Thanks to the weirdly placed World Cup, the Premier League is on a six-week break mid-season, so this has prompted many people to create their team of the season so far.
The lads on Saturday Social on Sky Sports did theirs last week with Newcastle featuring heavily, and now our very own Alan Shearer has thrown in his two pence worth.
🌟 @alanshearer names his Team of the Season so far…
Do you agree with his picks? 🤔 pic.twitter.com/duzgHQhfs0
— Premier League (@premierleague) November 16, 2022
Five United players make the cut for Big Al but one thing he perhaps overlooked was Eddie Howe for Manager of the Season so far – Yes Arteta is doing an amazing job with his team sitting atop the league at Christmas, but Newcastle, who were staring relegation in the face 12 months ago are sitting in third. That’s a turnaround never seen before and that’s down to Eddie Howe. Perhaps he just didn’t want to seem overly biased.
Nick Pope makes the cut between the sticks which, let’s be honest, is a no-brainer (although Pickford will STILL get the nod ahead of him in Qatar for some reason). Two Mags are in the back four with Trippier and Schar in there with Saliba for Arsenal and Cancelo of Man City.
That’s a very strong back line for sure, but Botman hasn’t been in a losing team all season and has barely put a foot wrong. Which makes his exclusion from the Holland team frankly baffling, it must have come down to him refusing to link up with the Under 21s earlier in the season and not on form, because if it is on form/talent then expect Holland to win the World Cup without conceding a goal.
Who Makes Your TOTSSF Defence?
Schar - Al Got It Right
Botman - How Could It Not Be?
Bruno Guimaraes and Miguel Almiron are the other two to make the team in midfield along with Xhaka, De Bruyne and Maddison all pinging balls in to Erling Haaland. It’s hard to argue with any of that selection to be fair. Bruno and Miggy are more than deserving of their places in the team as are the others.
To be the most represented team in another Team Of The Season So Far just shows the immense job the lads are doing. Long may it continue.