Adrian Russell
De Gea
Coleman–Terry–Cahill–Shaw
Lallana-Toure-Ramsey-Gerrard-Hazard
Suarez
“It’s saying something when the only Man Utd player in the selection is the goalkeeper. And he’s probably lucky to be there.
“DDG has been one of United’s only positives this season — apart from that time they met Maradona in Dubai. Seamus Coleman is my lock of the year™ while Chelsea’s centre half pairing has been admirable, even if 50% of it is John Terry.
“Aaron Ramsey did enough in the first half of the season to join the really impressive Adam Lallana and Eden Hazard. Steven Gerrard driving Liverpool to the title deserves inclusion, meanwhile, in the so-called quarterback role.
“If he gets to lift the trophy, it’ll be in no small part due to the efforts of my lone striker, Luis Suarez. Even Patrice Evra voted for him.”
Steven O’Rourke
Howard
Coleman–Skrtel–Koscielny–Shaw
Silva–Toure–Henderson–Hazard
Suarez–Aguero
“I suppose the obvious thing to address is the inclusion of Jordan Henderson over his team-mate and captain Steven Gerrard. To me, Henderson is more versatile, able to play through the centre, on the right and even as right back. While he was used on the right early in the campaign, he’s really come into his own since moving into the middle of the park in October.
“The rest of the team picks itself really. Howard has been pivotal in Everton’s Champions League chase while as has Coleman. Skrtel has bagged a number of important goals (though his actual defending can sometimes be lacking).
“Up front I’ve gone with Aguero over Sturridge but it was a coin toss and if Suarez fails to make anyone’s team I assume they’ll be getting their P45 soon.”
Patrick McCarry
Marshall
Coleman–Terry–Cahill–Baines
Silva–Toure–Gerrard–Hazard
Suarez–Aguero
“The goalkeeping choice, for me, fell between Julian Speroni of Crystal Palace and David Marshall but I’m going with the Cardiff stopper. He commands his box and makes four or five big stops per game. Chelsea’s centre defensive pairing have towered above their rivals and the Everton fullbacks have been excellent again.
“Yaya Toure has been the league’s best midfielder while Eden Hazard, on form, has been sublime. I’m going with Steven Gerrard just ahead of Jordan Henderson and David Silva only slightly ahead of Samir Nasri. Adam Lallana is unlucky here and is destined for greater deeds in future seasons.
“Up front, Luis Suarez and Sergio Aguero stand out as two players who are close to unmarkable when in the mood, which is most weeks. Just two Liverpool players — again, Daniel Sturridge is unlucky here — but they have a bigger, team prize lined up.”
Fintan O’Toole
Marshall
Coleman–Terry–Cahill–Shaw
Lallana–Toure–Barkley–Hazard
Suarez–Sturridge
“Cardiff are battling relegation but their predicament could be a lot worse but for the heroics of David Marshall in goal.
“Mourinho may lament his options up front but the Cahill-Terry axis has been a rock at the back for Chelsea. Coleman and Shaw have been revelations while Lallana and Barkley are other stars to emerge brightly.
“Toure and Hazard have elevated their performances to another level while it’s hard to dispute the impact of SAS in attack.
“It says a lot that there’s no Manchester United player included after a season of struggles. Honourable mentions to Aaron Ramsey and Sergio Aguero who impressed when injury was not interrupting their campaigns.”
Niall Kelly
Lloris
Coleman–Cahill–Kompany–Shaw
Silva–Gerrard–Toure–Hazard
Suarez–Sturridge
“I don’t think there’s anything massively controversial here. Eight of the 11 play for the three teams still left in the title race though and ideally, it would have been nice to spread the love a little bit.
“Picking a keeper was one of the tougher decisions and it could just as easily have been Petr Cech, David Marshall or Julian Speroni as Hugo Lloris, who has been one of the bright spots in a pretty disappointing season for Spurs.
“Seamus Coleman was an automatic at right full. I would have had him on the shortlist for Player of the Year as well but that’s partially down to the green-tinted glasses.
“The first draft of the team ended up as a 4-3-3 with Jordan Henderson in alongside the two central midfield certs, Steven Gerrard and Yaya Toure. Henderson has really come of age this season and is finally starting to look like the £20 million player Liverpool signed.
“Including him would have forced me to leave out one half of the league’s deadliest strike force though. After the season that Luis Suarez and Daniel Sturridge have had — both individually and as a partnership — that simply wasn’t an option.”
Paul Fennessy
Cech
Coleman–Cahill–Terry–Azpilicueta
Ramsey–Henderson–Toure–Hazard
Sturridge–Suarez
“Goalkeeper was tough to choose because those who play for the top clubs invariably have it easier, as they have less saves to make. That said, I’m choosing Petr Cech over Cardiff’s David Marshall, because goalkeeping is about more than just saves – communication, confidence, decision-making etc is also vital and Cech’s importance was outlined after he missed the Londoners’ recent game with Sunderland when Mark Schwarzer looked fairly shaky and was culpable for one of the goals.
“People tend to overlook Cech and take his consistency for granted. And also, it seems unfair to pick a goalkeeper who’s conceded 65 goals over one who’s let in 26.
“Elsewhere, the strikers and defence pretty much pick themselves, however the midfield brought up some tough choices. Steven Gerrard has had an excellent season, however Jordan Henderson was even more vital for Liverpool. The energy he provided was essential, and Liverpool were less than convincing without him in the first game he missed all season against Norwich at the weekend.
“By comparison, the Reds didn’t look much weaker without Gerrard when they earned a hugely significant 5-0 win at Tottenham. Toure, meanwhile, is an obvious pick – he scored countless goals and consistently dominated in the middle of the park as City overwhelmed team after team.
“Both Adam Lallana and David Silva were considered on the left, but Eden Hazard scored more goals than both, which was particularly essential given the poor form of Chelsea’s strikers. Finally, I went with Aaron Ramsey on the right – he’s scored as many goals as Sterling in far fewer games. Granted, he has played just 21 matches, but that’s only five less, for instance, than Sturridge. Arsenal also missed him much more than Liverpool missed their prodigious winger when he was out of the team. In fact, it was a key reason for the Gunners’ failure in the title race.”
