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Premier League Team Of The Week: Round 28

Originally Posted by goal.com

Graham Lister considers the outstanding performers in the Barclays Premier League during a weekend in which defending champions Manchester United took advantage of another Arsenal draw (at home to Aston Villa), while Chelsea responded to their critics by ripping into West Ham, and Liverpool maintained their improvement by winning at Bolton, but were still out-flanked by impressive Everton, who reclaimed the fourth Champions League place by beating Portsmouth 3-1 at Goodison. Last weekend's heroes, Carling Cup winning Spurs, were routed by resurgent Birmingham...




Goalkeeper


Brad Friedel (Blackburn Rovers)

The big American is a model of consistency - his record of consecutive appearances is outstanding - and at St James' Park on Saturday he was in typically defiant mood for Blackburn, breaking Newcastle's hearts with a string of saves that prolonged the wait for the Magpies' first win since Kevin Keegan returned as manager. Michael Owen, desperate for goals, suffered most, his former Liverpool team-mate tipping one goal-bound shot over the bar then sinking to his knees to keep out another, before saving from James Milner to preserve a clean-sheet.




Defenders


Paolo Ferreira (Chelsea)

One of the Chelsea players recalled by Avram Grant following the Carling Cup final defeat, the Portuguese right-back did well enough back in the fray to suggest that he deserves the shirt ahead of Juliano Belletti, at least for the time being. Helped the Chelsea defence keep a morale-boosting clean-sheet.


Martin Laursen (Aston Villa)

Villa produced a superb performance against leaders Arsenal at the Emirates, and were unlucky not to win. They were defensively solid and highly disciplined, with Laursen marshalling the back line to great effect, especially when injury to Curtis Davies forced a reshuffle. It was an other impressive performance in an excellent season for the Danish centre-back.


Phil Jagielka (Everton)

The former Sheffield United man is proving to be one of the most astute if least-hyped transfers of last summer, and has emerged one the most consistent and reliable stalwarts in an Everton side that has made a big impact this season. Against Portsmouth Jagielka again did his job well, working tirelessly and popping up when needed with timely blocks and interceptions.


Fabio Aurelio (Liverpool)

Liverpool have now strung three consecutive victories together for the first time since November, and their 3-1 win at Bolton was the sort of game they were drawing earlier in the campaign - or might have lost at The Reebok in previous seasons. But after a shaky start defensively the Reds found their rhythm and the back line emerged with credit, Aurelio capping a competent performance with a superb goal, Liverpool's third, as he controlled the ball on his chest and volleyed home from the edge of the area.





Midfielders


Nani (Manchester United)

United did not have the sternest of tests against Fulham, but did what they had to do well, with Nani influential again on the right side of midfield, linking well with the likes of Carlos Tevez and Paul Scholes and continuing his impressive integration into the United team and English football in general.


Owen Hargreaves (Manchester United)

United's strength in depth was again underlined as Hargreaves came i n for he impressive Michael Carrick and gave Ferguson the sort of selection headache managers love by producing a superb central midfield display. Hargreaves largely ran the show at Craven Cottage, and put his seal on the game by scoring the opening goal with a clever free-kick that he might not even have taken had Cristiano Ronaldo been on the field at the time. Lucky United.


Michael Ballack (Chelsea)

The German had been Chelsea's best midfielder for the duration of the Africa Cup of Nations, and his omission from the starting XI in the Carling Cup final was a surprise. He started against West Ham - at the expense of Michael Essien rather than Frank Lampard - and impressed throughout. His superbly struck half-volley completed a three-goal burst for the Blues inside five minutes that destroyed the Hammers. Marred his performance slightly by getting a booking for protesting Lampard's sending-off, but was a class act for Chelsea.


Joe Cole (Chelsea)

The man-of-the-match at the Boleyn Ground against his former club, Cole was the creative mainspring for Chelsea, again begging the question why was he not given starting role a week earlier at Wembley? Four minutes after Lampard had scored from the penalty spot, another West Ham old boy made it 2-0 to the visitors when Anelka set him up on the edge of the penalty. Cole fired a low angled shot into the far corner with aplomb. He continued shine, and when his 63rd minute shot was well saved by Rob Green, namesake Ashley Cole clipped in the rebound from a right angle. Joe was substituted on 68 minutes to a rousing ovation from the Chelsea fans.





Forwards


Mikael Forssell (Birmingham City)

Birmingham blew Carling Cup winners Tottenham away, and the clinical Finn was their sharp cutting edge. Forssell had been the player sacrificed last week when Alex McLeish had to make a tactical substitution to rearrange things after Martin Taylor's early dismissal against Arsenal, and he seemed determined to make up for lost time. His ruthless finishing earned Blues their first win since Boxing Day, and himself a first hat-trick in English football. He took his three goals with cool, clinical precision, might have finished with four or five and also impressed with his intelligent link-up play. A memorable performance for which he has the match-ball as a memento.


Yakubu (Everton)

The ex-Portsmouth striker, sold by Middlesbrough to Everton in the summer, has made a great impact on Merseyside and now has 20 goals to his name this season after a fine brace against Pompey at Goodison. The Yak headed the Toffees in front within the first minute, and added a magnificent third late on after cutting in and stealing a yard on Sol Campbell before beating David James at his near post. And just to silence the critics who have accused him of laziness, Yakubu worked hard for the team, exemplified by his clever hold up play while waiting for Steven Pienaar to join the attack, receive Yak's pass and cross for Tim Cahill to head home Everton's second goal and leave Harry Redknapp cursing the fact that Pompey ever sold the Nigerian hit-man.

ARTICLE HERE



other thoughts, opinions, i have just one Ferreira played that good to be in the team ? -cuz i'm suprised to see him there.