The Alternatives
The Professional Footballers Association (PFA) announced their Team of the Year this week with some notable omissions. With only five teams represented out of 20 in the competition, we thought we would throw up an alternate Best XI.
Hugo Lloris // Tottenham
Producing the most (equal) clean sheets so far this season and conceding the least amount of goals, you would have thought that Lloris was a lock in the actual Team of the Year. Somehow the Frenchamn was overlooked in favour of Manchester United's stopper David de Gea.
Lloris has produced season-after-season now for Tottenham and Daniel Levy must be constantly knocking back offers from rival clubs for the French number one. Lloris would fit seamlessly into any of the top tier teams in Europe.
Cesar Azpilicueta // Chelsea
Regarded by many to be unlucky not to make the original PFA Team of the Year, Azpilicueta has built a reputation of stability and reliability in Chelsea's squad.
This season, his tackling has carried a 75% success rate and averaging less than one foul per game.
Jan Vertonghen // Tottenham
Another key to Tottenham's defence this season has been the partnership of Belgium International's Vertonghen and Toby Alderweireld. Although Alderweireld doesn't make the cut, Vertonghen's consistency and management of the defensive line warrants him a spot in our side.
Virgil Van Dijk // Southampton
The big Dutchman has had a steady rise since his arrival from Celtic and now his stocks have never been higher. Its seems only a matter of time before he finds himself a new home with one of the top teams.
Van Dijk has been a rock for the Saints this season at the back and if their overall team performance had of been better, I am sure his name would have been included in the full list.
Marcos Alonso // Chelsea
His third attempt at English football seems to have paid dividends. The Spaniard has been consistent more so with his attacking flair but also in defence.
Moussa Dembele // Tottenham
Yet another Belgium amongst Tottenham's ranks, Dembele is thought by many to be the complete midfielder. His dribble completion rate ranks higher than Chelsea's Eden Hazard and his pass completion rate is above names such as Nemanja Vidic, Granit Xhaka and David Silva.
Still, Dembele goes virtually unnoticed. I suppose that can be easy with the likes of Alli, Kane and Eriksen in the same side. Very unlucky to miss the PFA team.
Phillipe Coutinho // Liverpool
With another season dogged by injury, Countinho lit up the Premier League in the early stages of the season but then fell away over the Christmas period. Along with Sadio Mane and Adam Lallana, they built Liverpool a great platform to launch their rise up the table.
Gylfi Sigurdsson // Swansea
Since Paul Clements arrival, Sigurdsson has flourished. Swansea's rise away from the relegation zone along with consistent performances from their key man has lifted the pressure off the Welsh club.
The Icelandic International has racked up 12 assists in the League (2nd best).
Alexis Sanchez // Arsenal
Nineteen goals and nine assists are apparently not enough to make the cut these days. The un-settled Chilean has had another fruitful season for the Gunners and deserving of a spot in the team.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic // Manchester United
Ibra was cut down this week with a season ending knee injury (probably from the weight of carrying his teammates all season) with the Red Devils losing their talisman for their late season push into the Champions League positions.
Leroy Sane // Manchester City
Sane slipped straight into the starting line-up for the Sky Blues and impressed from the get-go. The young German has been an attacking threat all season and at just the tender age of 21, massive things are to come if this sort of form continues.
