History is Made with Best of the Rest

Today marks a historical occasion for Rafa the Gaffer, with the introduction of a new guest columnist - 'The Best and Fairest Right Fullback', otherwise known as Mal (Cheski) McKinnon.

Says Mal:

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My “Best of the Rest” First XI

Since it became known as the English Premier League in 92, top flight English football has been dominated by the “big 4”, namely Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool and Man United.

The only time this stronghold over Premiership titles has been broken was in 94/95, with a Blackburn team featuring none other than Australia’s own Ginger Ninja, Robbie Slater.

It seems the only way for teams to compete with, or join, this top tier is to splash cash. It’s what Jack Walker did for Blackburn, and its what Roman Abramovich has done for Chelski.

It’s a simple equation: Big Money = Better Players.

So, taking away the big 4, who is the cream of the crop of the rest of the Premiership in 2007/8?

For my money, starting from the back, it is:

Goalkeeper: Shay Given (Newcastle)

It was a toss up between Given and Brad Friedel for the keepers jersey. Both have demonstrated safe hands and feet over long periods of time for big clubs. Given gets the nod for 2 reasons; 1) He has had to play behind a rubbish back 4 for most of his Newcastle career. Keeping clean sheets with Titus Bramble in the team is like trying to keep a clean sheet in a backpacker hostel. 2) He’s not American.

Right Back: Pascal Chimbonda (Spurs)

Pacy, comfortable on the ball, solid defensively and capable of getting on the score sheet. He’s everything that Lilli Pilli’s right back isn’t. Not afraid to wear gloves in sweltering heat either, so there’s no doubting his courage,

Centre Backs: Micah Richards (Man City) and Jonathan Woodgate (Boro)

If there’s one thing that England isn’t short of, it’s quality centre backs. I guess its also scones and tea, but that’s completely irrelevant.

Left Back: Gareth Bale (Spurs)

This was a bit of a problem position to choose, because there aren’t too many top quality left backs around. Bale gets the gig on potential alone. Can take a set piece.

Right Midfield: David Bentley (Blackburn)

You can see that Bentley was a player schooled in the Arsenal way of playing football. Technically gifted and pacy, but not afraid to get stuck in when needed. Should be an England regular.

Centre Midfield: Elano (Man City) and Mikel Arteta (Everton)

One thing this team wouldn’t lack with these two pulling the strings in the middle of the park is creativity. Both excellent on the ball and good from set pieces. I tried to include a holding midfielder, but the truth is that none of them were really worthy of a spot, unless I cheated and included Mascherano as he is only on loan at Liverpool.

Left Midfield: Martin Petrov (Man City)

Having an excellent first season in the premiership, with bags of pace and an eye for goal. It was tough to leave out Kevin Kilbane *cough *, but there was only room for one. Damien Duff * no cough* is another left winger that I rate, but he cant seem to get a game at the moment.

Strikers: Nicolas Anelka (Bolton) and Dimitar Berbatov (Spurs)

Anelka might be a sulking, cheese eating, surrender monkey (French), but he is a quality footballer and scores goals wherever he goes. Surely a bigger club will eventually make a bid for him soon.

Berbatov makes the team just ahead of Roque Santa Cruz and Benni McCarthy. It really could have been any of them, but I just love watching how easy Berbatov makes the game look when he is in form.

Michael Owen is also worth a mention but unless the administrators allow a chiropractor, a surgeon and a Swaheli witchdoctor on the field with him, he’d probably break down with injury.

So unless Iain Fyfe or Mitchell Prentice make a dramatic entry to the Premiership in the January transfer window, this would be my crème de la crème outside of the big 4.