Blackburn ace David Bentley leads the way in our Team of the Week, while motor-mouth red card villain Javier Mascherano is a shoe-in for our Flops XI.

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

David Bentley confirmed his reputation as one of the most technically gifted midfielders in the country with another virtuoso performance against Wigan, and he was ably assisted by Roque Santa Cruz, who nabbed a brace. Didier Drogba's match-winning role in Chelsea's bludgeoning of Arsenal is also recognised, and Reading's Andre Bikey features in defence after he put his African Cup of Nations moment of madness behind him with two headed goals at home to Birmingham.

1. Roy Carroll (Derby County) - 40

2. Gretar Steinsson (Bolton Wanderers) - 35

3. Wilfried Bouma (Aston Villa) - 35

4. Andre Bikey (Reading) - 38

5. Jonny Evans (Sunderland) - 37

6. Mark Noble (West Ham United) - 38

7. David Bentley (Blackburn Rovers) - 45

8. George Boateng (Middlesbrough) - 38

9. Roque Santa Cruz (Blackburn Rovers) - 40

10. Wayne Rooney (Manchester United) - 38

11. Didier Drogba (Chelsea) - 42

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FLOPS OF THE WEEK

The Fleet Street scribes are quite happy to fan the flames following Javier Mascherano's controversial sending off at Manchester United, earning him the dubious honour of Flop of the Week just a week after being named in the Team of the Week for his performance in the 2-1 win over Reading last weekend. He's joined by fellow early bather Christopher Samba, while Scott Carson takes his place between the sticks after another afternoon to forget in Aston Villa's 1-0 home defeat to Sunderland.

1. Scott Carson (Aston Villa) - 18

2. Craig Gardner (Aston Villa) - 22

3. Radhi Jaidi (Bolton Wanderers) - 22

4. Christopher Samba (Blackburn Rovers) - 17

5. Zat Knight (Aston Villa) - 18

6. Javier Mascherano (Liverpool) - 12

7. Aaron Lennon (Tottenham Hotspur) - 22

8. Mille Sterjovski (Derby County) - 20

9. Rob Earnshaw (Derby County) - 22

10. John Utaka (Portsmouth) - 22

11. Shaun Maloney (Aston Villa) - 22

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TEAM OF THE SEASON (minimum 15 starts)

The gathering impetus of Chelsea's title challenge is reflected by the fact John Terry and Frank Lampard have muscled their not inconsiderable forms into our Team of the Season, at the notable expense of Arsenal rivals Kolo Toure and Cesc Fabregas.

1. Brad Friedel (Blackburn Rovers) - 33.23

2. Martin Laursen (Aston Villa) - 33.29

3. Joleon Lescott (Everton) - 34.02

4. John Terry (Chelsea) - 33.31

5. Richard Dunne (Manchester City) - 33.76

6. Frank Lampard (Chelsea) - 34.12

7. David Bentley (Blackburn Rovers) - 34.08

8. Steven Gerrard (Liverpool) - 34.24

9. Carlos Tevez (Manchester United) - 33.89

10. Wayne Rooney (Manchester United) - 35.68

11. Cristiano Ronaldo (Manchester United) - 35.52

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FLOPS OF THE SEASON

Michael Owen's goal in the home win over Fulham suggests he may not be a fixture in our Flops of the Season for much longer, but the assorted boo-boys that make up the rest of the team can content themselves with the knowledge that they will always be welcome here, even if their own fans would prefer them to disappear down a large hole.

1. Paul Robinson (Tottenham Hotspur) - 29.66

2. Chris Baird (Fulham) - 27.74

3. Jay McEveley (Derby County) - 26.31

4. Younes Kaboul (Tottenham Hotspur) - 27.52

5. Abdoulaye Faye (Newcastle United) - 28.1

6. Brynjar Gunnarsson (Reading) - 27.69

7. Alan Smith (Newcastle United) - 26.93

8. Robbie Savage (Derby County) - 28.11

9. Michael Owen (Newcastle United) - 27.68

10. Benni McCarthy (Blackburn Rovers) - 27.9

11. Eddie Lewis (Derby County) - 27.4

Tom Williams / Eurosport