The PFA Premier League Team of the Season was named last week, sparking a wide debate as to the merits of some of the inclusions – and, indeed, the exclusions.
Chelsea and Tottenham dominated a team that also included Sadio Mané, David De Gea and Romelu Lukaku, though the likes of Marcos Alonso and Toby Alderweireld could be justified in thinking that they were overlooked.
BT Sport pundits Robbie Savage, Paul Ince, Chris Sutton and Rachel Brown ran the rule over the league this season, and came together to pick their own team of the campaign.
Many of the inclusions are in line with the official players’ side, David Luiz, Kyle Walker, N’Golo Kante, Dele Alli, Eden Hazard and Mané (though Ince fought for Kevin De Bruyne), but the rest of the names are different.
In fact, even the formation is different. The PFA stuck with a traditional 4-4-2, but BT’s pundits have gone for a 3-4-3, which has come back into fashion in a big way this season.
Alongside Luiz in the defence are Spurs duo Alderweireld and Jan Vertonghen, with Walker and Marcos Alonso (in places of Danny Rose) operating as wing-backs. The rest of the midfield remains the same, as do the wing pairing of Hazard and Mané, though they selected Manchester United’s Zlatan Ibrahimovic as a lone striker in place of both Harry Kane and Romelu Lukaku. Brown opted for Lukaku but was outvoted 3-1.
Tom Heaton, meanwhile, was selected as the goalkeeper. The Burnley man has been instrumental in the Clarets’ survival campaign in the Premier League this season and though Ince and Sutton voted for Chelsea’s Thibaut Courtois, Savage shouted them down (primarily by pointing out the former England internationals’ horrible managerial records) and wrote Heaton’s name down onto the board anyway.
Our #BTSportScore pundits have picked their Team of the Season!?
Agree with their XI? Let us know of any changes you’d make… pic.twitter.com/N3YmaULu7y
— BT Sport Score (@btsportscore) April 27, 2017
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Joining us on the Mixer football podcast this week is Shamrock Rovers defender Roberto Lopes, in addition to our usual review of the latest round of League of Ireland action.
https://soundcloud.com/punditarenairishfootball/roberto-lopes-speaks-about-shamrock-rovers-season-and-much-more
Read More About: bt sport, chris sutton, david luiz, dele alli, eden hazard, jan vertonghen, kyle walker, N'Golo Kante, paul ince, rachel brown, robbie savage, sadio mane, toby alderweireld, tom heaton, zlatan ibrahimovic
