Garth Crooks' Team of the Season: Typically weird

[jonesie]

Carson and Jaaskelainen both made easily as many shocking mistakes this season as Foster. All three were generally very good but made glaring howlers. Reina had a shocking start to the season. Eliminate all of those and it's down to Howard who was consistant but not oustanding all season or Cech. I have to say I think any of the above would be a fair enough shout.

Eboue has the talent but wasn't great this year. Best right back in the league - Finnan or Essien probably, but Essien deserves a midfield birth so Finnan gets the nod for me. not a great year for fullbacks.

Vidic was the best CB in the league by miles. Getting in the way of stuff as a central defender is a valuable skill. His short distribution is good and he is very dominant in the air. He also has to do the thinking for Ferdinand.

Agree with you about Gerrard and Tevez.

Can't recall a Jaaskelainen mistake (that may be down to the many pints I've had). I see what you are trying to say about Vidic, but for me he went missing in the big games. Bellamy cut him to pieces at Anfield, as did Henry at the Emirates and of course Milan in the CL semi.

Don't get me wrong he's a good CB, but I'd have Terry, Carra, Dawson and Carvalho ahead of him.

[Joe Le Toff]

Crooks is defnitely not the full ticket.

[AFII]

What can you say about Rio that has not already been said? He is the consummate defender, a player almost Alan Hansen-esque

[AFII]

Emmanuel is a prodigious talent, one of the best right-backs I have seen for some considerable time.

He is audacious in attack and uncompromising in defence. There are not many full-backs who can dive and feign injury with the same intensity and he has displayed that time and time again.

[Nic83]

Strangely enough, they all went for Gerrard, who had his very worst season for LFC this year, Essien should be in there.