Premier League: Best XI since 2000

Photo: BBC

English football has changed quite a bit since the turn of the century.

Way back in 2000, Kevin Phillips was the most feared striker in the top flight, while Manchester City were plying their trade in the old first division. Manchester United and Arsenal were still in their two-club tussle for supremacy, with Liverpool and Chelsea battling with Leeds United for third place rights.

Now in 2014, the footballing landscape is decidedly different, but the individuals who have lit up the Premier League this past decade will always be remembered, and to fit them all into a best XI remains one of the toughest asks for any footballing fan.

With so many choices, and only 11 slots, I must stress that while some of the players omitted from the final cut are certainly worthy of a place in the side, the parameters restrict us to the 2000-2014 seasons, with some fantastic players ending their careers around half-way through this period.

Here is my offering; a team chock full of some of the greatest players to have graced the Premier League, and certainly one to defy the ages…

Click here to check out my Premier League Best XI since 2000...

Chelsea 2-1 Liverpool: The Player Ratings

The Daily Mirror

Chelsea beat Liverpool 2-1 at Stamford Bridge to move up to third place in the Premier League, and consigned Liverpool to consecutive defeats.

Click here for my player ratings - on Soccerlens.com

Norwich 0-1 Man Utd: The Player Ratings

thefa,com

Click here for the Man Utd Player ratings for their narrow win over Norwich - on Soccerlens.com

Video: Blast From The Past – Gus Poyet’s Chelsea screamer vs Sunderland, 99/00

The Daily Mirror

Chelsea gear up to face Sunderland in the Stadium of Light on Wednesday evening, and the majority of the Blues faithful will reserve a special round of applause for the Black Cats boss, Gustavo Poyet.

The Uruguayan’s fantastic four-year contribution to the Chelsea cause as a devastating attacking midfielder is still recognized today, especially due to a special goal that shook the Premier league to its core, all those years ago.

It was the opening day of the season, August 17^th 1999; and Chelsea were starting their campaign at Stamford Bridge against Peter Reid’s newly promoted Sunderland outfit. The Blues had brought in a host of star names over the summer, all within a pre-Abramovich budget, and the likes of French captain Didier Deschamps were making their eagerly anticipated debut.

Indeed it was Deschamps who set the ball rolling – rather soaring – for the start of what really is one of the very best Premier League goals of all time.

Click here to watch the goal (one of my all-time favourite efforts) - on Soccerlens.com

Man Utd Player Ratings vs. Spurs – Rooney saves the day (1/12/13)

The Daily Mail

Check out my player ratings for Man Utd 2-2 Tottenham - at Soccerlens.com

Hull City vs. Liverpool - Possible Line-up + Prediction

The Daily Mirror

Liverpool travel to Hull City in the third out of four fantastic matches in the Premier League on Sunday. Having dramatically salvaged a draw away to bitter rivals Everton last time out, Brendan Rodgers side sit joint-second with Chelsea in the table, 4 points behind leaders Arsenal.

Click here for the latest from the Liverpool camp - on Soccerlens.com

Chelsea vs. Southampton - Possible Line-up + Prediction

redditmedia.com

Chelsea host high-flying Southampton on Sunday afternoon, with the Blues hoping to get back to winning ways after a poor defeat in the Champions League midweek.

Click here for the latest from the Chelsea camp - on Soccerlens.com

Tottenham vs. Man Utd - Possible Line-up + Prediction

ESPN

Man Utd travel to league rivals Tottenham in the early afternoon kick-off on Sunday, with both sides looking for a valuable win to take them closer to the current leaders of the Premier League.

Click here for the latest from the Utd camp - on Soccerlens.com

Possible Chelsea Starting XI Against West Ham

With the international break done and dusted, we welcome back the Premier League this weekend; and there is plenty to be getting on with. Chelsea travel to West Ham in the late kick-off on Saturday, with Jose Mourinho sweating over the fitness of a number of key players.  

Click here for the pre-match preview, on Soccerlens.com

Paulo Di Canio Strikes Back

telegraph.co.uk

 

Ex-Sunderland manager, Paulo Di Canio, has publically come out in staunch defence of his tenure at the club; blaming ‘pathetic’ fitness levels, strange transfer dealings, and poor player attitudes for his lack of success.

Click here to read the article, on soccerlens.com

Photo: Yaya Toure Rubbishes City Exit Rumours

metro.co.uk

Man City midfielder, Yaya Toure, has played down rumours that he is ‘not interested’ in playing for the club.

Click here to read the full story, on soccerlens.com 

Team of the Weekend: Arsenal, Man Utd & City Stars Dominate

yahoo.com

 We are now over a quarter of the way through the current Premier League season; doesn’t time fly! Having reached the ten game mark, it is Arsenal who continue to lead the way. The Gunners opened up a five point lead at the summit following their impressive 2-0 win against Liverpool on Saturday.

Brendan Rogers’ side remain second, despite the defeat, equal on points with Chelsea, themselves beaten convincingly by a revitalised Newcastle at St James Park. Tottenham joined them on the 20 point mark on Sunday, after their dour stalemate at Goodison Park against Everton.

The Manchester boys were the talk of the town this weekend after scoring 10 between them, lighting up the league in separately devastating attacking displays. City racked up seven without reply against a desperately poor Norwich; while Utd continued their Premier League ascent with a 3-1 away win at Fulham, dominated by their attacking duo of Van Persie and Wayne Rooney.

Click here for the ‘Football-Talk’ Team of the Weekend: Gameweek 10

Did we see the ‘Goal of the Season’ over the weekend?

mirror.co.uk

The contenders are racking up, and after Fulham’s impressive 4-1 away win against lowly Crystal Palace, one could argue that two more efforts can be added to the list of names up for the Premier League ‘Goal of the Season’ award.

Click here to check out the article, and re-watch all the stunning goals, on soccerlens.com

‘The Big Six’: Team of the Weekend, Game-week One

 

Finally, we are up and running. After months of pre-season anticipation, agonizing transfer sagas, and the slow hum of the managers’ mind games gradually starting to grind into gear; the Barclays Premier League is officially back in business!

The first round of games this weekend brought with it much of the trademark drama the EPL is so known for, including one shocking result, a dramatic late winner, a handful of debuts to remember, and some dodgy refereeing decisions. We also witnessed the first voyage of revolutionary technology, the GDS (goal decision system) at the Emirates Stadium and at Stamford Bridge, with positive results!

Here is ‘The Big Six’, Team of the Weekend for Game-Week One, on football-talk.co.uk

Pic: unitedrant.co.uk

Chelsea start at home to Hull, but the ‘Happy One’ will be wary

 

With the release of next seasons fixtures in the Premier League, and the news of an opening day home fixture against newly promoted Hull City, the ‘Happy One’ could have hardly wished for a better hour and a half to settle himself back into the rigours of the English top flight.
The 50-year-old knows, however, not to take anything for granted!

Click here to check out my article on Mourinho's mind-set, on soccerlens.com

Photo: topnews.in

Player of the Year 2012/13: The Top 5 Strikers

 

 

 

And so, I finish off my Players of the Year roundup the same way most teams end successful attacks, with the strikers.

 

Exceptional to the last, the men on this list have risen to glory from a multitude of different starting points. Impressing on loan from mega parent-clubs, breaking the heart of a former club, dancing barefaced in the light of controversy, performing heroics for an underdog, and emerging from the shroud of lower league obscurity – each if these strikers has had a uniquely defining season.

Here is my top 5 strikers for the last Premier League campaign, on football-talk.co.uk

 

Pic: 2.bp.blogspot.com

[Top 5] Players of the Year 2012/13: The Wingers/Attacking Midfielders

Next, the Top 5 Wingers and Attacking Midfielders of Premier League Season 2012-13!

Click here for my article, on football-talk.co.uk

Photo: 2.bp.blogspot.com

Top 5: Villains of the Premier League – Featuring Luis Suarez, Roy Keane & More…

It has been hard to find breathing space following the Luis Suarez ‘nibble’. Such is the furore and massive fallout that websites, papers and conversation have been hooked on the topic.

But is he the most reviled figure the Premier League has ever seen?

Check out my Top 5 Villains of the Premier League right here, on football-talk.co.uk!

Photo: ecbasis.org

Can Robin van Persie stand the test of time?

Van Persie wants to join the elite club of vintage performers. Can he stand the test of time? Check out my article on Soccerlens.com - featuring Rivaldo, Lampard, Totti, and Del Piero.

Pic: freefreshwallpapers.com

Top 5: A Season To Forget For Some Of The Premier League’s Biggest Stars (football-talk.co.uk)

My 'Top 5' of the biggest let-downs of the season. Do you agree? Follow the link, and run the rule!

Pic: The Guardian