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English Premier League: PFA Team of the Year announced

By John-Patrick Quinn

LONDON, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 25: David Silva and Kevin De Bruyne of Manchester City celebrate after the Carabao Cup Final between Arsenal and Manchester City at Wembley Stadium on February 25, 2018 in London, England. (Photo by Catherine Ivill/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 25: David Silva and Kevin De Bruyne of Manchester City celebrate after the Carabao Cup Final between Arsenal and Manchester City at Wembley Stadium on February 25, 2018 in London, England. (Photo by Catherine Ivill/Getty Images) /
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The PFA Awards have revealed the Premier League XI for this season. There was a mix of obvious choices and some more puzzling ones.

The PFA’s starting eleven for this year features five Manchester City players. Kyle Walker, Nicolas Otamendi, David Silva, Kevin De Bruyne, and Sergio Aguero lead the eleven. Harry Kane and Mo Salah complete a front three that picks itself. Christian Eriksen joins the two passing geniuses from the Citizens while his Spurs teammate Jan Vertonghen is a featured centerback. The two Spaniards David De Gea and Marcos Alonso complete the side.

For six players, it is their first inclusion in the PFA team of the year. Many players vote for the players they play against week-in and week-out for one of the most prestigious personal accolades you can receive. However, there have been a couple of inclusions in this season’s vote that might leave you questioning the judgment of those players.

https://twitter.com/PFA/status/986535005903048710

Marcos Alonso

I think Marcos Alonso might have been as surprised as anyone to find himself included in the eleven. In a year that has featured more three at the back formations than any in recent history, it’s a bit surprising that the team of the year formation is a 4-3-3. If you were to forget about positions and just list the best players, I’m unsure that any fullbacks other than Kyle Walker and Kieron Trippier would even make it into the top 25. It would be hard to put any in the top 11 in terms of overall performances this season.

I’ve been a fan of Alonso’s since his early days in La Liga. He’s in the eleven and for example, Leroy Sane isn’t, which is a bit bizarre. Having developed myself emotionally enough to see Man United’s team without the inherited abject hatred of my upbringing, I can even comfortably say that Ashley Young has been far superior to Alonso. I think amongst players, Young’s unsportsmanlike conduct probably didn’t win him many friends or a spot on this team.

Andy Robertson and Ben Davies may well also be feeling like they’d be better off brushing up on scoring free kicks than stopping and supplying crosses into the box.

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