Football England Premiership Team of the Season 2008-09

Manager: David Moyes (Everton)

Mark Schwarzer (Fulham)
This fella always seemed to be a little underrated and under valued at Middlesbrough and so it proved as he moved to Fulham on a free and was instrumental in their highest ever league finish while his former club dropped into the Championship.
Big, imposing, brave, agile and unflappable. Just what you want from a custodian.

Glen Johnson (Portsmouth)
This was the season when Johnson, always a talented lad, really seemed to come of age. He was excellent all season for Pompey, defensively and going forward, and had cemented his place in the England team by the end of the campaign.
The future looks very bright for Johnson although it must be very dubious whether that future will be at Fratton Park for very much longer.

Rio Ferdinand (Manchester United)
Ferdinand is the real kingpin of the United defence despite the massive attention given to Nemanja Vidic’s performances this season and he brings an extra authority and class to both his club and country.

Nemanja Vidic (Manchester United)
A formidable defender who was his normal combative self at the heart of the United back four while weighing in with his usual quota of goals. He was exposed by Torres at Old Trafford and Eto’o in the Champions League final, however, and he may face a more searching examination of his defensive abilities next season.

Patrice Evra (Manchester United)
Aside from a couple of trying afternoons at the hands of Tottenham’s Aaron Lennon the United full back had by far his most impressive season at Old Trafford and was an imposing presence all along the left hand side.

Steven Gerrard (Liverpool)
Once again Gerrard was Liverpool’s inspiration as the Anfield club finally managed to sustain a realistic title challenge. Continued to develop an outstanding understanding with Torres which made them the Premier League’s most potent combination.

Frank Lampard (Chelsea)
Lampard banged home his usual quota of goals but was more consistently effective in every aspect of the midfielders’ art throughout the season. Also gave improved performances in the England jersey to suggest he is a genuinely maturing player.

Stephen Ireland (Manchester City)
Ireland’s performances were nothing short of astonishing during a generally difficult season for nouveau riche City. Previously the midfielder had appeared to be bigger on attitude than ability but that was never the case this time around as he churned out a series of inspiring displays at the heart of the City midfield.
Ireland brought massive energy to his team but real quality as well and showed himself capable of both making and scoring goals.
City are a team desperate for a few superstars and it looks as though their first one may well have come from within the ranks.

Cristiano Ronaldo (Manchester United)
The sulking superstar was never quite as formidable as during the 2007-08 campaign but his goal tally was again impressive and his performances improved markedly at the end of the season when it really mattered.
His attitude continues to overshadow much of his football, however, and other United players certainly have to compromise their own performances to allow him his freedom.
We have no real choice but to pick him but it is with genuine reservations and if we really were in charge of him he would probably be on the next boat out to Madrid.

Wayne Rooney (Manchester United)
The complete opposite of his pampered, indulged team-mate Rooney became even more selfless in his efforts for United and ended up the season flogging himself up and down the touchline helping keep the opposition danger men in check as much as providing danger at the other end.
This attitude certainly helped his team but it would be nice to think that England’s best forward will be allowed to concentrate on developing that side of his game alone over the coming seasons while others do the midfield graft.

Fernando Torres (Liverpool)
Torres is an out and out goalscorer who confirmed his potency throughout the campaign. Lightening speed, sure control and lethal finishing combine to make him the ideal forward and his burgeoning understanding with Steven Gerrard provided one of the real highlights of the campaign.
The only thing that constrained him during 2008-09 were niggling injuries but if he can overcome these the prospect of silverware at Anfield in the near future looks highly likely.

Subs:
Jose Reina (Liverpool)
Joleon Lescott (Everton)
Michael Carrick (Manchester United)
Ashley Young (Aston Villa)
Nicolas Anelka (Chelsea)

Manager: David Moyes (Everton)
Moysie stays in charge of this team after getting the nod in 2007-08 as well. This was another season of improvement for Everton despite the fact that their resources give them no real right to be challenging the top four clubs.
Fifth place in the Premier League was backed up by a fine FA Cup run which saw Liverpool, Aston Villa and Manchester United defeated before eventual defeat to Chelsea in the final.
No manager gets more out of his players than Moyes but there is still the question of whether he has what it takes to handle individuals of a higher calibre. He doesn’t get the same spending money as the likes of Ferguson, Wenger, Benitez and whoever happens to be managing Chelsea in any given transfer window but he was still able to blow 15 million on Marouane Fellaini and while the lanky, ludicrously coiffured midfielder did a decent job he was not exactly what I would have wanted for that sort of money.