Premier League - Team of the week

Eurosport - Mon, 12 Jan 14:50:00 2009

The irrepressible Ryan Giggs is one of six Manchester United players who make our team of the week, with an equal number of Chelsea stars shamed in the flops XI.

FOOTBALL Ryan Giggs - 0

HOW IT WORKS

We tot up the marks out of 10 awarded in five national newspapers - The Sun, The Mirror, The Mail, The Times and The Guardian - to create a total out of 50. 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

TOTW goalkeeper Jussi Jaaskelainen was a busy man at the Emirates, keeping Arsenal at bay for 84 minutes as they pummelled a Bolton side who appeared allergic to attacking thought.

Jaaskelainen is protected by a Manchester United monopoly in defence, after Jonny Evans, Nemanja Vidic and Patrice Evra put in fine displays against Chelsea.

In midfield, Mikel Arteta of Everton is rewarded for his stunning free-kick against Hull with a berth alongside the excellent Scott Parker of West Ham, with the consistently impressive Ashley Young on one flank and that man Cristiano Ronaldo on the other.

The star of the show is Giggs (pictured), however, who was on inspired form at Old Trafford.

Up top Craig Bellamy is rewarded for a well-taken goal against former club Newcastle with a place alongside Wayne Rooney.

Team of the week (3-5-2):

GK: Jussi Jaaskelainen (Bolton) - 34

DF: Jonny Evans (Manchester United) - 39

DF: Nemanja Vidic (Manchester United) - 39

DF: Patrice Evra (Manchester United) - 38

RM: Cristiano Ronaldo (Manchester United) - 35

CM: Ryan Giggs (Manchester United) - 41

CM: Scott Parker (West Ham) - 41

CM: Mikel Arteta (Everton) - 39

LM: Ashley Young (Aston Villa) - 38

FW: Wayne Rooney (Manchester United) - 39

FW: Craig Bellamy (West Ham) - 38

FLOPS OF THE WEEK

A bad weekend for Chelsea is compounded by the inclusion of no less than six sorry Blues in the FOTW.

Arsenal should also be embarrassed with the selection of Abou Diaby and Denilson in midfield, reflecting their woeful inability to break down a Bolton side who looked like a non-league outfit on a damage-limitation exercise.

Tottenham's Roman Pavlyuchenko continues his miserable campaign with another run-out in attack, to be partnered by Didier Drogba of Chelsea.

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

GK: Scott Carson (West Bromwich Albion) - 25

RB: Jose Bosingwa (Chelsea) - 26

CB: Ricardo Carvalho (Chelsea) - 26

CB: John Terry (Chelsea) - 27

LB: Ashley Cole (Chelsea) - 27

RM: Steed Malbranque (Sunderland) - 24

CM: Abou Diaby (Arsenal) - 19

CM: Denilson (Arsenal) - 24

LM: Deco (Chelsea) - 24

FW: Didier Drogba (Chelsea) - 20

FW: Roman Pavlyuchenko (Tottenham) - 23

TEAM OF THE SEASON (minimum 10 starts)

There are two changes to the TOTS this week, with Liverpool's Steven Gerrard replacing Frank Lampard in midfield and the affable Craig Bellamy taking the shirt off Geovanni's back to partner Wayne Rooney up front.

We'll check out the stats, but it seems likely Bellamy is the first West Ham player to feature in the TOTS since Bobby Moore in the 1965/66 season.

GK: Shay Given (Newcastle United) - 34.62 average

RB: Jose Bosingwa (Chelsea) - 33.05

CB: Michael Turner (Hull City) - 33.71

CB: Martin Laursen (Aston Villa) - 33.84

LB: Patrice Evra (Manchester United) - 32.63

RM: Antonio Valencia (Wigan Athletic) - 33.84

CM: Xabi Alonso (Liverpool) - 34.63

CM: Steve Gerrard (Liverpool) - 34.5

LM: Ashley Young (Aston Villa) - 34.02

FW: Wayne Rooney (Manchester United) - 34.13

FW: Craig Bellamy (West Ham) - 33.92

FLOPS OF THE SEASON (minimum 10 starts)

Darren Bent can't get a game anywhere at the moment. The Tottenham bench-warmer has been replaced in the FOTS team by Stoke's hapless striker Dave Kitson, who is yet to score this season in 10 league starts.

Andre Ooijer of Blackburn is the other new face this week, replacing Jonas Olsson of West Brom despite the fact his game was called off.

GK: Heurelho Gomes (Tottenham Hotspur) - 29.6 average

RB: Benoit Assou-Ekotto (Tottenham) - 28.27

CB: Andre Ooijer (Blackburn) - 28.47

CB: Fabricio Coloccini (Newcastle) - 28.67

LB: Jose Enrique (Newcastle) - 26.08

RM: Julien Faubert (West Ham United) - 27.67

CM: Keith Andrews (Blackburn Rovers) - 28.23

CM: Amdy Faye (Stoke City) - 27.43

LM: Chris Brunt (West Bromwich Albion) - 27.42

FW: Roman Pavlyuchenko (Tottenham Hotspur) - 26.23

FW: Dave Kitson (Stoke) - 27.2

Will Tidey / Eurosport

Comment 54 - 73 of 73

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  1. Just a quick note on Berbatov.
    While it is true that this week he wasn't great, it just happens that his goal was close to vital for MU.
    He might have scored just 5 goals so far in Premier League, but he also has 8 assistances. So #65, before giving your opinion about what an attacker should do, watch some games and try to follow the game. Until recently, Berbatov didn't play all the time as a full forward and almost every attack passed through him. He is a team player and builds MU's game. (Unlike Teves, who has lots of energy and that is about it - can't make a single pass).
    I only wonder when would Ronaldo stop omitting Berbatov and start passing to him not only when stuck with no other option.
    Forzza ManU

    From Edoardo K, on Sun 18 Jan 11:10PM
  2. how in the world is Pav a flop? this is an outrage. Romka goes to england, leaving behind his friends and his life style, and this is what he gets? He already scored more than 7 goals only being in Tottenham for a few months. Yet hes still called a flop. In Spartak Moskva he was well appreciated, it is sad to c how some people here are so unappreciative. GO PAVLYUCHENKO!

    From elly, on Sun 18 Jan 6:20PM
  3. I really dont understand why there is so much bitterness, surely we all love football and as such we should be adult enough to recognise good play from members of other teams. I am a Liverpool Supporter but I feel that any team of the season that doesn't include Vidic has somehow missed the mark.

    From Nigel M, on Sun 18 Jan 8:33AM
  4. Zaki's a great player. But his form lately has been bad.

    From Chris C, on Sat 17 Jan 9:45PM
  5. I think Amr zaki should be the season's best forward

    From madzoka.bazoka, on Sat 17 Jan 7:52PM
  6. Dimitar Berbatov should be the best player of the week and of the year. His talent is superb and magnificent. No one wonder why Ferguson always play him and his worth a lot of money he deserves. Berbatov is the best!

    From Maria Teresa, on Sat 17 Jan 3:39PM
  7. Well done Manu, but don't forget you lost to Derby

    From Augustine, on Fri 16 Jan 6:59PM
  8. lol go stina

    From LeeWhirligig VI, on Thu 15 Jan 11:49AM
  9. vittori0 - Girls don't know anything about football? What a boring stereotypical opinion. Berbatov, right, lets face facts. Every game from now on, watch him because you obviously haven't been. He is a striker and yet all the midfielders are doing most of the running and getting into goal scoring positions. When you look at Berbatov, he is constantly flat footed and gets the hump when he doesn't receive the ball to his static feet. That is NOT an all round player. He's only scored 4 goals in 18 games. Sure.. thats REAL talent for a striker right there. THIS IS THE REASON HE'S NOT IN TEAM OF THE WEEK. He's not doing his job, simple as.

    From Stina, on Thu 15 Jan 9:03AM
  10. Tiredofthegreed - Well said sir. Thousands (including mine) of other people's sentiments exactly.

    From wilson259, on Thu 15 Jan 8:28AM
  11. Comment 20 - Ferguson is not running scared from anyone mate.Benitez and his 'facts' outburst was a nice try at dislodging Fergusons preparations,but unfortunately for him, Liverpool failed to beat Stoke and United beat Chelsea,thus making him look very silly.As for glory hunting fans? 75% seems to be a confident claim. Have you been conducting a poll to obtain this figure? Liverpool don't have any of those do they? Seeing the coach loads of fans from all over UK and Europe parked up outside Anfield on a match day, surely they haven't, by some freaky coincidence,all turned up on the same day and parked in the same area of Liverpool to enjoy a day trip taking in the tourist attractions of the city centre,have they?
    Grow up. ALL teams have a group of fans who are not from the local area of where the team they support are based, some teams just attract more than others. It's a @#$% and dated point made by people who haven't got to grips with the fact that football is a global game, and as a result people from the far outreaches of the planet will have a favourite team which they follow because they happen to have seen them on television.
    You also manage to contradict yourself in your comment by managing to claim that LFC will always be the greatest team in England,and then saying at the bottom of your entry that Liverpool staying top will reaffirm them as so, thus meaning, logically, Liverpool currently are NOT the greatest team in England.They may be the most successful team in England, but this is not the sole factor by which greatness can be judged. Your own fans have soured the name of the club both home and abroad, and with fans being the heart and soul of all football clubs,then surely any claim LFC have to GREATNESS is diminished somewhat.
    And yes,I am a Manchester United fan,and I do have a season ticket (21 years),and I come from Salford,and I am old enough to remember my team being relegated,and not once did changing allegiance to City cross my mind.

    From tiredofthegreed, on Thu 15 Jan 1:06AM
  12. NOTHING MAN - Read this weeks Team ofthe Season very carefully At right-midfield you will note the name Antonio Valencia who plays for Wigan Athletic!I hope a trip to specsavers isn't called for.

    From wilson259, on Wed 14 Jan 3:57PM
  13. i think that robbin van persie deserves a place in the best 11.he has done a nice job during this season.

    From Deniz T, on Wed 14 Jan 3:19PM
  14. Simple : Just put the whole Man Utd team up for team of the season, and joint flops of the season : Liverpool & Chelsea

    From Tonytonytonytonytony, on Wed 14 Jan 2:20AM
  15. i think Park J.S deserves a place in the team of the week,,,,,,,the guy was just toooooo gud

    From kingsley, on Tue 13 Jan 9:18PM
  16. I think all the chelsea players who played the sunday's game should have been in the floops of the week,the all fu!!!c!!ked up and I'm still thinking why they are not yet in the floops of the week. because in that game I saw chelsea players coming on the field but I couldn't see them playing the ball but man. united.

    From madelphine, on Tue 13 Jan 1:41PM
  17. Benitez should be the manager of the floops team of the week, coz the mind game played by the {profesor} fergie worked well, cameon alex go for our hatrick. Hussin Kakuma Kenya

    From hassmuunir, on Tue 13 Jan 8:56AM
  18. i thing park is deserve to be the man.....u can see how he play.good cross,faster to win the ball...n he is everywhare up n down left n right......no wonder this season Alex put him in 1st squad...the only thing he cant do well is shoot on gool...

    From Monkey L, on Tue 13 Jan 8:36AM
  19. A quick point about Liverpool. Thet have NEVER won the premier league as it stands in it's present format. They won the old English First Division when matches played resulted in 2 points for a win and 1 point for a draw. They managed this by winning their home games and playing for boring draws away from home ( a team full of Lucas's if you like always passing a few yards and mostly backwards). Since the point system changed, they have not even been able to put in a realistic challenge most seasons always petering out towards the end. Which is exactly what they will do this season. GW

    From wilson259, on Tue 13 Jan 8:34AM
  20. i think park should be in.very industrious.can play midfield or wide.also defends a lot.

    From arekay, on Tue 13 Jan 7:45AM
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