Premier League: The Unlikely Team of the Season

With the Premier League drawing to a close, the team of the season is due to be announced any day. It will almost certainly be filled with superstars from the top six, with players from Liverpool and Man City likely to dominate.

But if you look a little further down the Premier League, there are plenty of players from the smaller clubs who have had excellent seasons. Many of these players are youngsters who have broken into the first team, some are more experienced players who have proved the doubters wrong.

So who are these unlikely lads? Let’s take a look.

Here’s my unlikely team of the season:

GK – Ben Foster (Watford)

What a season Ben Foster has had. He has been in outstanding form between the sticks, racking up seven clean sheets and helping Watford to tenth in the table.

He was so good against Brighton in February that fans were asked to vote on which one of Foster’s limbs deserved man of the match!

The 36-year-old is likely to lose out to Liverpool’s Alisson in the Team of the Season, but he won’t be too far behind.

RB – Matt Doherty (Wolves)

This guy has a real shot at making the actual team of the season, but I’m including him in here anyway because he’s just been so surprisingly good.

The first of three Wolves players to make the team, Doherty has taken to the Premier League like a duck to water. He has been marauding down the right flank all season, scoring three goals and creating a hatful of chances for his teammates.

Wolves will do well to hold onto Doherty, because with his form this season it wouldn’t be surprising if some of the big teams start circling in the summer.

LB – Ben Chilwell (Leicester)

Jose Holebas of Watford will feel hard done by to not make the team, but Ben Chilwell has just pipped him to the post.

The young full back has had a brilliant season, going from strength to strength and taking over the left back spot from Christian Fuchs.

Like quite a few players in this team, Chilwell may well not be at his current club come next season. Reports are linking him with a move to Man City, a move that would be very hard to turn down.

This season also saw Chilwell make his England debut, and if he keeps progressing like he has been, he could well be a starter in the upcoming Nations League finals.

CB – Aaron Wan-Bissaka (Crystal Palace)

Okay technically Wan-Bissaka is a right back, but I had to have Matt Doherty in the team so I’m putting the Crystal Palace youngster in at centre back.

At only 21, Wan-Bissaka already has it all. He’s quick, athletic, strong, composed on the ball and he absolutely loves a tackle. He has been a mainstay at the back for Palace all season, and It can surely only be a matter of time before Southgate comes calling with England.

It’s no wonder Wan-Bissaka is being linked with Man United, because this guy looks like he’s capable of playing at the very top level.

CB – Conor Coady (Wolves)

Let go by his beloved Liverpool in 2014, Connor Coady could have easily felt sorry for himself and slid down the leagues. Instead, he’s dusted himself off and found a new home – as the leader of a very impressive Wolves team that gained promotion into the Premier League.

There were people who doubted whether Coady could step up to the Premier League, but he has looked at home at this level from day one. Strong, commanding, and not afraid to put his body on the line, Coady is the kind of centre half that every team needs.

He will be the captain and leader of this unlikely 11.

DM – Declan Rice (West Ham)

Declan Rice wasn’t even in the starting West Ham team at the beginning of the season. Now, just eight months on, he’s the first name on the team sheet and a full England international.

He is the perfect player to sit in front of the back four. He has been breaking up play and driving the team forward all season, playing with a maturity well beyond his years.

At only 20, Rice has a very promising future ahead of him, and it’s surely only a matter of time before one of the big clubs comes calling.

The question is, who will win the race to sign him?

MC – James Maddison (Leicester)

This guy is destined for the very top. Still only 22, James Maddison has had a fantastic debut season in the Premier League with Leicester, scoring seven goals (three of them direct from free-kicks) and providing six assists for his team.

If Leicester can keep hold of him and make Youri Tielemans a permanent signing in the summer, they could be a real force next season under Brendan Rodgers. But if Christian Eriksen leaves for Madrid this summer, don’t be surprised if Spurs come in for Maddison.

And every player has their price.

MC – James Ward-Prowse

Abdoulaye Doucoure, Joao Moutinho and Luka Milivojevic were all in contention to fill this spot, but in the end I’ve gone for James Ward-Prowse.

The 24-year-old has had a very good season, scoring six goals for a team that doesn’t score many. He has stepped up the plate since Ralph Hasenhüttl took over and is a big part of why they have hauled themselves out of the relegation zone.

Ward-Prowse is a player that has shown potential for a long time, and this season he finally seems to be delivering.

RW – Ryan Fraser (Bournemouth)

What a season Ryan Fraser has had. His low center of gravity and electric pace has terrorized Premier League defenses all season for a free-flowing Bournemouth side.

The Scot has twelve assists to his name this season, with only Eden Hazard and Christian Eriksen registering an equal amount. He has also scored seven goals, his best return yet.

His excellent form hasn’t gone unnoticed. If reports are to be believed, Arsenal are ready to make a bid to bring Fraser to the Emirates.

LW – Dwight McNeil (Burnley)

A slightly left field choice here, but this lad has been a revelation for Burnley and I think he deserves his place.

It hasn’t been an easy season for the Clarets. It started with their miserable Europa League campaign, which resulted in them making a terrible start to the Premier League season. In fact, the only good thing to come out of their foray into Europe was the discovery of Dwight McNeil.

Like Fraser on the other flank, McNeil offers genuine pace and an excellent delivery. He has been vital in Burnley’s relegation battle, scoring three goals and providing five assists in just 17 games.

Still only 19, McNeil trained with the England senior team over the international break, and if he keeps developing the way he is, Burnley will struggle to hold onto him.

CF – Raul Jimenez (Wolves)

The Mexican has been a revelation for Wolves this season, with 12 goals and seven assists already to his name.

And fans of the Black Cats would have been delighted to hear the news recently that they have struck a deal to sign him permanently next season.

If Wolves add a few new faces in the summer and Jimenez can keep up this form next season, they could be genuine contenders for a Premier League top six place.