, so we're backing him for a bounce-back year.
