Monday means only one thing, it is the setanta.com team of the week, but with a subtle change.
Monday means only one thing, it is the setanta.com Team of the Week, but with a subtle change.
Not only does this selection include both Premier League and FA Cup performances, but we have Stoke and West Brom players in our midfield.
The following selections are based solely on the ratings dished out by our reporters on the day... agree or disagee? Let us know using the comments box at the bottom...
Goalkeeper: Mark Schwarzer – Fulham
Roy Hodgson believes Schwarzer was the signing of the season and after Saturday’s performance he may just have a case. The ageing Australian was an immovable object in between the posts and pulled off a candidate for save of the season from Tuncay Sanli in the second half. He may be 36 years old but he did not cost a penny. David Dickinson could not have sniffed out a better bargain and he knows a thing or two about priceless antiques.
Right back: Glen Johnson – Portsmouth
Victory over Bolton on Saturday saw Pompey climb to the relative safety of 14th and two players stood out above the rest. Johnson and Niko Kranjcar were a terrible twosome who ran rings round a bewildered Bolton. Sadly there’s only room for Johnson in our starting line-up, but if we had a bench, Kranjcar would be on it.
Centre back: John Terry – Chelsea
It is often said that you only know how good a defender truly is when they are not playing. The England skipper was absent when Chelsea played Liverpool in the week and watched his team-mates concede four. He came back at Wembley and after Theo Walcott’s opener, Arsenal barely got a look-in – Terry made sure of it.
Centre back - Calum Davenport – Sunderland
Nemanja Vidic was back to his best at Wembley on Sunday, but going by the ratings given by our reporters, Calum Davenport was better. Are we mad? Maybe. But credit to Davenport who put in a fine display to keep Hull City at bay.
Left back: Leighton Baines – Everton
If you think our team of the week is not up to scratch then check out Manchester United’s starting XI against Everton. Baines must have been rubbing his hands with glee when he discovered he would be facing Park Ji-sung and not Cristiano Ronaldo and the left back made the most of the opportunity to get forward at every opportunity.
Right midfield: Liam Lawrence – Stoke
Don’t tell Sam Allardyce but Liam Lawrence may or may not have celebrated his winner against Blackburn by lifting his arm in the air. Utter contempt. This game had goalless draw written all over it until James Beattie pounced on a mistake by Keith Andrews and fed Lawrence who finished with aplomb.
Centre midfield: Tuncay Sanli – Middlesbrough
If Boro are relegated at the end of the season, there will be no shortage of suitors for Tuncay. In a side that lacks quality, he is a shining light, a beacon of classy touches and incisive passes. Gareth Southgate’s side could not breakdown a resilient Fulham, but it was not for want of trying on Tuncay’s part. He would have netted the winner if Schwarzer had not pulled off a remarkable stop from his second-half header.
Centre Midfield: Tom Huddlestone – Tottenham
Huddlestone has been growing frustrated of late with his lack of first-team chances, but he put in the sort of performance on Sunday that would make him undroppable. He was superb throughout against Newcastle and unlucky not to get on the scoresheet.
Left midfield: Chris Brunt – West Brom
The Baggies lost again but it was no fault of Chris Brunt, who single-handedly dragged his team-mates back into the game against Manchester City, only for them to chuck it all away. West Brom were 2-0 down before Brunt bagged a brace. They lost 4-2 and are almost certain to be relegated, but the Northern Ireland international can console himself with a place in our team of the week.
Attacking midfielder: Luka Modric – Tottenham
Modric assumed the role of chief playmaker against Newcastle and the White Hart Lane puppeteer has been rewarded with a spot in our selection. He was involved in the move that led to Spurs’ winner and almost found his way onto the scoresheet.
Striker: Didier Drogba – Chelsea
Drogba has his critics. After all he spends a lot of time on the floor trying to win freekicks and get other players booked. But, grudgingly or not, you have to hand it to him. When Chelsea need a crucial goal, he often comes up trumps. Just like he did at Wembley when he latched onto Frank Lampard’s long ball forward before touching it past Lukasz Fabianski and rolling it into the empty net. He did for Liverpool in midweek, Arsenal on Saturday, now bring on United. Oh no, I mean Everton.