The best starting XI from an exciting season in the English top flight.
The 2013/14 Premier League season has been one of the most exciting since the rebranding of the competition back in 1992.
With just four games remaining for most teams there is still a three way fight for the title between Liverpool, Chelsea and Manchester City, whilst European places and relegation still remains in the balance for many sides.
So with the conclusion very near, here is the Team of the Year from CaughtOffside.
GK – Wojciech Szczesny, Arsenal
It’s not been the best of years for goalkeepers at the top of the table and whilst Petr Cech has conceded less goals, it’s the Gunners No.1 that has really impressed.
Cech can thank a solid back four for his success, but after much criticism Szczesny is the one who has stepped up and is now the undisputed first choice between the sticks at the Emirates Stadium.
RB – Seamus Coleman, Everton
It’s been a fine term for the Toffees under the guidance of their superb manager Roberto Martinez and they could still make the Champions League places ahead of Arsenal, Tottenham Hotspur and champions Manchester United.
Although there have been some great performances in Martinez’s team, it’s right-back Coleman who has really stood out with some fine defensive showings and also an impressive six league goals as well.
LB – Cesar Azpilicueta, Chelsea
If it had been said last summer that Azpilicueta would have made the team of the year there probably would have been a few raised eyebrows, but at left-back most would have dismissed it as rubbish.
Yet with Ashley Cole struggling for form and fitness and Jose Mourinho’s dislike of Ryan Bertrand seeing the Englishman shipped out to Aston Villa on-loan, the Spaniard has been asked to fill in on the left and has done so brilliantly.
CB – Gary Cahill, Chelsea
One of the key things that Mourinho has instilled back at Stamford Bridge since his return as manager is defensive solidity at the back and the central partnership of Cahill and captain John Terry has been key to that.
Whilst some think the latter may have been superior this term, it’s the 28-year-old that is going to be there for the foreseeable future and now looks comfortable on the top European and international stages as well.
CB – Laurent Koscielny, Arsenal
After heavy defeats to the Blues, Liverpool and City it may seem a little odd to include yet another player from the Emirates Stadium, but Koscielny has been brilliant for the north Londoners.
It’s been said for a long time that Arsene Wenger’s team lack defensive grit, yet alongside Per Mertesacker this Frenchman has infused defensive reliability with a class on the ball not often seen with centre-backs.
RM – David Silva, Manchester City
As has been true ever since the Spain international arrived in England from Valencia back in 2010, it has been another fine season for Silva.
If the Citizens do win the title it will be largely thanks to this classy playmaker, who since coming to the league has provided more assists than any other player during the same time period.
LM – Eden Hazard, Chelsea
The third star from west London now and it’s a case of saving the best until last as despite making the PFA Team of the Year in 2012/13 this former Lille man has improved even more since then.
Hazard is still just 23-years-old and yet shows a maturity on a football pitch that is rarely seen and Mourinho’s prediction of Ballon d’Or wins in the future don’t seem so unfounded.
CM – Steven Gerrard, Liverpool
This is the first ace from Anfield in what has been a fine campaign for Brendan Rodgers’ men in which they could realistically win the title for the first time since 1990.
Their skipper has been the stalwart of this success, dictating play from a deeper role than usual and also contributing 13 goals and 10 assists.
CM – Yaya Toure, Manchester City
If Manuel Pellegrini does not win the title during his first year with the Citizens it will be deemed a failure, but for transforming Toure into a goal machine the Chilean mus be applauded.
The Ivory Coast international has been known as a fine talent for some time, but with 18 league goals already in 2013/14 the midfielder has developed another side to his game.
ST – Luis Suarez, Liverpool
The PFA Player of the Year award has never been so certain of its victor than it is this year, with Suarez having turned his back on controversy and choosing to just show brilliance instead.
Banned for the first six games of the season for biting Branislav Ivanovic, the Uruguay international returned with a bang in front of goal and to date has 29 goals in as many games.
ST – Daniel Sturridge, Liverpool
In a year when many forwards have struggled to find consistent scoring form Rodgers has two as his disposal on Merseyside, with Suarez and Sturridge – dubbed ‘SAS’ – have netted an incredible 49 league goals between them.
Whilst the former has been stealing the plaudits it has still been a brilliant rise to prominence for the Englishman since a £12m transfer from Chelsea in January 2013.
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