Premier League - Team of the week: Deadly Dindane

Eurosport - Mon, 02 Nov 13:02:00 2009

Hat-trick hero Aruna Dindane is one of three Portsmouth players in our Team of the Week following the bottom-placed side's 4-0 thrashing of Wigan.

Aruna Dindane Portsmouth Imago - 0

HOW IT WORKS

We take marks out of 10 awarded to Premier League players from a selection of six national newspapers - The Sun, Daily Star, Daily Mirror, Daily Mail, The Times and the Guardian - then create an average and round to the nearest half. The top player in each position will be rewarded with a spot in the team of the week, while the worst scorers will be named and shamed in our Flops XI.

TEAM OF THE WEEK

Shay Given capped a typically commanding display in the Manchester City goal with a stunning penalty save to deny James McFadden what would have been the winning goal at St Andrew's.

The Irishman is joined by compatriot Stephen Carr, who belied his years by turning out a sterling performance as Birmingham kept a clean sheet against City. At left-back is Aston Villa's Stephen Warnock, who passed a late fitness test before producing a tireless all-action display at Goodison Park.

Jody Craddock netted a superb second-half brace from the back as Wolves drew 2-2 at Stoke, while Younes Kaboul was as assured defensively as he was dangerous going forward in Portsmouth's 4-0 thrashing of Wigan at Fratton Park.

In midfield, a second Portsmouth player steals the right-sided berth in the shape of Jamie O'Hara, who was a dynamic presence outwide for Paul Hart's side as they romped to victory, with Andy Reid on the other flank after his sublime free-kick helped Sunderland claw back a two-goal deficit at home to West Ham.

Graham Alexander is our man in the centre of midfield, and the Burnley skipper followed his 20th minute penalty with a low drive to beat Hull's Matt Duke from 25 yards in an inspired display from the 38-year-old.

At the point of a three-pronged attack is Dimitar Berbatov, whose exquisite flick and volleyed finish gave Manchester United the lead in their 2-0 victory over Blackburn, while Arsenal's Robin van Persie continued his exceptional run of form with a brace against Tottenham in the North London derby.

Portsmouth's Aruna Dindane makes up the side in the final forward slot after his emphatic hat-trick in Pompey's belligerent 4-0 thumping of Wigan - the Ivory Coast striker looked unstoppable as he rounded off his performance with a penalty in stoppage-time.

Team of the week (4-3-3):

GK: Shay Given (Manchester City) - 9

RB: Stephen Carr (Birmingham) - 7

CB: Jody Craddock (Wolves) - 8

CB: Younes Kaboul (Portsmouth) - 8

LB: Stephen Warnock (Aston Villa) - 7

RM: Jamie O'Hara (Portsmouth) - 7.5

CM: Graham Alexander (Burnley) - 8

LM: Andy Reid (Sunderland) - 8

RFW: Robin van Persie (Arsenal) - 8

CFW: Dimitar Berbatov (Manchester United) - 7.5

LFW: Aruna Dindane (Portsmouth) - 8.5

FLOPS OF THE WEEK

After conceding four goals against Portsmouth, Chris Kirkland is punished with a place between the posts in our Flops of the Week team.

Philipp Degen has been singled out from Liverpool's disastrous trip to Craven Cottage with the Swiss defender slotting in at right back, while Jlloyd Samuel's nightmare against Bolton, which included a first-half red card, sees him take the left-back berth.

Emmerson Boyce was dire at the back for Wigan, and he is joined by Tottenham's uncharacteristically sluggish Ledley King, who had an afternoon to forget at the Emirates Stadium.

Mohamed Diame was hugely ineffective on the right of midfield for Wigan, while Nani was utterly indifferent on the left for Manchester United. Tom Huddlestone was another to not do himself any favours against Arsenal, and he is joined by the much-derided Brazilian Lucas Leiva after his inauspicious display at Fulham.

Flops of the week (4-4-2):

GK: Chris Kirkland (Wigan) - 4.5

RB: Philipp Degen (Liverpool) - 4.5

CB: Emmerson Boyce (Wigan) - 4.5

CB: Ledley King (Tottenham) - 5

LB: Jlloyd Samuel (Bolton) - 4

RM: Mohamed Diame (Wigan) - 5

CM: Lucas Leiva (Liverpool) - 5

CM: Tom Huddlestone (Tottenham) - 4.5

LM: Nani (Manchester United) - 4.5

FW: Roque Santa Cruz (Manchester City) - 4.5

FW: Jason Scotland (Wigan) - 4.5

TEAM OF THE SEASON

Chelsea captain John Terry is one of three changes in the Team of the Season with Bolton's Gary Cahill dropping to the wayside.

Darren Fletcher, despite being confined to the bench for Manchester United against Blackburn, takes his place in midfield due to Gareth Barry's ratings taking a hit against Birmingham, while Robin van Persie's two goals against Tottenham see the Dutchman oust Craig Bellamy as Didier Drogba's strike partner.

Team of the Season (4-4-2, minimum five starts):

GK: Shay Given (Manchester City) - 7.21

RB: Glen Johnson (Liverpool) - 6.83

CB: Thomas Vermaelen (Arsenal) - 7.03

CB: John Terry (Chelsea) - 6.78 - NEW ENTRY

LB: Ashley Cole (Chelsea) - 6.78

RM: Cesc Fabregas (Arsenal) - 7.24

CM: Darren Fletcher (Manchester United) - 7.19 - NEW ENTRY

CM: David Dunn (Blackburn Rovers) - 7.18

LM: Ryan Giggs (Manchester United) - 7.17

FW: Robin van Persie (Arsenal) - 7.33 - NEW ENTRY

FW: Didier Drogba (Chelsea) - 7.63

FLOPS OF THE SEASON

The Flops XI sees two new entries this week.

Herita Ilunga endured another shoddy game at the Stadium of Light and he was lucky not to be shown a second booking with Steed Malbranque et al making him look very sluggish at left-back, while Nani finally makes the side after another shocking display for United against Blackburn.

But the title of worst player of the season so far stays with Hull flop Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink, who the papers universally thought was rubbish against Burnley and the Dutchman's pitiful ranking drops further this week.

Flops of the Season (4-4-2, minimum five starts):

GK: Carlo Cudicini (Tottenham) - 5.33

RB: Paul McShane (Hull City) - 5.28

CB: Ibrahima Sonko (Hull City) - 5.13

CB: Marc Wilson (Portsmouth) - 5.45

LB: Herita Ilunga (West Ham) - 5.52 - NEW ENTRY

RM: Greg Halford (Wolves) - 5.62

CM: Dean Marney (Hull City) - 5.72

CM: Marouane Fellaini (Everton) - 5.70

LM: Nani (Manchester United) - 5.60 - NEW ENTRY

FW: Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink (Hull City) - 4.82

FW: Andrew Johnson (Fulham) - 5.47

Eurosport

Comment 3 - 22 of 22

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  1. CHELSEA WIN 4-0 OVER BOLTON BUT NONE OF THEIR PLAYER IN­ TEAM OF THE WEEK...VERY2 SUPRISE

    From andrew, on Tue 3 Nov 9:46PM
  2. Vennegoor of hesselink shud not be in the flops of the­ season he hadone bad game thats it

    From ANDREA R, on Mon 2 Nov 11:36PM
  3. How can Fletcher be in the team without playing for­ sometime now

    From Ado, on Mon 2 Nov 8:11PM
  4. berbatov is finally getting realised

    From WALTER, on Mon 2 Nov 3:43PM
  5. I just love comedy football. Don’t you? I’ve found this­ funny new website. It’s all about a hapless football­ team and their idiot manager Benny The Ball. Try it for­ yourself . loserpoolfc – t v – match - season
    where­ you can follow
    all their hilarious antics as they­
    attempt to win the Champions League
    without winning a­ game.
    Try it for yourself
    and tell your friends.­
    Ha,ha, ha, ha, ha. (c: (c:

    From Stevie O Jay, on Mon 2 Nov 3:36PM
  6. No Fabregas & no Vermaelen? wtf?

    From njaria2004, on Mon 2 Nov 3:27PM
  7. Can you people not read? "We take marks out of 10­ awarded to Premier League players from a selection of­ six national newspapers - The Sun, Daily Star, Daily­ Mirror, Daily Mail, The Times and the Guardian - then­ create an average and round to the nearest half. The­ top player in each position will be rewarded with a­ spot in the team of the week, while the worst scorers­ will be named and shamed in our Flops XI."­ Eurosport don't make the choice, the British­ newspapers do...

    From Laurence, on Mon 2 Nov 3:15PM
  8. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

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    From jillduffy36, on Mon 2 Nov 2:50PM
  9. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    Where are Givens points for his penalty save? This is­ BS

    From Bobby 1988, on Mon 2 Nov 2:47PM
  10. team of the week? WHERE IS FABREGAS!!! that virtuoso­ and individual performance against spurs should earn­ him the best man for the week ofcourse. This is a­ complete JOKE,mts.

    From BMI, on Mon 2 Nov 2:33PM
  11. HaHAAAA hahaa haahaa is those guys in charge of writing­ this sh-it got to be smoking something­ awesome
    FABREGAS isnt in the team of the Week??? best­ goal and fastest of the season
    Neither any of chelsea­ players?? great performance

    From creed, on Mon 2 Nov 2:28PM
  12. stop it or his black head will grow like a pumpkin

    From BA777, on Mon 2 Nov 2:27PM
  13. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    ledley king is awesome

    From lukeburman, on Mon 2 Nov 2:20PM
  14. FAGREGAS scoring the fastest goal of the season so far­ was left out. This team of the week is never true....

    From amblugold, on Mon 2 Nov 2:12PM
  15. how anelka, drogba or ivanovic didnt make team of the­ week is beyond a joke. anyone who saw the bolton­ chelsea game would have seen how well these­ 3(particularly anelka) played

    From le.daniel18, on Mon 2 Nov 2:03PM
  16. again a joke. we won 4-0 and dont have a single player­ in the team of week. van persie didnt play that well­ and he's in it. anelka had a better game. berbatov­ done nothing! actually nothing!

    how has darren­ fletcher made it into team of the season?

    about time­ you sorted this out. every single wwek it is shocking.­ I know how its calculated but people that rate players­ in newspapers are useless

    From yip, on Mon 2 Nov 1:49PM
  17. Flops of the week- Liverpoo
    Flops of the­ season-Liverpoo

    From rafascrackingup, on Mon 2 Nov 1:39PM
  18. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    To: darth_zere. No surprise here. Because English­ people always favors English players first.

    From windwave, on Mon 2 Nov 1:37PM
  19. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    lol at McShane. dont even have to look you just know­ he'll be there

    From Bobo S, on Mon 2 Nov 1:29PM
  20. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

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