Manchester United Sweep PFA Awards, Pick Your Team of the Season
The PFA Awards were, quite frankly, crap and boring (even though they had 8 United players in their team of the season).
So let’s pick our own team – but first, some nitpicking on PFA’s picks.
Cristiano Ronaldo’s won the PFA 2007 Player of the Year and Young Player of the Year awards, beating Fabregas and Lennon for the latter and Drogba and Scholes for the former.
Ok, now that that’s out of my system, let’s get on with the news, shall we?
It’s a fair result even though some of the nominations were a problem (as I mentioned earlier).
The PFA Prem Team of the Year (2007) is loaded with Manchester United players. Here’s the list:
Edwin van der Sar, Gary Neville, Rio Ferdinand, Nemanja Vidic, Patrice Evra, Cristiano Ronaldo, Paul Scholes, Steven Gerrard, Ryan Giggs, Didier Drogba, Dimitar Berbatov
Replace Drogba with Rooney and Evra with Heinze and you’d have United’s ideal team, right? 
Considering that these nominations were made in January, it’s understandable that people like van der Sar, Evra, Neville and Giggs make the list – EVDS is probably up there at the top in terms of quality keepers in the Prem, but it’s a very tough call and several other keepers could make a claim for it.
With Neville, I’m not sure he’s the top right back, although he did play pretty well in the first half of the season. Finnan probably pips him over the course of the season.
Rio and Vidic are fair choices – Terry hasn’t played the full season, and the only other players who might compete with these two are Dawson (Tottenham’s unsung hero this season), Carvalho (who’s held Chelsea together for most of the season) and Carragher. I’d say it’s a tie between Rio, Vida, Carvalho and Carragher, and after that it comes down to bias. It’s easier to vote for Rio and Vidic because they’re so good as a team, and are arguably the best center-back pairing United has seen for a long time.
Evra is a surprise, but he has little competition. Baines, Barry, Riise and Barry are the only other left backs of note that have performed well, but I’m not going to argue much about Evra (already said enough in the past).
Ronaldo and Drogba are shoe-ins. Scholes is a fair pick, although I’m surprised that any one of Lampard, Essien and Carrick didn’t make the cut. And seeing Gerrard listed as a central midfielder, after he’s been played exclusively on the right, is priceless. Rafa knows, right?
Berbatov vs Rooney and van Persie, and Giggsy vs ??? There’s little competition for Giggs, and this is one of the limitations of this format – I’d have Ronaldo on the left and Lennon on the right.
Anyway, since we’ve already discussed this at length, here’s my Prem team of the season (you’re welcome to add yours in the comments):
Petr Cech, Michael Essien, Rio Ferdinand, Nemanja Vidic, Riise, Aaron Lennon, Michael Carrick, Frank Lampard, Cristiano Ronaldo, Wayne Rooney, Didier Drogba.
This side would score so many goals it’s not even funny. Everyone can score, even Rio, whose runs are a joke and a pleasure to watch.
That’s about it from me. Your turn to pick a team.
Topics: Cristiano Ronaldo, Features, Manchester United
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My team.
VDS, Neville, Rio, Vidic, Evra, Ronaldo, Scholes, Essien, Giggs, Rooney, Drogba.
Gerrard played on the right for most of the season. Ronaldo was better. Essien is a centre midfielder. Neville is easily the best right back in the world. Nobody balances their offensive and defensive roles so well as Neville does. He’s way above Richards and Finnan, both who are weaker offensively.
April 23rd, 2007 @ 12:15BRILLIANT RONALDO!!!!
Imagine him now picking up the European and/or world player of the year. I don’t see any reason why he can’t?
My team…
EVDS, Neville, Rio, Vidic, Heinze, Ronaldo, Scholes, Carrick, Giggs, Rooney, Saha
Call me bias, but who can argue with me that (so far at least) they are not the best team combination in the Premier league? (especially not after this scary ‘roller-coaster’ weekend.
April 23rd, 2007 @ 12:36———————P.Cech————————
S.Finnan—-R.carvalho—-N.Vidic———- G.Barry
———————M.Essien———————-
C.Ronaldo———————————–C.FÃ bregas
———————F.Lampard———————-
—————-Berbatov —- D.Drogba————–
April 23rd, 2007 @ 12:54[...] written about the PFA awards in detail here, so go read that. You can also pick your team of the season there, so please go ahead and [...]
April 23rd, 2007 @ 13:09Jaaskelainen/Cech, Neville, Carvalho, Vidic, Evra, Essien, Ronaldo, Arteta, Fabregas, Berbatov, Drogba.
Arteta is definitely the most underrated player in the premiership, and has carried Everton several times this season.
P.S. Ahmed – La Liga article on the way.
April 23rd, 2007 @ 13:13@ahmed
April 23rd, 2007 @ 13:17how can u not have scholes in ur team??
the only change that i wud make is remove gerrard n put essien thr…
everything else is fine..
—————–EVDS —————–
————-Neville – Rio – Vidic – Heinze
Aaron Lennon (GIggs) – Carrick – Scholes – Ronaldo
—————–Rooney
=============== Drogba
Rio and Vidic is possible the best CB Pair in the world not just in the Prem.
I agree with perif Neville does balances his offensive and defensive roles very well. Some time I really wonder how can someone at his age and with his speed be on the right almost everytime .. dun worry O or D.
If you planing to have Vidic you must have Heinze… come mate.. VIdic is bloody good but he slow so Heinze whom is probly the most defense minded out of all the LB in the prem. and he can be up to support the attack at time.
This would make the best defense line
again Scholes Carrick would make best CM pairing out of prem.
Ronaldo no need to said anymore.
Aaron Lennon… hmm is a maybe if it wasn’t for Giggs age I would have him.
Rooney – best support stiker in da world.. u may argue all u want.
Drogba… a finisher
THis would be a killer team
April 23rd, 2007 @ 13:40Ahmed you say
April 23rd, 2007 @ 15:32Everyone can score, even Rio, whose runs are a joke and a pleasure to watch.
I think you know it,but your Rio has scored 4 goals for MU in the premiership till now.If you don’t know it,check it out.
http://www.stretfordend.co.uk/goalscorers/premiership.html
cnt get your point sometimes!
Rio’s runs are a joke – it’s funny because he looks funny when dribbling. They’re a pleasure to watch, because I rate Rio very highly and it’s always good to watch a player you like do well.
Yes, I know he scores
April 23rd, 2007 @ 17:02—————————P.Cech————-
M. Essien—-R.carvalho——-—-N.Vidic——–—- G.Barry
————————-———M.Carrick——–———————-
———-Cesc Fabregas ———Paul Scholes———–—-
—–Cristiano Ronaldo–D.Drogba——R. Giggs
April 23rd, 2007 @ 19:02Alex.. where did u pull howard from???
April 23rd, 2007 @ 20:34and in CM.. I would have schole over lampard anyday
——————— HOWARD ————————
FINNAN—-RIO—-TERRY———EVRA
——————— ESSIEN ———————-
RONALDO ——————————— LENNON
——————— LAMPARD———————
————— ROONEY —- DROGBA ————
Manchester United for GLORY!!!!!!!!!!!
April 23rd, 2007 @ 18:39Rio scored against Liverpool, that makes him a United legend in my eyes! AHAHAHHAHA
April 23rd, 2007 @ 18:43————————-David James
April 24th, 2007 @ 00:26Finnan————–Rio———–Dawson—————-Riise
Ronaldo———–Arteta——-Fabregas—————Barry
—————–Drogba————–Rooney———————-
Cech
finnan carvalho vidic a. cole
essien
ronaldo giggs
lampard
drogba bervatov
April 24th, 2007 @ 08:53you shouldn’t be swaring on a site that is supposed to become the best soccer site ever to come
April 27th, 2007 @ 16:01i want to see ronaldinho in manchester united
May 1st, 2007 @ 11:22I think the team is not quite correct because there should be carrick in place of gerrad and rooney in place of berbertov.
May 1st, 2007 @ 16:04And the rest is fine.
———————Cech——————
Finnan—–Vidic—–Carvalho—–Evra
——————–Essien————————
Ronaldo——————————–Giggs
———————Scholes———————
————-Rooney———Drogba———
May 8th, 2007 @ 01:04———————VDS——————
G.Neville——Vidic——Rio——Evra
———————Carrick————————
Ronaldo———————————Giggs
———————Scholes———————
——Rooney———–
—————–———Bervatov———
May 8th, 2007 @ 10:14and sham, please no ronaldinho in manchester united
May 8th, 2007 @ 10:19Permiership Team Of the Season :
B.Foster
M.Essien N.Vidic D.Agger M.Taylor
M.Carrick
A.Lennon C.Ronaldo
Scholes
Berbatov
McCarthy
May 16th, 2007 @ 02:22Van der sar
Vidic Ferdinand Agger
Ronaldo Scholes Essien Giggs
Drogba Berbatov Patton
May 16th, 2007 @ 16:20Foster
Eboue Vidic Ferdinand Evra
Ronaldo Essien Lennon
Patton
Drogba Mccarthy
May 16th, 2007 @ 16:21chk
May 16th, 2007 @ 18:17finan,rio,vida,evra
rndo,essien,schls,sesc
roony,brbtov
Hahnemann
June 4th, 2007 @ 06:55Neville, Rio, vidic, Shorey
Ronaldo, Carrick, Essien, Lennon
Drogba, Rooney
vds
g.nev rio vida evra
ronaldo carrick scholes giggs
rooney berbatov
June 21st, 2007 @ 01:29James
Finnan
Carragher
Vidic
Lescott
Essien
Fabregas
Arteta
Ronaldo
Giggs
Drogba
Bench: Van der Sar, Carvalho, Scholes, Barry, Berbatov
June 22nd, 2007 @ 18:51————————-P.cech
June 25th, 2007 @ 17:49Finnan—————Agger————Vidic—————-Riise
Ronaldo————Gerard——-Fabregas—————Giggs
——————Berbatov—————Rooney———————-
GK::::Cech RB::::M.Taylor CB::::Terry CB::::Carragher LB::::Riise RM::::Ronaldo CM::::Gerrard CM::::Fabregas LM::::Arteta
July 8th, 2007 @ 22:07ST:::: Drogba and Berbatov (Lets all face it Rooney aint that good)
GK – VDS (there’s noone else to pick, since Cech was injured for almost half the season.
RB – even though I really don’t like it, I have to pick Finnan. Neville was great, when he played, but he was out for 1/3 of the matches.
CB – Rio was spectacular last season. I only remember one or possibly 2 serious lapses of concentration, which is better than most.
CB – Carvalho. Vidic was great, but like Neville, he missed out on 1/3 of the matches. Without Carvalho, Chelsea would have been reduced to fighting for UEFA spots.
LB – Evra. I didn’t pick Neville and Vidic because they were too much injured. Difference here is lack of competition. Riise could have been chosen, but he simply isn’t good enough.
RW – There’s noone else but Ronaldo.
CM – Essien. Despite his employment in defense, this guy is the real deal in midfield.
CM – Scholes. His creativity and vision made it so much easier for Ronaldo, Giggs and Rooney to kill off opponents.
LW – There’s no competition for Giggs in this spot. Robben is way too much injured, and neither Arsenal nor Liverpool have people worth mentioning. Lennon, unfortunately for him, plays on the right.
ST – Rooney. Incredibly as it was, he received quite a lot of criticism last season. Scoring 23 and assisting 11 he’s a auto-pick my friends. Berbatov’s stats simply weren’t as good.
ST – Drogba. Topscorer in the league and absolutely vital for Chelsea when the heat was turned on.
July 9th, 2007 @ 02:15christiano……….. u r simply the best
August 27th, 2007 @ 15:34luv u
Cech
Finnan
Terry
Rio
Shorey
Ronaldo
Gerrard
Scholes
Essian
Giggs
Rooney
August 29th, 2007 @ 23:30james
riise
dawson
terry
shorey
lennon
gerrard
Fabregas
ronaldo
drogba
October 11th, 2007 @ 17:49Berbatov
No Wayne Rooney? He got 25 goals & 16 assists in all competitions last season!
January 6th, 2008 @ 20:42i hope ronaldo break his legs soon. irritating piece of s***!
April 12th, 2008 @ 10:26cech
April 16th, 2009 @ 16:04johnson-ferdinand-terry-evra
essien
gerrard-lampard
ronaldo-j.cole
drogba
Schwarzer
Johnson Vidic Terry Evra
Mascherano
Ronaldo Riera
Gerrard
Rooney
April 28th, 2009 @ 18:05Van der sar,
June 7th, 2009 @ 08:25Johnson, Ferdinand, Carragher, Evra,
Ronald, Gerrard, Lampard, Giggs,
Rooney, Torres