Breaking The Offside Trap 05.27.08: Team of the Season

Posted by Matt Snelling on 05.27.2008

With an enthralling Champions League final in the can, and the winners and losers of the main European leagues decided, it's time to look back and see who's star shined brightest with my European team of the season 2007/2008!



1. Goalkeeper – Iker Casillas (Real Madrid)

Once again for his club he has been the very model of consistency, and helped to inspire Madrid to retain their La Liga title. He still may lack the all round ability of Petr Cech or the presence and aura of Ginaluigi Buffon, yet on the form of this season he has been the best goalkeeper in the world. Amazing reflexes, sharp reaction times and the ability to intimidate a forward when through on goal have more than made up for some of his weaknesses in the air. Statistics have shown that he is the most shot at ‘keeper in the league thus proving his credentials to be considered amongst the world's best. It is easy to forget that the man is only 26 years of age, yet has been first choice at the Bernabeu for the last 8 years. It is hard to remember a mistake the man makes though, as it is this unbelievably high level that he routinely achieves that has helped him get to where he is.



2. Right Back – Sergio Ramos (Real Madrid)

If you are a supporter of a football team, Sergio Ramos is everything you want to see epitomised in one of your players. Fiercely competitive, and a ferocious tackler he now seems to have found the natural position for himself at right full back where he is able to maraud up the touchline and prove as useful an attacking force as he defensively. Signed for around £20 million in August 2005 from Sevilla he was initially inconsistent and at centre back often suffered from momentary lapses in concentration, not to mention ill discipline. Since being moved to right back he has blossomed and has been in outstanding form this season where his crossing (he has 10 assists in all competitions) and goal threat have added an extra dimension to Real's play. His importance to the team has been shown by the fact that as well as being the team's right back he also operates effectively as the team's right sided midfield player, a testament to his strength, stamina and no little lack of drive.



3. Left Back – Gael Clichy (Arsenal)

The position of full back in the modern game is now vastly different to what it once was. Players now in this position are required to offer far more than standing on the halfway line when their team has a corner. They are arguably the fittest athletes on the team, often asked to act as auxiliary wingers to provide width and adventure along with their usual defensive responsibilities. Clichy this season has shown both of these qualities in droves. There are fewer fitter players in the modern game, and the 22 year old Frenchmen possess blistering pace. This season though he has matured and developed into a much more well rounded defensive performer whilst still maintaining his natural inclinations to attack. In a season where Arsenal have often produced some enthralling football, Clichy has offered wide diversity to their attack by offering quality crosses into the box, many for Emmanuel Adebayor to head home. When Ashley Cole left The Emirates for London rivals Chelsea, Clichy stepped up and made the left back position his own. The performance's of the full back this season mean that few Arsenal fans still lament the loss of one of their former hero's.



5. Centre Back – Ezequiel Garay

The inclusion of a Racing Santander player in this line up is likely to raise a few eyebrows, yet the success the club as a whole has achieved this season is nothing short of remarkable. Next season the side will be playing European football after a hugely impressive 6th place finish in La Liga. The cornerstone of this success has been based on a sound and miserly defence, one that has only conceded 41 goals. It is just as well considering the team only scored 42, but this shows just how impressive the side's defensive capabilities have been. The rock of the team is undoubtedly the stylish and influential Argentinean centre back Ezequiel Garay. Dominant in the air and physically powerful, a lack of pace is more than made up for by his ability to read the game and cut out danger before it builds. The man has also proven to be a threat at the other end of the table, in his first full season in Europe in 2006/07 he netted 9 times, the skill and ability he possess being shown with his talent from dead ball situations. In the future Garay will have the opportunity to showcase his considerable strengths to a wider audience and show he has what it takes against the worlds best as he has signed a six year contract with Real Madrid. Next season he will once again be on loan at Racing, but this is a man who could well be the bedrock of club and country for years to come.



6. Centre Back – Rio Ferdinand (Manchester United)

Ferdinand has long been considered something of an heir apparent to English World Cup winning captain Bobby Moore. Starting out at Moore's beloved West Ham, Ferdinand was earmarked for greatness, as a central defender who possessed the skills on the ball and the vision and awareness that would mix continental skills with English strength. For many years flashes of brilliance were mixed with extreme dips in concentration, and there were times when a supreme confidence in his own ability lost out to a conceited arrogance that seemed to stop him fulfilling his great potential. The last 2 title winning seasons at Old Trafford, where his partnership with Nemanja Vidic has prospered have seen Ferdinand step up, as a defender and as a leader. This season has seen him wearing the captain's armband for the majority of games and the increased responsibility has raised his game. Fast, strong and comfortable on the ball he is rarely ruffled or beaten. Over the past 9 months he has been the best centre back in the Premier League and may finally be living up to that vaunted reputation.



4. Central Midfield – Esteban Cambiasso (Inter Milan)

Inter Milan may have retained their Serie A title this season yet at times they have been far from impressive, often struggling though games. Which all just serve to highlight the high standards of the performances put in by Esteban Cambiasso in central midfield. The former Real Madrid player has been the linchpin of the side and has evolved from being a general defensive midfielder to a far more influential role, dictating the tempo at which Inter play. He has also this season added far more attacking skills to his repertoire becoming a far more dangerous force in the final third of the pitch. At home and abroad this season he has found the net 8 times showing how much more of an all round player he has become. In many games this season he has been the driving force behind Inter getting a result, showing leadership and determination on the pitch that has dragged team mates along with him, typified by his man of the match performance in the Milan derby back in December in which he scored. The position of a holding midfield player has been an en vogue one in recent times, yet Cambiasso has shown how much more a player can bring to this role, by being the driving force behind his entire team.



8. Central Midfield – Cesc Fabregas (Arsenal)

For much of this season it looked like Arsenal were on course to celebrate success, and that they would be doing it in a style that would have purists drooling. The key factor in both was the form of the young Catalan in central midfield. Everything at Arsenal goes through Fabregas. He is the fulcrum of the team, dictating the tempo, setting the pace. He is the man who makes the side tick and whose vision and range of passing belies his relative inexperience in years. He looks like a veteran on the pitch, someone who has played in the position for twenty years and is the jewel in the crown of Arsene Wenger's bright academy of young talent. When Arsenal sold Patrick Vieira in 2005, Fabregas emerged as the man who would lead the midfield and take the responsibility firmly on his young, yet mature shoulders. The form he began this season in was nothing short of blistering, with a flurry of goals and he is the leading assist maker in the league. Like the Arsenal side as a whole, the 21 year old could not keep up the imperious standards he had set himself and the team faltered in the final straight. This should not take away however from a player whose influence is ever growing, and who is arguably the most talented central midfield player in European football today.



7. Right Wing – Cristiano Ronaldo (Manchester United)

There's not really much to say that hasn't already been said when it comes to Cristiano Ronaldo this season. All the plaudits, superlatives and accolades thrown his way have been very much deserved, as the Portuguese winger has left defences, goalkeepers and goal scoring records trailing in his wake. This season Ronaldo has been the driving force in a stunning double for Manchester United, as they added the Champions League in Moscow to the league title secured a week or so earlier. The sheer volume of goals, form a man considered as a winger, over 40, shows how huge his contribution has been. Right foot, left foot, headers, volleys and swerving free kicks – the man has scored them all. He has also this season taken games by the ‘scruff of the neck', imposing his will and dominating opponents. No longer just considered an extravagant show pony he has matured into a player who has now dictated a whole new style of playing on his manager Sir Alex Ferguson, forcing the Scot to play him as part of a front three rather than as an orthodox right winger in a 4-4-2 formation. Comparisons this season have been drawn with the late George Best, another flying winger who wore the number 7 shirt at Old Trafford and it is Bests' goal scoring records from that position that Ronaldo has gone on to break. If the man continues in the same form then there is reason to believe that this summer he may complete a unique personal hattrick with Euro 2008 success with Portugal.



11. Left Wing – Sergio Aguero (Atletico Madrid)

Atletico Madrid have finally returned to what they see as the ‘holy grail' of Champions League football. This has been in no small part due to the immense contribution and mesmerising skills of the 19 year old attacking midfield sensation from Argentina, Sergio ‘El Kun' Aguero. Cross town rivals Real may have secured the league title and another pint sized Argentinean, Lionel Messi may well be the best young player in the world yet the star of Aguero has outshone both this season. His form has been simply put, sensational, and he has stepped up to take on the mantle of a hero for the Atletico fans in the wake of Fernando Torres departure for Liverpool at the beginning of the season. Like many a hyped young player joining a new league and a new country he initially struggled last season, weighed down by becoming the club's most expensive ever player costing around 20 million Euros'. This year though no-one could accuse the youngster of shirking his responsibility. Madrid's success has been built firmly on the philosophy of attack and its here Aguero has been instrumental. The club were involved in some thrilling, high scoring games this season with Aguero notching an outstanding 20 goals in La Liga, as well as another 5 in Europe. Whether he continues to ply his trade at the Vicente Calderon is open to intense debate, but it is clear that the Champions League will benefit enormously from a young man who has been the stand out player in Spain this year.



9. Striker – Luca Toni (Bayern Munich)

They say the statistics don't lie, but they often have a case of obscuring the facts. In the case of Luca Toni however, the cold hard numbers tell you everything you need to know. Simply put Toni is a goal scoring machine. The big and powerful Italian forward made the move last summer to Bayern and the Bundersliga for around £7 million. Ever since he has looked nothing but a bargain, inspiring Bayern to a league and cup domestic double. 24 goals from 31 league starts, 10 goals in 11 UEFA cup appearances as well as 5 strikes in 6 of the qualifiers for Euro 2008 for his country spells out what a danger he has been this season. The so-called ‘old fashioned number 9' seems like a dying breed and Toni, not blessed with exceptional pace more than makes up for this with his aerial prowess, immense shooting power and the uncanny knack of always knowing where that goal is. He was a large part of Italy's world cup triumph of 2006, yet never really shined. Now though after proving himself abroad, the European Championships could really be his time to cement a reputation as one of the best strikers in the world and given the statistics he has wrapped up this season you would be hard pressed to bet against a Golden Boot coming his way this summer.



10. Striker – Fernando Torres (Liverpool)

Moving to another country, learning a new language or embracing a new culture is never easy, especially when you are still relatively young in this world. It is especially difficult when you are moving with a great weight of expectation on your shoulders and a lofty price tag. Fernando Torres however has taken all this in his stride and had no acclimatisation worries since landing in England. Expectation and pressure have been nothing new to Torres, for seven seasons he was the symbol of the Atletico Madrid team, the idol of the fans, the embodiment of the club. Yet for all the precocious talent there were always questions marks over how good he really was, after all in all his La Liga appearances he was not always prolific. Moving to Liverpool however and being removed from the pressure cooker at Atletico has actually helped him and given him the freedom to thrive. 33 goals in all competitions is the Spaniards best ever return, his lightning anticipation, adroit first touch and electrifying burst of acceleration mean he has lit up the Premiership this season. What is also striking is the strength and resolve he has shown. Doubters were quick to argue that the relentless hustle and bustle of English football would be too much for him yet he has taken any beatings by big centre half's doled out to him and come back for more. He still has the face of a boy yet he is proved this season to be very much ‘the man'. The most frightening thing for the rest? There is clearly much, much more to come.