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FORMATION: 4-4-2
GK: Joe Hart (Birmingham City)
Loaned out by Manchester City so they could make the most of their
new signing Shay Given, Joe Hart has done just as well for himself,
with a superior defensive record to show for it.
In 18 games, he has kept five clean sheets and conceded just 18
goals. Mark Schwarzer, Brad Friedel and Petr Cech run him close,
but Hart's rise to the occasion against the odds grabs him the
spot.
RB: Stephen Carr (Birmingham City)
As captain of the most overachieving team of the season so far,
with that achievement built largely on the success of a
rookie-laden defence in which he is the sole elder statesman,
Stephen Carr has made the right-back spot his own in this
team.
Admittedly, there has been a lack of strong challengers from the
bigger clubs as would have most likely been expected, but
consistency, solidity and leadership have made Carr well worth his
place.
CB: Richard Dunne (Aston Villa)
Another Manchester City 'reject' who is proving just what he can do
elsewhere. Richard Dunne has been the mainstay in a formidable
Aston Villa defence, and also bagged himself a couple of valuable
goals in a team that has, at times, desperately needed them to
maintain a rather fantastic start to the season.
He is a player who knows his limitations and is very much at home
within Villa's current system. It seems last year's dreadful run
was a mere exception to the rule of his outstanding consistency.
Martin O'Neill must take due credit for what was seemingly a gamble
that has paid off already, in spades.
CB: John Terry (Chelsea)
A World Cup year has brought out the best in England's captain on
the pitch, despite continued news and rumors that are said to be
compromising his position in his private life.
Chelsea's defense has been the best in the league, and with Petr
Cech still prone to some high-profile errors, considerable credit
for that must go to the defense, of which Terry has been its star
performer.
LB: Patrice Evra (Manchester United)
The most hotly-contested position so far, as Ashley Cole could
justifiably feel unlucky to be pipped by Patrice Evra at left-back.
It was a close-run, but ultimately decided by the individual
influence on the entire team, in addition to the circumstances in
which each player performed as well as they did.
After last season, in which the Frenchman was not consistently at
his best, he has, thus far this season, been the most fit and
superbly consistent of an injury-hit United back line, and also
proven as influential as ever attacking up the left flank.
RW: Aaron Lennon (Tottenham Hotspur)
There is now less and less talk of 'potential' when it comes to
Aaron Lennon, as he has racked up eight assists in 17 games, three
goals to boot and is regularly Spurs' most consistently threatening
player going forward.
He has also broken through in the national team and, keeping up
this kind of form, will surely make the right-wing slot and the
No.7 shirt his own in South Africa.
CM: Darren Fletcher (Manchester United)
There was never talk of potential with Darren Fletcher. Almost from
nowhere, even after being tempted to leave the club in months
prior, the Scotland international has now become as good as first
pick in midfield - particularly in big games.
His role in closing down opponents and also breaking forward to
score the odd goal - three for the season, including two in the
epic 4-3 Manchester derby victory - make him without doubt one of
the surprise performers of the season so far, edging Michael Essien
into this position on the over-achievement factor.
CM: Cesc Fabregas (Arsenal)
And if we were voting for a player of the season so far, there is
little to no doubt that Cesc Fabregas would be the runaway leader
in the polls. He is, as he usually does, leading the assists charts
with an exceptional 12 assists in 16 appearances, added to which he
has netted an impressive seven goals - many of them spectacular, as
well.
He's also captain of an Arsenal side many believe are overachieving
- he is their main strength and creative outlet, and within his
role in the team's system, is quite simply without a
weakness.
LW: Craig Bellamy (Manchester City)
There were arguments over the summer between Craig Bellamy and Mark
Hughes about former being deployed on the wing; but it was loyalty
to his manager and an eagerness to succeed that kept him there
despite the overwhelming influx of new strikers at Eastlands.
And it has been from left-wing that Craig Bellamy has been City's
player of a so-so season so far. His energy has been invaluable, as
has been his often overlooked terrific technique and eye for some
good goals. Let's see what new manager Roberto Mancini does with
the Welshman in part two of this Premier League season...
ST: Jermain Defoe (Tottenham Hotspur)
Jermain Defoe has been hitting the back of the net with regularity
all season - most notably when he bagged a record-equaling five
against Wigan Athletic. Indeed, he scores with some style and
incredible power.
A quite crucial penalty miss and a needless red card have blotted
his copy book to some extent, especially with Wayne Rooney, Darren
Bent, a half-fit Fernando Torres, and a surprisingly fit Louis Saha
all making good cases for inclusion. Ultimately, it has been Defoe
who has had the season to remember... so far.
ST: Didier Drogba (Chelsea)
In 15 games, Didier Drogba has scored 13 goals and provided eight
assists. Add to this the overall 'monster' factor - which,
unfortunately, does not translate statistically - and you have a
player who is unplayable. As much of a cliché as the term may be,
it has rarely been more appropriately applied than to the Ivory
Coast talisman.
Chelsea have been solid all-round - including the under-appreciated
and un-included Nicolas Anelka and Frank Lampard, whose goal
returns have dropped from last season - but the one stand-out
performer, in big games with big goals as always, has been Drogba.
And now he's off to Africa for a month...
IN NUMBERS . . .
England: 4 (Hart, Terry, Lennon, Defoe)
Ireland: 2 (Carr, Dunne)
Scotland: 1 (Fletcher)
Wales: 1 (Bellamy)
France: 1 (Evra)
Ivory Coast: 1 (Drogba)
Spain: 1 (Fabregas)
England provides most individuals for the line-up, which will
please those who wish to counter the argument that foreigners are
taking over (or have taken over) the Premier League. There are four
Englishmen in the XI and further British representation with a
Scotsman and a Welshman. This is not the start of a joke. That's
six of the XI and Ireland adds another two players to the
list.
But the slightly more depressing factor might be that three
foreigners - Evra of France, Fabregas of Spain and Drogba of Ivory
Coast - are arguably the three best players in the XI. Certainly
Drogba and Fabregas have been the star performers, by some
distance.
Birmingham: 2 (Hart, Carr)
Chelsea: 2 (Terry, Drogba)
Manchester United: 2 (Evra, Fletcher)
Tottenham Hotspur: 2 (Lennon, Defoe)
Arsenal: 1 (Fabregas)
Aston Villa: 1 (Dunne)
Manchester City: 1 (Bellamy)
There is no club dominance in the XI, with Chelsea, United, Spurs
and surprisingly Birmingham each having two representatives, while
Arsenal, Aston Villa and Manchester City pitch in with one
apiece.
Age is split throughout the XI. The youngest is Fabregas at 22, who
is joined by Hart and Lennon of the same age but mere days, weeks
and months older. Beyond that, the rest of the XI are up around 30,
with Stephen Carr being the oldest at 33. The average age is a
healthy 27.18.