PFA Teams Of The Year 2010/11

Premier League:

Van Der Sar (Man Utd), Sagna (Arsenal), Cole (Chelsea), Vidic (Man Utd), Kompany (Man City), Nani (Man Utd), Nasri (Arsenal), Wilshere (Arsenal), Bale (Tottenham), Tevez (Man City), Berbatov (Man Utd).

Championship:

Kenny (QPR), Naughton (Leicester), Harte (Reading), Williams (Swansea), Morgan (Nottm Forest), Taarabt (QPR), Sinclair (Swansea), King (Leicester), Hoolahan (Norwich), Graham (Watford), Holt (Norwich).

League One:

Davis (Southampton), Calderon (Brighton), Harding (Southampton), Greer (Brighton), Fonte (Southampton), Pilkington (Huddersfield), Bennett (Brighton), Lallana (Southampton), Oxlade-Chamberlain (Southampton), Mackail-Smith (Peterborough), Wright-Phillips (Charlton).

League Two:

Lee (Chesterfield), Batt (Oxford), Skarz (Bury), Sharps (Shrewsbury), Branston (Torquay), Whitaker (Chesterfield), Ainsworth (Wycombe), Ryan (Accrington), Lowe (Bury), Law (Rotherham), Davies (Chesterfield).

Congratulations to all those players selected by their fellow professionals in the 'teams of the year' for the their respective leagues.
From what I understand the players are asked to submit their nominations in the early part of the calender year, some three months or so before the results are revealed - a strange arrangement but none the less that is how it works!

I would like to open up a debate on the players selected in the 'team of the year' for the Premier League.

In the Premier League I find it hard to understand how Blackpool's Charlie Adam, Scott Parker of West Ham and Tottenham's Rafael van der Vaart (right), failed to make the 'team of the year' despite all being nominated for the title of 'PFA Player of the Year' by the Professional Footballers' Association.

Has any player ever made the step up from Championship level to the Premier League look easier? Certainly Charlie Adam has made a mockery of the theory England's top flight is the toughest to crack in the world after taking to it like a duck to water. Nine Premier League goals would be a fine return for any midfielder, never mind one from a side embroiled in a relegation battle, but that is exactly what the Scot has achieved. Few if any possess a better range of passing than the former Rangers man, who also takes a deadly set-piece.

Should Avram Grant's West Ham team win their survival battle and stay afloat then no one will have had a greater impact than their talismanic midfielder Scott Parker.

Rafael van der Vaart, the 2003 European Young Player of the Year made a cracking start to his first season in the Premier League, but injury has restricted him to just 22 league appearances so far, although he has still managed to rattle in 10 goals and 6 assists to his name in that time. At £8m from Real Madrid on the final day of the August transfer window, Van der Vaart probably represents the 'value buy' of the season by Tottenham boss Harry Redknapp.

Kevin Nolan I personally think has had a wonderful season for Newcastle and deserves a mention, if not a place in the 'team of the year.'

In my opinion Everton's England international Leighton Baines (right) has had a truly outstanding season, and it seems tough on the lad that he did not make the 'team of the year' ahead of either Ashley Cole or Bacary Sagna.

Other defensive players who deserve a mention include Stoke's Robert Huth and Birmingham Roger Johnson. Both have had terrific seasons in leading their clubs to domestic cup finals.

I think Carlos Tevez and Dimitar Berbatov were deserved winners of the strikers berths. Of Tevez's 19 league goals this season, six have been winners – the highest in the top division. With a further six assists, the Argentinian has either scored or made more goals than anyone else. Bulgarian Berbatov's 22 goals so far this season make him the outright leading goalscorer.

Of the other strikers in the Premier League West Brom's Peter Odemwingie (right), the Russian born Nigerian has made a significant contribution, including 12 goals in his first season in the top flight, that has almost certainly helped The Baggies cement their place in the Premier League for another season.

Manchester United's Mexican striker Javier Hernandez has chipped in with a goal every other game for The Reds this season, and at just 22 years of age he looks like the he will only blossom further under the stewardship of Sir Alex Ferguson.

Aston Villa's Darren Bent and Liverpool's Andy Carroll will each be looking for 'big' seasons next term, following their big money moves this season from Sunderland and Newcastle respectively.

Finally, many congratulations to Gareth Bale (right), who was last night voted the 'Player of the Year' by the Professional Footballers' Association.
The 21-year-old, who has scored 11 goals in 36 club games this season, has proved to be without doubt the single most exciting player of the season. No one has thrilled us more this season than the pacey Welsh wing wizard.

Recent Previous Winners of the PFA Player of the Year:

2009/2010: Wayne Rooney
2008/2009: Ryan Giggs
2007/2008: Cristiano Ronaldo
2006/2007: Cristiano Ronaldo
2005/2006: Steven Gerrard
2004/2005: John Terry
2003/2004: Thierry Henry
2002/2003: Thierry Henry
2001/2002: Ruud van Nistelrooy
2000/2001: Teddy Sheringham
1999/2000: Roy Keane

Spurs have a chance to show their credentials - Betting News with Betfred

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Tottenham Hotspur can hammer another nail in Chelsea's Premier League title ambitions at White Hart Lane on Sunday, and given Spurs' recent matches there should be no shortage of entertainment in this London derby.

Harry Redknapp's side have impressed in both the Premier League and Champions League so far this season, with their European heroics overshadowing their domestic form on many occasions.

On Sunday they welcome a struggling Chelsea side, that have been knocked off the top of the Premier League table after failing to win any of their last four league games, and seen them collect just five points out of a possible 18, as well as losing in midweek to Marseille in a Champions League tie.

Considering how well Chelsea started the season they have seen a real contrast in fortunes and Spurs could heap more misery on them at White Hart Lane - with the home side priced at 9/5 in the football betting to take all three points.

Spurs boast a wealth of attacking prowess, which has been proven with their average of three goals a game in the Champions League group stages, and they are likely to pose great problems for a Chelsea defence that has looked more fragile in recent weeks, than they have done in a very long time.

Although Spurs have scored goals for fun at times this season, finding the net has been Carlo Ancelotti's problem throughout this poor run. They have not scored more than once in a Premier League game since the end of October and are 6/4 in the Premier League betting to win on Sunday, meaning they will need likes of Didier Drogba and Nicolas Anelka to step up.

Redknapp told 'Talksport' that Spurs are now at the same level as Arsenal, Manchester United and Chelsea - and if they are victorious this weekend then not many people can argue with this.

The veteran manager claimed Gareth Bale and Aaron Lennon can "cause anybody problems" and the strikers at his disposal mean he sets out to attack teams. Chelsea would need a real turnaround in fortunes to reverse their recent run, and Spurs can close to within one point of their opponents with victory over their fellow Londoners.

My Tip of the Weekend:

Spurs'attacking prowess will prove too strong for Chelsea, and Tottenham to be winning at both half-time and full-time at 4/1 looks great value with Betfred.
Also with Jermaine Defoe fit again the 6/4 on offer with Betfred that he will score at anytime in the match looks a steal.

Sunday 12th December: Tottenham v Chelsea, kick-off 4pm, Live on Sky Sports 1.

By Drew Swainston
(Guest writer from Betfred on behalf of Beer Footy and Birds!)

The Green-Eyed Monster heads to White Hart Lane - Betting News with Betfred

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It is a case of those ' who want to' facing those ' who already have' at White Hart Lane on Sunday when Liverpool take on Tottenham Hotspur.

The North London side finished in the top four last season and have now qualified for the last 16 of the Champions League after some inspirational performances - and their form is reflected in their price this weekend, 11/10 to beat the red half of Merseyside.

How jealous Reds fans must be as they are forced to make do with a place in the Europa League competition, as well as seeing their side faltering in the Premier League. Indeed, the Premier League best odds make Liverpool 4/1 to finish in the top 4 this season compared to the 9/4 on offer for Spurs to do likewise.

Roy Hodgson will be hoping that Spurs have an off day after their Champions League win over Werder Bremen on Wednesday night. For inspiration he is likely to look at some of Spurs' previous results following their midweek European exertions, which include defeats at the hands of both Wigan and Bolton.

Liverpool are looking to end a poor run of form on the road, where they have taken just three points from 21 this season, and have won only twice away from Anfield since December 2009.
They are 13/5 in the football betting to take all three points on Sunday.

What must be of worry to Reds' fans is how regularly their side have conceded goals on the road, and now they travel to face a Spurs team that has been free-scoring in recent weeks.

Earlier in the week Christian Poulsen said Liverpool need to get "better and better" away from home, and they can be sure that their top four credentials will be truly tested at White Hart Lane on Sunday.

Spurs are capable of ripping any side apart going forward with their free-flowing attacking football, just look how they destroyed defending European Champions Inter Milan, so this is a daunting examination for Liverpool.

Harry Redknapp's side look full of confidence and self-belief - the exact opposite to Hodgson's troubled troops. A lot will depend on how Liverpool cope with the man-of-the-moment, Welshman Gareth Bale, who is 8/1 to score the first goal, and the buy of the season so far, Dutchman Rafael van der Vaart.
It seems that if you can nullify their presence in midfield, then you are a huge step closer to getting a result over the Londoners.

My Tip of the Weekend:

Spurs have looked in great scoring form, but they are also susceptible to conceding, and the same can be said of Liverpool, so even money with Betfred for more than 2.5 goals in the game seems a good option. Also with leaky defences on both sides Betfred's 4/5 that both teams will score looks very tempting.

Sunday 28th November: Tottenham v Liverpool, kick-off 4pm, Live on Sky Sports 1.

By Drew Swainston
(Guest writer from Betfred on behalf of Beer Footy and Birds!)